We purchased a car just over a year ago (paying off thru MTF) and we have had nothing but problems with it. The latest being the radiator had to be replaced (and thermostat) due to car overheating several times. Upon inspection from our mechanic the radiator was in a very sad state. Very very black and clogged up with years worth of crap and never a drop of anti-freeze put in. Both that radiator and the thermostat were replaced but it before it had done damage to the car! The car crapped itself on Fri in a bad way and the engine light has come on, which is never a good thing. Our mechanic thinks its overheating again but internally which isn't good either and goodness what other damage the radiator has caused. No water was able to get thru at all, it was that badly clogged up. MY QUESTION IS: Should the state of the radiator been picked up when we got the car and it was rego'd and warranted and serviced! If the car unfixable or major damage what rights do we have! Can we go back to the car yard where we got it and get it fixed or replaced! Or can MTF do anything! Otherwise we will have a car we are paying off that we can't use :-( and with four young children we need a car! Just want to know what we should do!
Any advice would be appreciated
noswalg,
Dec 2, 12:03pm
I would say you don't have a leg to stand on after a year, as for should the problem have been picked up only you can answer that, The only time MTF will do anything is when you stop the repayments and that would be chasing you
meathead_timaru,
Dec 2, 12:12pm
With a car of that age, mileage and price you took a gamble and lost. Oh well.
kazbanz,
Dec 2, 12:15pm
YOU have been driving the car for 12 months. YOU diddn't put anti freeze in the radiator at any point during that time. You having four kids is even MORE reason that YOU should have accepted responsibility for maintainance of YOUR car and made sure the anti freeze was done and oil changes etc were taken care of.
karmaangel,
Dec 2, 12:30pm
It's had warrants etc and passed everyone. I always checked my water and oil, I always do. And first we knew of any probs was when it started overheating all of a sudden. The radiator was found to be very very clogged and couldn't get that bad after just a year
noswalg,
Dec 2, 12:34pm
So over 12 months you never noticed the lack of antifreeze in your radiator when you checked it!
kazbanz,
Dec 2, 12:36pm
YOU checked your water regularly and YOU diddn't put anti freeze in the radiator yet somehow its someone elses fault. Stuff like that is the responsibility of the owner
karmaangel,
Dec 2, 12:37pm
Have never used anti freeze in any of my cars and they have been fine. Been told by a mechanic that you don't HAVE to use it. The problem here is that the radiator was very clogged up which obviously like that when we got it so it wasn't serviced properly. The consumer rights act says that you have to be sold a fully serviced, warranted RELIABLE car, which we obviously weren't
you expect to keep driving and do no maintenance gee radiators have a shelf life!
meathead_timaru,
Dec 2, 12:40pm
You DO have to use corrosion inhibitor (a component of most antifreezes) in modern engines because of a thing called galvanic corrosion which occurs between dissimilar metals. Get a new 'mechanic' because the one that told you that you don't need to is defective.
meathead_timaru,
Dec 2, 12:41pm
Given there's no such act, I doubt there's any such clause either.
meathead_timaru,
Dec 2, 12:42pm
So this is clearly a case of ignorance and lack of servicing. No further comment required.
scoobeey,
Dec 2, 12:42pm
when i buy a vechile i always check cooling system ,sometimes throwin in a new rad.nothing like piece of mind .
andrea_w,
Dec 2, 12:44pm
Here we go again. someone else who has zero personal responsibility. It's ALWAYS someone elses fault.
OP - sell the car and take the bus. Motoring is not for you.
kazbanz,
Dec 2, 12:45pm
THAT mechanic quite frankly is an idiot.Modern engines MUST have anti freeze in them.The simple fact is that it is the only means of internal corrossion prevention you have. and despite your assertions to the contrary YES an alluminum racdiator can and in fact likely will get clogged up after 12 months with no corrossion protection. I shudder to think what the engine oil,transmission oil brake pads etc look like.
karmaangel wrote: Have never used anti freeze in any of my cars and they have been fine. Been told by a mechanic that you don't HAVE to use it. The problem here is that the radiator was very clogged up which obviously like that when we got it so it wasn't serviced properly. quote]Then why the hell did you buy it! Have your tyres worn over the last 12 months maybe the dealer or MTF should replace those to. You are obviously the type of person who thinks a WOF check every 6 months is servicing, and as said above get a new mechanic or get knowledgeable
meathead_timaru,
Dec 2, 12:50pm
Strictly speaking, that's not correct. They must have corrosion inhibitor but climate dictates the need for anti-freeze. Although you're hard pressed to find one without the other and, colloquially at least, they're interchangeable.
snoopy221,
Dec 2, 12:50pm
Ya KNOW if ya post the make, model, year and mileage. It'll get interesting-and more informed comments can be made.
meathead_timaru,
Dec 2, 12:50pm
They didn't get the hint. I think we realised then that they're a bit sloooooooooow.
bitsy_boffin,
Dec 2, 12:52pm
1. Warrant has nothing to do with this, don't know why you even mention it.A warrant is a (loose) safety check, not a vehicle servicing check.
2. There is no requirement to "service a vehicle" before selling it.
3.To an extent, dealer's reasonable responsibility is going to depend on what exactly you bought and how much you paid.I don't think you have mentioned it.
4. The problem you state could have manifested itself in the 12 months.
5. You didn't even approach the dealer to give them the opportunity to evaluate the situation before you had work done.
6.I'd have no problem in the dealer telling you to take a hike.
karmaangel,
Dec 2, 12:54pm
Toyota Estima Lucida G 1995
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