2.3 Zetec Auto - Have We Bought A Pup?

[philclemo]

Hi all

 

As posted on another topic, we picked up our 2003 Zetec on Friday. We bought it from a dealer who was located approx 40 miles from us, it had 82,000 miles on the clock, FFSH, one owner? Three months'comprehensive warranty with the car. We traded in our trusty 98 2.3 Ghia Gal.

 

The first problem was the fact that as we tried to start the car, the remote fob would not start the car although it unlocked it! Second problem was as we warmed it up, it ran out of fuel! The dealer, whilst apologising profusely, poured in about a gallon of unleaded and she fired up. All well and good......until we filled her up at the Tesco filling staion around the corner.

[zorgman]

well tell em the fault give them the keys and say "fix it please" not sure but think them engines use a coil pack on the plug itself chance its breaking down. (im a tdi person)beware of these g/tes is it the garage doing the g/tee or a third party company if the later not worth the paper its printed on

[Mirez]

Oh dear thats a bad way to jump to Mk2 ownership!

 

I don't believe they have a responsibility to recover the vehicle but certainly "fit for purpose" applies here so you can get a full refund at the moment. That said any decent dealer will go out of their way given the issues you've had.

 

Has it had a full service prior to purchase? Sounds certainly like it needs one, the 2,3 is actually a good solid engine and from what you describe it could potentially be a number of things but all minor in the great scheme of things. Possible fuel filter and/or spark plugs but possibly more likely is Relay 30 breaking up,

[philclemo]

Oh dear thats a bad way to jump to Mk2 ownership!

 

I don't believe they have a responsibility to recover the vehicle but certainly "fit for purpose" applies here so you can get a full refund at the moment. That said any decent dealer will go out of their way given the issues you've had.

 

Has it had a full service prior to purchase? Sounds certainly like it needs one, the 2,3 is actually a good solid engine and from what you describe it could potentially be a number of things but all minor in the great scheme of things. Possible fuel filter and/or spark plugs but possibly more likely is Relay 30 breaking up,

 

Hi Mirez

 

Doesn't the fit for purpose apply only after they have had the opportunity to rectify the problem(s) and fail to sort? In any case it is back with them to sort. What is Relay 30 for? I don't have the handbook at the moment.

 

The recovery guy who came out yesterday tried to get it going, and the strange thing was the fuel gauge started working (sort of). If the engine started, the gauge would start moving, after several starts the gauge started registering the correct fuel level. The curious thing was that you could tell when the engine was going to die because the gauge would go into free fall then the engine would stop. The recovery guy determined that the fuel pump was switching off, hence the stalling. Could this be related to relay 30?

 

It doesn't appear to have had any form of service by the looks of things, the misfire on cold start may be coil pack as per Zorgmans reply, or as you say the spark plugs. Once it has run for half a minute or so it's fine. Any, we'll see what they come up with.

 

Phil

[Mirez]

Your consumer rights when you buy a used vehicle from a dealer

If you bought the vehicle from a dealer, you will have certain rights under consumer law.

 

A secondhand vehicle must match its description, be fit for its purpose, and be of satisfactory quality. However, the standard for meeting the requirement that the vehicle is of satisfactory quality will be lower because it is secondhand. A secondhand vehicle should be in reasonable condition and work properly. When deciding whether a secondhand vehicle is in reasonable condition it is important to consider the vehicle

[philclemo]

Hi Mirez

 

Thanks for that. It certainly puts a different light on the subject.

 

I can confirm that the Gal is back with them it has been there since 3:00pm on Monday. I had left a letter in the car describing the events leading up to it's eventual breakdown including a list of faults we want rectifying before we take the car back.

