2nd Hand Van and Warranty Issues

eeyore

eeyore

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eeyore
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A little help and advice needed.
Last week I purchased a, new to me, van. During the discussions they sales people said it comes with a 3 month warranty. Which put my mind at ease...
However less then a week and 500 miles later the van power steering developed a fault and as such unsafe to drive. Its dumped out all the fluid.
I contacted the sales people who have quickly said the steering system is not covered. They have pointed to the receipt that has a list of some items that are covered and not. The steering system is not mentioned on ether list. (I will post a picture of it shortly)

Now i did have the sense to buy this van via my credit card. So its possible I could have way down this route via master card.
I've kept my cool with the sales people and all contact via email and phone calls about it have been recorded just in case they are needed later

Has anyone on here been in a similar position and have any advice on working this out?
 
Is the warranty with the place you bought it from or a 3rd party?

If it's with a 3rd party, contact them directly and find out what's what (don't mention specifics ask what wouldn't be covered) but if it's with the place you bought it from, ask them to provide evidence in their warranty where it states this isn't covered.
 
The consumer rights act covers used cars from dealers. Which gives you rights for a full refund if the fault in the first 30days. vans and commercial purchases through businesses maybe different. Read into it.
 
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I'm not normally the type to follow the above advice for rejecting it etc, but I think with the responses you've had from the garage - there are a couple of things that would be worrying me...

How much of a fight are you going to have having this repaired by them under warranty as already they're saying no, If it does then get repaired, how good a job would they do (could be excellent, but it would be a worry for me)

And, what else could go wrong (which I know no one has a crystal ball to know, but...) and would there be any chance of this being repaired (if within the 3 month warranty).

So, ignoring my normal course of action, I think I'd be tempted to reject it especially as you have given them chance to repair and it's been a week !!

Hope you get it sorted
 
What sort of warranty doesn't cover steering components? Sounds like it's not worth the paper it's written on.

Personally, if I had a van that went majorly wrong after just one week's use I'd expect the dealer to sort it out without any quibbling. It's obviously not fit for purpose. They sound a right dodgy bunch.
 
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Are they a main dealer or your shady back street kind of outfit?
 
Morning guys and thanks for the input.

The van is not done through any business, it's my day to day motor.

The dealership is not a main dealer attached to any car company but the do have a good reputation in my town.

The warranty on the website looks like it via a 3rd party but I'm suspecting fowl play here.

I did not know I could reject it, I'm tempted to do this but I have shelled out for tax and insurance which was not a small sum.

I will go back to the dealer and hope they see sense.
 
If they have a good rep in the town then see if the van can be repaired at there cost or swap for another, if not reject you have then showed you are prepared to work with them, give em enough rope.
 
Think it depends how trustworthy you think they are really depends on your course of action
 
2011 not sure on the mileage but has a full service history. £5000
 
eeyore said:
I did not know I could reject it, I'm tempted to do this but I have shelled out for tax and insurance which was not a small sum.

I will go back to the dealer and hope they see sense.
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You get any unused tax back and your insurance can be swapped over to any new vehicle you buy.
 
Steep said:
You get any unused tax back and your insurance can be swapped over to any new vehicle you buy.
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and the quicker you reject it the quicker you get that money back rather than wasting it on a van you cannot drive.

It could just be very bad luck but a van p***ing out its steering fluid when only 4 years old and only a week after you bought it sounds a bit odd. I'd want some clear evidence that it wasn't bodged before sale (or been in an accident) before wanting to keep it.

Do you know what exactly caused the failure?
 
I'd reject on principle after their initial response, even if did cost me all the tax and insurance, which it won't.
 
I have a number of mot's and nothing like this shows, not does it look like it's been in a crash. Everything looks straight.
 
I don't know the root of the issue. I was doing a 3 point turn and went lock to lock. Then it went and I was stuck in the road. It moves with a little drive forward or backwards but it's hard to turn
 
My car has the p/s cooler pipe low in the front bumper, in front of the radiator. I had to change mine last year as its in a prime position for stone chips and rust and developed a slight leak. It could be hose or union. Can you see where the leak occurred?

