at what point do you take back to dealer

[vickyskoda06]

I bought a fabia vrs last week, the garage said they repaired a puncture, ive just had to get it repaired myself as they lied.

My coolant level dropped a bit and the warning light came on so i topped up and im keeping an eye on it.

And my car wouldent start at all after having the fans on for 15 minutes with the car off, although when i went to jump start one of the terminals was a bit loose.

Also sometimes theres a squeeking noise from the wheels (quite loud but intermittant), a garage has looked at it and cant find anything.

Can i take it back to the dealer yet or do anything as i feel this amount of issues is a bit ridiculous already??

[Adam_]

Have you spoken to the dealer about any of this. I would phone them today and let them know how you feel.

[vickyskoda06]

Rang them said im not happy and keeping an eye on the coolant etc over the next week and if theres any issues their fixing it.

[silver_fox]

Did the car have any work done on it, just before you bought it? timing belt etc?

 

How come the fans were on for fifteen minutes without engine running? radiator fans or heater fans?

[vickyskoda06]

Timing belt was done at 60000 its now on 95000, it was warm outside they were actually only on for about 10 minutes

[vickyskoda06]

Heater fans on cold

[Robbbbie!!]

1) secure the loose terminal, get the battery checked out condition wise, flat after 10 minutes is a little crap. (though i don't have a clue why people keep auxiliary on while in a car without the car running.

 

2) noise from the wheel area could be a number of things. No doubt the mechanic just looked at it and shrugged, a test drive may have helped.

 

3) The puncher, maybe they forgot? Forward the invoice onto the dealer.

 

4) Coolant level, they car may have not been fully checked over, or this was just missed. It only has to go a little under for the car to bleep. Mine did it last year.

 

To be honest, you have very little issues.. I know its one thing after another but they are all small silly things by the sounds of it.

[vickyskoda06]

Well ive re-topped the coolant and keeping an eye on it, the puncture they claim they did when i rang but i know they havent because the tyre place said there was no indication of a repair.

Battery yeh it is 7 year old so i suppose its close to the end of its life.

There shouldent be anything wrong with it after one week to be fair though.

[VWD]

Coolant- I'd keep an eye on the heater output-on hot ,if it gets cold, you have problems. Any loss might be worth a sniff test, to see if head gasket is leaking. get it done elsewhere as you wil then have a report to throw back in seller face.

Battery- mine lasted about that, but in your case it might be worth asking them for at least a contribution as  they ( as experts ) sold you a vehicle fit for purpose, which should be expected to last more than one week. It might be worth going to a fast fit place for a battery test. Again tyre has no evidence of a repair. I'd get written evidence of that .

So at worst- head gasket problems( keep a close eye on the heater, thus stopping any chance of head warping and seller claiming negligence. ). Battery only lasts one week, and tyre has so called repair ,that tyre specialists refutes. I'd go back and ask for what seller intends to do . Show the expert evidence, and you should get results. If not- Trading Standards, as seller has female marked down as MUG.

[TMB]

Modern cars rely heavily on having a good battery. At 7 years old it's probably time for a new one. Come winter it will not be up to the job at all and it can cause all manner of weird issues.

[giandougl]

My battery is original going into 10th. year at 86,000+ miles.

A lot depends on a lot with battery life length..

[vickyskoda06]

Something that concerns me aswell, if there is something majorly wrong its a 80 mile trip to get it back to the dealer, would it be up to me to pay to have it towed down there?

[cheshire_cat]

dealer as in SKODA? or some 'arfur Daily type?

[vickyskoda06]

Arthur daley type

[wja96]

I think your expectations are maybe a bit unrealistic. You've bought someone else's old car. At 7 years old, it's a pretty old car.

You should always have a bit left in your pocket to put things right on a used car.

The seller sounds like a right bandit.

If the they didn't even fix a puncture, then I don't think you'd trust them to do anything else.

Either take the car straight back for all your money back or get someone else to fix it properly and swallow the cost on the basis that it'll be worth it in reliability terms in the next couple of years while you own the car. There are plenty of decent independents who will fix your car and not rip you off.

[inventory-photo]

Also sometimes theres a squeeking noise from the wheels (quite loud but intermittant), a garage has looked at it and cant find anything.

 

 

This may just be dirt/debris/stones caught between  your discs and pads, which will eventually work loose, especially if a garage couldn't find anything.

 

Where are you based? I'm sure members on here will be able to recommend a good independent garage to get everything checked over near you.

[sepulchrave]

The only thing that would worry me is the coolant loss, radiator most likely, you definitely need a new battery, don't muck about with it, just have a good quality new one fitted. Don't make a fuss about silly little things like the puncture and the squeaky disc guard and they'll be much more likely to be helpful if it needs a new radiator.

[vrsRob]

My Fabia is 8 years old now, 102,000 miles and has been relatively trouble free...I have replaced the radiator as it started loosing coolant pretty rapidly and I have also had a new battery - these are kind of to be expected really on a car of this age.

 

PERSONALLY, I would look for either a good indy (with recommendations) or ask a knowledgeable friend/family member/Briskodian to give it a once over for you as, to me, that is what is needed in order to satisfy you that there is no major problem with the car. If you had bought it from a main dealer (I am not saying you are wrong not to have) they would have completed checks to ensure the levels were right, the battery terminals were tight, they would have road tested it etc...that's all you need to be done for now just to put your mind to rest one way or the other!

 

All in all, these are great little cars and even though I secretly long for an Octavia sometimes, I am not looking forwards to replacing mine (eventually) as I do not know another car that could beat it for it's reliability, performance, economy....

 

HTH