Help..Having trouble with second hand car I just bought

princess 11

Hi everyone.

I bought a second hand Ford focus zetec a few weeks back from small dealer at his house.I paid over the odds because a new timing belt and water pump was put in before I bought it.My own car was a write off and damaged heavy floods and was written off by insurance company.

I was really stuck as I'm a lone parent who lives in a rural area and have a sick child that needs regular hospital appts so I needed transport .I told the dealer this and he found me a similar focus.I put money I had got from insurance and borrowed the rest to purchase car.

I picked up car and I rang around but no mechanic was available where I'm from to look at it so I asked my neighbour to come with me who knows the major things to look out for.

Car checked out mechanically and receipt shown for timing belt and water pump.Car was valeted and dry throughout .New tires everything.I checked the lights doors etc but I told him the passenger door window was not working but could be let down by buttons on driver side .I asked about radio and he turned it on and it worked .I wasn't been fussy but my daughter likes listening to music to calm her when she is not well.

I paid him and i got receipt .I got into car and it was in that warm weather and drove it home .The next day there was an awful smell of must almost unbearable and even when I turned windows down it did not help .Then the heavy rain came for days on end and I went to use boot and it was swimming in water.Carpet soaked ,spare wheel and liner lying in inches of water ( the water had pink colour in it ).I smelled the carpet at sides of boot at lights and it was rotten damp.I also found the carpet damp at front passenger footwell and under seat damp and smelling . The area under spare wheel is all rusted badly .The seatbelt in back seat had mould on it .I did not see it on the day as it was on the very end of seatbelt .

Sorry for the long post but when I opened the passenger door the plastic interior of door is hanging off ( Clips broken)And stereo speakers are all blown except a small one on dashboard at passenger side.I bought a speaker off Amazon for car for my daughter to listen to her music coming back from hospital appts .I didn't want to be fussy and complain as I was told there was no comeback and sold as seen and any repairs that I identify when I leave his yard I would have to pay for.

I feel so gutted and really upset all over this .I don't even want to put my daughter in car as the smell is horrific and I'm worried with her lung problem that the damp will make her chest worse and the smell is sickening. I've emptied the boot of water three times in last two weeks and removed spare tyre and carpet and underneath tyre is rusted badly .

I bought one if them air fresheners that.you turn on the air con and leave the spray on in the car for ten minutes.It helped for two days but then boot got flooded again and smell is nauseating.

I don't have any money left for repairs as I gave the dealer all I had .Can anyone please advise me as to what I can do .I am at a loss and I can't even sleep at night with worry.

Thank you everyone in advance .

Where in the country are you? Someone here might be able to recommend someone to have a look at it for you.

Maybe it is only leaking around the tail lights which should be an easy enough fix for a knowledgeable hobby mechanic or handy man.

princess 11

Hi Salonfire.Thanks for your reply.

TheChizler

Sorry for your trouble. Looking at your post history you don't seem to have much luck with old cars.

princess 11

Ha..Yes your dead right .I keep going for the focus car.Maybe it's a sign to change to some other make 😂

lawred2

I had the exact same thing with a focus. Water into the boot wheel well. Sloshes forward under braking under the rear seats.

Took a while to find where it was coming in but it was a seal that had perished by the boot hinge which I sealed up with silicone.

It's a common flaw with these focuses.

Took a while to dry it out but the smell is largely gone now.

mickdw

The fault is not the end of the world and should be an easy enough fix.

I don't understand why you would pay over the odds for the promise of a timing belt and water pump from a supposed 'dealer' who was selling the car sold as seen. There is a fairly strong chance that the belt and water pump was not done imo.

Madness to be dealing with these sold as seen merchants.

princess 11

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120883403#Comment_120883403

Hi Mick

Thanks for your reply.The dealer said on phone he did not think the water pump and belt had been done and seen as the car mechanically checked out I just wanted to be sure that belt etc was done and a receipt and it was examined and yes it was done.I paid extra because I did not want to be driving down road and an old belt snapped causing major damage.I did not have the money to go into a reputable dealer and buy a better car .If I had I would never have gone this route at all.

princess 11

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120883363#Comment_120883363

Thank you.I bought Tiger Seal silicone. Is that the best one?I'm glad you got yours sorted and the smell went.It was mistake .It was the one thing I overlooked and as I had a focus before with same problem I should have known better.I bought it in that week where it was really hot and I remember lifting boot and putting my hand on carpet and it was bone dry and there was no smell as he had valeted car and it was smelling great! We live and learn .Thanks for your reply

greasepalm

Before you go mad with the sealer , empty out boot and if you have wd40 lube up car jack if its not too rusty.

