Help & Advice

[snow patrol]

Hi Everyone

Can anyone shed any light for me.

I am a new owner of a Mercedes 230 Kompressor Auto, I bought it about 3-4 weeks ago its a V Reg.

It seems to have an intermitent fault - basically it loses power and cuts out completely and I grind to a halt. It has done this a couple of times but usually I can restart the engine, however the other evening I could not get it going and had to be towed home, at considerable cost!!!!

What happened was I pulled away from a set of traffic lights I could hear the gears changing up as normal then after about 200 yards I seemed to lose all power, I could then hear the gears changing down, my dash board lit up with all the lights and I cruised to a halt, and that was it - no noise from engine only a kind of werring from the fan at the front. Excuse my non technical phrases.

Any ideas greatly appreciated.

 

[dragon]

Take it back else you have to diy and change the auto fluid if it hasn't been done, see maintenance record.

 

[snow patrol]

Thanks for the info Dragon. Do you think if I go back to the garage and get them to change the auto fluid this would solve the problem.

Garage seem a bit reluctant to return my calls at the moment, would be great if I can go to them and say its the "so and so", get it sorted or I want my money back.

 

[dragon]

You should have pointed it out during your test drive, now you have to it yourself. Want to get your hand dirty, there is a link in the DIY section.

Of prior important is make sure you fit in a new seal else it may leaks, messy slimy job.

 

[snow patrol]

Hi Dragon again

Have just had a call from mechanic at garage. He says because I didn't take out the extended warranty and garage only gave me a 3 month warranty - this only covers engine and gear box and my problem sounds like an electrical fault. So possibly the auto fluid is not the problem. He suggested I get a diagnostic done on it.

 

[dragon]

If they knew it the electrical problem get them to fix it. It not cheap to get it done by Merc £50 unless you have one of these Carsoft or MB Star diagnostic tool.

You need to look at when the auto fluid was changed. It needs to be done every 3 years I believe. Look at the dip stick if there is one whether it required topup.

 

[Stu_CDX]

Hi Dragon again

Have just had a call from mechanic at garage. He says because I didn't take out the extended warranty and garage only gave me a 3 month warranty - this only covers engine and gear box and my problem sounds like an electrical fault. So possibly the auto fluid is not the problem. He suggested I get a diagnostic done on it.

I'd tell him that the Auto Fluid is to blame and DEMAND he changes it.

 

[television]

You are all out on this,,if the dash lights came on,, that would show that the engine stopped, and this should only be the crankshaft sensor at fault £47 from bosch

 

[worldclassmusician]

If you bought it 3-4 weeks ago, surely you're still in the warrany period of your sale? I'm having some probs with my CLK230 as well, bought less than a week ago.

Be militant with the garage, it seems to be the case that if they sense that you'll bow down at all, they'll give you nothing. I took my car to merc and got them to give it an extended health check (1 hour labour). Cost me just under £100, but WELL worth it. They'll tell you every little thing that's up with your car. I did this and went back to the garage with a list today and i'm getting the right answers from the garage. I was really pi**ed off and made sure that this came across when I was talking to them.

My car is being sorted tomorrow.

 

[madf]

Sale of Goods Act.
Demand it fixed free or money back.
Not mechantable quality
See Trading Standrads if no joy and if cost under £5k a last resort Small Claims Court.

They have no legs to stand on legally.

Do NOT WORK ON IT.

 

[colechelle]

What planet you on dragon, your replying to threads when you cleary have no idea what your talking about! you mis-leading people who belive you have back round in these things when it shown time after time you havent! sorry, i dont mean to be rude but i keep seeing it time after time, some one is going to take your advice soon, spend loads of dosh on something and its going to be because you dont have a clue what your on-about!!

 

[television]

I have to endorse Colechelle here,, there is the new poster that asked for advice where he clearly needs a CPS and Dragon has told him that the gearbox is shot, this is bad on the forum and even worse for the owner of the car.

Please dragon do not answer if you do not know

 

[snow patrol]

Thanks all for the info

Finally got the garage to come out and pick up the car after I sent them a recorded letter outlinining the Sale of Goods Act. Nice as pie now!!!!

Car actually broke down again when the guy from the garage picked it up, so had to get a tow. What a Result!!!

At least they can't come back and say "well we've had on for a week and we can't find a fault, it must be he way you drive it."

Will update you all when I know what the problem was.

 

[snow patrol]

Hi All

Problem diagnosed now. It was the imobiliser unit. Garage have phoned and said have finally got the part in, (they have had the car for over 2 and half weeks now). Haven't driven it for over a month now. Total cost will be £765 + VAT. As a good will gesture they are prepared to pay half!!!!!!!

Sort some more legal advice, under the Sale of Goods Act - shouldn't have to pay a bean.

When will I ever get me car back!!!! Getting pretty fed up now, wish I had never bought the merc in the first place. Cetainly at this rate not going to see it before xmas.

Regards all and a Merry Christmas from a totally fed up Snow Patrol

 

[jonargraig]

Have a word with trading standings mate...

 

[snow patrol]

Have been speaking to Consumer Direct since it all kicked off. Been of great help. It was through their advice that I have had to put things in writing and send recorded delivery.