Warranty Advice (please)

[Minimad5]

Require some advice in regards to Car Warranties, please.

Basically the story goes like this:

I bought a V70 (second hand) from an ex Volvo Dealership, which came with a 3 month warranty.
The dealership has had the car a number of times, and although been pretty slow (took over a month to fit a rear wiper motor), with piss poor customer service - The faults in the end have been rectified, all apart from one. This being a reoccurring fault "Engine Service Required" , which has popped its head back up.
Now the interesting part !

I took the car back (again) on Friday the 13th and they popped in the diagnostics and showed me a fault Boost Pressure Solenoid / Valve, when previously they have said "No faults stored".
So they clear the fault and have a fiddle with things, and tell me to go on my way and book it in if it happens again, which it does.
So in it goes on Wednesday and they clean out the problem item, and apparently check some stuff.

Now me being a bit of a nosey b*stard, i chat to the 'technician' in charge, rather than the annoying parts / servicing guy, and he mutters words about not changing the part because it is expensive and may not actually be the fault.
Anyway i am fobbed off again and told to bring it back if it happens again, so in it is going tomorrow, now here is my fear ....

The warranty expires next week, and I’m pretty close to hitting the mileage limit of the warranty too, but my understanding is that the problem has been acknowledged by the shoddy garage BEFORE the warranty has expired.
So do they have to adhere to any rule / regulation and repair it until 'fit for purpose' , or can they legally fob me off again and tell me how the warranty has expired etc etc ?

All advice gratefully received

(all modern cars are shit etc)

[Parky]

Check the small print - a lot of these warranties cover major mechanical issues, and not electrical faults. They might pull the old "not a warranty item" clause.

 

If not clear, clarify this point with the dealer asap

[Minimad5]

Don't think it is an electrical fault Parky, but more a part fault as the Valve / solenoid is getting correct voltage (Said the technician)

[Mr_Bo11ox]

They defo will try to fob you off once the warranty expires. Get them to acknowledge they are responsible for sorting the problem, which has been brought to their attention during the warranty period, properly. if you're taking it in for the third time the problem is clearly going to be back a 4th time very soon. If they won't take responsibility for actually making an attempt to repair it rather than just clearing the fault code and crossing thier fingers that it lasts for a week and a half, I reckon you should be prepared to leave the car with them, until they do fix it.

 

How old is this car? And when you say ex volvo dealership, is it now no longer a volvo dealer, i.e. an independent? If so is it thier own warranty or some shitty 3rd party effort? If the latter forget it and fix it yourself.

[Minimad5]

Thanks Bol'

Yeah that is what i plan to do - leave the car with them until properly repaired, which will inconvenience me massively as they have no courtesy car !

Car in question is 2005, and yes dealership is now an independant.
As for warranty itself, i believe it is there own as i was 'reliably' informed when i asked that question.

[New POD]

The 3 month warranty is a vague translation of the SOGA which requires that goods should fulfil the expectations, and typically it's expected that 3 months would be reasonable.  Although a court would decide what is actually reasonable.

 

So whilst there might be only 1 week left of the vague warranty, the fault has clearly been there from the start, and any visit to the small claims court would find in your favour.  I'd be asserting, that as they seem to have proved they haven't the skill to fix it,  you'll take it to a specialist (ie a main dealer) and send them the bill, if they fail to fix it once and for all, this one last time.

 

I would give this in a letter to the boss, when you drop the car off.  Be polite. Be Positive. Tell them you have taken legal advise, but you just want to resolve it without resorting to taking them to court.

[Bobthebeard]

The 3 month warranty is a vague translation of the SOGA which requires that goods should fulfil the expectations, and typically it's expected that 3 months would be reasonable.  Although a court would decide what is actually reasonable.

 

So whilst there might be only 1 week left of the vague warranty, the fault has clearly been there from the start, and any visit to the small claims court would find in your favour.  I'd be asserting, that as they seem to have proved they haven't the skill to fix it,  you'll take it to a specialist (ie a main dealer) and send them the bill, if they fail to fix it once and for all, this one last time.

 

I would give this in a letter to the boss, when you drop the car off.  Be polite. Be Positive. Tell them you have taken legal advise, but you just want to resolve it without resorting to taking them to court.

In theory the above is correct. In reality expect years of prevaricating and legal ping pong. It may work. In truth it probably wont TBH.

[New POD]

Yeah, all I'm saying is, give them ONE last chance, formally, and then get someone else to fix it.  That way you have a car that works, you have given them the opportunity, and you have the ammunition to force them to pay if you decide that it's worth it.

[Squire_Dawson]

The 3 month warranty is a vague translation of the SOGA which requires that goods should fulfil the expectations, and typically it's expected that 3 months would be reasonable.  Although a court would decide what is actually reasonable.

 

So whilst there might be only 1 week left of the vague warranty, the fault has clearly been there from the start, and any visit to the small claims court would find in your favour.  I'd be asserting, that as they seem to have proved they haven't the skill to fix it,  you'll take it to a specialist (ie a main dealer) and send them the bill, if they fail to fix it once and for all, this one last time.

 

I would give this in a letter to the boss, when you drop the car off.  Be polite. Be Positive. Tell them you have taken legal advise, but you just want to resolve it without resorting to taking them to court.

 

This. ^^

 

It seems like they've sold you a car which was 'unfit for purpose' with faults present at time of sale. If still unsure get in touch with Honest John with the facts and he'll give you a straight answer.

[Minimad5]

Thanks a lot for taking time in reading and replying guys, much appreciated.

Dropped the car off this morning and got 'fucked off' i think the technical word is, when i asked for a courtesy car (again), turns out they do have one .... which they gave to a paying customer, as his needs were greater than mine.

Anyway !
I told them not to ring me today, and only contact me when it has been repaired properly, i also questioned about the highlighted repair when the warranty expires, to which he muttered "Engine service required" could be a host of things, and began spouting bullshit.
Also asked him to supply me with full details and dates, of when the car has been in and for what as "I may require it if i wish to seek legal advice" , this apparently will be given when i pick the car back up.

And with that i left with our company Director in his AMG C63 (what a noise !)

As for drafting up a letter, i will ask someone with legal knowledge on the matter as i don't want to make things worse for myself.
Thanks again