There should be rubber grommets in under spare wheel and in wheel wells to let the water drain out and i usually have a bit pushed through to let it drain out.

Have a look a boot seal for rips thinking its okay and focus for water trails around your tail lights as will leave marks where coming in.

Have somebody in the boot with a light and turn a hose on around that area and person inside should see where from.

You should know if a water pump has been replaced by the nice shiny part behind the smooth pulley.

User1998

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120883403#Comment_120883403

Its a 17 year old car. Even the best of dealer would not provide warranty on a 17 year old car.

And they were given a receipt for the timing belt being done, if thats not proof then I don’t know what is

elperello

If you can get a loan of a dehumidifier it will dry out the inside of the car.

mickdw

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120883732#Comment_120883732

Did I mention warranty. No.

My point was that dealing with these driveway dealers is worse than buying private in all circumstances.

At least buying the same car private, you might get an idea what the owner was like and get a true picture of the car. A driveway dealer will know every trick in the book and the chances of buying scrap increase dramatically.

A receipt you say...... well that's alot of use from a driveway merchant. Just about as useful as tippex on the timing cover in my opinion as I'd be willing to bet , it would be hard to pin him down should there be an issue.

princess 11

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120883594#Comment_120883594

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Thanks for reply. I took out seals at side as shown in pictures the other night but wheel well has water in it and flowing up on one of the sides towards back seat .I had taken the carpet and spare wheel out to dry put area.I just went out to car and drive up to garage to get milk and steering was pulling me to the left so I stopped car safely and realised the new tyre he said he put on it was flat as a pancake. My spare was at home .I took it out to get water out of wheel area and did not put it back in as its lashing rain here for days and I'd have to keep taking it out .I just left car up the road and walked home.God could I have any more bad luck 😣

User1998

You have a flat tyre and a small leak somewhere. Not the end of the world.

If you aren’t mechanically minded then the car needs to be seen by a professional. It was extremely foolish to leave yourself with no money for repairs after buying a 17 year old car.

princess 11

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120884563#Comment_120884563

But surely Mick there must be some sort of comeback? .He has a yard full of cars that he turns over quiet quickly and I checked his website and it had great reviews with pictures of people who bought cars standing beside them.I got a receipt with his company name on it for sale of car also.I only have car three weeks .I really was stuck for transport to get to and from weekly hospital appts .I know what your saying too but I really thought I'd gave some bit of comeback if he was a dealer rather than a private person.It states I have consumer rights if he was a dealer but not if it was a private sale at someones house.I did my best under the circumstances I was in .I just came in here to see if anyone knew if I had some comeback or how to fix car .Thanks for your reply

princess 11

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120884685#Comment_120884685

Wow..I came on here to ask for help and do you not think I'm upset enough about this .I done the best I could do and yes I made a mistake ,but I'm no fool as you say

bazz26

2k+ for a 2006 Focus, holy $hit. For that sort of money on that age of car I'd be expecting a gold standard warranty, not sold as seen - though $hit.

greasepalm

Tyres going flat after new tyres fitted are possible due to leak around a dirty rim or a faulty valve core.

I always carry a tyre pump and just plug into fag lighter to inflate..

Is boot door tight when closed or moves when pushed.

Sometimes we would drill 1/8 holes in the boot to let water flow out

princess 11

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120884764#Comment_120884764

I know. I feel so stupid .I think he knew I was desperate and I paid the extra to get the timing belt and pump done .Oh God. I just didn't have anyone to advise me properly

princess 11

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120884770#Comment_120884770

Thank you very much for reply .I took out the valves on either side near back lights thinking the water would flow out but it's not. The boot door is shutting firmly ,no movement but some water gathering on rubber at bottom of door. You your right I had a focus a few years back and that is what mechanic done. He drilled holes.

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Thanks for your help

princess 11

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120883917#Comment_120883917

Thank you.

