Damage caused by Repair. Help!

wingnut1_2

HELP!

My car has been in for a small bodywork repair after a minor incident last sunday. The insurance approved body repair place took the car this morning and returned it to me this afternooon with the repair done. Wow! Fantastic stuff. But............

As the car had very little diesel left in it for the drop off and delivery journey the body repairers put some fuel in. PETROL!!

They have admitted their mistake after I couldn't get the car to start and have taken the car back for repair.

My issue is that they have driven approx 40 miles with petrol in it and I do not believe a simple drain and re-fuel will fix it nor does it guarantee that there isn't any lasting damage to the engine. I have told my insurance company that I will not take the car back until it has been drained, fuel filter replaced, new fuel pump and new injectors PLUS a written letter or something admitting what has happened and that if any damage is found in the next 3 years that can be traced back to this incident then they are liable. The garage are not playing ball though and are insisting that they have fixed the problem (they somehow managed this within 1 hour of me noticing the problem).

What are my rights? Can I refuse to take the car back? Any advice?

I am really upset about this

Thanks.

Hammyman

A simple drain and refuel will fix it. Why don't you think it will? What are you basing your demands for new pump and injectors on?

An hour to change the filters, drain the tank and bleed the fuel through sounds right.

colino

Get your insurance company properly involved. They now appear to write off misfueled cars as a matter of course due to the hugely expensive comebacks after they have already lashed out on expensive repairs. The garage made a mistake, but their response isn't good enough.

mcjordi

petrol in a diesel isnt a major problem..
diesel in a petrol will mean it needs a pump/injectors and a major overhaul

wingnut1_2

Having taken advice from Ford and a very quick google search reveals that, yes if they hadn't driven the car then a drain will suffice. But they drove it for over 40 miles on a motorway. There is no guarantee at all that the pump or injectors will be ok and as such they should replace them as it was their mistake. Surely the customer, i.e me has a say whether I am satisfied with damage rectification.

Imagine someone taking your car, putting the wrong fuel in it, then giving it back to you telling you that it is fixed to their satisfaction, not yours! This stinks!

Hammyman

I'd be quite happy. What would you have done had you put the wrong fuel in? Would you just have a drain and refill or would you fork out £1000s for a new pump and injectors? As the TDCi Mondeo is purported to have injector issues, I cannot help but feel that there is a hidden agenda on your part judging by the overreaction.

They won't replace the pump and injectors etc as an insurance claim. They will just write the car off as the cost of doing it is more than 50% of the market value leaving you with the aggro of no longer having a car and needing to buy a new one. You may be shooting yourself in the foot here...

Alias_Omega

I would contact the insurance company for some backup here.

I would be looking for some form of warranty that the injectors/pump have not been damaged and will not fail with XYZ months/mileage.

cyclonebri1

mcjordi wrote: »

petrol in a diesel isnt a major problem..
diesel in a petrol will mean it needs a pump/injectors and a major overhaul

Check that one out, I think you've got it the wrong way round. As the OP suspects it is highly likely to damage the injector pump due to it relying on the "oil" content of diesel as it's lubricant.

Diesel in a petrol just affects running/performance untill the fuel is changed.
I'm with the OP on this 1, it could prove very serious :mad:

mcjordi

cyclonebri1 wrote: »

Check that one out, I think you've got it the wrong way round. As the OP suspects it is highly likely to damage the injector pump due to it relying on the "oil" content of diesel as it's lubricant.

Diesel in a petrol just affects running/performance untill the fuel is changed.
I'm with the OP on this 1, it could prove very serious :mad:

really? hmm i was always told petrol in a derv is nothing

edit- ok seems your right.. ah well.. learn something new everyday..

cyclonebri1

[QUOTE=mcjordi;47648923
edit- ok seems your right.. ah well.. learn something new everyday..[/QUOTE]



;) I usually am,



sorry, couldn't resist.

The Op realises the issues here, I too would be piceised.

Hammyman

cyclonebri1 wrote: »

Check that one out, I think you've got it the wrong way round.

Diesel kills catalytic convertors.