Help needed, please!

[Gazak83]

Hi. Any help with this would be appreciated. 2 months ago, I bought a Vauxhall zafira from a used car dealership for £2,300 and it came with a 3 month warranty covering mechanical issues. I’m 2 months into the warranty and although the car has been fine up until now, the head gasket blew on the motorway a few days ago. I've been in contact with the dealership owner in Peterborough and aked for him to cover the cost of it being fixed by a mechanic that I take it to or to give me my money back and he said that he’s going to speak to his legal team? He has just got back to me and is saying that I have to pay to have the car delivered to him and he’ll have someone fix it and then I have to pay to get it back! I feel like he’s mugging me off. Surely the cost of a head gasket repair on such a old reg car wouldn't be worth it?? Does anyone know what I should do?? Thanks

[Sam101]

I may well be wrong, but a guarantee for mechanical failure would not cover a head gasket as it is not a mechanical part, just the seal between the block and head. It is an unknown and could last a lifetime or could blow in months. Just bad luck for you but perhaps not so uncommon on older cars.

[des8]

Depends on the reason for the head gasket failing, as to whether or not you have a claim against the trader.
For example if it blew because of low coolant level, you would have no claim
On the other hand if it blew because of e.g. a bad thermostat or poor coolant flow (?bad pump/ clogged waterways) you would have a claim against the dealer

If the gasket has blown it may have caused other problems such as warping the head.

If you cannot repair it yourself, consider having it done by an independent garage.
Whilst they are doing it, if they consider the problem was caused by an existing problem as suggested above, you could then have it examined by an engineer who will give you a written report which you could use in any subsequent court case