[msabhoy]

Bought the car from Peter Vardy a year ago, they've been pretty useless. About a month after I bought the car the engine light came on and after months of faffing around they finally said there was a cracked piston and the engine would need to be rebuilt. This took another couple of months. Several repairs of other issues later we've had the car back from a month or so, it is now out of PVs warranty period. However, I have been getting "service ESC" message on maybe 1 out of 10 startups and juddering at speeds of around 70mph.

I'm assuming the engine rebuild was due to the dreaded LSPI problem, is it possible even after an engine rebuild this would persist? What would my course of action be here?

Going to book it in for diagnostics but I'm terrified this has all been an expensive mistake buying the car.

Would appreciate any insight or advice as I am pretty useless when it comes to cars.

 

[Boroboy]

Bought the car from Peter Vardy a year ago, they've been pretty useless. About a month after I bought the car the engine light came on and after months of faffing around they finally said there was a cracked piston and the engine would need to be rebuilt. This took another couple of months. Several repairs of other issues later we've had the car back from a month or so, it is now out of PVs warranty period. However, I have been getting "service ESC" message on maybe 1 out of 10 startups and juddering at speeds of around 70mph.

I'm assuming the engine rebuild was due to the dreaded LSPI problem, is it possible even after an engine rebuild this would persist? What would my course of action be here?

Going to book it in for diagnostics but I'm terrified this has all been an expensive mistake buying the car.

Would appreciate any insight or advice as I am pretty useless when it comes to cars.

Hello and welcome to the forum.
Unfortunately it seems a common occurrence with 15-17 (150), plate engines I'm afraid.
How long ago was the repair done? Have you kept it serviced with them, too? As you should get a years guarantee from the day their repair was completed.
If the engine rebuild was done less than a year ago, it may be best to put everything into writing and address it to the service manager or higher. Explaining that you had an engine rebuild done less than a year ago and you are now having issues with it, again.

 

[msabhoy]

Hello and welcome to the forum.
Unfortunately it seems a common occurrence with 15-17 (150), plate engines I'm afraid.
How long ago was the repair done? Have you kept it serviced with them, too? As you should get a years guarantee from the day their repair was completed.
If the engine rebuild was done less than a year ago, it may be best to put everything into writing and address it to the service manager or higher. Explaining that you had an engine rebuild done less than a year ago and you are now having issues with it, again.

Hi Boroboy and thanks very much for the reply.

I've not had a service with them, got a service from another garage last week in the (naive) hopes that it was maybe an issue with spark plugs or oil filter or something that would possibly be fixable but obviously no dice.

The Engine rebuild was carried out less than a year ago. That's a good shout, I didn't think that would have any kind of warranty but I suppose it's worth a try.

Cheers

 

[Boroboy]

Hi Boroboy and thanks very much for the reply.

I've not had a service with them, got a service from another garage last week in the (naive) hopes that it was maybe an issue with spark plugs or oil filter or something that would possibly be fixable but obviously no dice.

The Engine rebuild was carried out less than a year ago. That's a good shout, I didn't think that would have any kind of warranty but I suppose it's worth a try.

Cheers

You should have a years warranty from any repair made. Although having your engine serviced elsewhere may not help, but they may not hold that against you, hopefully. Knowing what garages are like, at times they can look at any excuse to to pay out for a repair.
Did you have it serviced last from a vat reg garage?
It's also possible it could be the spark plugs, coil packs or something else.

 

[Pompeydave]

As Boro said you should have a years warranty with engine rebuild, get exact date when engine was rebuilt and see if warranty left .If so go straight back to dealer with issue. Dont get pushed over by a big dealer if they won’t do anything if still in warranty. They obviously won’t want to do another rebuild as time / profit etc etc will come into it so maybe another outcome could be arranged.

 

[Pompeydave]

Also question you have to ask yourself Could it happen again with lspi …..yes is the immed answer.
You may want to negotiate an outcome favourable to yourself and then get shot of car. Then do not replace with same model.

 

[Boroboy]

Some good idvice from @Pompeydave if they do repair it for free, maybe another option would be to sell it and buy another motor, that's if it's related to lspi.

