Car 'repaired', but engine nearly ceased.

Nightowl

Hi,

Two weeks ago I was driving to work and the car didn't get warm inside, then the engine overheated.
We thought it was the water pump, so purchased a new one ourselves - to save money - and took it to our local garage to be fitted. We got a phone call from them to say the problem was not the pump but the thermastat housing. We got a rough quote for the job, around £200. We wouldn't have spent any more as it's R reg and we want to replace it soon anyway. Our garage knows we'll never have anything don without them checking with us first. We agreed to it being done.
My husband picked up the car when it was ready and went to pick my daughter up from school. He drove it straight back to the garage after as something was seriously wrong. They've looked at it again after lot's of nagging as they are busy. The is no pressure in the engine and they feel there is some kind of blockage. In short, engines had it and it's not worth doing.
My question is, and to be fair they've not given us a bill yet, do we have to pay for the repair on a car that didn't fix it? I'm assuming the thermastat housing must of needed doing to, but shouldn't they have realised there was another problem? Especially as they'd ruled out the water pump themselves?
We've dealt with them lots in the past and they are pretty fair as far a garages go.
What do you think? And what are my rights on this?

thanks in advance!

gordikin

I'd ask them to reduce the £200 bill...suggest they half it?

Hintza

I don't think you really have a leg to stand on I'm afraid.It's an old car and I imagine they have done the best they can. Without being difficult you could see if they will give you a bit of goodwill.

Sounds as if it could be an accumulation of things.

Torby

sounds as if it may have overheated and blown a head gasket...looks like the garage repaired the problem "the car didn't heat up inside" but didn't do much else....I understand where you're coming from though....its a bit like putting 4 new tyres on when you are changing the car next week....

MrRedundant

So basically you fixed your car on the cheap using amatuerish mechanics and now want the garage to be liable because you werent willing to pay for a properly qualified mechanic to review the fault and diagnose.

As said it sounds like the heating problem has caused the head gasket to go. If you hadnt tried to be cheap they would probably have spotted this whilst diagnosing the fault and not bothered with repairs. Unfortunately as you where only willing to pay labour for the parts to be fitted they didnt get a chance to do this.

dori2o

Torby wrote: »

sounds as if it may have overheated and blown a head gasket...looks like the garage repaired the problem "the car didn't heat up inside" but didn't do much else....I understand where you're coming from though....its a bit like putting 4 new tyres on when you are changing the car next week....

Unfortunately it does sound like a Head gasket failure.

What car is it?

Some cars are extreemly easy to fix this fault for less than £100 a little knowledge and a Haynes manal.

Gasket sets can be bought from Ebay, and a local engineering company should be able to skim the head for you.

Otherwise going via a garage couold cost upwards of £450 for the job to be done right.

OlliesDad

MrRedundant wrote: »

So basically you fixed your car on the cheap using amatuerish mechanics and now want the garage to be liable because you werent willing to pay for a properly qualified mechanic to review the fault and diagnose.

As said it sounds like the heating problem has caused the head gasket to go. If you hadnt tried to be cheap they would probably have spotted this whilst diagnosing the fault and not bothered with repairs. Unfortunately as you where only willing to pay labour for the parts to be fitted they didnt get a chance to do this.

Where did it say that the garage they went to were amateurs? In fact, the fact they are operating a garage (which the OP states is reliable) suggests that they are definitely professional mechanics.

OP, try and ignore MrRedundant he is a wind up merchant who has had various alter-egos but they have all been banned (weirdlittleman etc)

Nightowl

Thanks OlliesDad. Yes, it is a proper garage operated by qualified mechanics. Apparently the problem with the car is sometimes called 'black death' it's when water gets in to the oil and it in effect bakes in the engine causing a blockage. Perhaps the scrap value will go towards the bill. It's VW Polo and we were just trying to keep it going a bit longer while we saved for another. I've just started a nursing post after three years training, so whilst money has been tight I am just starting to earn more now. Determined not to forget my money saving ways! Thanks for all your help, I'll see if I can come to a compromise with the garage.

Merry Christmas one and all!