TheW1zard

Cars of that age and price take a few quid to get right. You'll get it sorted.

princess 11

Thank you for your kind and encouraging words .

Dirty Nails

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120884703#Comment_120884703

Obviously he's a dealer if he has a website. Did you approach him? As often as not if it's only an hours labour it'll be done just to keep the peace.

It's a water leak & a radio problem. All the speakers didn't blow at once, it might only be a loose plug on the radio.

After 3 weeks the flat wheeel is hardly his fault though. And you left the spare at home.

greasepalm

Is your car an estate or 4 door as wonder if water is entering the boot door which leaks out the drain onto the seal.

User1998

Why haven’t you contacted the dealer?

newmember2

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120885012#Comment_120885012

OP if the receipt is on headed dealer paper then you purchased it from a dealer. Go back to him and tell him he sold you a car with a bad water ingress problem and he needs to fix it or you'll be taking him to the small claims court for selling you a faulty car of unsatisfactory quality.

princess 11

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120884978#Comment_120884978

Thank you .I wasn't blaming him for tyre at all .I was only frustrated as it seems one thing after another and I took out tyre because everything was soaking wet and the Jack rusted so I thought the tyre would get same way .Yes I should have put it back in .

Thanks for your advice about radio. I just don't understand what happened .The car was checked and I left a deposit and when I returned with full money a week later .I got in car .I did not check passenger side door as it was fine when I left it but now the plastic on inside of door is all loose and clips broken and when I turned on radio it was only one little speaker working on dashboard and nothing coming out of other speakers .I remembered someone telling me before about holding 3 and 6 buttons down on Ford car stereo which sets stereo into test mode and I did it and nothing coming out of all the other speakers .I really do not mind about stereo but these things were not gone when I viewed car and left deposit. I am just trying to get my head round it all .Thank you for your advice

princess 11

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120884989#Comment_120884989

It's the 5 door hatchback

princess 11

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120885012#Comment_120885012

I did not contact him straight away because he kept telling me " Car is sold as seen and I could take out a warranty for three months for another few hundred for gearbox and clutch only and anything else that went wrong with car I had to pay for it .He was adamant. I did not pay for warranty as gear box and clutch were perfect and a long nct and two new tyres .I was only really interested in the mechanical side of things and everything checked out .When i viewed car the door panel was not broken ( clips broken off it )the radio was working because I tested it and I put my hand on boot cover and it was dry and valeted . When I noticed the horrible musty smell I rang him and he said to buy a good air freshner and spray car which I can't use because of my daughters health condition.Then I noticed the boot was soaking as it has done nothing but rain during past two weeks .

princess 11

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120885109#Comment_120885109

Thank you very much. After looking up my consumer rights that's exactly what it said to do.I just didnt think I had any comeback.Thanks for giving me the correct wording to use. I will do that .He did not give me a photo copy of receipt but I told him to send it to my phone and it's on headed paper with his signature and mine.Thank you and I will do that .

Vic_08

"Sold as seen" is garbage.

It is simply not allowed for a trader to sell to any non-trade customer an item that is not of merchantable quality and this applies to second hand cars of any age bought from any dealer.

The only way to sell a car to a customer "as seen" is to clearly sell it as a non-runner for parts/repair. As I assume it was sold to you as a working car then you have rights under consumer law for it to be in a fit condition.

Go back to the dealer with a list of the issues that require attention and request that they be fixed. My advice is to put everything in writing and keep a copy for yourself, make a note of what response you get from him.

mk7r

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120883732#Comment_120883732

There is no such thing a sold as seen from a dealer, they must stand over any car for a minimum of 3 months number to bumper

User1998

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120885253#Comment_120885253

Sure, but radio issues and water ingress wouldn’t be covered under any warranty, let alone a warranty on a 17 year old car.

princess 11

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120885173#Comment_120885173

Thank you for your help .I will do that .

pooley124

Not sure if it's any help but we had a 2006 focus which used to leak into the bootlid. It came in around the trim above the number plate ( the one which hold the number plate lights and boot opening switch). I only realised it when the switch stopped working because it had filled with water.

I can't remember if the water got into the boot or was just confined to the bootlid but might be worth looking there.

bazz26

Water can get in via the rear windscreen wiper assembly on the boot hatch, it can short the boot lock too. Happened on a similar Focus I had years ago.

