Help/Advice needed, van needs £1000 welding done

[TobyGilden]

I have just been to a garage to get a quote for some welding that I thought needed doing on the van.

The guy at the garage really knows his stuff, he had a really good look around the van, and found a few more bits that might need doing.

There is rot underneath the driver side footwell, which was hidden by the rubber mats - and under the rubber mats some weird bitumen layer.

The top of the driver side wheel arch (where the seat belts are mounted) is also rotten, the was hidden by a rubber mat that had been glued down.

The welder at the shop also said that the sills seems to have been covered in fibreglass to cover something up, he said it has been done well so its quite hard to spot.

I rang the garage I bought the van from, and expressed how dis-satisfied I am, he sold me the van as "solid" and "rust free". After kicking off he has offered to have the van back and do the welding in his shop. The problem is since buying the van I have found so many bodge jobs that if he worked in my industry I would have reported him to RIDDOR; screw driver heads used as fuses, lights not working, all of these problems and somehow he got an MOT done

I am not too keen on taking the van back to the guy I bought it off for him to do another bodge repair, but I definitely can't afford to spend £1000 having the van welded locally.

Any thoughts / suggestions would be appreciated.

cheers

Toby

[Jim San]

Sounds like a nightmare.
I would try and get my money back and return the van. If you have evidence that it was sold as rust free and solid then i imagine your case would be quite strong.

List all the other bodges you have found - but you can't prove they were done at that garage.

I would not agree to having the work done by the seller as i'd be wary of the standard of work being 'the bare minimum' at the most and also any further differences (should there be any - and there often are once the tin of worms has been opened) will only make relations more difficult.

good luck

[kevtherev]

Make the van safe, first and foremost.
Then save up and have the cosmetics done later... by someone else

or

Take it back and tell him you're having the work he does scrutinised by the AA or another professional body.
If it's of poor quality, you'll initiate recovery proceedings for the cost of safety repairs

[Ralf85]

You've also put a message up about gears not working. I would also get the AA to check for brake fluid leaks from the master and slave cylinders as the level should not drop. How much did you pay for this van? It sounds like a mess.

[TobyGilden]

I paid £6000 hard earned cash - I sold my car to buy it.

This was the write up for the van;


"Volkswagen transporter type t25 WaterCooled 1.9 petrol van.

For Sale is my Volkswagen Transporter type T25 camper van, I have had this van for around 15 months, I am putting for sale due to a house buy so all my toys are for sale, 3 other type 25s I have collected over the years plus my motorhome, check of other iteams for them we are classic car restorers and this is my own van in my collection that I was never going to sale so its had everything checked/replaced. We have replaced the front panel and one side rear wing so she is really rot free. I have in that time stripped the van right down and rebuild inside and out finishing it around 9 months ago, I have only used it once since for camping but use it at least once a week for a trip to keep her moving ..

she was stripped down and repainted in red and white, we also replaced the inside with new wood/fabric due to age again, (she is 32 years old now) and I bleve the 122km on the clock to be true, i didnt have any paper work with the van but bleve it has sat in a barn for around 13 years, she has a new roof canvas fitted , the engine and gearbox have been serviced/set up the carb has been rebuilt.. she runs like a dream, .

This van is LHD but don't be put off its rust free and its so much better than RHD once you get used to it.

5 birth
fully restored inside and out
240v hook up
20lt fresh water tank
all window/roof rubbers replaced
rock and roll bed
rust free and fully wax oiled
4 speed gearbox

The main reason I bought this van over other was because it was from a classic car mechanics, and from the write up above, was under the impression it was in great working order - which hasn't been the case, I am pretty gutted to be honest.

[BOXY]

https://www.devonnewscentre.info/garage ... van-twice/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Print this out and drop it off with the seller of the van.

[TobyGilden]

When I rang the guy who sold me the van he said that MOT testers aren't allowed to move mats etc... to check for rust, I thought this was crazy, is there any truth to this?

The garage I have taken to van to that have quoted for the welding also do MOT's and said I should report the MOT station that did the can to VOSA.

[Ralf85]

If a garage/trader gave it that write up and it is a mess, you should be in a position to get a result, once you have had a proper checkover and report from the AA.

If they don't agree to take it back for a full refund, or carry out all the necessary work for free, it should be ok to take them to the small claims court. I would take it back and ask for a full refund first, personally.

[dbz864]

The key question is how long have you owned? I think mot testers are told "test as presented", tho them areas you say are visable from underneath. The £1k seems a bit steep for the areas you say, presuming its not inc the sill area.

[TobyGilden]

I have owned the van for a month - I will get a couple of different quotes I think, this garage specialises in older cars, and have a good rep. But I might try and give a mobile welder a ring and see what he quotes.

From what I can see, underneath looks in good order, apart from the bits discussed - what should a footwell and top of wheel arch cost to re-weld? I have no idea on pricing.

[kevtherev]

....fully restored inside and out
.

Clearly that's a lie right there.. restoration is to bring back to an original or normal condition:
The van has been re furbished.

Let's not lose sight of why you bought this, so put anger aside.
Whatever you decide to do, will be messy, so let's try to move on.
You have a van.
Now get it in a position where you can use it to camp in. This is important, it will focus things better.

[kevtherev]

From what I can see, underneath looks in good order, apart from the bits discussed - what should a footwell and top of wheel arch cost to re-weld? I have no idea on pricing.

welders generally cost £35/hour you can save a lot by preparation, talk to the welder and ask how you can help

http://www.alanhschofield.com/ourparts/ ... anels.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Our resident bodywork guru metalmick8y can give you some help

[dbz864]

You will defo have a case, without a doubt you would win, BUT with it stress and a hell of a lot of mither. Id say take it for another mot somewhere else tell them to give it a good check over. Then go back to the seller, with a list of faults, don't go overboard with minor snags as it wont look good. Give the seller a chance to put it right. Don't forget you are buying a old van, so it wont be perfect, it never will be. Like kev said don't get full of anger. Id say that welding £200 but that's a blind guess.

[dbz864]

Forgot to say, if the guy is decent, he will want to put things right, what seems like big problems to you, wont be to him. Don't forget its a van not a member of your family.

[TobyGilden]

I am going back to the local garage on Wednesday, I will get a lost of things together and give the seller a ring and see what he says.

I know I shouldnt be too bummed out and when I get it all sorted I will have a great time, it is just a shame and a shock