Unlucky with Cars

[weeal]

Ok Ive had bad luck this year I had a car for 7 months which had a continual fault from the minute it left the garage (04 plate), eventually the garage got fed up of me bringing it back and I got fed up taking it back, they swapped it for a very small amount of money for a better car really.

Had the better car 3 weeks now and the door locks have gone wonky leaving me stranded in the middle of nowhere in the freezing cold having to call the RAC, and now the battery has died due to the cold Im thinking. I have a silver 3-month warranty. the question I have is just how long can I be an annoying moan about this garage and their cars? Do I claim a new battery on my new 3-month warranty? other cars in the neighbourhood started fine this morning in the same freezing temperatures after all, and the wonky door locks?

I am just weary now from it, I surely cant be that unlucky straight away with the second car?

Do I use my warranty or would that just be too much for the garage, Im sure they now hate me tho its all not been my fault.

Serious answers please

Thanks

wee grumpy

[wilkesneil]

if its under warranty claim.
If its another newish car then i'd be back in the garage playing my face up.
well me personally i would
neil

[tamborine]

garage is selling you lemons (duff cars). Keep moaning and returning cars and they'll come up with something perfect to keep you off their forecourt.

[Iggle Piggle]

Neil is right, the warranty is there, use it ! The garage/mechanics won't hate you and what if they do?
Read the small print and exclusions on the warranty first though as some do not cover batteries, locks, windows etc.
Batteries tend to last between 4 and 7 years and can fail early in poor weather due to the load put on them first thing to de-frost the car etc.

[weeal]

Oh you go make a cuppa and three replies come along.
Thanks folks.

I was just worried they would think me a stupid female and just moaning, but really Ive spent over 3 thousand quid cash and just want a car I can drive. Its not much to ask eh lol

I will call them tomorrow and moan, again, oh woe is me lol

[Iggle Piggle]

I'm not being funny but don't call, that can be forgotten. Take a friend and go visit them, be polite but firm.
Not being sexist but they may be so could you take a male with you?
Is this a franchised garage or independant?

[weeal]

To be honest theyve been reasonably good about it, tho they clearly are not impressed that Ive not gone away, I should be ok calling them but no I dont have a guy I could take with me. Its an independent garage.

[S_C]

not sure on the warranty you have " silver doesnt elaborate as to its exact cover "
if the battery is covered by this warranty claim .
However you may find the warranty does not cover the battery in this case you will have to get a new one yourself.
Sadly many " warranty's " dont come with hard written text just the word of the sales man and these are the hardest to claim against as you may find that some garages dont exactly have clear cut warranty.

[weeal]

Thanks S_C I will look out the paperwork and have a good read over it as my RAC cover doesnt include home start . The garage did come and take the car away a week and half ago and left me a courtesy car to play with (which was a death trap with a seized accelerator) and found no fault with the front door lock they said it may be ice (the door wouldnt close at all) but on the way up the motorway yesterday my rear door opened whilst driving and I couldnt have had an accident. Cars should be able to withstand ice.

[weeal]

I've read over it, quite a lot is included (not battery tho) electrical system including central locking is, so they might as well change the battery at my expense if they take it back to fix the locks.

Exclusions includes: freezing lol its bloomin Scotland

Thanks all.

[Iggle Piggle]

cold and ice can prevent a car door closing or opening, the grease gets thick and sticky and holds the mechanism so it doesn't move freely, but a door should never open while driving, this is extremely dangerous.
Car doors have a two stage lock so even if the door is not closed fully it should still be held securely, if this system is not working, the car should be returned to a main dealer for checking.
Keep on at that garage until you are happy, get it sorted before the warranty expires !

[TWR]

This adds up to the advise I tried to give but seems I got Criticized for, but to add Weeal, & do not take offence these warranties at times are not worth the paper they are written on, but in your case go all the way if you do not get any joy.

[wilkesneil]

if you are gonna pay for a new battery , what i'd do is go to the scrap yard and pick good one up for about £10-£15. the battery being faulty could interfere with the locking system. Look on top of your battery and see if you have round or square contacts (where the wires connect to) and pick one up. 10mm spanner will change it.
If diesel car, you need a diesel battery as they are more heavy duty for the extra power a diesel needs. this way you can fix it cheaply or you can eliminate the battery at a small cost, plus the best thing is all batteries are tested at the scrap yards... few years ago i had a new bmw that kept going wrong so i used to drop it in to em , no call or nothing and leave it there and demand a courtesy car there and then as they had attempted to fix the fault around 6 times to no succession. (that was warranty).

[Panic Button]

Personally I wouldn't get a battery from a scrappie. It might let you down very soon, and that is money wasted.

Get a new one, but see if you can find a local parts supplier such as Partco.

Ask for a quote for a battery, and they may well give you a good price. You would have to fit it yourself.

If you can't fit one yourself, go and chat to your local backstreet garage. Ask for a good price for a battery to be fitted.
Haggle a bit when they quote the price.

[4HuddsGiants]

Hi Wee Grumpy, firstly check your warranty as the battery may not be covered.
Secondly, what sort of car are we on about.
Thirdly, by wonky, what exactly are the locks doing?

Cheers