Technical Grande Punto heater fan with Air Con - which part?
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Technical Grande Punto heater fan with Air Con - which part?
Well, indeed, but I just wanted someone to explain what might've happened, since if it is something that just clips back into place and is easily accessible then I'd just do that now.
OP
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Somewhere on the forum (to be found with a search) there is info regarding a problem which causes the heater plug to melt. You will be able to see whether it's melted or not by following the info on removing the assembly which is linked earlier in the thread. If it's the same problem I have (brushes) then you will get exactly the symptoms I describe in this thread, it's not an easy fix, and the only way to be sure is to do a very messy disassembly of the motor. So in summary if your plug is melted, the garage need to do that fix described somewhere else in the forum, and if it's not melted, it needs a new or refurb blower motor and fan assembly. It's vanishingly unlikely that the plug would come loose by itself - and if it did it would be very likely due to damage 
Well, after spending forever for the RAC to get back to me about how to go through the warranty process (I wanted them to set it out in an email so I had it all written down - I hate phoning call centres), I was able to book it in with a local garage today.
They charged me an hour's labour to do diagnostics on it to tell me that: "The heater motor has stopped working because it has burnt out" (well, duh!)
Then they contacted the RAC who told them that they will pay for the heater motor (£109.44) and 0.5hr labour (£22.50). Add VAT comes to £158.33
So I would have to pay for wiring loom (£75.98), resistor (£19.37) and 3.5hr labour (£157.50). Add VAT comes to £303.42
If they ordered the part today, it would come by Tues/Wed next week. However, I asked for the garage to hold off ordering it while I contact the dealership and remonstrate with them first, given how within the first six months, they should be sorting all this out.
They charged me an hour's labour to do diagnostics on it to tell me that: "The heater motor has stopped working because it has burnt out" (well, duh!)
Then they contacted the RAC who told them that they will pay for the heater motor (£109.44) and 0.5hr labour (£22.50). Add VAT comes to £158.33
So I would have to pay for wiring loom (£75.98), resistor (£19.37) and 3.5hr labour (£157.50). Add VAT comes to £303.42
If they ordered the part today, it would come by Tues/Wed next week. However, I asked for the garage to hold off ordering it while I contact the dealership and remonstrate with them first, given how within the first six months, they should be sorting all this out.
all down to the supplying dealer,
I assume it's their 3 month RAC warranty..NOT one you've bought independently ??,
any more hassle go to trading standards..,
pretty sure a decent auto-electrician would do it for a LOT less if you HAVE to pay for it,
( same / less labour , and just basic cable not FIAT / Vauxhall parts "£££")
Charlie
I assume it's their 3 month RAC warranty..NOT one you've bought independently ??,
any more hassle go to trading standards..,
pretty sure a decent auto-electrician would do it for a LOT less if you HAVE to pay for it,
( same / less labour , and just basic cable not FIAT / Vauxhall parts "£££")
Charlie
Hi, yes, it is their 3 month RAC warranty. Trading standards is a good idea, thanks. I've also posted on the RAC forum to see if they reply, as they sometimes do.
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Did you purchase the car using credit at all?, Hire purchase, Credit card?
Even if you only paid £100 on a credit card your covered under the consumer credit act. Which put very basically means "Goods need to be fit for purpose for a reasonable length of time". For a used car 8years old or under that period is 1 year. This means within the 3 month period you shouldn't be paying for anything other than wear and tear items and servicing, Road VED, MOT's etc.
You basically put it in writing to the trader what's wrong with the car and give them a reasonable time frame to put it right. If they don't you can contact the credit issuer and raise a dispute.
Even if you only paid £100 on a credit card your covered under the consumer credit act. Which put very basically means "Goods need to be fit for purpose for a reasonable length of time". For a used car 8years old or under that period is 1 year. This means within the 3 month period you shouldn't be paying for anything other than wear and tear items and servicing, Road VED, MOT's etc.
You basically put it in writing to the trader what's wrong with the car and give them a reasonable time frame to put it right. If they don't you can contact the credit issuer and raise a dispute.
