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My Z story so far, Advice needed.


Lewis_UK

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Good evening all, my first post and unfortunatly not a good one. Forgive me, I have to start from the beginning, feel free to skim.

 

Started just over 2months ago, I had the burning desire to get a new car, previously coming from a Audi A4 2.0 TDI 170 Estate.

So I started searching, I wanted a N/A RWD Petrol car more than 200HP with no gimmicks.

On I went, looking at the MX5, then the S2000, as I was reading about the S2000, so guy was posting about he's previous cars, and mentioned he skipped over the S2000 and went to a 350z.

I was like ooo, didn't think about the 350, mainly because of insurance, but as soon as I saw it, I feel in love, started researching, and the good, the bad, semi-hard on at this point.

Thus my mind was made up.

Off I went to view one, love at first, all the was done was CAI and the UpRev tuning map? Can't be sure tho.

It's a 2004 Non-GT Silver, 63k Black Gloss RAYS wheels.

So started it up and man, does it sound good, apparently brand new STOCK! exhaust + Y pipe up to cats. Sounded and looked great.

Took for test drive, he showed me what it can do, then even let me drive! Blew my socks off, I was sold. Deal done.

Fast forward 1 month of pure bliss, doing about 75-80 in 3rd gear bam misfire! EML manage starts flashing couple of times didn't count, let off, engine light gone off.

So thrashed again just to make sure(as I had literally just pulled out of shell garage after filling from low fuel with V-Power Nitro+ so I thought I got dud fuel.

Nope same thing no the engine light stays on! Then crawled home like a grandma.

Plug the PC in get P0300 code Random Misfire, FML. Obvs thinking c**ks**cker dealer at this point.

So off to the garage to so what's going on, he's found Cylinder 6 Misfire.

Off it comes, oil ONTOP of spark plug?? and in Coil Pack. So he cleaned spark plug up with some stuff, couldn't revive the coil pack.

He there was abit of oil leak from rocker, but after cleaning said there was no leak at current, previous owner must had got it repaired and didn't clean up coil pack.

£200(£50 Coil Pack - £150 Labour...) later I'm a happy bunny again.

Now I didn't know then but do now, of course you run for too long with misfire your cats get clogged....

Less than a week later and 100 miles down the road, solid EML. Jesus give me a break.

Plugged PC in again, P0430, Cat below threshold.........

So cleared it, as I didn't want to pay for new cats, came back 30miles later, cleared again not been back touch wood.

At this point near to present day, driving home from work, break quite hard oil light comes on, I think I just followed thru. (And I have been checking oil level literally every other day)

As soon as I settle down, oil light goes off.

Now once again I didn't know then but do now, apparently not oil light its oil pressure light?

So I went and done my own oil and filter change, (Oh yer oil pressure was really low as well, on start-up cold would go to about 70-80 drop straight to about 20, on COLD start-up!)

Done the change all is well with the world, abit of smoke but soon cleared.

Come next day check oil half it gone so top up, abit strange, I even put in 5L and thought I had overfilled till I read about.

Nope was thrashing it done the road, plumes of blue smoke coming out, what now.....

Kept topping up, still going down, so changed oil weight, same thing. But the cars still runs good.

Started searching around, only thing that comes back for blue smoke as you all know is, either piston rings or stems.

Took it back to garage again. Got a compression test done, here's the results:

 

Cylinder 1: Dry: 160 - Wet: 175

Cylinder 2: Dry: 140 - Wet: 170

Cylinder 3: Dry: 175 - Wet: 205

Cylinder 4: Dry: 145 - Wet: 170

Cylinder 5: Dry: 140 - Wet: 210

Cylinder 6: Dry: 150 - Wet: 170

 

Only 3 of them seem consistent, bloke at garage defo said its rings, mainly number 5.

 

Soooooooooooooooo.

 

Current day: Googled about, Phoned about.

 

I think I'm strongly considering a rebuilt at this time, I love the 350z, and having already spent abit.

