Unable to locate and repair fault

[Surfer01 1,208]

We bought a Jeep Grand Cherokee last week on Wednesday, but the day after purchase on the Thursday the kick down became intermittent. This happened again on the Friday so we never used the vehicle again as in my opinion it was dangerous to drive.

On the Monday we contacted the dealer who collected the vehicle on the Tuesday, but their service department was unable to rectify the fault. The second hand car dealer then sent the vehicle to a franchised Jeep dealer who has had it since Wednesday this week.

Unfortunately although the franchised dealer has experienced the fault while test driving, they have been unable to pinpoint the issue and resolve it as no fault code is showing up on their diagnostic machine. Another test drive and no fault, but a third test drive fault appeared.

In the meantime, we do have a loan car from the dealer however it is manual so can’t really use it anyway and can understand that as fault is intermittent and can take time to resolve. We don’t blame the dealer as there is no ways they could have known about the intermittent kick down. However no one can give us a time frame which could be days, weeks or even months before the repair is completed.

The other concern is that every one including us may think the fault is resolved, but a year or two later the fault may re-appear so we are rapidly losing faith in this particular vehicle. However as it would be an inherent fault we may be covered under SOGA, but don’t want the hassles later on anyway.

Our HP agreement states that we have a "Right of withdrawal” and it is available to us for 14 days after the agreement is executed. If we wish to withdraw, we need to advise them in writing or orally by phone. If we go down this route and don't return the vehicle then we need to pay the credit in full which is understandable, however no mention of what happens if you return the vehicle.

Our deposit was almost one third of the cost price of the vehicle, plus we paid 6 months tax and insurance costs. In addition, another £90 for tow bar electrics and a spare key. Probably a total of about £3500! We cannot afford to lose this type of money.

I am not sure whether we should officially reject the vehicle and execute a “Right of withdrawal”. Our concern is if we use the latter and want to buy another vehicle on finance, we may have issues. I suppose we could ask the fiancé company to “hold” the finance for us while we look for another suitable vehicle.

Can anyone offer any advice on the above please? Thanks.

[heliosuk 100]

Do you know the fault code and can you post it?

[Surfer01 1,208]

Do you know the fault code and can you post it?

 

That is the problem. No fault code is showing, but the mechanic at the Jeep franchise has experienced the problem while on a test drive. We have sort of lost all faith in this vehicle especially with a main dealer not being able to locate the fault!

We will be writing to the dealer and finance company invoking our right of withdrawal so that even if the fault disappears there is a written record of what may be an inherent fault. We have no issues with dealer who has been very helpful and is unlikely to have known about the fault at time of sale due to it being very intermittent, but we would rather source another vehicle.

[Surfer01 1,208]

Bump!

[heliosuk 100]

It could be an inherrant condition of the vehicle i.e. it meets the design and operation of the vehicle. Unfortunately you don't post the age and mileage or exactly which varient. Some auto boxes "learn" driving styles and when there has been a change of ownership this has been known to cause issues. I've come across similar issues before and have been sent to investigate where no fault could be found. Invariably it rectify's itself but as I have not a lot of experience on American 4X4's I cannot say with any certaincey that this might be the issue.

 

Now if you had bought a proper english 4X4 I might have a better clue as to how to progress.

 

You've got to admit though surfer, that Cherokee is a pig ugly and dated vehicle!!!

[Surfer01 1,208]

I was looking for something more reliable than a Landrover as they are known for unreliablity. It appears the fault was a poor connection in the wiring to the turbo boost. Seems to be running okay now.

[Conniff 3,558]

I'd like that explained a bit more. Kickdown operates by closing a valve in the gearbox and isn't really related at all to the turbo. Of course they can work in conjunction with each other, but that's not kick down.

[Surfer01 1,208]

All I know is that if I pressed the accelerator, it would not change down and take off although it would downshift and upshift on normal driving. I am no mechanic so have to assume what they tell me is correct.

[Conniff 3,558]

Be certain to keep safe any paperwork for this and if you haven't been given any, then get some. Should this happen again you will be able to refer it back as an inherent fault which was there at purchase.

[Surfer01 1,208]

Be certain to keep safe any paperwork for this and if you haven't been given any, then get some. Should this happen again you will be able to refer it back as an inherent fault which was there at purchase.

 

Thanks to this forum I am aware of the inherent fault bit and have logged in writing the complaint with the finance company and the dealer plus I asked the Jeep franchise for a copy of the invoice they were giving the dealer. Only difference is that they removed the costs.

The dealer has been first class and very helpful to the extent that they supplied a loan car.

[barbershop0 42]

Glad you got it successfully resolved.