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Motors What are my available options (bought a naff car)

Discussion in 'General' started by profqwerty, 29 Jan 2013.

  1. profqwerty

    profqwerty What's a Dremel?

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    Hi Guys,

    Been a while since I posted on here, been reading a bit but work now uses up all my time :(

    I bought a used car (Jeep Grand Cherokee) from a definite dodgy dealer, dude with some rented car park space in an industrial estate. Anyway he's got plenty of stock and a brand name and everything so not too sketchy.

    He claimed to have been using the car generally and it certainly looked that way, generally dirty. When we test drove it it was fine, all status stuff OK, seems a bit slow to accelerate but I've never driven one before I assume that's how they are (only ever had an old Defender beforehand)

    Then the next morning it was started up the check engine light's on and it's the P1762, gearbox pressure sensor / solenoid. doing some research, it seems this light comes on after 3 consectutive failures - ie after 3 putting it into drives. So one might assume that it is coincidence, or one might assume that the OBD was 'cleared' just before we took it for a test drive.

    Also to note, the guy was driving it around on its old plates that had already been registered to another car (didn't realise this before trying to search for it on insurance DB) weeks before (highly illeagal in this country!).

    So my question is:
    Do I have any legal recourse to this guy? There was a scribbled receipt stating no warranty sold as is, but if there was a deliberate attempt to cover it up..?

    Obviously it's my fault for buying a cheap Jeep without extensive testing, but the cost is mostly eatable, and to get it repaired isn't tooooo expensive, however it would be nice to get shot of it too at this rate :lol:
     
  2. mrbungle

    mrbungle Undercooked chicken giver

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    AFAIK you won't have any come back.
     
  3. srgtherasta

    srgtherasta Minimodder

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    Last edited: 29 Jan 2013
  4. Krikkit

    Krikkit All glory to the hypnotoad! Super Moderator

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    Have a read of the various regulations etc here:

    http://www.tradingstandards.gov.uk/advice/problemswithvehicles-sum6.cfm

    http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/engla...nsumer_problems_with_the_car_you_bought_e.htm

    The car should be basically fit for purpose, the "No warranty" stuff dodgy dealers try and put out is completely without merit. In this case go back down there and get him to take the car back, as it's been sold with a serious fault. He will probably try and say he's a private seller, at which point it gets a bit technical. Worst case put it on eBay and hope.
     
  5. benji2412

    benji2412 <insert message here>

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    Doesn't the sale of good act cover this in the durability clause? Or is that only for brand new goods? Worth a look mate.
     
  6. profqwerty

    profqwerty What's a Dremel?

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    Hmm lots of interesting reading there thank you! I'm pretty sure it didn't get mentioned in any previous MOTs but will double check that soonish.

    The least hassle route is getting the guy to pay for the fixes so will attempt that one first, quoting all those various rules and regulations and potential fines :naughty:
     
  7. Ending Credits

    Ending Credits Bunned

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    From what I've seen there's been a crackdown on used car sales recently so you may well be in luck.
     
  8. Marvin-HHGTTG

    Marvin-HHGTTG CTRL + SHIFT + ESC

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    On top of what's already been said, you could have recourse even if it was a private sale. While no warranty or whatever is required in a private sale, should the seller deliberately cover up known faults (basically, lie), then you do have recourse. Of course the issue is proving it...
     
  9. benji2412

    benji2412 <insert message here>

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    If the light is meant to come on after three fails was it? You shouldn't drive it anymore, because hopefully you'll have on your receipt the mileage when you bought it. That way you should be able to prove you've only driven it once - home and as an automatic you'd only need to put it into drive twice at the most (the day you bought it to drive it home and the next morning to discover the fault).
     
    Last edited: 29 Jan 2013
  10. Burnout21

    Burnout21 Mmmm biscuits

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    Sounds like a transmission has hardly been serviced with regular oil changes. Most likely it went 60-70K on rough fluid, then this pikey dealer serviced it which oddly causes more trouble at that point.

