Insuring car dealer won't return to me?

[Cyclingfantastic]

Hi,
Help needed about whether I ought to cancel tax and insurance on a campervan. Said van is at the dealers garage, has been for 10 weeks. I've owned it for only 4 months. Dealer won't communicate beyond saying he's trying to find parts. The specialist garage have stated they can't fix it or find the part. Dealer has said basically go to court and won't communicate ...we r following cab guidelines, and will probably go to court.... Which could take two years. In the meantime what do I do about tax and insurance. The vans stuck at a garage or the dealers, we can't drive it, it's unlikely to get fixed it's am old van. We've given warning of court action, offered mediation, only had the van for about 5 weeks out of 4 months.

Why won’t the dealership allow you to pick it up? CNt you arrange for a tow truck to go and collect it?

What's the make/model/age and what are the parts it needs?

Is there an owners club or similar - there are for a lot of caravan type vehicles - who could help source parts.

Hi, thanks for your suggestions. All bases have been covered. It's been to 5 garages. The latest is a specialist. We've been on forums and made suggestions ourselves. The parts can't be sourced as even those on the shelf are old and corroded. It's the ECU unit. But even if a part is found, that might not be the problem, it might be the wiring to it, at any point in the system. !

Hi, that's certainly an option. But we have , until today's info with the garage, been hoping it still might get repaired! Despite it being at the 5th garage. The garage have refused ADR. We could now pick it up, but then it's sat corroding on the road or we pay for expensive storage. But it's not sellable. And if we go to court for a refund we have to give the dealer the van in exchange.

Anything is sellable, even if it's only to a breaker's yard. And a breaker's yard may be your best chance of finding an obscure part. What's the make, model and age of the base chassis? - there are specialists for all of the common base vehicles.

I was in a similar position with our motorhome off the road waiting major engine work and a slot with the garage when they cold fit it in. Because it was going to be off the public highway the whole time I SORNed the vehicle for tax purposes, and I spoke to my insurer and I was able to reduce the insurance costs by reducing the cover to the lowest possible annual mileage - it helped the insurance came up for renewal within a couple of weeks of the MH becoming a non-runner.

Needle in a haystack, VW T4 clubman, 1996, petrol 2l.
Thanks for the advice , lots to look into.

Now the garage, who are trying to fix it, which the dealer is dealing with, are declining to provide a report of the work they have done! Claiming data protection!! Patience is running thin.

Data protection? It's YOUR VEHICLE

And if we go to court for a refund we have to give the dealer the van in exchange.

At this point, why are you not pursuing the route of handing back the vehicle for a refund?

I know....data protection is about identifying information re living beings.... Not a bloody vehicle. Crazy. But the dealer would be their main customer. So I guess the garage feel pressured by the dealer.... But I'm not sure what is so secret about the repairs so far attempted.

We have held of court action as it's costly, could take two years, and even if found in our favour the dealer could still not pay , so we would need to go to the high court. The dealer refuses flat out to refund us, stating he will repair and that having had it for over nine weeks, is not unreasonable. They have refused ADR.

They're using the Data Protection argument as a rather blunt reason for not giving you the details because you're not the customer of the specialist, the dealer is.

. And if we go to court for a refund we have to give the dealer the van in exchange.

surely this is the best way?

How much was the van, I would probably just write it off and move on tbh. Two years of stress

Oh it was £13k. So can't afford another van without getting that money back.

Start court proceedings but make sure you give the specialist the required notice in writing and get proof before you do.

You will need to insure the vehicle simply because you don't know if the don't know if the specialist's insurance covers you. Though I can guess if there is some sort of damage e.g. arson you can bet the specialist won't cover the damage.

Thanks, I think you are correct re the insurance. My current insurer won't decrease the premium for it being stuck, non drive able in a garage.

The dealer has it at a garage to fix it, it's no use to me until fixed.

Slightly OT but have they been in contact with specialist ECU repairers? BBA Reman was historically my go to but have now ceased trading. Maybe a chat with these guys https://www.autotronics.co.uk/repair/services/ecu-repair?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiApOyqBhDlARIsAGfnyMpmZXhxDcbXaslo9qFKlFIryld_H_x3bIC3FdkFB0JzcVZty-F-nVwaAvWHEALw_wcB

Surely you can have a reconditioned engine installed for around £3k?

I speak as someone who, until a couple of years ago, was the owner of a T4 VW-base Autosleeper Clubman, 1998 registration.

So give it back, and get your money back?

But how’s that going to resolve an ECU issue? There’s nothing wrong with the engine.

What did the contract say about guarantee when you bought it? Did it drive away OK and then breakdown if so how long after you bought it?

My bad, I thought the ECU would come as part of a replacement engine.

EBay?
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/192577988504

The reason I find this difficult to believe is that I know loads of people with ancient VWs, some approaching 50 years old, and there always seems to be a way of keeping them on the road. I really recommend owners clubs: the Autosleepers owners club is a minefield of useful information.

It's possible, but apparently a 2l petrol engine is tricky.. as it's rare for that year etc etc.but we spent £13k and can't really afford another £3k. But it's worth another look at that option.