Stuart W

Stuart

I purchased a 2007 Ford Galaxy from Kings Lynn AD in May 2016. Ten miles down the road the engine management light illuminated, a very odd whooshing noise was heard from the engine, the n/s front window was sporadically malfunctioning when winding up and the air conditioning/ventilation system sounded odd, the tow bar electrics were not working and the rear window wiper rubber was hanging off. This was despite auto devotion carrying out a vehicle health/safety check prior to the sale. We agreed, as the issues were present when I left the sales room, auto devotion would carry out and pay for the work. After taking the car to auto devotion's service centre in Norwich I told them all the details of the issues afore mentioned. They refused to acknowledge that any of these issues were present and even said that the tow bar did have an electrical feed to it. I was messed about all day by the service centre, they had my car from 10-4 and not once did I receive a phone call from them, neither was any of the work carried out and even the rear window wiper wasn't replaced. I was told by the manager Jason that all of these issues were age related and general wear and tear. I decided to book my vehicle into Bussey's Ford main dealer of Norwich for a health check. It was identified that excess moisture was present in the brake fluid (this would cause loss of braking if not sorted), the turbo hose had a split in it, this resulted in loss of power and unfiltered air being drawn into the engine and was the cause of the whooshing noise. And the tow bar electric hookup did not have any electrical feed being supplied to it at all. The technicians at auto devotion Norwich stated: there was not a whooshing sound coming from the engine, the turbo and the hoses were fine. The tow bar electrics were all working except for the fog lamp feed. In addition, auto devotion carried out their own health check, prior to sale, but did not identify the brake fluid as being an issue. I was also under the impression this car would undergo a service from auto devotion, as standard but particularly as it did not have any identified service history. I feel the car was not cleaned to an acceptable standard and overall I was very dissatisfied with this. I think when cobwebs are found in a car one can be assured it has not been valeted by a professional, rather just cleaned to a basic level. I paid £250, half of the fee, to have a cambelt change by Mercedes Robinson's Motor Group (part of auto devotion and next to this branch in Kings Lynn). I was told by the salesman Chris that the cambelt change would be done by them, instead it was allegedly done by a different garage to which I was not given a receipt for. My partner and I agreed with Chris that we would take delivery of our vehicle on the Wednesday. I complained about each of these issues as they arose and the manager Jason was very pleasant. I was told I could have a full refund to which I declined. I finally received an apology and assurances that they would repair the issues that Bussey's Ford Main Dealer had found and that I'd get full reimbursement for my troubles. Their excuse for the issues was that it was not a new car and they do not check the brake fluid as part of their health and safety point check. I did, and still find it odd, that a seven seater family car with no service history did not have something as fundamental as the brake fluid checked! Not once did I receive an apology until I threatened legal proceeding and provided them with evidence of the issues. My advice is simple, do not purchase a car from auto devotion/Robinson's Motor Group and do not take your vehicle to an auto devotion service centre. Identifying that moisture is in brake fluid is the most simplest of servicing tasks to do but one of the most crucial and integral to safety. If auto devotion's technicians were unable to do this it fills me with dread what else they are unable/unwilling to do.