Dodgy mechanic? Where do I stand?

prawnstar

Hi all..Hoping to find some advice about the following tale. I'll try to be brief.

On the 25th of August I dropped my car into my local garage, a man I have used before without any issue, as it was running erratically. The car was preliminarily checked and I was informed the car would be hooked up for some diagnostics, and we would go from there. So far so good.

I should add at this point the garage is being managed by a different guy now, however I assumed the same standards of professionalism and reliability would be applied.

The next day (Friday 26 August) I was informed the catalytic converter needed replacing, the cost would be £500 for parts and labour, and the car would be ready by the end of the day . Again no problem, it needed fixing after all.

The car was not ready by the end of the day, wrong part had been sent...These things can happen, however I made it clear I can't work without a car and was assured it would be ready Saturday. Saturday (after me chasing him) I was told the same again, wrong part sent. I was assured the car would be ready Tuesday afternoon at the latest...it wasn't.

I called him on Wednesday (31 August) morning to be told the 'cat' had been changed...but the car broke down on its test run...he would call me back once the new fault was diagnosed.

Once again I called him on Friday (2 September) He had been off sick so didn't know what was happening with the car, but would talk to his colleagues and call me back once up to speed.

I finally heard from him this morning (6 September) to be told the car is not only not ready...still! but doesn't even run any more due to bent valves! replacing these will cost a further £1000 on top of the £800 he wants for replacing the 'cat' and replacing the timing belt (for which he apparently needed to purchase a special tool).

All those who are still reading, here finally are my points:

Why the hell should I pay £800 to wait nearly two weeks (during which time I was unable to earn) for the privilege of driving my car into a garage and towing it out...at yet further expense?

I only authorised the replacement of the catalytic converter, Am I within my rights to refuse to pay for the timing belt? (I knew nothing about this until after it was done)

Also, surely it would make more sense to establish if the valves are bent before changing a timing belt??

Thank you for your patience..any suggestions as to where to go from here would be greatly appreciated.

s_b

this bloke
does he wear big shoes and have a red noise because he sounds a right clown
personally i would be taking legal advice quickly before they decided your doors fell off too on this test drive

prawnstar

At last, something that made me smile...Cheers s b

vax2002

Are you a member of any motoring organisation AA, RAC, if so get on the phone ASAP
This sounds like a !!!! and bull story as long as nessies tale.
The car will need to be trailered away for examination to see if the "mechanic" is actually telling the truth, which I doubt very much or how he has come to damage the engine valves in the "timing belt incident" which must have been working when you took it in ?
The clue is in the "had to buy special tool" the guy has beggared the job up and expects you to pay to put it right.

pendulum

He said the car was running irratically when he took it in. If it was down on power and running rough, then isn't it possible the cambelt has skipped a tooth and done a bit of damage to a valve or two? After misdiagnosing it as the cat, and changing that, it could have let go completely on the test drive afterwards?

I don't see how he could totally screw the engine by doing work on the exhaust...

prawnstar

Hi Pendulum, the car had little, in fact no, acceleration and a top speed of 60mph. The initial diagnosis, after a short test run, was the air flow sensor/meter. It idled and revved without any issues at all....my mechanical knowledge is limited, but surely it would have had trouble ticking over with a belt on the way out, or do they just go without a moments notice?

But my main problem is the time taken doing nothing with the vehicle despite constant assurances 'It will be ready today' and being billed for work I knew nothing about, for a problem that I was unaware even existed.

I am self employed and haven't been able to work for 2 weeks (and I'm expected to pay him for the privilege)... not the 1 day suggested by the 'professsional'

Sorry for the rant...Its still fresh and I need to vent!

vax2002

The first question of my lips would be.. what qualifications does this "mechanic" have if any;
What sounds like a simple sensor issue that may be caused by a external fault such as poor electrical voltage/ over voltage has turned in to a sensor code witch hunt jumping from the air flow, to the cat and then to the Cam sensor which by the sounds of it has lead to him displacing the belt.
OBDII diagnostics are a wonderful thing in the hands of an expert but an absolute nightmare in the hands of the local village idiot.
I genuinely feel for you .

As posted many times before, the IDIOTS guide to using a OBDII code reader.
the ABCD of engine management light diagnostics.
A = Alternator Check voltage is not too low/ too high when running
B = Battery check voltage running and non running, check battery is accepting charge
C = Current check the impedance on wiring feeds to engine and bypass earth from battery to engine and check again
D= Diagnostics, only connect Diagnostics machine when A+B+C are all check and confirmed in order.

Trouble is, even some so called mechanics think you start at D and start part swapping until it goes out.

vax2002

Can I just ask what kind of vehicle are we talking about and its approximate value ?

prawnstar

Hi Vax, the vehicle is a 2001 volvo S40s probably worth about £950

vax2002

Thanks,if the valves are bent, its a scrap car, have you paid this clown yet ?

prawnstar

No I haven't paid a penny yet, and to be honest I'll be doing all I can (legally of course) to make sure it stays that way!!