Think im going to reject my car tomorrow.... its unreliable :(

[iandjm]

Hi,

Well it happened again today. My new Ibiza would not start. Just turning over and the engine flooding. I tried on and off for 20 mins. My car has been back to the dealers twice already. No definate fault found and all connectors tightened up just in case.

I called Seat assistence and was told they should be out to me within 3 hours!!! I live on the Isle of Wight and nowhere is more than 20 mins away. Impressive..... not.
So at this point I opened the bonnet and whacked the ecu and fiddled with any connectors I could find. When I stopped doing this I heard a little motor/punp run for a few seconds and stop.
I got back in and tried the engine, it started very roughtly with all the dashboard warning lights still on and the revs limited to 1800 rpm. and terribly rought idling. It stank of petrol too. I let it run for a few minutes then stoped it, restarted it and it ran fine and all the warning lights went out one by one.

This has happened to me quite a few times. The car has been back to the dealers twice. Firstly I was told the ecu programme got mixed up and was reprogrammed (sounds like you know what to me), the second they could not find a fault.

To be honest I have had enough. Seat can keep their car. I bought a new car (trading in a reliable Mk2 diesel Leon) to have a reliable, dependable car. Mine is far from this. I would imagine the catalytic converter is now damaged too, due to the quantity of unburnt fuel that's been entering it.

I am taking it back to the dealers tomorrow and handing the keys back. I am also speaking to my credit card company, as I cunningly paid partly on a credit card so that I would have their protection. My car is not fit for ther purpose it was sold far, and in my opinion my dealers have had enough chances to rectify its fault.

Just out of interest, any idea what the little pump was that I heard run in the engine before it started? I wonder if it is faulty, or if the ecu is, and it had only just been told to run.

Ian

 

[iandjm]

An update....

I spoke the my dealers owner today and things have been moving fast. I have already taken my car in, and as if by magic a new Ibiza loan car has been found for me. I will be keeping that until my car is cured.
I did discover that my dealer has another 1.6 Ibiza with exactly the same problem as mine. So that 2 at a small dealership on the Isle of Wight. I wonder how many other 1.6 Petrol Ibiza's around the country have the same problem?

Ian

 

[Leonidas]

Its a bit worrying all right

 

[Nath.]

Sounds like a faulty relay to me.

 

[m0rk]

If you're thinking about rejecting a car, you need to keep an accurate log of works, dates etc.

You can't just rock up after two attempts to fix it & demand a rejection sadly.

Now if they keep your car for a while.... that's another matter have a good read on some consumer car sites

 

[iandjm]

Im not sure. I checked last night when I was trying to start it and the relays were operating fine. I think its the ECU as when it does start every possible warning light is remaining on (even tyre pressure)

Ian

 

[Nath.]

Im not sure. I checked last night when I was trying to start it and the relays were operating fine. I think its the ECU as when it does start every possible warning light is remaining on (even tyre pressure)

Ian

The ECU doesn't have any moving parts that could be thumped, a relay on the other hand responds well to a thump if it has a dirty connection.

 

[iandjm]

Yup, I work in electronics. Mind you dry/poor solder joints can't be ruled out.

its in the hand sof the dealers now anyway.... Weird that out of 3 1.6's they habve sold, 2 have the fault.

Ian

 

[Nath.]

TBH I find it strange that cars of today still have mechanical electromagnetic relays when solid state ones are so much better and probably cheaper too.

 

[iandjm]

TBH I find it strange that cars of today still have mechanical electromagnetic relays when solid state ones are so much better and probably cheaper too.

Thats so true. We use solid state where possible in our radar, and they seem to perform well. Ian

 

[mardon]

There have a been a few problems reported with the new diesel ibiza's. This isn't good news!

Hope its sorted soon mate.

 

[lil3520]

My father told me never to buy a new model car, wait aleast 18 months untill they have sorted out any teehting problems.

 

[Fl@pper]

My father told me never to buy a new model car, wait aleast 18 months untill they have sorted out any teething problems.

must admit i've always said the same, or grab a last of the old model for the best spec/price and same sorted problems



seems to be a few 1.6's playing up all of a sudden, is it just petrol one's or diesel too ?

.

 

[nightflight]

mny 1.6 diesel's giving me grief at the minute so i think it's all of them

 

[Fl@pper]

thought i'd seen a tdi mentioned sorry

 

[andycupra]

personally id stop thumpting bits and wiggling bits. if they catch wind that you have been 'having a look' their attitude towards repairs may get worse.

 

[robin cur]

So pleased I went for the 19tdi, old engine but 7.000 mile on, no problums.

 

[iandjm]

personally id stop thumpting bits and wiggling bits. if they catch wind that you have been 'having a look' their attitude towards repairs may get worse.

I know what you mean, although as it was the 10th + time the car had let me down, and I had just been told the wait for the AA was 3/4 hours it was all I could do to stop myself from pouring petrol over it, and torching it!

 

[nightflight]

3/4 hours for the AA? do they just use push bikes in your part of the world? I've had them out 3 times and each time they've been no longer than 45 minutes. (granted, if i was at the side of the road in the pouring rain 45 minutes would be about 15 too long, but as i have the luxury of my house and SCN to keep me entertained it doesn't really bother me, but 3/4 hours? i'd be ringing them back to check they've not got lost and need help themselves)

 

[iandjm]

3/4 hours for the AA? do they just use push bikes in your part of the world? I've had them out 3 times and each time they've been no longer than 45 minutes. (granted, if i was at the side of the road in the pouring rain 45 minutes would be about 15 too long, but as i have the luxury of my house and SCN to keep me entertained it doesn't really bother me, but 3/4 hours? i'd be ringing them back to check they've not got lost and need help themselves)

Hi, Im on the Isle of Wight, I was beginning to wonder if they were setting off from London and catching the ferry over!

Ian