Major fault- Dealer saying write off

[freedman]

Ok, asking for some help here. I’ve seen similar issues raised but can’t find the threads

Car purchased 7 months ago, from main dealer and still under warranty

Car ground to a halt and refused to re start, or go into drive (automatic)

AA said they couldn’t deal with it, so recovered to the main dealer

Dealer called, found the fault, caused by water ingress into the electrical system. (no further details provided yet)

Dealer says not covered by warranty, car is a write off so claim on your insurance ( no details further than that yet)

The car has not been driven through a flood, at least in the current ownership.

Any advice gratefully received

Dealer principle? Resolver? CRA?

Car also had to have the EGR replaced, under warranty a month ago, and the rear light on purchase, as it was full of water (they say that’s not connected)

Car is a 2019 Volvo V90 estate

Car is financed so this is a big issue!,

[Monkeylegend]

Have you spoken to the finance company, technically it is still their car.

[Racing Newt]

Water ingress?, that would be a manufacturing fault, ie electrical system not isolated, or more likely it was in a flood somewhere last year, check the previous owners address/location, and the location of the suppling dealer.

[freedman]

Monkeylegend said:

Have you spoken to the finance company, technically it is still their car.

Good point, I’ll ask (it’s my son in laws car)

[freedman]

Racing Newt said:

Water ingress?, that would be a manufacturing fault, ie electrical system not isolated, or more likely it was in a flood somewhere last year, check the previous owners address/location, and the location of the suppling dealer.

Ok, I’ll see what I can find out

[Canon_Fodder]

It does sound like an insurance job OP

[freedman]

Canon_Fodder said:

It does sound like an insurance job OP

Why would it not be a warranty issue?

The car has thrown a fault during its warranty period

[Canon_Fodder]

Because the warranty doesn't cover water ingress.

That seems fairly obvious surely?

Are you disputing the dealer's diagnosis? If so, that's another matter...

[Saleen836]

freedman said:

Canon_Fodder said:

It does sound like an insurance job OP

Why would it not be a warranty issue?

The car has thrown a fault during its warranty period

I imagine the dealer has spoken with the warranty people informing them of their findings, warranty company realises this could be a complete wiring loom replacedment job which would ( I imagine) cost a similar amount to the value of the car so are passing the buck

[freedman]

Canon_Fodder said:

Because the warranty doesn't cover water ingress.

That seems fairly obvious surely?

Are you disputing the dealer's diagnosis? If so, that's another matter...

I can’t contest their diagnosis, yet anyway as I haven’t seen the car

Currently waiting for then to supply the technical report

I’m unsure if this a known issue with these cars, but it has had no exposure to water bar normal weather conditions in his ownership

[miniman]

Will insurance actually cover this sort of thing? I have a Discovery 4 which are prone to cranks snapping which is similar in severity (£15k fix to a £20k car) - I’ve never seen an example of insurance covering this. If there’s no evidence of where the water ingress came from in this case, why would they pay out?

[Canon_Fodder]

OP to confirm: This is a third party warranty, or the Volvo OEM warranty extended?

I assumed the former

[freedman]

Canon_Fodder said:

OP to confirm: This is a third party warranty, or the Volvo OEM warranty extended?

I assumed the former

Nope, it’s Volvo, I’m told

[Canon_Fodder]

The rear light being full of water on purchase does seem rather worrying...

I wonder if an independent inspection might be helpful?

[No ideas for a name]

freedman said:

Car purchased 7 months ago, from main dealer and still under warranty

Manufacturer's warranty (i.e. less than 3 years old) or extended/third party warranty?

freedman said:

Dealer called, found the fault, caused by water ingress into the electrical system. (no further details provided yet)

Dealer says not covered by warranty, car is a write off so claim on your insurance ( no details further than that yet)

Surely unless someone parked it in a flood and opened the doors - the electrical system should be sealed againt water ingress for normal use. If it is not, it has a manufacturing fault, or isn't fit for purpose. You don't see loads of Volvos stopped when it is raining, so it sounds more like a manufacturing fault.

The dealer can't write it off. They could possibly say it was beyond ecconomic repair. Arguably if under warranty - that is their problem, they can repair or replace it. However, assuming it is just wet, surely changing a few control modules sorts that.

Sounds like they are fobbing you off.

[Hugo Stiglitz]

Get a second professional opinion. It'll be worth trailering.

Or (honesty here) has he jet washed his engine at all? Is he the type that likes to scrub his car down? Its a slim one but odd - if it was a manufacturing fault it'd shown up alot sooner than now..

[Mazinbrum]

Wouldn’t be the first car to have a flooded ecu from not clearing leaves and dirt from the scuttle panel/drainage holes.

[dundarach]

If it were me, the issue I'd have would be trying to prove I'd not done the damage, you know you haven't, except for everyone else, you're the only ones been driving the car, therefore it must be you.

The dealer thinks you've knackered it (unless they sold you a lemon) so why should they have anything to do with it and the same for insurance and finance company etc.

Therefore if it were me, I'd be collecting information on when and where you've driven in the 7 months if you can.

My google phone (which I take out almost always) tracks everything, I'd be making a list (which is long and boring) of all journeys since buying the car, where and when.

I'd be considering whether there is anything you might have actually driven through which could have flooded the car, for example don't think there's any fords around here and google would show in the 7 months I've mostly been in and around these parts etc.

See what the finance company says and let us know.

Google maps history and I imagine apple are really useful for things like this. Yes they might argue you left your phone at home, however given probability of you choosing to leave phone at home and then go drive through a ford is pretty slim really.

[freedman]

Hugo Stiglitz said:

Get a second professional opinion. It'll be worth trailering.

Or (honesty here) has he jet washed his engine at all? Is he the type that likes to scrub his car down? Its a slim one but odd - if it was a manufacturing fault it'd shown up alot sooner than now..

No, he’s definitely never jet washed it, anywhere, let alone the engine bay

Oddly, it seems they are saying the damage is something to do with the near side rear quarter. Which is where the battery lives (think)

Edited by freedman on Friday 22 December 15:51

[No ideas for a name]

freedman said:

No, he’s definitely never jet washed it, anywhere, let alone the engine bay

Oddly, it seems they are saying the damage is something to do with the near side rear quarter. Which is where the battery lives (think)

Edited by freedman on Friday 22 December 15:51

How can they say water damage to that area can make the vehicle beyond economic repair?

How old is it? You said it was a Volvo warranty, is that original or extended?

ETA: I need to learn to read - OP said it was 2019.

Edited by No ideas for a name on Friday 22 December 16:46