Advice needed on faulty finance car

[d4z0mg]

Hi guys, I just need a bit of info/help on my rights regarding a faulty finance car. I bought the car on the 19th march 2010, after a month I had EAC Fail come up on the dash so the car went back and they tried to fix it.. it's going back in tomorrow for the 4th time with the same problem, it's now out of its 3 month warranty but they're still fixing it for free.

 

I read under the 'Sales of Goods Act 1979' that when buying something it should be of a condition reflecting its age, now the car is only a 52 plate fiesta lx so it shouldn't keep having this problem as far as I'm concerned (a quick google search showed that this particular car has this problem alot though)

 

As it's on finance am I even remotely entitled to return the car to the dealer and have them buy out the finance? I don't even want them to fix the car now, I just want to return it.

 

Thanks in advance,

Mike.

[postggj]

If They Cant Fix It This Time You Would Be Entitled To Reject The Car Under The Sog Act

[heliosuk]

This is a well documented problem. Why don't you point them in the right direction with the fix for it?

[d4z0mg]

Well I did a google search and lots of people have the EAC problem but no-one seems to know what the problem actually is or a fix for it.

 

The latest from them today is "there's nothing wrong with it, we can't fix it unless you bring it down when the lights flashing" it's a bit awkward if it comes on in the evening, what am I meant to do, leave the car running overnight until I can get it to them the next morning.

 

I think I'm gonna go down there tomorrow and get them to take it back

[heliosuk]

The fault is well documented. There are 3 possible causes, 2 of which are easily checked, the third a bit more involved.

 

The main issue is the throttle body. These were modified and it's easy to check. There is a number on the side of it. A modified one has a different number to original. You can find this out on the net. From memory the original faulty one has something like 000 at the end and a good one something like 500. Can't remember to be exact.

 

The next is the wiring to to throttle, they had to change a connector or something.

 

If these two things are confirmed as modified then the problem is likely to be in the control unit but incidences of this are extreamly rare and given the number they produced you'd be unlucky as it's not an issue registered as a problem.

 

Best bet is to call a dealer. Don't talk to the muppets on reception. Ask for the workshop controller and see if he/she can tell you how to identify a fixed car. It's also possible for them to see if the problem was fixed under warranty and you might like to ask if the service campaign is still open, though I doubt it in 2010.

 

It is fixable, it is identifiable if you have the right numbers. Unfortunately I don't have the time to find them again.