[bal]

Having brought my first alfa just over a month ago I took it to an indi garage to get it checked after the engine management light came on after a few days and the steering wheel making a grinding sound when turning it at low speed. The Brera came with a 3 month gold Dealer care extended guarantee so I thought I should have no problems if anything was to arise in that period of time.

Unfortunately I have had the diagnosis on the car, the engine management light gave the code reading p0016 Phase Synchro and the indi garage have confirmed this as a stretched timing chain.

they also took a look at my steering rack and have discovered that its quite corroded and have told me that the vehicle is unsafe to drive as the rack could go at anytime, I brought the vehicle with 38,000 miles on the clock and have since done another 2000 and really don't think that a steering rack should fail on a vehicle so quickly, also the car has the 'dreaded' red power steering fluid in it, even though it has been serviced 3 times already (should this fluid be replaced with GI/R when the steering rack is replaced and does the steering fluid resevoir need replacing too?)

My warranty company have initially said that they will payout for the timing chain but not for the steering rack as they don't cover defects caused by corrosion.

Can anybody advise me on how I can/if I can recoup the cost I'll have to pay for the rack as I really don't feel that the garage that sold me the car have checked the vehicle properly before selling it to me, the salesman gave me some spiel about the engine management lights coming on and off on alfas all the time and not to worry about it (I know, I should have heard alarm bells ringing at this point but being the man I am I'd already been seduced by the Brera's good looks)

I'm just unsure who to take this up with at the moment, Alfa for the clearly defective steering rack design or the Garage I brought the car from for being weaselly charlatans, would something like this be covered under the sale of goods act?

Any advice would be appreciated as I'm looking at over 1.5k worth of work in my first 2 months of ownership (albeit minus the cost of the timing chain replacement providing the warranty company don't try to weasel out of paying out) and I'm genuinely considering cutting my losses now and selling the car even though shes gorgeous.

 

[Guest]

Was it an Alfa dealer?

How old is the car?

Could be worth contacting Alfa and b'tching although the
dealer is the "guilty" party you purchased the car from.



Both are well known faults on these cars.

If the chain is covered then you are halfway there.

Do a thread search as most times the whole rack doesn't need to be changed
just the ends, which is significantly cheaper.


Don't let it get you down, fixing these 2 issues as cheaply as possible, or
hopeful at no cost to you, will result is a solid car that'll keep you smiling for
a good few years.


Chase the supplying dealer, contact Alfa.

 

[bal]

Hey Nev,

The car is a 2006 model so 5 years old, unfortunately I didn't buy it from a Alfa dealer just an independent.

Rack issue wise the report from the garage is that the front off side track rod has seized because of water in the knuckle and that the boot? in the rack had water in it and that this has caused a large build up of corrosion on the rack ends, also the near side bottom arm needs replacing because of a worn ball joint.

I have no technical knowledge but have gone by the indi garage's reccomendation.

 

[Guest]

Check the threads on here about track rod ends.
It's not something that would have occurred just in the month
after you bought the car. They sold it to you in that state. So the dealer needs to cough.

Still worth contacting Alfa UK too.

 

[Squadrone Rosso]

Hi Bal.

Are you using Intaservices in Leicester? The do change the ends so if they can't just do that it must be for another reason (they'd not shaft you).

I agree with Nev. The supplying delaer should foot the bill as they sold you the car in that state. The warranty peole should be told as the problems were pre-existing and didn't just develope.

Your Brera is really nice so once these well known issues are resolved you'll have a cracker

 

[bal]

Hi Nev, Simon,

Thanks for the re-assurances, yep the quote was through intaservices simon, so i'm pretty sure they're not shafting me too lol, I'm gonna give the supplying garage a chance to cough up but if they don't its gonna have to be the leeches cough solicitors route to get it resolved, in the meantime i'm gonna have to stump the £850 odd for the steering rack as I can't get to work without the car and right now its unsafe to drive (my commute is all country lanes!)

 

[paulmacs]

Is it really unsafe to drive? If the rack is as in bad condition as described it has developed like that over time. When was the car last MOT'd? They pick up on failing racks. They failed me initially for mine.

