Car Dealer being awkward (What would you do?)

Warbeastrior

Hey. Just wondering what people's opinions would be on my situation.

I bought a car from a relatively small dealership in mid June. I bought it the day after it had passed its NCT actually.

I was given a 6 month warranty but immediately started having issues. The car was missing while I accelerated and the battery was gone in one of the electric windows.

I brought it back to them and they sorted it for me and the warranty covered it.

Fast forward another three weeks or so and another issue arose. A knocking sound in the engine on the passenger side whenever I turn the car on and it stops after about 10 seconds. I brought it to them and they took a look and said that it was an issue that required a part but they had to order it.

This is where the issue starts. A few weeks went by and I heard nothing from them so I called them. The receptionist said that the owner would call me but no call came. In total, I've called and been told by the receptionist that the owner will call me now four times, the latest being last Monday and alas still no call. I've tried to land down a few times to them but the owner wasn't in.

I've since found out that their mechanic has walked out on them so the owner is working through the backlog by himself but only works in the garage in the morning as he has to work in the office in the afternoon.

I'm currently on four months of my six month warranty.

A few people have told me to look into a solicitor or to tell them that I'll get another garage to sort it and to send them the bill.

I can understand a backlog but to be waiting on work now for 10 weeks and to not even get a call (that I was promised 4 times) from the owner is quite poor.

I'm also wary that the length of time that I'm driving around with this issue may cause other issues in the future when the warranty has expired.

Any advice?

Thanks

mickdw

They are just shuffling you along towards warranty end.

Record everything in emails to the garage with day and date of when issue started.

If no response' get solicitor to do same and get advice re best way forward.

Warbeastrior

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118001026#Comment_118001026

Thanks for advice. I'll do that.

mickuhaha

Bring the car to a main dealer and get them to check the car from bumper to bumper of work that needs doing. Then you will have a dated list of work that will have to e covered by warranty.

bazz26

They are just stringing you along. Don't get another garage to fix the issues because you can be sure the garage you bought the car from won't reimburse you and you give them the perfect excuse to wash their hands of it.

Magown3

What part did they order or did they tell you?

To be honest, if I liked the car and the part/repair was cheap like less than 200 quid, I'd just pay for it myself elsewhere and be done with it.

I know they should be covering it but the stress and anguish of getting them to do it just isn't worth it for yourself.

Plus, not having it repaired sooner rather than later may mean other parts of the engine are being compromised, thus reducing engine life/performance.

Warbeastrior

Thanks folks for the replies.

Rang again today and turns out he has Covid so as he's the only one working on the cars atm, there will be absolutely no progress for the next two weeks at least

Magown3

I bet it's not the first time he's had Covid

Tzardine

Detail everything in an email to them. A nice long timeline with exact dates/times of every contact you had with them. Stop dealing with them by phone now.

Give them a week or two to make good. If no joy then get the issues sorted in another reputable garage. Get a couple of quotes, go with the cheapest.

Then bring original garage to the small claims court to cover cost of repairs.

Warbeastrior

Ill have to do something like that.

Getting ridiculous now.

mickdw

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118012228#Comment_118012228

Every day that you are happy to be fobbed off on the phone, is a day your hand gets weaker.

Stop ringing them. Put all in writing or you will be at loss.

They are laughing about you without a doubt. If you are happy with that, carry on.

kravmaga

OP., just leave the, negative reviews on all social media platforms, if the garage is on Facebook, Google review, trust pilot, Yelp, go public and name and shame the garage. As another poster said Id go to a main dealer and get a top to toe survey done of the engine.

What year is the car and what is the make and model by the way?

Warbeastrior

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118016756#Comment_118016756

Its a 151 Seat Ibiza FR

Magown3

do you know what part was ordered?

Are you in Dublin? I could scan for fault codes if you're nearby.

Lantus

I'd agree in getting it repaired yourself somewhere else at this stage and moving forwards. You are 4 plus weeks off getting your car back minimum. If not much longer.

Better a few hundred on the repair than the bottomless pit of legal fees to achieve nothing.

kravmaga

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118021647#Comment_118021647

Scores 4 out of 5 on Autoexpress UK Review.

The FR looks like ths Sporty higher spec version also.

https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/seat/ibiza

Warbeastrior

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118022186#Comment_118022186

Thanks for the offer but I'm in the North West.

Warbeastrior

Thanks everyone for the replies.

I am going to email them anyway outlining my displeasure along with a timeline of events.

There is a Skoda/Seat dealer close by that could do the top to toe scan of the engine for any issues.

Henry Ford III

Emailing them will probably be a waste of time.

A solicitors letter might sharpen their focus however.

Warbeastrior

Just an update folks.

The car was taken in and the knocking sound has been rectified.

In the 15 weeks, I had the EPC light come on after taking off which meant I couldn't accelerate over 50km/h or so. Both times I had to pull in and then restart the car which sorted the issue.

Dealer plugged car in to check for faults but none were showing up.

My question is; Is the EPC light coming on necessarily a sign of a fault? Or could it just be telling me that the traction on a specific take off wasn't great etc?

Thanks

mickdw

What was the knocking sound?

Depending on car, epc could possibly have different functions but the last Audi I had with EPC light only came on as a fault.