Alfa Romeo jts - Engine Failure on approved car

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Tue 20 Jul 2010 11:05
Alfa Romeo jts - Engine Failure on approved car - KnackeredAlfa

Hi all,

I purchased the car (24700miles) from an Alfa main dealer mid January 2010, and as with all alfas, have had a few problems - mostly minor that have been easily resolved by myself / dealer.

2 months ago (28000miles) the car was due its service and I took it to the main dealer. During our first few months of ownership, I had noticed the car had an incessant thirst for oil, up to 2ltrs per 1700miles, and expressed my concerns to the dealer at this service.

Since then the engine has developed a knock on the overrun, and was taken straight to the dealer (towed not driven.) The fault is defiantly internal, and the bill is already fairly substantial just finding out what is wrong with it :(

I'm worried about the warranty covering any repairs on the car (I dont trust it for some reason - and I'm sure they will try and wiggle their way out of paying.) Would i have any case against the dealer within consumer rights / sale of goods act - should it get that far?

Any advise would be gratefully received.

KA.

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Wed 21 Jul 2010 08:43
Alfa Romeo jts - Engine Failure on approved car - LucyBC

If it as you describe I would be very surprised if this was not dealt with as a warranty claim.

Edited by LucyBC on 21/07/2010 at 08:43

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Wed 21 Jul 2010 18:15
Alfa Romeo jts - Engine Failure on approved car - KnackeredAlfa

Lucy,

After inspection the car has a worn bottom end bearing on one of the cylinders (3rd.)

They are saying that the Warranty will not cover the repair as the warranty company will nit cover the item as it will be taken as wear & tear, not mechanical failure, which is all the warranty seems to cover.

They have quoted us over £850 for the repair, but reduced it to £632 by obviously reducing the profit they are making on our circumstances.

Its our only car so we have had to get them to fix it, but as yet have not paid anything - What can we do?

Chris

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Thu 22 Jul 2010 09:31
Alfa Romeo jts - Engine Failure on approved car - LucyBC
Then you're into negotiation territory. Haggle.
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Thu 22 Jul 2010 09:53
Alfa Romeo jts - Engine Failure on approved car - SlidingPillar

That's ridiculous! Even the Ford 100E had a design life of 30000 miles. These days, if treated right a petrol engine should be good for 10 times what yours has done.

I'm not too sure a 'warenty' like that is actually covering anything.

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Thu 22 Jul 2010 17:27
Alfa Romeo jts - Engine Failure on approved car - bonzo dog

"They are saying that the Warranty will not cover the repair as the warranty company will nit cover the item as it will be taken as wear & tear, not mechanical failure, which is all the warranty seems to cover."

What do you / they mean by ""it will be taken as". This sounds to me like they have not telephoned the warranty co to report a claim.

Call the warranty co yourself to ask what claim has been made & what they have said (if anything)

Given that the fault has developed within 6 months, it is possible that the dealer has some liability given that (as someone else has said) this is a very early bearing failure

Good luck

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Thu 22 Jul 2010 17:32
Alfa Romeo jts - Engine Failure on approved car - LucyBC

... and that it appeared to be a developing problem throughout the period of ownership of the vehicle.

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Thu 22 Jul 2010 22:33
Alfa Romeo jts - Engine Failure on approved car - mike123mike

sales of good act. ??? do research on that as you can claim from selling dealer if you can prove it was faulty at time of sale

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Fri 23 Jul 2010 11:36
Alfa Romeo jts - Engine Failure on approved car - Foreigner500

>> if you can prove it was faulty at time of sale

Within 6 months the dealer has to prove that it was not.

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Mon 26 Jul 2010 12:37
Alfa Romeo jts - Engine Failure on approved car - KnackeredAlfa

I've managed to resolve this with the dealer without it getting messy.

I didn't want the car back, after it had been repaired, and personally wasn't prepared to drive the car off the forecourt to trade in elsewhere in case anything else failed whilst we sorted another car out. I've ended up part exchanging the car with them (at favourable rates) and getting a mint 02 Boxter off them with minimal extra expenditure.

I'm happy its sorted, and wouldnt have had time to resolve this through any legal routes, as I said - its our only car.

Thanks for the advice.

Lets hope the germans make better motors. (I think thats a given)

Chris

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Tue 27 Jul 2010 09:56
Alfa Romeo jts - Engine Failure on approved car - bonzo dog

Well done for getting a result you are happy with; although the words "frying pan" & "fire" spring to mind" :)

Good luck

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Tue 27 Jul 2010 11:49
Alfa Romeo jts - Engine Failure on approved car - LucyBC

Pleased this has been resolved.

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Tue 27 Jul 2010 12:27
Alfa Romeo jts - Engine Failure on approved car - KnackeredAlfa

Thanks Bonzo, - The words, 'glass, half, full, empty' also spring to mind.

:)

Its coming with a full and comprehensive warranty, not the c***py one they gave us with the last car.

It also has a better build quality feel, as though - the door handle wont snap, (common fault on the gt) boot wont rattle, (common fault on the gt) wont use 2lts of oil in 1600miles, ((common on the gt) leather seats wont wear, (common fault on the gt) cruise control wont break, (common fault on the gt) bulbs wont constantly blow, (common fault on the gt) anti roll bar wont wear out, (common fault on the gt.)

Don't get me wrong, I loved the car for some reason, but it was obviously put together on a Friday afternoon, by a group of drowsy incompetent chimps.

I'm also looking forward to not hearing that ' they all do that sir.'

Chris

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Tue 27 Jul 2010 17:06
Alfa Romeo jts - Engine Failure on approved car - oilrag

Good luck with the new car, Chris. looks like you might want a new Forum nick then, later - unless you keep it for sentimental reasons ;-)

oilrag

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