Help needed......

NeilCam

Hi and sorry for the essay.....

I was wondering if some of you good MSE people might be able to offer me some advice?

The cambelt went on my 05 Alfa Romeo 156 earlier on in April of this year (I know - should have listened to all those trying to dissuade me from getting an, but hey it looked nice and we live and learn!)

I had said cambelt replaced along with all other parts local to it, including the fanbelt.

However, the fanbelt has now failed on me and taken the cambelt out again which as you can imagine is causing me great frustration (not to mention dread at having to fork out another £2k to fix it!)

I have since been in touch with the garage that fixed it first time round to see if it could be a faulty fanbelt (only a strip of about 5mm has snapped off suggesting to me that it is not not something lodged in it causing it to snap)

The garage have refused point blank that it is anything to do with them and are not interested in helping me to resolve the situation so I just wanted to know where I would stand from a legal stance? Should the parts be under a guarantee? Is there any sort of inspection I can have done to determine the cause of the fault? Would this even make a difference if I did?

I am really reluctant to bite the bullet and pay for the same job just 6 months after it has been fixed.

Any help offered would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

EdGasket

So long as you have receipts, I think you can reasonably expect them to fix their work for free this time round. Cambelt and other belts should be guaranteed to last at least a year and probably three and I would think the labour should be guaranteed too for a year. Write to them to give them the option of fixing it before you start proceedings in the small claims court for the costs of getting it fixed elsewhere. Make sure you request a reply within 7 days.

luap2411

Hi Neil

Sorry to hear about the cambelt. Have had a 156 for nearly 5 years, don't believe all the stories. Was the cambelt done by a main dealer or Alfa specialist ?

Might be worth posting this on either https://www.alfa156.net, or https://www.alfaowner.com. I suppose you may have some comeback, maybe trading standards. If you do cop for it there are cheaper options out there. Or sell it to me cheap ! Seriously post this on one of the above.