I didn't, sadly. I had the same conversation with a colleague on Friday and it made me realise that I didn't even think about that at the time. The car was £2800, £800 of which was done in part-ex with my previous car, but the rest was via Switch on a Visa Debit card.
I'm well aware of Section 75, but just didn't think here as while I use the credit card for all kinds of things and then pay it off at the end of the month, I just didn't equate a car as a conventional item that I might use it for, because a car is something I buy once in a blue moon.
I've got my initial email set out to send to the dealer (which is how I contacted them originally, and I want to get it done in writing first, rather than ringing them up), so will be sending that later on tonight.
What would you say is a reasonable timeframe?
I'm well aware of Section 75, but just didn't think here as while I use the credit card for all kinds of things and then pay it off at the end of the month, I just didn't equate a car as a conventional item that I might use it for, because a car is something I buy once in a blue moon.
I've got my initial email set out to send to the dealer (which is how I contacted them originally, and I want to get it done in writing first, rather than ringing them up), so will be sending that later on tonight.
What would you say is a reasonable timeframe?
jameshobiecat
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dvdfever said:
So the warrenty only covers 1/3rd of the cost? The phrase not worth the paper its written on comes to mind.
OP
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The problem is replacing the entire loom. Fiat will tell you it's necessary - it isn't, and that's where the 3.5 hours of labour goes. A good auto electrician will just cut off the burnt plug and replace it. This is a DIY job if you can solder. If I were you I would be getting the new blower fan under the warranty and then fitting it myself using a new resistor and a scrap loom.
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I'd say 2 weeks for a "non" critical fault such as this.
Well, I messaged them the other day in an email to the dealer via Ebay (where I'd previously contacted them), stating my rights about how they should fix everything & pay for labour for the first 6 months.
This is the dealership website: http://www.jeffjohnsoncarsltd.co.uk
After a few messages back and forth, where they kept dodging the question about supplying a loan car, they asked me to contact them with a phone number (which was the same one that they had from the off, anyway). I spoke to James, who I'd been dealing with by message recently. He then put me on to the manager, Mohammed, and so began a conversation...
I had already stated by email that since buying the car, I hadn't used the heater until Nov 7th 2013. He repeatedly asked me why I didn't use it on a daily basis to demist the car since buying it. I said it hadn't misted up during then. He kept asking the same question about why I hadn't used the heater. I kept saying I didn't need to. He had trouble grasping this point. Did he think that a car should mist up on a daily basis for no apparent reason? He also asked me if I used the window instead to clear the screen. I said I use the window to let fresh air in.
At one point he said, "Do you expect everything to be brand new on the car when you bought it?" I said I expect it to work.
Mohammed said he would only fulfil everything according to the RAC warranty and no more. He also said any other costs above and beyond that, he would "share" with me. I refused, and reiterated my rights, including that I should not be left inconvenienced during the repair process, i.e. that he should supply a loan car. He claims he knew the rights better because he had been in the trade for 27 years. He was using bullying tactics which I could see right through.
As the conversation went on, for 5-10 mins, he started raising his voice. I remained calm and asked him why he was raising his voice. He said it's because I was being "awkward" and he started calling *me* a bully. He was an incredibly arrogant man and I realised I was getting nowhere with him.
I said I would speak to Trading Standards about all this. He continued to go on with himself. I terminated the call.
I'm going to look into this thoroughly, on the TS site and on here, but if I'd love any advice on the issue. For a company that states people want to go to them to buy subsequent cars from them, I can't believe what a jackass he was behaving as. I was shaking as I came off the phone!
This is the dealership website: http://www.jeffjohnsoncarsltd.co.uk
After a few messages back and forth, where they kept dodging the question about supplying a loan car, they asked me to contact them with a phone number (which was the same one that they had from the off, anyway). I spoke to James, who I'd been dealing with by message recently. He then put me on to the manager, Mohammed, and so began a conversation...
