A broken clio.... what to do??
Discussion
New member but cruised about the forums before.
Basically passed my driving test a few months ago after getting wet and cold on the bike for 3 years.
Purchased my first car, W Reg clio 1.2 8v for 1.2k from *********** Motor Sales. All was well with the car for a few weeks and enjoyed the car.... but then the problems started.
For some reason my alarm which was aftermarket suddenly went off, constantly, all the time... easy fix I just snipped the wire for the LED and the siren.
Give or take a 2 months after purchase, I was driving home from work when my water warning light came on and my temp shot right up into the red. So going from there i topped up the water and everything was fine for the time being until I get the car checked over, while driving there the light came on again and did the same again.
While it was being checked over I discovered head gasket damage which was confirmed by the garage... but that was everything, I then found out I had a crack in my front drivers side coil spring, a seized load valve, play in the ball joint, exhaust mounts were completely rusted away and held with zip ties, shot front discs etc etc.
So with this information and a f***ed car I went back to the dealers to try and come to some agreement but to no avail. I didn't let them know the problems with the car but assured them they were not wear and tear damages especially within a month or two of driving about.
So now I have a broken car stuck on my drive looking sorry for its self.
What would PH's do, report to trading standards or just scrap the car and move on???
Basically passed my driving test a few months ago after getting wet and cold on the bike for 3 years.
Purchased my first car, W Reg clio 1.2 8v for 1.2k from *********** Motor Sales. All was well with the car for a few weeks and enjoyed the car.... but then the problems started.
For some reason my alarm which was aftermarket suddenly went off, constantly, all the time... easy fix I just snipped the wire for the LED and the siren.
Give or take a 2 months after purchase, I was driving home from work when my water warning light came on and my temp shot right up into the red. So going from there i topped up the water and everything was fine for the time being until I get the car checked over, while driving there the light came on again and did the same again.
While it was being checked over I discovered head gasket damage which was confirmed by the garage... but that was everything, I then found out I had a crack in my front drivers side coil spring, a seized load valve, play in the ball joint, exhaust mounts were completely rusted away and held with zip ties, shot front discs etc etc.
So with this information and a f***ed car I went back to the dealers to try and come to some agreement but to no avail. I didn't let them know the problems with the car but assured them they were not wear and tear damages especially within a month or two of driving about.
So now I have a broken car stuck on my drive looking sorry for its self.
What would PH's do, report to trading standards or just scrap the car and move on???
Tbh I didn't want to tell them because the dealers were already arsey.
I just stated that the car didn't have wear and tear damage and cost more than the car to replace. But i did mention the alarm which i went there previous for and the head gasket damage.
I just stated that the car didn't have wear and tear damage and cost more than the car to replace. But i did mention the alarm which i went there previous for and the head gasket damage.
Edited by Yorkyuk on Thursday 18th November 12:53
doogz said:
You were driving it, a warning light came on, and the water temp shot through the roof.
So you put some more in and kept going?
Silly boy.
Speak to trading standard, it'll only cost you a phone call, see what they say. I've had to phone them before and they were really helpful.
Between that happening it was a week of short drives to work. I just assumed the water needed topping up, but guess i've learnt from mistakes :/So you put some more in and kept going?
Silly boy.
Speak to trading standard, it'll only cost you a phone call, see what they say. I've had to phone them before and they were really helpful.
Yorkyuk said:
New member but cruised about the forums before.
Basically passed my driving test a few months ago after getting wet and cold on the bike for 3 years.
Purchased my first car, W Reg clio 1.2 8v for 1.2k from *********** Motor Sales. All was well with the car for a few weeks and enjoyed the car.... but then the problems started.
For some reason my alarm which was aftermarket suddenly went off, constantly, all the time... easy fix I just snipped the wire for the LED and the siren.
Give or take a 2 months after purchase, I was driving home from work when my water warning light came on and my temp shot right up into the red. So going from there i topped up the water and everything was fine for the time being until I get the car checked over, while driving there the light came on again and did the same again.
While it was being checked over I discovered head gasket damage which was confirmed by the garage... but that was everything, I then found out I had a crack in my front drivers side coil spring, a seized load valve, play in the ball joint, exhaust mounts were completely rusted away and held with zip ties, shot front discs etc etc.
So with this information and a f***ed car I went back to the dealers to try and come to some agreement but to no avail. I didn't let them know the problems with the car but assured them they were not wear and tear damages especially within a month or two of driving about.
So now I have a broken car stuck on my drive looking sorry for its self.
What would PH's do, report to trading standards or just scrap the car and move on???
Don't think you have much hope to be honest as you never told the garage or given them the opportunity to resolve.Basically passed my driving test a few months ago after getting wet and cold on the bike for 3 years.
Purchased my first car, W Reg clio 1.2 8v for 1.2k from *********** Motor Sales. All was well with the car for a few weeks and enjoyed the car.... but then the problems started.
For some reason my alarm which was aftermarket suddenly went off, constantly, all the time... easy fix I just snipped the wire for the LED and the siren.