And I really like the idea of having new insides.

Quote so far: Minor Rebuild: £1500 ish Major Rebuild: £2000 mark. (Parts, Labour, Engine Out and Engine In) 12months or 12,000miles warranty/guarantee ETA 1-2Weeks.(To cover he's ass)

 

Or I'll end up making about £1k-2k as I brought from a dealer, and would probs sell to a dealer. (As I wouldn't want the guilt or aggro selling private)

 

So any advice, I've had it over 2months now, it has come with 6months warranty, and the warranty states it covers piston, and rings and rods bearing etc upto £1000 limit.

But what if they just say I broke it? And if I am to use warranty, they need to be a VAT registered company as well.

 

What you guys think, of course I have thrashed the bolts off it, its a 3.5L V6.....

My fault?

Find VAT Engine Rebuilders so warranty can pay for bit? If they even will?

Get dealer involved?

 

Did I mention it only has 63k on the clock?

And that I had thrashed it, but have also monitored oil levels.

 

Once again engine still runs good but using just as much oil as petrol atm.

 

Kindest Regards.

Edited by Lewis_UK
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Warranty is irrelevant, no matter what the dealer says. That's simply not fit for purpose, nor of reasonable quality. Take it back to the garage, let them decide what they want to do. You should have ZERO costs for this, no matter what their warranty terms are, you're covered by the SOGA in this, not the warranty terms.

 

Take it back, explain the problem, see what they say. They should fix it, however they may simply just refund you and then you'll have to get a new one. That's up to them, you cannot force them to fix it, but they MUST either fix or refund. No alternative.

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Thank you very much for all the encouraging comments, I wasn't expecting these.

 

What if dealer tries to say I broke it, or that he'll take a look and tries to get one of he's mates around the corner to fix it?

 

Is there a certain timescale if he accepts?

 

The sales of goods act is abit vague but informative.

 

Either way seems I need to man up, get through the hassle.

 

I do love the Zed and don't want to let the dream die after only 2months.

Edited by Lewis_UK
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You know you didn't break it. You have your facts, stick to them.

He may well get his mate round the corner to fix it, that's his choice. As long as it is fixed, that's all that matters ultimately.

He should fix it in a reasonable time. Depending on what needs doing, that may be 1-2 weeks, but it would be that wherever you went.

It's a little vague, but case law is key here. Trust me, you're 100% in the right at this point.

 

If he refuses to fix, then write him a letter stating the problem and that you expect him to repair, and to reply within 7 days. If he still doesn't, then you start small claims court proceedings as it's a slam-dunk win.

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Good luck with approaching the dealer and don't think twice about passing the case to trading standards, they came up trumps for a mate of mine recently when he bought a car with undeclared accident damage that the dealer was aware of and repaired very badly.

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Get the garage you took it to when you had the misfire to write up a little report, the ones who found oil in the cylinder. It will help back you up that you have been experiencing these problems for a while and have already spent money trying to fix what you thought was an unrelated problem. It certainly wouldnt hurt things having it to back you up. Likewise with the following visit with the compression test results.

Edited by Sargara
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Ekona is spot on, the Sale of Goods Act covers you. Warranties mean absolutely nothing.

 

http://www.lawgistics.co.uk/legal-article-warranty/motor-trade-warranty-guarantee-service-contract/what-are-the-customers-legal-rights-when-buying-a-used-car

 

Personally I'd reject the car. Send a letter recorded delivery stating that you reject the car as per the SOGA, as it has a serious mechanical fault, and that you will return the car on XYZ date.

Get your money back. if they refuse, open a case with MCOL.

It's a slam dunk case, you'll get your money back and costs.

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do all correspondence recorded. gf had the same thing with a mazda , 110k miles, engine was shot, lasted about 6 weeks (not mazda dealer) took a while but got full cost of car back plus all expenses. just be persistant! PM me if you want more info - you don't have to prove it was broken when you bought it, the dealer has to prove it wasn't. as above SOGA is your friend!

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