Used Car Issue

Hobbitfeet

Hi we bought a used car at the end of last year from a dealership. We were assured that that car had been checked and serviced and everything was fine with it. The ABS light was constant on but the salesman said they had checked it and the ABS was working fine and just the light was broken.
We had NCT today and the car failed because ABS is not working. The salesman totally lied to us and I'm really pi**ed off.
So do we have any come back on this?

dudara

I'm sorry to point this out, but it's pretty common knowledge that you will fail the NCT if any warning lights are on on the dashboard. It doesn't matter if they are fake alarm lights, the car will still fail.

Do you know if the ABS is genuinely not working? Or did you fail the NCT because of the warning light?

tinofapples

No reputable car dealership should be selling a car with an ABS light on, however as already posted you should have been aware of NCT stipulations with regards dashlights. Can't see any solution here for you other than getting it sorted outta your own pocket given the length of time passed. I'd have no doubt the dealer would deny the light was on when the car was sold.

croninmccarthy

Bring the car back to the dealer and demand he have it fixed. Usually a dealer will give a grace period and if he wants to keep some sort of reputation he will stand over it. It could be a genuine fault with the light or an actual fault with the ABS. Either way bring it back to him and demand the work be done explaining that it has failed the NCT.

digitaldr

ABS went on our CRV a few years back. Honda wanted around €1200 to fix it:eek: Also got a quote from a dealer in Northern Ireland - was dearer! In the end got it fixed for about €800 by autokey.ie They needed the car for 3 days though. They also do key coding but a mate of mine recently got a quote for a key that was higher than the VW dealer.

AFAIK the problem with ABS repairs is that you need specialised expensive diagnostic equipment which very few places have. Unless you got the car from a reputable dealer I'd say they didn't check it out properly and if they had wouldn't be selling it with the warning light on!

Stoolbend

Did you get a warranty with the car?

Del2005

Hobbitfeet wrote: »

Hi we bought a used car at the end of last year from a dealership. We were assured that that car had been checked and serviced and everything was fine with it. The ABS light was constant on but the salesman said they had checked it and the ABS was working fine and just the light was broken.
We had NCT today and the car failed because ABS is not working. The salesman totally lied to us and I'm really pi**ed off.
So do we have any come back on this?

That was your first mistake. Never believe a salesman. Did you get the car independently checked out before buying?

The easiest way to see if it is the light that's broken or the ABS is to go to a quiet area with gravel or slightly damp and stand on your brakes. If the pedal pulses your ABS is OK and if you skid your ABS isn't working.

Don't see how you'll get anything off the garage that sold you the car now unless you've noted down the issue, unless they are willing to do good will but I doubt it if they sold it faulty as 6 months is a long time since buying and a lot can go wrong.