Owned Car Drove for 20 mins and problem now mechanic says not worth fixing

[Naffdave]

I don't think the cooling problem is the fan as it's running on full all the time so deffo works and the engine is not overheating but temp gauge hardly moves and climate control and inside fan won't work now thou were working when I first drove it as I tested it all.

 

[PobodY]

Yeah, but maybe the ECU (or fan controller) just thinks there's a problem with the cooling so it's trying to correct a problem that doesn't exist. - The fan shouldn't be running all the time (only when it's hot), so if it was something like a faulty sensor the ECU thinks the coolant is cooking, but the gauge says otherwise.

 

[mersum1es]

as it's running on full all the time

This gives some hint. Check all fuses (ECU will put full blast on if there is voltage problem, at same time check no water/corrosion in SAM). Or then it is sensor/control module problem.

 

[219]

The 2.7 IL5 CDi engine was never in the Vito and 90% of W163 ML’s sold in this country were the 270 CDi so it makes sense that if you see a W163 in a scrapyard it will be the diesel with the 2.7.

I’ve personally owned three 270 CDi’s: one S203 and two W211 and they were all completely reliable and, as it happens, one of those W211’s is now on over 300k miles.

Yes , I should perhaps have phrased that better and said that the majority of the MLs were 270s .
While the bulk of his stock was vitos and MLs, he also had some Sprinters and the odd other vehicle .
The yard is not far off the Newhouse exit of the M8

 

[jdrrco]

UPDATE
The seller got in touch with me of course does'nt want to know i tried being reasonable with him and asking for some compensation (a bit of money back) but basically he saying he dont care my problem. Next time im over that way he might mysterously get 4 flat tyres on his E class.

Have you contacted the seller again to apologise for your earlier accusations?

 

[Naffdave]

Have you contacted the seller again to apologise for your earlier accusations?

The seller is known by the merc specialist ive taken the car too. They think he is out of order but there you go buyer beware. The seller knew there was problems with the car and basically took me for a mug.

 

[grober]

The seller is known by the merc specialist ive taken the car too. They think he is out of order but there you go buyer beware. The seller knew there was problems with the car and basically took me for a mug.

So what does the specialist think is wrong with the car with their knowledge of its history- cooling system problem/ injector problem/ or something more serious like big ends/ pistons?

 

[Naffdave]

So what does the specialist think is wrong with the car with their knowledge of its history- cooling system problem/ injector problem/ or something more serious like big ends/ pistons?

They not got back to me yet. When i dropped the car off to them last friday they quickly checked the coolant level it was still full there was no pressure in the system thou fans were running constantly on full and the system was cold. This was after an 11 mile drive too with stop start traffic the car should have got up to temp but was not i had to then leave and so far heard nothing tho before i left they noticed i had a fuel leak.

 

[wu56Shoozz]

There are plenty of IL5's around.. SSangYong/Jeep/Sprinters/Crafters... all use the same engine..

On the Jeep IL5 a common fault was the bottle sensor up on the wing where the bottle would split around the sensor and the sensor would also fail.. worth changing the sensor first...

 

[jaymanek]

A lot of doom and gloom in this thread.
From what I’ve read, nothing to say the engine needs replacing!
Probably going to be thermostat, pump or something along those lines.
With regards to fan running on, that will normally be electrical issue with cooling fan or front sam module.

Knocking will be injectors.. the 270 can be very knocky when cold. Only cure is to replace injectors or live with it.

I would wait until you have a solid diagnostic before paying the sellers car a visit with your pocket knife..

Buying private is always a lottery and more often than not a private seller cannot possibly know the true condition of his/her car, unless they are a qualified mechanic, so they could be selling a lemon without even knowing it.

 

[E55BOF]

^+1

New thermostat, and fan control module, and fix the fuel leak, and Bob's your uncle, by the sound of it. Given the proven longevity of these engines, you would be very unlucky indeed if the knock was the bottom end at that mileage

 

[wu56Shoozz]

In the Jeep they go on for over 300k Miles... (Provided of course well serviced/handy with a spanner) Mines just a youngster at 132K

 

[jpwilliams]

The seller is known by the merc specialist ive taken the car too. They think he is out of order but there you go buyer beware. The seller knew there was problems with the car and basically took me for a mug.

If you are sure of the facts and can prove that you were misled, then sue the seller in the Small Claims Section of the County Court.
He will sh**t a brick when he learns that he has been rumbled.

 

[m2287]

If you are sure of the facts and can prove that you were misled, then sue the seller in the Small Claims Section of the County Court.
He will sh**t a brick when he learns that he has been rumbled.

Until he goes to court and the seller quotes the original post from this thread where it says “The thing is i test drove the car friday and chatted to the owner for ten minutes with the car sitting with engine running and no leaks no messages on dash it all seems fine. ”

 

[toolman1954]

checked the coolant level it was still full there was no pressure in the system

I think i would take a punt on it being the Water Pump, perhaps it has spat its impeller off ?

Steve.

 

[Naffdave]

I think i would take a punt on it being the Water Pump, perhaps it has spat its impeller off ?

Steve.

Id have thought if it was the water pump gone u/s the car would overheat which it did not surely the fans running constant on high could not cool a engine with a duff pump ?

 

[jpwilliams]

Until he goes to court and the seller quotes the original post from this thread where it says “The thing is i test drove the car friday and chatted to the owner for ten minutes with the car sitting with engine running and no leaks no messages on dash it all seems fine. ”

If the seller mislead, he mislead.

 

[m2287]

If the seller mislead, he mislead.

What misleading did he do, the OP clearly says there was nothing wrong with it! Covering up an engine light, not disclosing a write off or lying about service history is misleading.

 

[markjay]

What misleading did he do, the OP clearly says there was nothing wrong with it! Covering up an engine light, not disclosing a write off or lying about service history is misleading.

According to this, you do have a point:

...This is from the Which? website:
......
'If you're buying from a private seller, the onus is on you as the buyer to ask all the right questions before making the purchase. The seller doesn't have to volunteer extra information so, if you don't ask questions, you may not have the full picture of the car's history or be aware of any potential faults'.

So it seems that legally the seller has the upper hand in this case. Morally, this is another matter.

 

[jaymanek]

Id have thought if it was the water pump gone u/s the car would overheat which it did not surely the fans running constant on high could not cool a engine with a duff pump ?

Diesels take a lot to overheat..