Hi everyone, just a quick question regarding a vehicles warranty...

Basically, a friend bought a car off an Independant Audi dealer in west london...guy seemed legit enough...had LOADS of Audi's etc etc...and has been established for around 15-20years...all sounds good...

Bought an Audi A2 off them....came with 3months warranty on it...within a month, she had to renew the front tyres (which were worn very unevely which points to the shocks being faulty)...dealer paid for tyres not a problem. The shocks however were NOT changed and I suspect they still could be faulty!

Next problem - Power steering pump turned faulty...the car drove with power steering on and off intermittantly....this time, the dealer recommended a garage to take the car to...one of his friends or relatives garage! Thought fair enough...took them over a week and around 8-10 journeys back and fourth to the garage (which aint exactly close!)...

A steering angle sensor and a power steering pump later, the problem seems to have cured....

Now, after ALL of this running around...and the fact my mate spent £6k on a car that obviously aint working right a month down the road (Even though it passed an MOT just before it was sold to her!!)...she has been put out of having a car...having to catch buses to work etc....The dealer as a good-will gesture doesnt have the common decency to extend her warranty!

What I need to know, is the work that has been carried out on her vehicle by the mechanics, is it covered under warranty for the next year as per normal warranties? Or is it void after the 3months have passed??

Also, with warranties, can we take it to a garage of our choice rather than what the dealer recommends sending it to? As im REALLY not happy about the shocks situation either and have had 3 people including myself say the shocks have gone...but the dealer and his mechanic are saying they are fine...

Sorry for a long winded thread...just need to know where we stand

bassboy

 

In my experience they try get out of it. I'm actually suprised they changed the tyres as they could of hit you with the old chestnut your mate had knocked the tracking out. As for taking it to an independant garage i don't think they would honour the bill it could be worth paying for an independant report but not repairs then consider either trying to resolve it or go to trading standards. I'm sure the warranty should be upheld for issues that arise in the first 3 months till they are resolved but new issues after the three months wouldn't be covered. Any parts replaced could have a manufactors warranty anyway with a bit of luck but the tyres won't be covered if worn due to tracking shocks or any other faults.

 

Yeah the tyres/shocks arent much of a concern at the moment

I just want to firstly make sure we are covered for a years warranty on the parts the mechanic has fitted already... as the dealer has refused point blank to extend the warranty

And secondly, as its a third party warranty service...I want to take the vehicle to another mechanics and have the shocks changed under warranty...but not sure if I can and get the warranty people to pay out for it?

bassboy

 

If it is third party warranty best bet is to phone them. I know it aint a great thing to have to do but are the shocks that expensive i mean it could work out cheaper replacing them than wrecking another set of tyres plus safety implications etc. Try trading standards the car should of been sold fit for purpose if it has safety defects which the steering definetly is then in my opinion it isn't fit for purpose.

 

You gave the dealer the opportunity to fix it and they fixed it? In fairness to the dealer, they've done what they're supposed to.

If you don't have an MOT advisory slip from when the dealer had it done, check online to see if the shocks or tyres were listed. If they were [obviously they sorted the tyres] then you can try and claim the shocks were an inherent fault and ask them to pay for/towards fixing? It's worth a shot.

As for the 3rd party warranty, ring the warranty company up and ask where you can take the car and get a claim number BEFORE getting any work carried out.

I would be VERY surprised if a "serviceable" item like a shock absorber would be covered under a used car warranty.

Whatever happens, you have to give the dealer the opportunity to fix it. If you take it somewhere else and retrospectively demand money from them [if they know what they're doing] then you're entitle to and should get, nothing.

Good luck and let me know how you get on!

 

Unless genuine parts where fitted there isn't any warranty with the repairs, try black horse warranty, I used to deal with them when I was a warranty auditor

 

In simple terms it makes f**k all difference what the dealer says, the LAW gives you 6 months warranty on major components, this isn't debatable it is the law, the ONLY exception to this rule is if you got the car at a huge discount due to faults being declared.
Basic sales of good act, "must be of merchatable quality", this does not of course cover fair wear and tear, tyres, pads wipers etc.
The dealer will no doubt deny this as it's only a law, not something they are usually bothered about.
tabetha