I had already stated by email that since buying the car, I hadn't used the heater until Nov 7th 2013. He repeatedly asked me why I didn't use it on a daily basis to demist the car since buying it. I said it hadn't misted up during then. He kept asking the same question about why I hadn't used the heater. I kept saying I didn't need to. He had trouble grasping this point. Did he think that a car should mist up on a daily basis for no apparent reason? He also asked me if I used the window instead to clear the screen. I said I use the window to let fresh air in.
At one point he said, "Do you expect everything to be brand new on the car when you bought it?" I said I expect it to work.
Mohammed said he would only fulfil everything according to the RAC warranty and no more. He also said any other costs above and beyond that, he would "share" with me. I refused, and reiterated my rights, including that I should not be left inconvenienced during the repair process, i.e. that he should supply a loan car. He claims he knew the rights better because he had been in the trade for 27 years. He was using bullying tactics which I could see right through.
As the conversation went on, for 5-10 mins, he started raising his voice. I remained calm and asked him why he was raising his voice. He said it's because I was being "awkward" and he started calling *me* a bully. He was an incredibly arrogant man and I realised I was getting nowhere with him.
I said I would speak to Trading Standards about all this. He continued to go on with himself. I terminated the call.
I'm going to look into this thoroughly, on the TS site and on here, but if I'd love any advice on the issue. For a company that states people want to go to them to buy subsequent cars from them, I can't believe what a jackass he was behaving as. I was shaking as I came off the phone!
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Nice one, thanks. They don't seem to have a head office other than the place I bought it from which is also listed on their site, so off to Trading Standards I go... (well, by email initially)
More news as it happens...
Just a quick post to say I've since had a reply with a link to the TS letter templates and sent them a letter detailing that I expect them to fix it with no cost to me and also to refund me the £54 cost of an hour's labour. Not sure if I'll get that, though. The letter's on its way tomorrow, by recorded delivery.
More news as it happens.
I also posted about this on the RAC forum, and I'm disgusted that the RAC haven't bothered to comment (since they often do), and when my current year's worth of breakdown cover is finished, I am NEVER going back with them again. Absolute bunch of digraceful and pathetic individuals.
More news as it happens.
I also posted about this on the RAC forum, and I'm disgusted that the RAC haven't bothered to comment (since they often do), and when my current year's worth of breakdown cover is finished, I am NEVER going back with them again. Absolute bunch of digraceful and pathetic individuals.
Update on my case with Jeff Johnson cars:
I sent them a letter at the start of this week by recorded delivery. They've replied back by recorded delivery. The text of my letter is below, and I've attached their reply.
I'm still no further forward with these people. Saying they can't supply a loan car? Apart from the fact that they have a duty to ensure I'm not inconvenienced, how do they expect me to get about? Teleport?!
Can anyone please advise where I go next from here. I'm thinking: back to Trading Standards and asking them to contact the dealer directly. Would they do that, please?
Thanks.
"Jeff Johnson
Parsonage Garage
Kirkhall Lane
Leigh
Wigan
Lancashire
WN7 5RP
9 December 2013
Dear Sirs,
Complaint about faulty goods
I bought a Fiat Punto from you on 20th September 2013. I paid £2850.00 for a Fiat Punto (SC08 YRJ) including a trade-in of £800.00 for my Peugeot 206 (YA05 HRJ)
I now find the goods have the following fault:
I went to use the heater for the first time on November 7th 2013. I had not used it previously. After it came on, it spluttered and died. As such, and especially with winter arriving, this will cause me problems when I want to defrost it on frosty mornings.
I had tried to use the RAC warranty that came with the car, only to find they wouldn't cover the full costs. I took it to my local garage, Springbok, in Stockport, an RAC-approved garage. They charged me an hour's labour (£54.00 inc. VAT) to do diagnostics on it to tell me that the heater motor has stopped working because it has burnt out.
Then they contacted the RAC who told them that they will pay for the heater motor (£109.44) and 0.5hr labour (£22.50). Add VAT comes to
£158.33
So I would have to pay for wiring loom (£75.98), resistor (£19.37) and 3.5hr labour (£157.50). Add VAT comes to £303.42.
Following consultation with my local Trading Standards Office, under the Sale of Goods Act 1979 (as amended) goods you supply must be fit for purpose. As there was a problem with the goods when I bought them, I request that you repair the goods at no cost to me.