 

[msabhoy]

Thanks very much for the reply guys. I think i will end up selling the car. I contacted peter vardy today and was told im out of warranty so any repair will have to be paid for by me. I feel completely let down by them and i have to say ive been shocked by the awful customer service since we bought the car.

Anyway i think ill take it to a garage to be diagnosed and see where im at. Hopefully it's something that can be sorted and i'll maybe then get shot of it.

 

[msabhoy]

You should have a years warranty from any repair made. Although having your engine serviced elsewhere may not help, but they may not hold that against you, hopefully. Knowing what garages are like, at times they can look at any excuse to to pay out for a repair.
Did you have it serviced last from a vat reg garage?
It's also possible it could be the spark plugs, coil packs or something else.

Just to answer some of your questions, i got it serviced at an arnold clark and they replaced the spark plugs. I think I'll try and get it diagnosed from a vauxha garage and see what is said.

 

[Boroboy]

Just to answer some of your questions, i got it serviced at an arnold clark and they replaced the spark plugs. I think I'll try and get it diagnosed from a vauxha garage and see what is said.

Was this the same garage that did your engine rebuild?

 

[Pompeydave]

Thanks very much for the reply guys. I think i will end up selling the car. I contacted peter vardy today and was told im out of warranty so any repair will have to be paid for by me. I feel completely let down by them and i have to say ive been shocked by the awful customer service since we bought the car.

Anyway i think ill take it to a garage to be diagnosed and see where im at. Hopefully it's something that can be sorted and i'll maybe then get shot of it.

It’s a decision only you can make but I wouldnt spend £1000’s making it good . Quick fix then p/ex .
Poor customer service from Peter vardy , they take your £££ and don’t want to know you UNLESS of course you go back for another deal. I expect you won’t go for another Astra after this experience but if you do always ask this site for advice ref models / engines . Also we might know about other manufacturers / cars as lot of us have owned loads of different makes.

 

[msabhoy]

Was this the same garage that did your engine rebuild?

No, the engine rebuild was carried out st an engine specialist through my warranty with Peter Vardy.

 

[msabhoy]

It’s a decision only you can make but I wouldnt spend £1000’s making it good . Quick fix then p/ex .
Poor customer service from Peter vardy , they take your £££ and don’t want to know you UNLESS of course you go back for another deal. I expect you won’t go for another Astra after this experience but if you do always ask this site for advice ref models / engines . Also we might know about other manufacturers / cars as lot of us have owned loads of different makes.

Thanks for the advice, feel like ive been sold a lemon.

I actually really like everything else about the car but yeah im not sure i would go for another Astra. Any similar size/types that you would recommend yourself? Really appreciate the help.

 

[Pompeydave]

Thanks for the advice, feel like ive been sold a lemon.

I actually really like everything else about the car but yeah im not sure i would go for another Astra. Any similar size/types that you would recommend yourself? Really appreciate the help.

All depends on your budget , petrol or hybrid etc.miles driving per year.

 

[Boroboy]

No, the engine rebuild was carried out st an engine specialist through my warranty with Peter Vardy.

As you had the engine rebuild authorised my AC, I'd probably have your diagnostics done by them, too. I'd also contact them first, explain your issues and ask if their engine rebuild had a years guarantee on it? As I'd presume the company that rebuilt it, should honour any guarantee of their work.
If they state that you have a cylinder misfire, it may be worth asking them to perform a compression check on the cylinders.

 

[msabhoy]

All depends on your budget , petrol or hybrid etc.miles driving per year.

Good point. Budget probably around 6-8k, petrol and i do about 10k a year. Another wean on the way so need space for two car seats.

 

[Pompeydave]

Good point. Budget probably around 6-8k, petrol and i do about 10k a year. Another wean on the way so need space for two car seats.

It’s so annoying been done over by a major car dealer , I would get my own back on them.
Get a quick fix on the car done then p/ex with PV .Then it’s their problem down the line.
Thats one side to look at it , the other probably more sensible option is push push push for the engine to be done under warranty / some sort of goodwill gesture. Then go somewhere completely different and p/ex it.