Advice on a potential dodgy repair

cb_999

Hello,

Right, background info. It's a Ford Mondeo 2001, I've owned for 1 year. So I took my car in for an MOT/Service last month and the garage rings up to tell me that there is the wrong sized spark plug in the one of the thingies (I'm not car knowledable). So they say they had to use considerable force to get it out of the "head" or wherever it goes. Ends up costing about 650 quid as I had the brakes and some suspension work done too,

So anyway, I lost power on the motorway last week and the AA man tells me that there is a gap around the offending spark plug hole and the seal around it isnt there resulting in badness that I am unable to understand. Also part of the spark plug in that area was missing and likely enjoying itself shredding my engine somewhere. Basically, it's terminal without stripping the engine and/or replacing the head. Unlikely to be econimic given the car is worth 1k-2k at the most.

So, what are my options here?

Just accept it all as bad luck? No biggy for me I'm made of money :rotfl:from what I've heard, repairing this would not be economical.
Call my insurance firm? Direct Line....
Ring up my garage (I must say, they did give the impression they tried hard to fix it, but then again, they didn't fix it if there is no seal around the spark plug?, but then again, it was a month ago, things could have "happened" in the meantime? )

What do you guys/gals think?

Weird_Nev

Tricky without knowing the specifics of what the garage did and what has subsequently failed.
If it is a problem with the 'head' such as a stripped spark plug thread, then a new head could be sourced, the engine inspected for any damage, and if all is Ok it might not be a new engine job.
Engines are ten a penny for mondeos, so don't give up hope.
I'd ask the AA for a report if they can give you one ,and then speak to the garage that MOT'd it and serviced it to see if they'll offer any goodwill. If you don't trust them, see if you can get any recommendations to a good local garage who would be able to sort the problem with reconditioned/second hand parts.

colino

You really need a credible, independent inspection of the engine. Sounds like they stripped the sparkplug thread and then did a bad helicoil repair that "blew out" on the motorway. Engine or head now need major, expensive surgery.

forgotmyname

As above you need a proper engineers report in writing, Not a i think or it might be or
maybe this or that happened.

Now to prove the head was not stripped and bodged before the garage did the work will be difficult.