 

[Guest]

I wouldn't rush into paying for anything. The steering rack will
be noisy but not dangerous. (But get an expert opinion on that. )


Also CAB/small claims court might be cheaper than solicitors...

But give the dealer a shout/chance-to-rectify first.

 

[bal]

Is it really unsafe to drive? If the rack is as in bad condition as described it has developed like that over time. When was the car last MOT'd? They pick up on failing racks. They failed me initially for mine.

it was MOT'd on 02/07/11 and I purchased it 15/07/11

 

[paulmacs]

Then it is not dangerous.

 

[tony44]

Try trading standards

 

[bal]

Then it is not dangerous.

after seeing the the rack and having driven the car I'd have to disagree, but then what do I know

 

[Squadrone Rosso]

Dodgy dealer, dodgy MOT perhaps

 

[poisson]

I contacted trading standards when I bought my 156. The glow plug relay had gone but as whenever I'd test drove the car (twice) they drove it 1st I never saw the flashing plug light until I went to take it home.
Anyway trading standards just said wear and tear and as long as the car was suitable for purpose(it drove) I had to foot bill. If it's meant to be an mot fail u could have a case. Is there an advisory on your mot certificate? You can check what it was online. If not def dodgy ticket.

 

[MattSax]

No way they would of issued an advisory if they were ''scabs''
Trading standards would be good to get in touch with Sorry to hear about this alot of it about at the moment Good Luck

 

[poisson]

If you look at your mot certificate it tells you if an advisory was issued. So you dont need the yellow sheet You can also see online all mots and lists of fail or advisory. If this problem was an advisory on last mot but not your latest one this may give you a case?

 

[V6Alfisti]

Contact trading standards to get the correct process for resolving this matter. They have no power but will give you directions for ensuring you are in the best position to claim.

i.e. I wouldnt rush into repairing it, you need to give the garage a fair opportunity to fix the fault with lots of letters/postal tracking codes to prove (put everything in writing).

Also used cars from traders actually have 6 months coverage as during this time, THEY have to prove that the fault wasn't present at the time of sale and the likely hood of that much corrosion happening over a short period of time is frankly impossible.

I think you have a very strong case and the garage will either see sense before small claims proceedings or lose in court. (IMO)

 

[bal]

Thanks for all the advice folks, Have contacted trading standards, the problem I now have is that I have to give the garage 'reasonable' time to respond, I've been without my car for over a week, the timing chain is being replaced under warranty on friday (but I still have to pay about £120 for the timing kit as the warranty company wil only pay for eurocar parts replacment, so I'm paying the difference to get the alfa timing kit) really want to just pay to get the steering rack replaced to get the car back on the road however because I have to wait a 'reasonable' time for the supplying garage to respond I'm in limbo but hopefully have the car back on the road by end of next week

 

[jamesy]

Dont think I would have paid the extra for the Alfa kit. is that not part of the problem the chains they are using are not fit for purpose.Ihave been toying with the idea of selling both my Alfas for some time now and buying a Brera or New Spider as am only doing around 6k pa between them as I also have use of my company car. Have had my wifes 156 for 7 yrs with no major problems and the Spider for 3 yrs again no major problems(although in fairness it has bills for over £5k spent on it by previous owner including full engine rebuild by Jamie Porter at a cost of £2300 )The thought of changing and perhaps buying someone elses problems keeps putting me off.

 

[paulmacs]

Thanks for all the advice folks, Have contacted trading standards, the problem I now have is that I have to give the garage 'reasonable' time to respond, I've been without my car for over a week, the timing chain is being replaced under warranty on friday (but I still have to pay about £120 for the timing kit as the warranty company wil only pay for eurocar parts replacment, so I'm paying the difference to get the alfa timing kit) really want to just pay to get the steering rack replaced to get the car back on the road however because I have to wait a 'reasonable' time for the supplying garage to respond I'm in limbo but hopefully have the car back on the road by end of next week

Wouldnt fork out for the alfa kit - euro car parts pattern parts are good quality, more than can be said of the chains used by alfa as per the amount of stretched chains out there.