Negligent Garage service

spox

I had my car serviced recently and was told by the garage that when they were removing a spark plug it broke and pieces fell in the engine.They said this would coz a rattling noise but it would disappear as it would be burnt out.The engine noise did not stop and in fact the engine oil consumption became too high and took the car back to the garage and they checked for leaks and found none.This car never gave me any problems until after this fateful service.Have been to and fro this garage and nothing helps.Took the car eventually to a ford dealer and they told me that the engine was damaged and need to get a new engine.Help please coz this garage should be liable but how do I make them.Who should I complain to?

PsiDOC

Damn right the garage is liable but you have to prove it - did you have a witness present when they admitted the spark plug broke up and dropped in? Else it could be an interesting fight to get them to admit liability like that again.

A spark plug breaking up dropping into the cylinder is simply suicide for the engine as the bits just mash up the piston, rings, cylinder wall head and valves as it is happily thrown up and down and round and about in the engine at up to 100 times a second . As far as burning up and exiting undamaged is concerned not a hope. A spark plug is designed to withstand high temperatures as it is what ignites the fuel in the cylinder.

Psi

mchale

If your a member of AA/RAC, id get in touch with them you usually get free legal advice, I think your best bet would be to write (recorded delivery) to garage who damaged car asking them to fix it FOC if they do, I would then take it to dealer & get them to check its been fixed correctly. If the garage wont fix it then go elsewhere get it fixed & sue garage who damaged it

LinasPilibaitisisbatman

Maybe get an independent non dealer garage to have a look and confirm fords diagnosiss and cure.

Wouldnt expect them to say anything different whenn they have a nice few k in front of them

Bowdyjan18

spox wrote: »

I had my car serviced recently and was told by the garage that when they were removing a spark plug it broke and pieces fell in the engine.They said this would coz a rattling noise but it would disappear as it would be burnt out.The engine noise did not stop and in fact the engine oil consumption became too high and took the car back to the garage and they checked for leaks and found none.This car never gave me any problems until after this fateful service.Have been to and fro this garage and nothing helps.Took the car eventually to a ford dealer and they told me that the engine was damaged and need to get a new engine.Help please coz this garage should be liable but how do I make them.Who should I complain to?

What engine is it ?

spox

Its A 16V Ford ZETEC 1.8 ENGINE

david29dpo

There may be remains of the spark-plug on top of the piston when the cylinder head is removed.

spox

david29dpo wrote: »

There may be remains of the spark-plug on top of the piston when the cylinder head is removed.

Would that explain the loss of oil and how can it be resolved if it is the case.

david29dpo

Yes it would. You need evidence to prove this caused the problem. There is no dought it DID cause it but to have any chance of suing you need proof. Until the head is removed you wouldn't know the damage but it very likely major. ie cylinder wall, piston, head, valves.

spox

Guys I have been to the garage today and after a lengthy sober conversation with him he sent me to another garage for a second opinion for his benefit.They told him that basically the piston was damaged and he needed to sort it out.He accepted liability and has taken the car in to sort the damage.I phoned the Ford dealer and they also said its the piston that was damaged.I then phoned the RAC to try and get an inspection but they basically said that would not suffice as they would need to open the engine.They then recommended that I contact IAEA i.e Institute of Auto Engineers Assessors who are very expensive and the reason I was doing all this was that maybe after he has done what needs to be done they would check it and inform me from a mechanical point of view that what needed to be done had been done.Its so amazing how lax the regulations in this trade are and consumers are definitely not adequately protected.I am left with the option of taking his word for it and unfortunately my insurance company would not touch the case despite the admission of liability because the policy does not cover non accident situations.I have incurred costs like having an inspection done and the excessive oil consumption costs and the general distress which I would have recoverd if there was a clear avenue to take.Are there any suggestions out there as to what course of action to take after the replacing of the damaged parts.

mchale

Ok so the guys going to fix it at his expense, after he's fixed it & you have done about 500 mile take it to a recommended garage & explain what happened & ask them to do a compression test & if they say it's OK, your happy.