Frustrated, Desperate and Confused

LacticAthlete

Car broke down two weeks ago, game over, need a new car.

Bought an 04 Opel Corsa from a Tyre Centre in Naas for 1500 on monday. Car working fine, passed NCT 2 weeks previous. Low Mileage, took it for test drive, worked fine. Even left for an hour and came back and started again etc. Bought the car.

That evening, car fails to start but starts on second try. Following morning, doesnt start at all. Battery seems fine, it cranks over but won't start.

Towed to a local mechanic. That was Tuesday Morning. It is now Friday evening and they have been fobbing me off and telling me it will be fixed this evening, later today etc. So far, they couldnt get into the ECU?? as the throttle was "speaking" to it. they have replaced the throttle body and the car started, they started it a few times and in the end they left it cool down for a few hours and they couldn't start it this evening.

I havent got a breeze about cars, im getting frustrated now.

Did i get mugged off by the seller? Am i know getting mugged off by the mechanic?

Can anyone shed any light on this?

Four Phucs Ache

Sorry to hear your troubles but from what I understand :

1.you viewed and bought a nearly 13 year old car which at the time was working
2.it has now broken down
3.you gave it to a local mechanic to diagnose and fault find the issue.
4.they have replaced parts but issue remains
5.you don't mention contacting the seller which appears to be a business
6.it's OK to be frustrated

I would have contacted the seller first as it's very possible there was an intermittent problem with the car as you mention the ECU wasn't talking to their diagnostics set up.

It does happen though.I bought a well cared for car off my uncle a few years ago and 2 days later it broke down.

Contact the seller would be what I would do next

LacticAthlete

Thanks for the reply, you're speaking some sense!

First thing i did was to contact the seller, he has fairly poor English. But he basically said that it was working fine and that it wasn't going to be the battery or the throttle body. He in fairness rang me back and seems willing to chat about it and also offered to look at the car( i have no way of getting it to him)

I also offered the mechanics that the car is in now the chance to chat to the seller but he wasn't interested.

Badly need to have it for work next week!

Four Phucs Ache

Well, this is extremely ironic but I am now waiting on a tow. Hah !

I'm not messing.


My wipers have stopped working.

Like I said , things happen.

Fook.

LacticAthlete

Ah christ, what luck!

Just an update on this, got the code sheet from the lads earlier,

Apparently they are now going to look at "P0120 TPS SENSOR SWITCH A CIRCUIT LOW INPUT"

blinded by science here

LacticAthlete

Ah christ, what luck!

Just an update on this, got the code sheet from the lads earlier,

Apparently they are now going to look at "P0120 TPS SENSOR SWITCH A CIRCUIT LOW INPUT"

blinded by science here

Four Phucs Ache

Yep.The wiper arm disconnected itself from the motor so no wipers and it was lashing.
Waited over an hour till it stopped raining and got home.Just got it fixed now with a friend.

Your code is the throttle position sensor.It should have a specified voltage and the cars ECU has noted a lesser voltage and can put the car in to safe mode or may not start at all.
The mechanic should know what to do, check connections etc but more than likely it may need to be replaced.It tells the engine what the accelerator position is and is a common fault on many cars .Some break and some don't.

Good luck !