Pig in a Poke

[Mickthepieman]

Hi all, Just taken my car to the garage for a timing belt and service, was told that the engine is Fu&* only got the car last week from green-Isle motors Dublin.

Should have got the car checked out , A very expensive mistake on my part.

[Dave]

Mick, I reckon the whole deal is a bit dodge, they sold you a car that was not of merchantable quality, they are liable and you should get a full refund or a car of equal value, I would call them up and say it to them, I would also talk to a solicitor if I were you, you wouldn't have this recourse if you bought the car privately, this is the same car that's registered as a 98 when in fact it looks more like a 95, if i were you I would check your chasis number against the link Bernard posted, that should give you a proper idea of when exactly it was produced, you could also use this against them...

[steelroe]

what exactly did they say was wrong with the engine. Any specifics.

[steelroe]

If you only bought it last week and engine is knackered, I would say big mistake on their behalf selling you a dodgy vehicle. Before doing anytihng I would go back to them with specifics and see what their reaction is.

I dont think they would have a leg to stand on legally for a vehicle only lasting 1 week into sale.

Dont mention legal route unless you are getting nowhere with them.

[Mickthepieman]

Hi lads,

Thanks for the help, my head is in bits at the moment will take your advice should have done more home work as they say.

[Dave]

Still though Mike,you wouldnt expect to buy a car from a dealer and theengine is dodgey, look on the bright side that you caught it now and it's not six months down the line when you wouldn't have a leg to stand on.

[Wildhound]

Absolute worst coming to absolute worst, you could always replace the engine yourself. I managed to pick one up for 600 quid and it took about 3 weekends to do the job. If you happen to have a garage or even ramp access you could do it a LOT quicker.

[Bernard]

Hi all, Just taken my car to the garage for a timing belt and service, was told that the engine is Fu&* only got the car last week from green-Isle motors Dublin.

Changing the timing belt is a big enough job, shouldn't that have been done before you bought it?

[stevec]

Sorry to hear that mick,

Wouldn't worry though, you should be well covered under sale of goods act.

some questions for you:
Was it a 'normal' sale, i.e. not a trade sale?
Do you have an invoice?
Is there anything listed on the invoice that says the car has specific faults?
Have you used the car for anything other than would be considered 'reasonable use'?

It doesn't matter if the garage says that there's no warranty, under the law they have to either repair, replace, or refund.

Timing belt would not be covered under this as it would be considered a wear item. The engine being 'knackered' would though.

Any more details on whats wrong with it?

[Myfeckin FTO]

what exactly did they say was wrong with the engine. Any specifics.

As per Steelroe - find out specifics re engine.
A dealer sold you this car -therefore - warranty or not you have comeback. Involve the ombudsman on this one - even if just to understand your consumer rights.

Also check out whether this was in fact a 98 FTO - it doesn't seem to differ in any way from a 94/95 model.

[CJ]

Mick, if you want to pm me the full chassis no, I can tell you the exact production date. If you've got 95 belts then the car is either 95 or 96, in my experience, the belt date and car manufacture date are pretty closely matched.

You brought the car in for a cambelt change (it was obviously driving OK I assume), put us out of our misery and let us know the diagnosis!

CJ

[steelroe]

I does look like a 95 model alright.
Are you the first owner in this country, if not then they may not be responsible for the fact that it is a 95 model redged as a 98, lets give them the benefit of the doubt here.

Contat them and let them know what is going on and see what the reaction is. Without actually knowing the specific problem with the engine, I cant comment, but if it is a simple matter of the head gasket leaking then they will prob just repair it.

What di your mechanic actually say is wrong? Rather than driving yourself mad worrying about it, contact the seller and see what they say, then take it from there. You well be pleasently surprised.

Anyone on here have any experience with this Dealer before.

[Mickthepieman]

Just to let you know what's going on with my car

Got a second opinion on the engine, it has slip a cog the adjuster for the timing belt had broken he said I was very lucky the belt was about to break. anyway Things are not as bad as I though with the engine.

[steelroe]

Hopefully it is "A storm in a tea cup" rather than a "Pig in a poke"

[sinlessgunner]

Sorry to hear your dilemma Mick. And here's me giving out about idling problems. I hope you get all of this sorted out and if nothing else, get fair treatment.

Best of luck

[Mickthepieman]

All is well

Full Timing belt set changed and a full service very happy now.

It looks like the car is a 1995 and not a 1998 going of the chassis number

Modal : E-D3A HRGH
Chassis No : DE3A0022047
Engine : 6A12 Ext: x08c
Trans Axle :F4A42

I should have checked out the car more before I bought it , It just goes to show you are never to old to learn.

[soc]

All is well

Full Timing belt set changed and a full service very happy now.

It looks like the car is a 1995 and not a 1998 going of the chassis number

Modal : E-D3A HRGH
Chassis No : DE3A0022047
Engine : 6A12 Ext: x08c
Trans Axle :F4A42

I should have checked out the car more before I bought it , It just goes to show you are never to old to learn.

Please tell me you're going to speak to the garage you bought this car from... They sold you a 1995 car advertised as a 1998 car!! Even if they didn't know that only proves they're stupid - what did you pay for this car? I hope it wasn't what you'd pay for a 1998 car?

[Mickthepieman]

The date on the Registration Cert is 01-June 1998 what can I do, I talked to the guy at the garage and he pointed out the date on the Cert 1998 it was first registered in Ireland 30-Nov-2005 according to the Cert.


Is there a government agency I can talk to about this.

The guy at the garage does not want to know.

[Dragonheart]

Dont chassis number and all that just say what year it was manufactured, so if someone had it without registering it for a while it would only get first registered under that year. God knows how someone managed to hold onto it for 3 years without registering it though!

[miss-enzo]

The date on the Registration Cert is 01-June 1998 what can I do, I talked to the guy at the garage and he pointed out the date on the Cert 1998 it was first registered in Ireland 30-Nov-2005 according to the Cert.


Is there a government agency I can talk to about this.

The guy at the garage does not want to know.

wheter he wants to hear about it or not isnt the issue.... as a dealer it is his responsibility to seel decent quality cars (after all thats why ppl usually go to a dealer, cause you have some come back with it!)

To be honest there is something fishy about the whole thing, what he has done is technically fraud, i mean if the car was registered in 95 this could cause you trouble in the future (with regard NCT etc) and possibly with you insurance. Id ring the national consumer agency (they are very good, helped a mate of mine when his car turned out to be dodgy.... he got a full refund!) the number is 1890 432 432

[colm_mcm]

was the car registered in the UK before it came here?

Is it possible that it was exported to the UK and then registered in the UK in 1998,
then exported to Ireland years later. the VRO may have just looked at the date it was registered in the UK and presumed that was the first registration?

Precious registration number is usually listed on the VRC.

[Bernard]

Mine was originally registered in the UK in 2002.
When I went to register it here they quoted me for a '02, I had to point out it was a '00

[Muad_dib77]

Mine was originally registered in the UK in 2002.
When I went to register it here they quoted me for a '02, I had to point out it was a '00

Heh if the difference wasn't too much you should have taken the 02 plate..
would have messed with peoples head...

actually come to think of it - it probably wouldn't have cause "normal" people wouldn't know there weren't any 02 ftos..

unless it had been sitting around unregged for a while..

[Bernard]

AFAIK the difference was fairly substantial, €1,500 ish, but don't quote me.