I have enclosed a copy of hour's labour receipt in support of my claim.
Please respond within 14 days of receiving this letter.
Yours faithfully
Dominic Robinson"
I sent them a letter at the start of this week by recorded delivery. They've replied back by recorded delivery. The text of my letter is below, and I've attached their reply.
I'm still no further forward with these people. Saying they can't supply a loan car? Apart from the fact that they have a duty to ensure I'm not inconvenienced, how do they expect me to get about? Teleport?!
Can anyone please advise where I go next from here. I'm thinking: back to Trading Standards and asking them to contact the dealer directly. Would they do that, please?
Thanks.
"Jeff Johnson
Parsonage Garage
Kirkhall Lane
Leigh
Wigan
Lancashire
WN7 5RP
9 December 2013
Dear Sirs,
Complaint about faulty goods
I bought a Fiat Punto from you on 20th September 2013. I paid £2850.00 for a Fiat Punto (SC08 YRJ) including a trade-in of £800.00 for my Peugeot 206 (YA05 HRJ)
I now find the goods have the following fault:
I went to use the heater for the first time on November 7th 2013. I had not used it previously. After it came on, it spluttered and died. As such, and especially with winter arriving, this will cause me problems when I want to defrost it on frosty mornings.
I had tried to use the RAC warranty that came with the car, only to find they wouldn't cover the full costs. I took it to my local garage, Springbok, in Stockport, an RAC-approved garage. They charged me an hour's labour (£54.00 inc. VAT) to do diagnostics on it to tell me that the heater motor has stopped working because it has burnt out.
Then they contacted the RAC who told them that they will pay for the heater motor (£109.44) and 0.5hr labour (£22.50). Add VAT comes to
£158.33
So I would have to pay for wiring loom (£75.98), resistor (£19.37) and 3.5hr labour (£157.50). Add VAT comes to £303.42.
Following consultation with my local Trading Standards Office, under the Sale of Goods Act 1979 (as amended) goods you supply must be fit for purpose. As there was a problem with the goods when I bought them, I request that you repair the goods at no cost to me.
I have enclosed a copy of hour's labour receipt in support of my claim.
Please respond within 14 days of receiving this letter.
Yours faithfully
Dominic Robinson"
Attachments
Well, just recently I sent the dealer a second letter of action, as I didn't mention court in the first one.
This prompted them to finally get in touch, but they keep saying the same old same old of "Please provide us with access to your vehicle so we may diagnose and inspect your vehicle. And if necessary do any repairs required."
I asked them for the umpteenth time about them supplying a loan car and reimbursing me for the £54.00 one hour's labour I spent getting the fault diagnosed at the insistence of the RAC.
"sorry I cannot say anything until your vehicle has been inspected and exact fault diagnosed and cause of fault determined, as we discussed we do not have any loan cars and our motor policy does not cover us for loan cars, in extreme circumstances when a vehicle may be off the road for several weeks , we may then find a vehicle from our sales stockbut I must stress that the car must be insured by the owner. please advise when we may come to collect the vehicle"
I can't get about without a car, so at this point I can see myself getting it fixed at my expense and taking them to the small claims court.
What does everyone think?
This prompted them to finally get in touch, but they keep saying the same old same old of "Please provide us with access to your vehicle so we may diagnose and inspect your vehicle. And if necessary do any repairs required."
I asked them for the umpteenth time about them supplying a loan car and reimbursing me for the £54.00 one hour's labour I spent getting the fault diagnosed at the insistence of the RAC.
"sorry I cannot say anything until your vehicle has been inspected and exact fault diagnosed and cause of fault determined, as we discussed we do not have any loan cars and our motor policy does not cover us for loan cars, in extreme circumstances when a vehicle may be off the road for several weeks , we may then find a vehicle from our sales stockbut I must stress that the car must be insured by the owner. please advise when we may come to collect the vehicle"
I can't get about without a car, so at this point I can see myself getting it fixed at my expense and taking them to the small claims court.
What does everyone think?
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