Car bought at auction had warning lights disconnected to hide major problem
A MOTHER who bought a car that could have put lives at risk is warning other motorists to double check before purchasing at auctions.
Helen Mathews, of Sidney Road, Grimsby, wanted to buy a new family car for herself and her two children.
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NIGHTMARE: Helen Mathews with her Peugeot 307 she bought from an auction. Her mechanic and owner of Freshney Car Centre Terry Allen has been helping her. Picture: Jon Corken
The sales administrator travelled to a car auction earlier this month and spent more than £800 on a blue Peugeot 307.
However, it quickly became apparent to the driver of six years that something was wrong with the vehicle.
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It was then discovered that the car's warning lights had been disconnected, which hid a major problem – and the car was deemed a write-off just days later.
Mrs Matthews, 28, said: "I have been saving up for a while to buy a new family car.
"I went to the auction with two friends and my eldest boy. I saw the car and went for it. It had been placed in the auction by its previous owner.
"In total, I spent £835 with all the extras. But on the way home, it didn't feel right.
"I filled it up with water three times but ended up taking it to a garage a few days later,
"After five days of having the car, they declared it a write-off.
"Anything could have gone wrong at any time because the warning lights had been disconnected.
"I am angry that someone would do that and potentially put a child at risk, not to mention other people too.
"It has now left me without a car and the money I paid for it.
"I have contacted Trading Standards and they are trying to help me."
Terry Allen, a mechanic from Freshney Car Centre, who examined the car, said: "The warning lights inside the car have been tampered with. They were disconnected so the new owner couldn't tell that anything was wrong.
"When we looked into the problems closer, we found that there was no coolant in the car and when we added some, it spat it straight out due to there being such a high pressure.
"There are three possible things wrong with the car and they are all serious.
"It could be a blown head gasket, a cracked cylinder head or a cracked cylinder block.
"To repair it would cost as much as the car, if not more.
"Whoever put the car in the auction would have known the problems and deliberately tried to hide them.
"The car won't even start now. It is a write-off."
Comments
by Godbur
Thursday, October 11 2012, 10:41PM
“Or - just put the car back into auction next week and pass the problems on to the next buyer.
Unless of course some hapless mechanic has completely goosed it by pouring cold water into your engine whilst it was rock-hot - causing the head or block to crack.”
by markus250666
Thursday, October 11 2012, 8:27PM
“Thats why i said if in doubt do not buy or take someone with you who DOES know abut cars, and never assume that if a car has M.O.T and road taxed that its roadworty when buying from auction because its NOT. when you bid to buy and hand the cash over your given a disclaimer to sign which states Sold as Seen. its a law abiding contract between the seller and buyer and the auction rooms that it was sold from. and like i said AA and Rac offer a service that when you pay them £50 they will inspect the vehicle and tell you if its a car or a jolopy.”
by crow79
Thursday, October 11 2012, 8:05PM
“ive been driving for 5 years and wouldnt think to check warning lights when i turned on the ignition the point is she went to an auction and came home with a death trap not everyone is knowledgeable about cars and where the best place to go to get one from through this poor womens mistake i would now not buy a car at an auction and probably like herself would of thought the cars being sold there where road wearthy”
by markus250666
Thursday, October 11 2012, 7:11PM
“Its never advisable to buy any car from a motor Auction for under £1k as the chances are it was taken in as p/x via a motor dealer. as alot of cars taken in p/x most end up in auction. and as its been said already. if in doubt then don't bother and buy from a reputable seller/dealer instead locally. but what confuses me slighty is that auctions you get to view and inspect before the auction actually starts and if she's been driving for 6 years, then isn't it obvious that one turn of the key with no lights lighting up would surely ring alarm bells and again if not sure then pay an extra £50 to have an AA or RAC inspection for that peace of mind before purchasing or atleast someone who knows something about cars.”
by crow79
Thursday, October 11 2012, 5:21PM
“uhhhh some pretty harsh comments all the poor woman wanted to do was warn other car buyers of the dangers of buying from auctions i for one am grateful to her for hi-lighting this and dont see the need for calling her and by the sounds of it her and her children was lucky that she was CLUED up enough to realise something was wrong with the car before it was to late”
by redmen311
Thursday, October 11 2012, 4:19PM
“There's a reason these cars are cheaper. Obviously she knew they would be cheaper or why go?”
by redmen311
Thursday, October 11 2012, 4:14PM
“If they are not clued up or don't know people to take with them, then buy one from a garage. Simple.”
by BennyMountain
Thursday, October 11 2012, 3:59PM
“Nice to see the milk of human kindness is alive amongst the folk of Grimsby. Not everyone is as clued up as you are about buying cars or knows people who are to take them with them. Someone put faith in the auction system and got fleeced. Wether it's news worthy or not it doesn't warrant a bunch of smart-ar$e replies.”
by redmen311
Thursday, October 11 2012, 2:50PM
“Oh my! all the red arrows on my comment. the bit about buying one from the roadside was meant as a joke. What was meant was that she could have saved all the time and petrol from going to this auction by buying from the roadside. she would have the same amount of comeback from getting one of these as she did buying from the auction, which is none! while i have a bit of sympathy, i can't believe she went to one of these auctions without taking someone who knows a little about cars. Surely she has a husband, boyfriend or men friends who would have gone with her and if not at least have warned this lady of the dangers of buying from these places. Spend a bit more as eggy10 says and get a warranty. even if it was a months warranty at least she would have been covered when she discovered this fault.”
by MatQuinn
Thursday, October 11 2012, 1:49PM
“Looks like redmen311 is one of your Grimsby Road vehicle sellers lol.
800 to spend on a car should mean little side garage who you know or a private sale with a trained spanner in tow.
Another place to avoid are the clowns at Hartwells trade centre "Trade 2 Go" as they'll happily sell you a car with a dodgy MOT, illegal tyres and a car that clearly hasn't had a service when they said it had. Places like that will also lie out their back teeth to you when you challenge them.
Feel free GT to contact me about these claims if you want a story.”