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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think this comment was a bit ott and harsh!

27 replies

JjandtheBean · 18/11/2009 00:05

me and dp are young parents (21 and 23) to ds 2.5 and dd whos 1 this week. We dont have a huge amount of money, but we buy the children the best we can afford, and when choosing car seats, simply got the best, at a struggle but its there safety.
DP only passed his driving test just over a month ago, and since we knew carseats would cost a small fortune we got a cheap little 3dr 106 from a well known local garage, its not perfect but it does what we need and we then shinned out the best part of £200-300 on the two carseats needed (dd is VERY big and burst out of her maxicosi a few weeks ago) Theyre very solid in our car, had them checked at a open thing at tesco after kiddicare fitted them.
NOW the cars making a funny noise, mil who cant drive and imo knows nought about cars is convinced the wheels gonna fall off because it happened to so n so, anyways shes made fil look up our rights as far as the dealers concerned and apparently he has to repair/replace or refund us. I think thats a bit cheeky but know nothing so not commented.
I was a bit concerned and asked dp whats happening as we are currently 2hrs from home we need to get back with the children, its not safe and so on, all of a sudden, Im now very concerned.
DP can see mil is scaring me and sayes look mum the kids have these expensive carseats so should something happen theyre as safe as possible,

Her reply.

Doesnt matter if there safe if you two are dead, and anycase when it blows up no carseat can save you from that.

Im now to scared to drive them home and considering paying £60 on the train.

OP posts:
LuckySalem · 18/11/2009 00:09

Oh hun - your car is probably ok. That is a horrible comment to make.

Rattling is a common thing with cars esp older cars. Take it to the garage tomorrow and they'll prob tell you you had a loose wheelnut or something but take it anyway.

In the meantime ignore your MIL and go home.

Alambil · 18/11/2009 00:13

I vote your car is fine - mine makes all sorts of noises (it's 12 years old so is getting on a bit)... can you be more specific?

WickedWench · 18/11/2009 00:18

If it helps any both me, DP and DS (baby) were in our car when a wheel came off. We were fine, there was no emergency. The weirdest thing was watching our wheel go in the opposite direction to us. We just kind of slowed down and were able to steer into a lay by.

Cars make funny noises for a multitude of reasons, some are serious but the majority are not. Your MIL doesn't drive but you and your DP do. If you think it is safe to drive home then do. I always think my plane is going to crash when I hear the engines make a different sound but what do I know?? I'm not an aircraft engineer and I suspect your PIL are not motor mechanics.

The only thing I would suggest you do is check that your insurance policy includes breakdown cover. Just in case the funny noises indicate there is a problem that might affect your journey home.

And if your MIL is so keen that you get the train maybe she should pay the fare!

sb6699 · 18/11/2009 00:18

Oh love, an older car will be a bit rattley/shakey. Its perfectly normal.

If you're concerned take it back to the dealer and ask them to look at it - most give a month's warranty anyway.

What kind of noise is it. If its just rattling, its probably nothing. A tapping/ticking means you need to check your oil.

Original poster
JjandtheBean · 18/11/2009 00:20

its an L reg (im a complete div when it comes to cars so no idea what year that is)

Erm, its like a tapping/knocking, its louder passenger side, but not constant, and now its been cold when we first pull off it vibrates but is then fine all day unless left several hours (over 4)

thanks for the advice!

i grew up walking everywhere so this car worrys me anyway

OP posts:
Original poster
JjandtheBean · 18/11/2009 00:21

oil water etc all checked obsessively dp loves his car!

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LuckySalem · 18/11/2009 00:21

Yeh thats a really old car. It'd be about 15 years old (I think, I'm not great with them either)

rattling isn't a huge problem, my car rattles and its a 53. cold weather makes cars sound worse.

Vallhala · 18/11/2009 00:23

I worked in the motor trade for many years, on the technical side, but unless I could hear the funny noise I wouldn't know what it was and I doubt that MIL has a clue either tbh!

It may be a wheel bearing, it may be brakes (no don't panic, they can make funny noises and just need replacement parts, it doesn't mean that the wheels are going to come off!), it may be something completely different.

I'd advise that you return to the selling garage if you are content with their service to you so far and tell them your concerns. Then ask them to "check and report". This means you are asking for a diagnosis and not giving them carte blanche to work on your car until you know whats wrong with it as you may decide that its not a problem or that you wish to get repair quotes elsewhere. Depending on how nice the garage is you may not get charged if it only takes minutes to tell you whats wrong (eg a wheel bearing problem is very apparent by test driving and listening for 5 minutes) although in these days you'll probably be charged for labour. If you are uncertain on how to proceed or whether the price is acceptable, ring round other garages for advice. A main dealer will cost more but maybe more reliable although phone advice on prices (and hopefully more if you sweet talk the service manager) is free, don't forget!

And congratulations to your DP on passing his test too!

Original poster
JjandtheBean · 18/11/2009 00:25

dp is now a wreck worried about the dcs and so on, (bless him he still takes mums word as gospel)
Ive told him if he wants to take it back im not going, but he should take the kids, do the guilt thing so the bloke sorts it quicker.