Give or take a 2 months after purchase, I was driving home from work when my water warning light came on and my temp shot right up into the red. So going from there i topped up the water and everything was fine for the time being until I get the car checked over, while driving there the light came on again and did the same again.
While it was being checked over I discovered head gasket damage which was confirmed by the garage... but that was everything, I then found out I had a crack in my front drivers side coil spring, a seized load valve, play in the ball joint, exhaust mounts were completely rusted away and held with zip ties, shot front discs etc etc.
So with this information and a f***ed car I went back to the dealers to try and come to some agreement but to no avail. I didn't let them know the problems with the car but assured them they were not wear and tear damages especially within a month or two of driving about.
So now I have a broken car stuck on my drive looking sorry for its self.
What would PH's do, report to trading standards or just scrap the car and move on???
As for the items:
Head gasket - can go anytime
Disks - wear & tear
Coil - cracked not broken
Alarm - butchered yourself
Ball joint - although wear & tear would have been present before so may have a case
Exhaust mounts - again bodged so could also have a case
Those two bits alone won't cost the earth and you may get a better result to argue these points rather than every single one. HTH
I suggest you write to them, setting out everything that is wrong with it (ideally attaching a mechanic's report) and ask them how they'd like to resolve it. At this stage, I wouldn't threaten Trading Standards or spout SOGA rubbish - just present them with the facts and ask them to write back in no more than 7 days.
Was the car MOT'd? When? By whom? Did the advisory sheet pick up any of these points? Did you inspect the car?
In truth, some of the issues you list fall into the "s
t happens" category. You've bought a 10 year old french hatch - issues come with the territory. It sounds like the head gasket has gone since you've owned it. In which case I can't see why the dealer should repair it. But you might have a case in relation to some of the other issues and bodged repairs.
ETA: best you can hope for is a small contribution towards repairs IMHO.
Was the car MOT'd? When? By whom? Did the advisory sheet pick up any of these points? Did you inspect the car?
In truth, some of the issues you list fall into the "s
t happens" category. You've bought a 10 year old french hatch - issues come with the territory. It sounds like the head gasket has gone since you've owned it. In which case I can't see why the dealer should repair it. But you might have a case in relation to some of the other issues and bodged repairs.ETA: best you can hope for is a small contribution towards repairs IMHO.
Edited by Gruber on Thursday 18th November 13:02
doogz said:
markmullen said:
doogz said:
You
Speak to trading standard, it'll only cost you a phone call, see what they say. I've had to phone them before and they were really helpful.
You'll not have a lot of comeback on a £1200 10 year old car.Speak to trading standard, it'll only cost you a phone call, see what they say. I've had to phone them before and they were really helpful.
Yorkyuk said,
While it was being checked over I discovered head gasket damage which was confirmed by the garage: Gaskets can go at any time although there may be a reason for it and it could go again.
I then found out I had a crack in my front drivers side coil spring: Seems odd that it's cracked and not broken.
a seized load valve: WD40 is your friend.
play in the ball joint: common on Clios, £6 or so to buy a new one and 10 minutes to replace, have you also checked the ARB links?
exhaust mounts were completely rusted away and held with zip ties: Not a problem really is it?
shot front discs etc etc: wear and tear.
[/quote]
While it was being checked over I discovered head gasket damage which was confirmed by the garage: Gaskets can go at any time although there may be a reason for it and it could go again.
I then found out I had a crack in my front drivers side coil spring: Seems odd that it's cracked and not broken.
a seized load valve: WD40 is your friend.
play in the ball joint: common on Clios, £6 or so to buy a new one and 10 minutes to replace, have you also checked the ARB links?
exhaust mounts were completely rusted away and held with zip ties: Not a problem really is it?
shot front discs etc etc: wear and tear.
[/quote]
doogz said:
markmullen said:
doogz said:
You
Speak to trading standard, it'll only cost you a phone call, see what they say. I've had to phone them before and they were really helpful.
You'll not have a lot of comeback on a £1200 10 year old car.Speak to trading standard, it'll only cost you a phone call, see what they say. I've had to phone them before and they were really helpful.
Any claim made against the dealer (who, incidentally doesn't have to offer any warranty) will be viewed taking into account the age and value of the car. To enforce these rights the buyer would have to go to court. The level of quality expected of a £1200 10 year old car will not be a massive amount.
markmullen said:
doogz said:
markmullen said:
doogz said:
You
Speak to trading standard, it'll only cost you a phone call, see what they say. I've had to phone them before and they were really helpful.
You'll not have a lot of comeback on a £1200 10 year old car.Speak to trading standard, it'll only cost you a phone call, see what they say. I've had to phone them before and they were really helpful.
Any claim made against the dealer (who, incidentally doesn't have to offer any warranty) will be viewed taking into account the age and value of the car. To enforce these rights the buyer would have to go to court. The level of quality expected of a £1200 10 year old car will not be a massive amount.
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