Discussion
Sorry to resurrect this thread from the dead... but it's my thread and I'll cry if I want to, etc.
So, I'm now 3000 miles or so post-rebuild. The car had its oil change, a 24000 mile service, and a checkup just after it recently drank a *lot* of oil in one go.
No more oil has been used, and I retrieved the car from Brundle on Tuesday.
Tonight, Thursday, driving out of Tesco's car park, the engine developed a loud metallic knocking noise somewhere in the top bit of the engine. I suspect camshaft or valvegear, but I'm strictly an armchair mechanic, so what do I know?
Anyway, it's been trailered to Brundle a-fecking-gain.
I'm beginning to wonder if this car is ever going to stop taking the piss, and whether Brundle are ever going to compensate me for all this bloody comedy.
And even if the damn car did work, the second hand values are down the drain, so it's not worth selling.
Not so much a Friday car, more an April 1st car.
Manifold gasket, aparrently. They've just had the temerity to quote me a price to fix it! Ha ha, how I laughed. I pointed out how recently they rebuilt the engine, and how it would seem surprising for a gasket to fail so soon under those circumstances.
Warranty claims will be investigated. Funny that.
Seethe.
Jesus!
They're not doing themselves any favours, are they? Whatever happens, persist. You paid good money for that car and if they don't fix it, that's their problem. Too many people take too much sh*t and they end up paying for it big time.
Thankfully, from what I've read of your earlier postings, this is advice you don't need.
Good on you.
Edited by cockers on Friday 23 March 13:11
AT least it was only a manifold gasket and not engine out back to tvr power till they find time to do somthing with it....
still not good... one of mine has just started blowing less than 12 months after broughtons replaced it... and it does sound like valve gear untill you feel the blow on the manifold, after burning your hand twice...
G
The manifold gasket is something I should have thought of, having heard it mentioned on here enough times.
Trouble was, it's been described on here as a "ticking noise", and the thing I heard sounded like a metallic knocking noise, a.k.a. a loose thingumy somewhere.
How exactly do we come up with a common set of terms for what things are meant to sound like? :-) Perhaps a directory of sound samples somewhere, along with the term to describe the noise?
...praising, but only briefly.
It's a week since the manifold gasket went.
And now... the engine has managed to shift so far on its mounts (presumably twisting when revved), that the pully near the middle coolant expansion tank has worn its way through the aluminium pipe mounted on the back of the tank.
So... guess what. It's on a fecking trailer again, on its way back to Brundle.
So, to replace a manifold gasket, or two, what does one have to do to the engine & exhaust system? Drop or lift or move one or the other or both, no?
Marshy, long may your fight continue, don't give up until you have achieved a sucessful outcome, don't let the ba****ds grind you down. I am considering the small claims court if I don't have any joy on Tues 3 Apr (going to see Robin Bastard - sorry Brundle with my insurance company engineer to hopefully sort this one out, that is, assuming I can get the car there, Insurance is a bit of a problem at the moment, no one will touch the car because I am unhappy with the repair!! Bugger!!). If anyone has ever used the small claims court and can offer advice...I'm here waiting (fffil@hotmail.com please).
Sale of Goods act only doesn't seem to have so many teeth when you're 8 months down the road.
Trading Standards said that my first port of call had to be the finance company anyway, since they're technically the owners of the car.
It's tempting to write them a letter, I must say, but I don't know what they'll say.
Has anyone ever rejected a car this long after purchase? I did it once after three or four months, one dent, and 7000 miles, but those circumstances were different: I discovered some majorish accident involvement in its past.
Nightmare man, this is the kind of thing nobody wants to hear. from what i have heard of certain dealers!! i think starting the small claims court line ect is just going to mean a vindictivly poor service rather than just a poor service. have you tried the please help me get the car sorted all i want is a car that works. i dont want to try leagal action cos that will be a pain but that is what every one is telling me to do..
APart from the crap dealer service are you actualy happy with the car or do you hate it ? is the car crap or is it just the dealer making things worse when they attempt to fix things..
if its just the dealer i would be tempted to cut my losses and take the car somewhere else ( probably an independant) and bite the bullet and get them to play with it.. ( although there maybe too much cash tied up with things)
As long as you believe the car can be sorted and you intend to keep it long enough to make it worth while, its got to be better to end up eith a sorted car at some point.
when you way things up remember to cost in the stress and hastle of dealing with a dealer who in your experience is a load of sh1t..
I could be talking a load of cobblers and if you think so thats fine, but only trying to give you an alternative...
Graham W
I don't think the car is fundamentally bad:-
It needed the engine rebuilt, which was either the car or previous owner's fault.
Then the manifold gasket(s): could be a part fault or dealer rebuild fault.
The latest problem was a broken engine mount: I guess that could be a faulty part or a dealer cock-up too.
So, whatever. I am going to move my business, but only when I'm not dependent on Brundle for work that falls under their own warranty, rather than the WH warranty on the overall car.
Brundle ! I'm starting to cringe when i hear the name. Small claims.. its all red tape & takes ages. This shoddy dealer story crops up too much. We need a posse of 50 tivs prepared to vent a full tank's worth of 100db+ outside brundles, every week for as long as it takes. Then we move onto the other shoddy outfits. Count me in :/
quote:Marshy, I know of someone who bought a Tuscan via finance - they have had problems with it (no really!) and called in the finance company, as the car technically belongs to them it's in their interests to presurise the dealer. In this case, apparently, the finance company did a great job of getting things resolved. Mike
It's tempting to write them a letter, I must say, but I don't know what they'll say.
I once had a problem with the paint on a Vauxhall Senator from new, came out in blotches within 6 months of purchase. Vauxhall didn't want to know until I sent the keys to the finance company with a letter explaining why the direct debit had been cancelled.
Bit drastic, but it worked for me. Its their car until its paid for, its in their interest to get it sorted.
Ah well, er, yes.
The excessive oil consumption (the investigation of which triggered the rebuild) is still there, and possibly worse than before.
So it's about to go back, tomorrow, for the dealer to cast their expert eye over.
Only trouble is... the fuel pump has just given up the ghost, or is on its last legs, at least. I'm therefore not able to drive the car there, and their trailer isn't available until sometime into the next eon or two. So, roll on the RAC. Again. Let's hope they don't knacker the paintwork any more than they already have.
Sigh.
Well keep up the spirits and keep up the pressure, gotta get fixed in the end. You really do seem to have had some really bad luck with car/dealer. I'm picking up a used Griff soon and I have to say I find your story pretty disturbing (although have only heard good things about my dealer). All the best with it and keep us updated with how things go.
Driller
Driller,
To be honest, I think my experiences have been atypical. I think I just happened to buy the biggest lemon made in 1997...
In my time reading pistonheads, it's become clear that most people have had a far better time than I. Certainly some "character" is to be expected - I just got unlucky.
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