2002 MG ZR Customer Care Issue

KTWILL64

MEMBER
2002 MG ZR
1.8L
2WD
MANUAL
25,000 MILES

I have had the following Issues with the Vehicle purchased on 08/03/14

15/03/14 - Head Gasket blow 7 days after purchase, cost of tow back to Garage to be
repaired £212.40.

26/03/14 - Car picked up from Garage and informed that the car had been repaired
and to run in the engine for 200 miles and then return to the garage for another Oil
change. That evening I noticed a lot of smoke coming from the exhaust and the car
Laboured on starting and when idle chugged heavily. It was also noted that petrol was
being used very quickly. Also the temperature gauge seemed to fluctuate sporadically.

27/03/14 - Car struggled to start in the morning going to work and in the evening
returning home from work, again the temperature gauge fluctuated sporadically and
again petrol was being consumed very quickly.

28/03/14 - Car struggled again to start in the mornings going to work and in the early
afternoon from work. Because the car was warm I turned the heating on to cold but
the heating still issued out warm air, the warm air was coming out of the heater in
what ever position it was placed. I also turned on the Air conditioning and this still
continued to pump out warm air regardless. To try and compensate the heat I opened
the sun roof, this struggled to open and when did the seal perforated and covered the
car with dust, on Inspection the seal has been perforated and the car is now no longer
water proof as water will find its way in through the sun roof. I also filled the car up
with petrol £52.30 and drove the car to the garage, the car still was using petrol very
quickly. All in all the car was driven between 30-40 miles and the fuel gauge had
already moved from the Full sign to halfway to the 3/4 sign.

I have returned the Car to the Second Car Dealer and asked for a full refund under the Customer Care Act.

The owner refused to do this and now has accused me of warping then Engine head when the Head Gasket blew.
I refuted this as the car was returned to me after the Gasket repair and told to run it in for 3 days.

So I have a couple of questions

1. Would the Garage that took the Head off and sent it off to be skimmed and pressure tested would of noticed the warping?
2. Wouldn't the Garage which carried out the pressure testing notice the warping?
3. Would there be records of the skimming and pressure testing?

Thank you
Keith

3 Replies

HMAC300

MECHANIC
48,601 POSTS

Most mechanics here in U.S. Don't always check for warping but if the car had been driven a little then they would. The only place that would have the receipt for machining or skimming as you call it would be the garage. But if the machinist wasn't told to magnaflux or zyglo depending on whether that is iron or aluminum head then they wouldn't do that. But they should have at least done a simple check for that with a straight edge. However this car should go back to the garage that repaired it and at least be pressure tested for internal leaks or a cracked head and should be warrantied. Especially after only a few weeks. However the dealer is not quite free either. We don't have that car here in U.S. So we can't say a lot. Also the heat issue if vacuum operated that may very possibly part of your problem as well as a line may be off or something similar like a heater valve not being closed either from no vacuum or a cable broken or disconnected.