    Old transmission fluid gums up in the filter of the sump, starving most of the gearbox even if shows plenty of fluid on the dip stick. When fresh fluid is added at a service it knocks a lot of the deposits loose and they float around looking for trouble.

    You can of course drop the pan and clean up filter/strainer replace the solenoid and be trouble free, however if you find gummy doom in the sump, I would run the box for 500 miles or so and then do another service of dropping the sump to clean it up.

    What engine you go for? V8? check the oil pressure by pulling the sender and putting a true gauge on there to see if its got correct pressure. My guess is if the gearbox has been neglected then engine oil has most likely been forgot about as well. Bottom end can wear pretty quickly with poor oil pressure, so check that out!
     
  11. profqwerty

    profqwerty What's a Dremel?

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    It's got 58k miles on the clock. 2001 limited WJ model, with 4.0L I6 engine (didn't really see any V8s around), and I believe RE42 gearbox. The oil pressure gauge is reading just over middle when cruising, volts always looks solid (no electrical issues touch wood).

    It's booked in for the garage to get the sump off and replace the solenoid / sender already. Sadly I don't have time / space to do such a job myself right now which's really annoying! They should figure out the condition of the oil though.

    There seems to be a ton of cheap mod parts for this car in the states so hopefully will be having some fun with it!
     
  12. mrlongbeard

    mrlongbeard Multimodder

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    Unless you're getting an engineers report you've shot yourself in the foot having it looked at by another garage (I;m assuming another garage and not the original)
    All dodgy seller has to say is that they caused the damage whilst in there, then you've got to try and prove otherwise.....
     
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  13. profqwerty

    profqwerty What's a Dremel?

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    It was examined by a Jeep specialist garage who determined it to be in generally fit / sound condition except for the gearbox issue (thinking about it they would've changed the oil too - shall ask them what the condition of it was). But the fix procedure isn't happening til Thursday so have some time.

    Original wasn't a 'garage' more a dude in a parking lot...
     
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  14. Krikkit

    Krikkit All glory to the hypnotoad! Super Moderator

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    I wouldn't be surprised if the box is a "sealed for life" unit which doesn't actually have scheduled oil changes, despite their advantages.
     
  15. Guinevere

    Guinevere Mega Mom

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    You could never prove he was aware of a fault and it seems like he gave you every opportunity to check it all over before purchase.

    I think it's one to chalk up to experience and to keep your fingers crossed there isn't something bigger waiting in the wings for you.
     
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  16. Krikkit

    Krikkit All glory to the hypnotoad! Super Moderator

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    But the onus is on the vendor to ensure a vehicle is fit for sale - viewing as a laymen you are absolved of expectations of technical inspection - go back with a load of rusty bits on the outside or a big key mark down the flank and it's on you, but the rest is up to the seller. In this case a gearbox fault that manifests itself a day down the line of ownership is his responsibility to sort, within reasonable expense.
     
  17. Burnout21

    Burnout21 Mmmm biscuits

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    not those auto's buddy, they need oil changes, usually 20-30K but still needed.
     
  18. mrbungle

    mrbungle Undercooked chicken giver

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    One of the big things nobody has mentioned here is how hard it is to get dealers to comply with this when you do have a written warranty let alone when you have been told at the point of sale there is no warranty (whether this is legal or not it shows the sellers stance of the situation).

    Then what do you do? Take legal action?

    Prob not over a 2nd hand car.
     
  19. Xir

    Xir Modder

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    You can always ASK him to pay for the replacement, but getting paid if he doesn't want to could become a royal pain.
    If you got a good deal on it you might just swallow it...
    's what I did on my Alfa, the deal was so sweet I calculated in some slight expenses (and had them as well)
     
  20. jinq-sea

    jinq-sea 'write that down in your copy book' Super Moderator

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    I recall my father having an issue like this some years ago. I'll try and have a word with him to see what he ended up doing - I know he got at least something back from the 'garage'
     

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