Inviere

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120885965#Comment_120885965

Radio issues no, but a swimming pool in the boot (and associated mold/wet seats etc) would easily be argued in the Small Claims Court that the car "is not fit for purpose, and not of merchantable quality." Slam dunk case in the Small Claims Court really. I'd be driving the car back to him, handing him over the keys, and proceeding with the court application if there's any issue with him fixing it.

princess 11

Thank you .I was advised by a previous poster to put everything in writing so I am going to do that and await a response.If I don't get a satisfactory response the car will be landed back and I will proceed to small claims court .As you stated it is not for for purpose and not of merchantable quality.After all the rain that's fallen its rotten damp and you would feel sick with the smell of must .I certainly cannot put my child in a car like that with chest problems and car is full of water again flowing to back seats again overnight after only emptying it yesterday. It is not acceptable

Thank you again

princess 11

Thank you to everyone who helped and advised me .I am very grateful to you all.

User1998

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120886183#Comment_120886183

I don’t know, the car still runs and drives perfectly. Anyway, small claims court takes around 9 months to a year so isn’t really viable in this case. But the dealer might just fix the issues to avoid the hassle.

I’d imagine its only 1 hour labour for an experienced mechanic. So it might be better to just let the seller know of the issues your having and see if he’ll sort it before threatening court action.

Inviere

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120887127#Comment_120887127

It may drive perfectly, but if it's as described, then it'd be quite easy to make a case for it not being of merchantable quality, which is what you'd expect spending 2 grand on a car from a dealer.

I agree, the dealer will likely very quickly and easily be able to fix it. If he gets in any way sticky about it though, I'd be spending the 15 euro on the SCC Application just to move him along, purely on principal.

The sale of goods and supply of services act protects customers from this type of cowboyism, and trumps whatever nonsense is written on an invoice.

princess 11

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120887280#Comment_120887280

Thank you again for great advice.I wrote an email to his business email today clearly pointing out the defects and asked him to put it in writing what he will do at no cost to me to put it right .I didn't threaten him with court . I gave him the opportunity to put it right .I used a few quotes from your posts to word it right .Thank you. I am waiting on a reply now .I am trying to remain hopeful and hope he does not keep ramming the sold as seen down my neck and that any repairs are at my expense and nothing to do with him .I forgot to mention this car was sourced from a main dealer by him because he did not have log book .He had to get it from garage he said .

princess 11

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120887127#Comment_120887127

Thanks for your reply .I have emailed him now and made him aware of issues.Thats all I want is for it to be fixed .He has not been in business long and I certainly do not want to destroy anyone reputation.I am not the type to start giving bad reviews or putting write ups on Facebook naming and shaming.I can only hope he will come good because it is very stressful.

Whocare

you sound like a complete nightmare of customer you bought old Bangor and was expecting it to be perfect the car drive stop and go what more do you want FFS . bit of water in boot and bit of smell buy a magic tree you're definitely a psychopath "spare wheel area badly rusted" are you for real extremely light surface rust going by your pictures

blade1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120887461#Comment_120887461

Harsh.

Whocare

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120887485#Comment_120887485

harsh but true

wotzgoingon

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120887461#Comment_120887461

are you for real extremely light surface rust going by your pictures

My last jap 90's car had worse rust in the boot area than that car and mine didn't leak. Just from years of driving in Irish weather must have caused it to rust.

wotzgoingon

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120887488#Comment_120887488

I agree with you get a air freshener and drill holes with the water is staying so it will drain faster. An old banger is always going to have small issues like these regarding radio and water.

When I read the first post in this thread I was expecting to hear about a bad clutch or gearbox or something serious but no just common issues from a banger.

User1998

Probably sounds a bit harsh but its not the dealers fault that your daughter has lung problems. I think for most people the car is perfectly adequate considering the age and price point.

Just a few niggly bits that need to be sorted. Engine, gearbox, clutch, brakes and suspension all seem perfect?

It seems like all that needs to be done is drill a hole in the boot floor and get some air fresheners or a dehumidifier and the problem will be mostly sorted or at least masked. Not sure about the front carpet being damp but I’m sure it would could be sorted by yourself or the dealer.