Cambelt breaking 2 weeks after service.

smitholi

I recently took my car for a service at the same garage I brought it at 4-5 months ago. 2 weeks after getting it serviced the cambelt snapped, which for those of you who know, can be quite an expensive repair. After looking back at the paperwork I was given following the service, there was no mention of the cambelt being due for replacement.

Because they didn't mention this, do you think I have a reasonable argument towards the garage and think should they cover some or all of the cost involved in fixing?

Thanks in advance for your help.

johnnyroper

smitholi wrote: »

I recently took my car for a service at the same garage I brought it at 4-5 months ago. 2 weeks after getting it serviced the cambelt snapped, which for those of you who know, can be quite an expensive repair. After looking back at the paperwork I was given following the service, there was no mention of the cambelt being due for replacement.

Because they didn't mention this, do you think I have a reasonable argument towards the garage and think should they cover some or all of the cost involved in fixing?

Thanks in advance for your help.

the garage will not ordinarily check belt unless requested to do so or there is a noise,is the car of the age and mileage to need a cambelt if not then the garage will not recommend it being replaced and as such i doubt any claim can be made against them.
the owner also has some reponsibility to know if and when a belt is due for change it should be clearly stated in manual the time/mileage life of the belt.

KillerWatt

As above really.

What was the interval of the service you were having, and what is the belt/kit replacement interval as recommended by the manufacturer?

Kilty_2

Any main dealer I've been in (Vauxhall/Skoda anyway) had massive posters everywhere warning about the dangers of cambelts and that you should be aware of the intervals for changing them...

Mankysteve

Whats the age and millage of the vehicle? A lot of time there no way to tell if they about to go and not part of normal service to check.

Norman_Castle

smitholi wrote: »

I recently took my car for a service at the same garage I brought it at 4-5 months ago. 2 weeks after getting it serviced the cambelt snapped, which for those of you who know, can be quite an expensive repair. After looking back at the paperwork I was given following the service, there was no mention of the cambelt being due for replacement.

Because they didn't mention this, do you think I have a reasonable argument towards the garage and think should they cover some or all of the cost involved in fixing?

Thanks in advance for your help.

Was the belt due for replacement according to manufactrers guide based on mileage or age?

Hammyman

smitholi wrote: »

After looking back at the paperwork I was given following the service, there was no mention of the cambelt being due for replacement.

Because they didn't mention this, do you think I have a reasonable argument towards the garage and think should they cover some or all of the cost involved in fixing?

No. In the handbook that comes with the car, it will show the service schedule, cambelt changes, brake fluid changes etc etc. It is up to YOU the owner to make sure they're done. The garage may not have given the best customer service by not mentioning it but that doesn't make them liable. After all, you could have had it changed early as I do and the cambelt change not be written down in the service history.

Rolandtheroadie

It's also possible it was missed by a previous owner so the service the garage carried out wasnt one that required a belt change.

harveybobbles

smitholi wrote: »

Because they didn't mention this, do you think I have a reasonable argument towards the garage and think should they cover some or all of the cost involved in fixing?

I was thinking of asking IKEA to cover the cost of a taxi to the local A&E department after I stubbed my toe on a coffee table I bought last week.

I mean, NO where did it mention that this could happen in the instructions...

vangirl_2

smitholi, I have never had my timing belt changed during a service as it isn't due at the same time. Also the timing belt can snap for reasons other than wear and tear. My snapped once due to a blockage in the water pump, so perhaps it didn't actually need changing at the time?

CHR15

It's always best when someone makes a post in Code!

How do we know what car it is, what the belt change interval is, what mileage is on the car??

I think the OP is right among all the compo chasers... Any excuse to rant about recompense.