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Thread: Problems with a new car

  1. #1
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    Problems with a new car

    Looking for a bit of advise really.

    My girlfriend bought a Suzuki Swift Sport (08) at the end of May from a dealership, after about 200 miles the Engine check light came on and also the car would struggle to start sometimes. Called the dealer, and they told me to bring the car in, about an hours drive away so I wasn't that fussed. They had the car for a week, said that it was the lambda sensor and they had cleaned it, (didn't think that was possible with a duff lambda but I wasn't going to question a mechanic).
    Got the car back, then 200 miles later the light came back on, and the starting issue hadn't been fixed. Getting a little annoyed this time! I measured the voltage across the battery and it was only at 10v, so next time I called I told them it needed a NEW battery and a NEW lambda.
    They decided to fit a new (used) cat, and gave it back, got 5 miles down the road and the light came on! took it back again for the third time, and they fitted new sensors.
    After all of that, the light has just come on again. Where do I/my girlfriend stand with this.
    I'm not taking it back there again, and I'm starting to hope I can just give it back to them for a refund, however doubtful that may be.

    Anyone know what can be done?

    Cheers

  2. #2
    Guest Stevecarter200's Avatar
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    Was the car running when you measured the battery voltage? If it was then its the alternator thats duff not the battery.

    But anyway, Im fairly sure you can take the car back to them and ask for your money back but you have to give the dealer a fair chance to fix it. Tell them they have one more chance to get it sorted or you want your money back as its not fit for purpose. Make sure you get a courtesy car as well.
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    Car was off, 14v whilst running so the alternator was good. Forgot to say that they replaced the battery on the last visit and it's started fine since.

    I think three two hour round trips is fair chance for an issue that should have been fixed the first time?
    I might give them another shot, but chances are they'll be just as annoyed with it as it am.

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    Guest R3K1355's Avatar
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    My brothers got the same car, his battery went recently as well.

    He's also been having lambda problems, he does lots of stupid small trips and I think it cloggs up the lambda pretty quick.
    The car certainly seems to run quite rich on cold-start.

    If it's having problem starting then it's possibly the spark plugs, they're some silly unobtainium type with a massive service interval, so near the end of their life they can be really shit.
    I swapped out the ones on my brothers car at the same time as doing the battery and it starts like a champ now.

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    No, the other one. Pete C's Avatar
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    I'm presuming the engine light being on and the starting are unrelated since you say it starts fine since the battery was replaced.

    Does it drive any differently when the light is on? I have a recurring P0420 code (cat efficiency below threshold) on my Puma, I can clear it and it'll come back after a couple of days but the car drives exactly the same regardless. It also has passed the MOT emissions for the last 3 years with the same fault - generally means the lambda sensors upstream & downstream of the cat can't agree with each other... Or the cat actually is bad, which seems unlikely in my case. Yours sounds like a very similar fault (I'd put money on the code being the same).

    If they've replaced both lambdas and the cat, you'd have thought the only things left are wiring or a bad ECU... Maybe insist they fit a brand new cat?
    Last edited by Pete C; 28-07-2014 at 13:59.

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    You could give them one more chance or you want a new car. Just on the basis you might have a Friday afternoon car and swapping the car for a different one of the same make and model. I'm assuming you're happy with the car apart from the faults described...

    EDIT: Ignore me. I read the OP as it was a brand new car not on an 08 plate.
    Last edited by Jonny Wilkinson; 29-07-2014 at 07:08.

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    Guest R3K1355's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Jonny Wilkinson View Post
    I'm assuming you're happy with the car apart from the faults described...
    The ABS pumps are known to go for no reason, it causes no issues but you can't pass MOT with the ABS light on.
    Suzuki want a grand to replace said pump, or a specialist can fix it for £250

    ****ing silly car

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    I assume it's an independent dealer that's merely guessing what's wrong.

    If the engine light is on there must be a fault code to read. Worth investing in a fault code reader before wasting another £50 on petrol going back to the dealer.

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    Thanks for all the replies guys!

    The car is due spark plugs I think (doubting they were done at the service interval 3k miles ago) so I've baught them, £47 was the cheapest I could find them!
    It doesn't drive any differently when the light is on, the fault code it pulls up is lambda bank 1.
    They've replaced that sensor and the problem is still there.
    I had it gas analyzed the other day and it seems that the problem is that the cat is 'lazy', its taking a long time to reduce the emmissions, while it will pass an MOT, its enough to trigger the EML.
    My girlfriend rang and insisted that they installed a new cat, they responded that it was worth more than the car.
    I'll be calling again next week (im away this weekend) and telling them to fit a new cat or take the car back.

    Guess they have known this the whole time and are trying to spend less to get the light off, where in reality they've probably wasted more money in there time and parts that aren't needed.

  10. #10
    Guest Stevecarter200's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by John View Post
    My girlfriend rang and insisted that they installed a new cat, they responded that it was worth more than the car.
    A quick google reveals the garage havent actually looked to see what the price of a new cat is, £230 from here.... http://www.onlineautomotive.co.uk/Su...onverters.aspx
    I'm NOT the Chairman anymore, Ken was. He still likes poo though. Its not Jim either now. Ooh ooh, its now Doc!
    Blue '89 S13, 362 bhp, slowly getting more battered. Spec

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    Thats a good point! Although I know they have a 2 part cat similar to the 14a.
    When I call them I'll mention that website to them. When they told me that the 'new' cat was a used one, they said it cost £200. So someone is laughing at them!

  12. #12
    Guest Todd89's Avatar
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    It's ok having a cheap cat but you will find that it will take a whole lot of revving to get the cat to heat up to pass its emissions as they don't have enough platinum inside them.

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    Guest arry's Avatar
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    SOGA
    http://www.which.co.uk/consumer-righ...e-of-goods-act

    Under the Sale of Goods Act, the retailer must either repair or replace faulty goods 'within a reasonable time but without causing significant inconvenience'.
    If the seller doesn't do this, you're entitled to claim either:
    • a reduction on the purchase price, or
    • your money back, minus an amount for the usage you've had of the goods (called recision)
    If the retailer refuses to repair the goods, and they won't replace them either, you may have the right to arrange for someone else to repair your item, and then claim compensation from the retailer for the cost of doing this.
    Make it clear that they've had it 3 times, can't fix it, and it now needs to go to Suzuki - you'll be asking them to foot the bill. See how you go

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    Guest R3K1355's Avatar
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    Have you just tried dropping a bottle of Forte in the tank, filling it with VPower and thrashing the tits off it??

    Sorted our one right out.

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    Quote Originally Posted by arry View Post
    SOGA
    http://www.which.co.uk/consumer-righ...e-of-goods-act



    Make it clear that they've had it 3 times, can't fix it, and it now needs to go to Suzuki - you'll be asking them to foot the bill. See how you go

    Thats all well, but they aren't "refusing" to fix it, they keep asking for it back, and doing nothing worth while!

    Quote Originally Posted by R3K1355 View Post
    Have you just tried dropping a bottle of Forte in the tank, filling it with VPower and thrashing the tits off it??

    Sorted our one right out.
    I've made her run it on 99 from the day it was bought. and I have tried the old "italian tune up"

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    Quote Originally Posted by John View Post
    Thats all well, but they aren't "refusing" to fix it, they keep asking for it back, and doing nothing worth while!
    Read the bit he wrote that you didn't quote. i.e. "the retailer must either repair or replace faulty goods 'within a reasonable time but without causing significant inconvenience'."

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    Guest arry's Avatar
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    Exactly - 3 chances, no success. Breach of SOGA. Tell them you're taking it to Suzuki or reject it entirely and hand it back

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