Warranty dispute please advise

[Garage2k]

Had my clutch go after 31k miles, is stuck engaged so can get into gear but not disengage. No signs of it occuring just bam gone.

Been told by Vauxhall that they only cover upto 18.5k.

When getting the clutch replaced at my expense the garage (not vauxhall) They noticed a sound coming from the gear box so removed the sump plate, upon removal 2 cogs and a metal rod (not sure what its for) about 1cm in diameter.

Car is now at vauxhall and they are telling me it is not covered under warranty (car is 2.5 years old), as there is no manufacturing or material faults.

The fact that the bolt has sheard off tell me otherwise.

Any advise on where I stand please they want £2200 to fix it.

[heliosuk]

I think you need to give a more defined description here as to what is wrong and the history before people can help objectively. Version, year, auto or manual etc etc and what has happened. At the moment it does'nt exactly make sense.

[Garage2k]

Sorry, 07 plate so 2.5 years old, Astra 1.8 SRi, 31000 miles on the clock.

No tell tale signs of clutch or gear box problems, I've owned the car for ~8 months. No major abnormal sounds, crunching or problems getting into gear. Inspection of gear box shows no signs of wear on the cogs etc.

Time of failure was coming out of petrol station, went into 3rd gear slight metallic ting sound, went into 2nd gear approaching round-about and no drive, couldn't go anywhere. Although gears selectable but car wouldn't go anywhere.

Have attached picture of broken bit if that helps.

Thanks

[heliosuk]

Those are the planet gears from the diff unit. What's the vauxhall approved service history?

[heliosuk]

Forgot to add, please clarify auto or manual box and if you understand workings of a car ( respectfully).

[Garage2k]

Hi heliosuk,

Is a Manual gear box.

Service history is vauxhall dealership for first year then on second year serviced by 3rd party garage (one which i brought it from) with from their comments "off the shelf parts". Was sold to me as having the 6 months left of manufacturers guarantee.

No in depth knowledge of car mechanics. But understand failuire mechanisms of materials. In fact going to get the failed part analysed.

Thanks

[heliosuk]

Originally Posted by Garage2k

understand failuire mechanisms of materials. In fact going to get the failed part analysed.
Thanks

You're going to be very useful on this forum!!

Blowing up the pic would initially suggest to me a bearing failure. What I can't understand is why anybody at the dealer didn't notice it. It must have been singing like a canary prior to failure. I can't fathom out either why it hasn't punched a hole on the casing. So for a start there is something odd. Regardless of this it's knackered.

Now this is where it could get interesting with Vauxhaul.

I'm not sure what the warranty terms are from new for Vauxhall but would think at the time of original sale was at least 3 years or 60K miles. As the vehicle has a full history of servicing why would Vauxhall say no warranty. The only thing I can think of is that it is not being repaired by a vauxhall agent which is what you state. Under the terms of all manufactuers warranties, warranty work can only be carried by an approved Vauxhall dealer. This explains the no warranty statement.

As the box is out and apart this further complicates matters as whilst it could be moved to a VX dealer to do it is unlikely to find a dealer to take it on it's current condition. They have to send it back as an exchange unit.

My advice would be to call Vauxhall and register the claim then put on a good negotiating hat to get the nearest available dealer ( via Vauxhall ) who is willing to replace the box to do the work.

If you want a replacement box, which in reality is the only option, then you have to get it back to failure condition ie in one piece and moveable with box back in.

Cost wise you are liable for anything the current repairing garage has done unless they sold you the car or the full cost of repair.

There is no way you can recover the cost from Vauxhall unless one of their dealers do the repair.

It's a lesson to be learnt about this manufactuers warranty lark and usually clearly stated but not fully understood.

During the manufacturers warranty period the vehicle must be serviced to schedule using genuine parts or parts of equivalent quality. Any warranty work deemed necessary or covered under this can only be carried out at a recognised dealership.

[Garage2k]

again thanks for your relpy.

thats the wierd thing there was no noise or symptoms of it starting to fail. Also about 6 weeks ago someone fro vauxhall drove it whilst I had a query about abs and they made no comment on the sound either.

The car is currently at vauxhall, gearbox and clutch upon delivery at vauxhall garage was all in situ.

Upon investigation at vauxhall they requested authorisation to remove gearbox for further investigation. (From what I have seen its standard practice)[ my statement to them was if it is needed then ok].

After all to see the sheard metal nothing was needed to be taken out as it had already fallen out, as removal of the sump plate the above mentioned items 'fell' out of the gear box. Yet they continued anyway.

[Garage2k]

Originally Posted by heliosuk

You're going to be very useful on this forum!!

Is the benefit of being a product assurance manager for a space company, also having alot of investigative tools and aparatus as my disposal if needed.

[heliosuk]

So you're saying the car was towed in to a Vauxhall dealer? And they are the ones who have removed it and found the prob?

[Garage2k]

Yup the only thing the other garage did was 'hoist' up the car and remove the sump plate of the gear box (when the heard knocking noise from it) and thats when the items in the gear box fell out

[heliosuk]

OK. What has VX dealer said as they are under contact to fix. Why are they refusing to replace it?

[Garage2k]

A Vauxhall field engineer was at the dealership looking at another car and they asked him to look over mine.

When they called me they stated "its not covered by warranty as there are no manufacturing or material faults".

I have asked them for a copy of the field engineers report, which the dealership told me they would email to me yesterday. Have not recieved it yet.

[Conniff]

You need his reason why it failed in such a manner that it is fair wear and tear.
I want to see that.

[Garage2k]

Originally Posted by Conniff

You need his reason why it failed in such a manner that it is fair wear and tear.
I want to see that.

Synopsis of comments from Vauxhall as follows;

They suspect it was caused by weather conditions where excessive spinning of wheels then traction occurs, torque on the diff excessive causing damage.
Also signs of hot spots on clutch and flywheel, evidence of clutch slipping.

---------------

So from this I read their cars are not suitable for general use and that it couldn't possibly been the fact that the diff selector bar has in fact fractured (I have confirmed this with a materials expert). Possibly either from 'give' in the bar a as result of manufacture causing un even stresses or a crack during machining of the bar or many other possibilities.

I plan to write a letter to Vauxhall on this along with a brief report on my findings of the failed bar. Anyone know who I within Vauxhall I should address it to? Also may need help with wording.