Hi everyone i am new to the forum. We bought a Atoz just before Xmas. The dealer turned up with the car and my other half went for a test drive. All seemed to be fine. I am not a mechanic but the engine sounded fine. My hubby even gave the guy a lift home. On the way the fan belt did slip and he said it had just been changed and wanted tightening.

A few weeks later this is our list.

Driver/Passenger electric windows going up on a slant
There seems to have been some welding underneath on the sub frame(is this safe)
There is some sort of blowing from the exhaust when you rev or slow down
The car has recently started to cut out for no reason
The fan belt is slack and i don't know how to tighten it
The steering grinds when you turn it full left/right.

I think the guy has done me over. He gave me a receipt but did not put the usaual sold as seen on it.
The ad description was lovely little car excellent driver/fuel economy etc.

It was supposed to have just passed the mot before we bought it!!! I have not yet contacted the guy or trading standards.

I am unsure of our next move. Any advice welcome.

where did you buy this vehicle from? was it a dealer or private? if you bought it from a dealer get back on to them straight away and complain, if the will not help then contact trading standards. if you bought the vehicle privately then l'm sorry but you hav'nt got much hope unless you can prove the vehicle was in an unroadworthy when you bought it, and even then you will need the help of a solicitor

Dear mickey,

I understand you are in UK, but many legal tenets apply.

The seller is responsible for any 'representations' that he made during the sale.

1) He declared that the vehicle passed the MOT. Make the seller provide proof. Failure to produce proof would void the sale in the US.
2) did the seller declare that the vehicle was never wrecked, never flood damaged, never salvage title, and never insurance totaled? These are conditions of sale in the US that void the sale if false.
3) What were the terms of sale? Your bill of sale does not say "as is" [the US term]. In the US Commercial Code, that would require that the vehicle has a warranty of mercantibility...a car should perform all the normal functions of a car. That would include windows that close properly.
4) The classified advertisement is admissible as seller 'representations".
5) All of the documents supporting the sale are admissible as seller 'representations'.

Do you have the 3-days to revoke an automobile sale law that we have in the US?

Byron

This post has been edited by byronguidry3732: Jan 23 2008, 02:09 PM

sorry byron but over here if you buy a vehicle from a private seller you have got no automatic rights, once you've paid the money it's 'end of story' unless the car is unroadworthy or dangerous in some way as it is illegal to sell a vehicle in that state. l did presume from the origonal post that a MOT certificate was given with the sale (you would be an idiot to buy without it) so unless you have the funds to go to a solicitor and start formal proceadings you have little hope. however if you bought from a 'motor trader' it would be a different story

l don't wish to sound rude but l can not believe that anyone who has no mechanical knowledge and who knows little about cars would buy a car off a private seller without taking an experienced person with them for advice, you are just asking for trouble

Montego,

You paint a bleak picture...sounds like it is 'caveat emptor' for private sales. Per your explanation, even a solicitor will not be able to win a settlement for micky...unless the car is proven unroadworthy or dangerous.

Agree with getting an expert appraisal. I recommend obtaining an independent mechanic's condition report before every used car purchase.

Many dealers in the US now provide a 128 or 156 point inspection report for a used car, but I remind friends here that the dealer's mechanic is not independent.

Byron

Thanks for all your replies. I did buy of a dealer so i will be contacting him. Does anyone have any ideas what the grind is when you turn the steering wheel full?

Was this a Hyundai dealer and what area of the country are you?.

Hi no not a Hyundai dealer a motor trader from Lancashire.

If he is a bonafide trader then it is his responsibility to fix the items as all traders have to give at least 3 months/3000mile warranty unless it is purchased with known problems and sold as seen.

as l said in my first post, if you bought of a trader it's a different story, as per the above post, go back to where you bought and complain, if they will not help tell them you will contact trading standard....and do it!

Hi thanks for all the help we took it back and he said he had sorted it out. The problems all seem to be solved except for 1. The grind noise is still there when you turn the wheel on full lock. You cannot hear it any other time eg when driving. The dealer lives in Lancashire so a good bit away from us. Does anyone know what this might be? It might be worth just getting this fixed myself if it was not too expensive. Thanks in advance

it is quite normal to hear a noise from the power steering if you hold the steering wheel on full lock, however l would not call it a 'grinding' noise. this is going to be difficult to solve on the forum without hearing it. l would suggest you take it to a mechanic you can trust and get his opinion

is there a nocking sound as well if so i could be the CV joints if it is the CV there not to exspensive or a long job but my best advise or some one with no mechanical knowledge is to take it to a garege and have them do a full check on it or take it back to the dealer and complain untill thay fix the problems thay sold it to you with

We had the grinding sound too and it turned out to be the CV joint if it is this it will gradually get worse and will make the sound even when turning. It sounds worse than it is and as mentioned is easy to fix.