I also read keeping the steering held on full lock can stress the hydraulic system, I don't know if that's true or not but if it occurred on full lock then maybe it was close to failure when you bought it.
 
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This isn't going to help this particular situation but... back when I actually bought vans I would never think of buying second hand, vans unlike cars are not normally treated well and often not traded until they're well *****d. Of course price is a big issue and a new van is going to cost you double what you paid for this one.

If you do choose the reject route it's going to take time and you must not use the van at all once you formally reject it (not a problem if it doesn't work anyway). Speak to the CC company and get their advice on how to proceed before approaching the dealer.
 
The power steering hose went on mine 18 months ago dropped all its fluid £90 to repair new hose gen MB + fluid including labour, mind you it was a 18 year old E300TD it might not be as bad as you think
 
It could be something simple. Equally it could be a lot worse, like a knackered pump or even a fault on the steering rack. The point is the OP shouldn't have to fork out for a repair on something he's bought from a dealer only a week ago. That's the whole point of buying from a dealer surely, especially as he didn't use finance? You take a chance with buying privately, using a dealer should give you some degree of protection if the thing is no good.
 
I am a little concerned it could be a big issue.
The company have said it will be £50 to change to me to fix it,even tho they have not seen it...They seem to think its the pump.
 
That dealer does not inspire confidence, local reputation or not!

Were I in your shoes I would exercise consumer rights and reject it asap......but get it all things lined up possibly in luring local traading standards?
 
Box Brownie said:
That dealer does not inspire confidence, local reputation or not!

Were I in your shoes I would exercise consumer rights and reject it asap......but get it all things lined up possibly in luring local traading standards?
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Already in motion, sort of I'm expecting a call back from citizens advice Monday/tuesday
 
eeyore said:
Already in motion, sort of I'm expecting a call back from citizens advice Monday/tuesday
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You could just do a credit card charge back. They would then have to give there case to the card company why it shouldn't happen. Which the card company will not accept.
 
Most insurances have a cancellation policy too which means you'd probably lose an admin fee of £25 ish and a months tax, I'd be handing it back
 
eeyore said:
Nothing really, it needs a new Tyre and wiper blades... both I knew about
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Ok I'm a bit baffled here: why didn't the dealer sort those things out before you bought it? Because they're both potential Mot failure points. Did you get it cheaper than the going rate or something? You must have far more tolerance than me, I certainly wouldn't be happy with that sort of service from a dealer.
 
boogie man said:
Ok I'm a bit baffled here: why didn't the dealer sort those things out before you bought it? Because they're both potential Mot failure points. Did you get it cheaper than the going rate or something? You must have far more tolerance than me, I certainly wouldn't be happy with that sort of service from a dealer.
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They may just have been advisories on the last MOT. Some MOT stations will list everything that is likely to be needing attention sometime before the next MOT, whilst still being good enough to pass the current test.
 
nilagin said:
They may just have been advisories on the last MOT. Some MOT stations will list everything that is likely to be needing attention sometime before the next MOT, whilst still being good enough to pass the current test.
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Yes, I understand that. They're still going to need sorting before the next test though, so I'm surprised the dealer hasn't put them right before a sale. Neither wiper blades or a tyre is really a major expense. That's why I asked if the price was cheap, to take account of the work needed. Tbh, these dealers sound pretty dodgy, no matter what they're local rep is.
 
Some dealers operate a fast turn around system. They take a car/van in as part ex and just put it straight out on the lot, provided it has an existing MOT, barely even give it a wash.
 
Who says they haven't been sorted since the last MOT? I wouldn't worry about advisories at all, use your own eyes and common sense.

Whilst the dealers reaction isn't great, nor is the warranty by the sound of it, mechanical failures can happen anytime. I mean it has done 500 miles since or even just 10 miles. That is why it is a failure ;)
 
Guessing you had no AA / RAC / independent inspection prior to purchase? Nobody you could leverage off of to help you out?
 
It's not as simple as you rejecting the car and them giving you your money back, well, it is if they agree but they won't

You have to put it in dispute which means you can't use it until it's resolved which if it's your only vehicle can be a PITA

I'd think your best bet for a quick resolution is to get the credit card company involved if the garage won't play ball
 
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