Help, problems with mechanic!

Chell_b

He claims it was just after he changed it that it went ping but just before he turned the engine on......Sometimes i wish i knew a bit more about cars so i could of questioned him further when it happened.
I do know where he lives though so he cant do a runner, unless he moves.
Getting another garage to look at my car on thurs to confirm what he says is wrong is the case.

SailorSam

Are you in the AA or RAC or anything, i know at one time they'd give legal advice to their members. If you come get someone like that to stand up and say it was likely to have been the mechanics fault.
If he is doing work on the side i wonder does the taxman and benefits agency know about it.

Chell_b

I am a member of the AA so i could give them a call. Thank you all for you help

TrickyWicky

Chell_b wrote: »

He claims it was just after he changed it that it went ping

Yes well of course it will the belt has been incorrectly fitted as we keep telling you.

Chell_b wrote: »

but just before he turned the engine on

So he did turn on the engine then? - One minute you say he says he hasn't turned it on and then you say he says he has.

pendulum

I just said "Oh !!!! off" out loud when reading the so called "mechanic"'s explanation.

He has messed up big time but does not want to accept responsibility because he knows it's expensive.

mikey72

He should have turned the over by hand, (usually with a bar) a couple of turns before he started it, to make sure the belt was on properly. If it's not, it won't turn, if you crank it on the starter, it'll break.

TrickyWicky

mikey72 wrote: »

He should have turned the over by hand, (usually with a bar)

Not forgetting to take out the spark plugs too so that you don't get compression and valve bending comfused.

He's clearly made a monumental cockup. Someone did it to one of our cars years ago. He was trying to be helpful but didn't follow the manual when it came to timing up the engine. Needless to say it sounded like a bag of bricks going round a cement mixer when he tried to start it and mega damage occurred. I did the next one myself with the timing tools etc.

cbrpaul

clearly the guys error !!

However , i imagine his price was alot less than a garage , hence the reason why you used him, mates rates !!

You trusted him and his reduced price , however you have now paid the price of his failures !!!

Something as important as a cam belt needs to be by someone who really knows what they are doing , its not like a oil service.

You will now have a several hundred pound repair bill !!!

Your best chance i feel is to ask him for a LARGE contribution to the repair bill , once the garage confirms it was his fault !!

GOOD LUCK !!!

Chell_b

TrickyWicky wrote: »

So he did turn on the engine then? - One minute you say he says he hasn't turned it on and then you say he says he has.

Sorry must have been the way i worded it, He saying he DID NOT turn the engine on, he claims it happened after he fitted it and turned it over but did not turn the engine on.

Thanks

TrickyWicky

He's talking trash and its still possible (with the plugs in) to turn an engine over by hand with a long bar and do valve damage (you can't tell the difference between combustion and valve contact because the plugs are in).