I dont think we are helping it, we live in suffolk and travel to midlands 2-3hr drive 5+ times a month as we are moving up here, so the cars pretty vital as my whole familys in suffolk and non drivers.

I cant blooming sleep im getting worried christmas will be ruined as we cant see anyone without the car

OP posts:
Original poster
JjandtheBean · 18/11/2009 00:27

thanks for that vallhala

Weve decided to go back and atleast see what they will do, according to fil (he knows his legal stuff) they have to repair or refund, i think that sounds a bit generous tbh!

OP posts:
Vallhala · 18/11/2009 00:27

Does the noise become apparent/more apparent when turning in one particular direction by any chance?

Original poster
JjandtheBean · 18/11/2009 00:30

he thinks right turns (bit hard to tell very noisy toddlers)

OP posts:
sb6699 · 18/11/2009 00:33

Knocking could be a wheel bearing - that's what it was when dh's car was making that noise (fwiw was buttons to fix).

There's a couple of other things it could be but cant remember them as was a while ago(sorry not helpful). Dh would probably know but he's working just now (he drives trucks so even if I phoned he wont answer until he pulls over for his break).

You could post somewhere else asking "my car is making this noise, what is it, will it get me home safely?". Maybe someone else will know.

sb6699 · 18/11/2009 00:35

Sorry my post should have started "Agree with Valhalla the knocking could be a wheel bearing...."

Dont want to steal your glory Val

Vallhala · 18/11/2009 00:35

Whether they have to repair or refund depends on the problem. If its wear and tear, such as brake pads or discs, then its debatable. The garage SHOULD have sold the vehicle in good repair but it depends on the terms of sale as to whether they have stated that the car had been fully serviced before sale. Otherwise they may try to argue that the brakes were fine, if not pristine, on sale and that your DP has subsequently worn them down thus they need replacing (in the same way that you can't return a jumper to M&S because its become bobbly/worn through use and washing).

If the problem is not wear and tear then yes, you have legal rights but garages can be a bugger. I worked for big dealerships and not independent garages but even so I could tell you stories of malpractice to make your hair curl! A certain flashy Barvarian German dealership, for example, clocked cars, and an Italian car dealers used to just disconnect the speedo of company cars so when we sold them on to the public they had a low milage!

If you have ANY doubts, speak to trading standards/CAB and perhaps post on Money Saving Expert, whose members appear to be very savvy on cars and the law.

Original poster
JjandtheBean · 18/11/2009 00:36

thanks for all the advice i will be back in the morning to check replies, we arent leaving until tomorow eve at 7pm (so dcs sleep all the way home) so i have all day to decide and hope we can get hold of in laws mechanic mate!

OP posts:
Vallhala · 18/11/2009 00:37

SB6699 you go for it gal! No problem!

Yes, it does sound like the wheel bearing.

I'd argue that this should not happen with a recently purchased car as it SHOULD have been fully serviced, but this DOES depend on the t & c of your sales agreement.

Alambil · 18/11/2009 00:38

oh yeah, my car knocks - think the wheel bearing is working loose but not looked to check yet! it also screeches like I'm killing a cat when I turn it on in the cold weather, but it stops after a while!

do you have road-side rescue? If so, I'd go home - it'll most likely be fine and you can fix it tomorrow

sb6699 · 18/11/2009 00:43

Will speak to dh in the morning. Have to go first thing to get my car MOT'd but if he knows I will post when I get back.

Valhalla, you seem to know about EVERYTHING, dogs, cats, cars - you would be so handy to know in rl (with my chewing, hip displasic dog and car which no doubt will cost over the odds due to unscrupulous mechanic).

sb6699 · 18/11/2009 00:45

God I am I the only one who is completely clueless. Lewis, you know how to check if your wheel bearing is loose?

DaisymooSteiner · 18/11/2009 01:42

Can you not take it to a local garage and ask them to take a look at it and tell you what the noise is, whether it needs repairing and if it's safe to drive?! IME garages don't normally charge just to take a look at a car.

fortyplus · 18/11/2009 01:54

Would it be too obvious to say DO check that all the wheel nuts are tight?! Speaking as someone who has a friend who ignored the rattling/rumbling from the front wheel and then it fell off on the motorway! No lasting harm done, fortunately!

Wallace · 18/11/2009 06:51

My vote is for track rod end.

If it is the wheel bearing it will go for hundreds of miles before giving up. The noise would be so awful towards the end you would really know about it.

I had a wheel bearing go when I was driving (yes we had been ignoring it for ages ) and was able to pull on to the verge as the wheel rolled off

ginnybag · 18/11/2009 12:22

Wheel bearing has my vote, too.

Other than than, does the car have blowers in the cabin of any kind? Because when the fan inside comes loose it can tap and hum on start up but then stops for a while.

Go and cry at the garage you bought it from (literally!) and see if they'll look it over.

Neither of these is a serious fault though and the one with the blower, not worth the money to fix!

Original poster
JjandtheBean · 18/11/2009 14:30

thanks for all the advice, its made the noise a while and my uncle whos knows a bit wasnt concerned so were driving home and taking it to the garage to see what they will do, i will cry and we will take the kids just to play on his conscience.

Thanks again!

oh and fortyplus, hes out there in the rain checking!

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