 

They list as follows:

FUEL GAUGE NOT WORKING

INTERIOR TABLE STRUT NOT REPAIRED (requested this when we agreed the deal)

REMOTE KEY NOT SYNCED WITH IMMOBILISER

FIRING ON 2-3 CYLINDERS ON COLD START

PARKING SENSORS NOT WORKING

OIL LEAK

MISSING BATTERY COVER (which was on the car when we first looked at it)

LOOSE 'A' PILLAR TRIM DRIVERS SIDE

ENGINE NOW NOT RUNNING

 

In the letter I asked them to let me know when they expect to have the car ready so that we could arrange transportation for my wife in the meantime. By 3:00pm yesterday (24 hours since having the car back) no response from them, so I rang to see how things were going. I was told that the technician would call as soon as he knew anything, and it would the technician who I would hear from. I got the impression of a complete lack of enthusiasm from him (who I suspect was the proprietor of the dealership).

 

From my standpoint, and please offer your views here if you think I am being difficult, we were the customer and we genuinely looked to update our trusty old Gal. We looked at this vehicle, did the deal and asked them to rectify one thing prior to collection (that being replacing a support strut for one of the Picnic tables), we were told the car would be ready in 2-3 days by the salesman, this being a Saturday meant Tuesday/Wednesday which was ideal as my wife was off during that whole week. Come Wednesday I rang them in hope that it would be ready, only to be told by another chap that the lead time is 3-5 days and not the 2-3 the salesman had suggested inferring that I was making it up. The annoying thing being that they were supposedly preparing the car for 5 days and in fact had managed lose the battery cover and not even attempt to repair the strut - what had they been doing with it?

 

The rest is as my original post. I am tempted, if they don't contact me in the meantime, to wait until 3:00pm today and ring again, if they cannot give me any indication of when all the faults will be sorted I will demand a refund. If I go down this route, a few questions, we traded in our Gal, MOT is due in mid Feb, I informed them of an airbag light as being the only known fault and the trade in value reflected this, if they have already passed it on to let's say another dealer as is, I am sure they would be able to get it back, if they have attempted to have it repaired, where do I stand? Also, would I lose my deposit of

[cyborg]

hmm,

Once you request a repair you 'reject your right to refund or replacement 'you must decide a clear line from the off its

an urban myth to think you can have your repairs then change you mind and reject 28 days is the time frame for finding faluts

and those faults must have been there prior.

 

If you select repair you must follow reasonable time frames this can be up to 6 weeks.Do request a loan vehicle don't be aggresive or rude

do remmeber its you who made the decision to purchase they did not knock on your front door .

 

If you select to reject copy of aa report and independant mechinic repot with a rejection letter pointing out that you feel the product is not fit for purpose.

is clear cut and would stand in local court however i would point out that there is a few million in unpaid fines and you could win but loose.if ther not bothered

by a what the judge says and claim all manor of problems... you must be put back into a posistion poir to purchase easier said than done.

 

Best advice ask for loan be polite work with the garage remember they may be disappionted as you that the car has not gone well .

give reasonable time frames .

[gregers]

i would contact your local trade and standard peeps(or what ever there called now)they are there to help you,once you have there backing,throw this into the argument and watch the dealer start to squirm,most do.

mirez has posted very informative info, but here is a bit more,

 

http://www.which.co.uk/consumer-rights/sale-of-goods/your-rights-buying-second-hand-cars/

 

i too had to go down a very similar route as yourself,about 4 years back,posted all about it,

in the end i threatened the dealer principle with the small claims court,a little info works wonders for your argument.

BUT i had did have the law on my side,MAKE sure before throwing your toys out of the pram that you are 110%RIGHT.

or they will fob you off.

[philclemo]

Hi All

 

Cyborg, there seems, as ever with legislation areas of grey! Got this off a fellow member off the jaguarforum.

 

http://www.oft.gov.uk/shared_oft/reports/676408/oft1241.pdf

 

Very interesting reading, who would be a secondhand car dealer?

 

The update is that I will get an update tomorrow!

 

Will let you all know!

 

Phil

[cyborg]

Sadly still the owness is more bias to the consumer proving fault. Your right the system isn't foolproof, just make sure you get full names for corrispondace .If dealing with a major company ask for there company policy's document's some times the advisoir may not known there own policy.

 

Fingers crossed for you .