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Question and problem re car repair
Hi all.
I've had a noise coming from my engine (02 Xsara Picasso) for a while now so had an ex-mechanic neighbour have a quick look. He suggested it could be the timing belt, so booked it in for that to be done as it was due.
Garage one does said timing belt change but says noise coming from power steering pump and quotes around £320 for it to be repaired. I say leave it with me so I can shop around.
Talk to a friend who recommends garage 2, who quote me around 200 for it to be done. So take it there today, they replace steering pump with reconditioned one (no mention of that to me), but say noise coming from alternator and should be safe to drive, quote me £150+vat. I dont have much money after spending £110 for timing belt, and £216 for steering pump to be replaced which didnt seem to need it.
Driving home car starts reporting battery charge fault, smells really bad, and still making noises.
Drop our son off at a club, go do a few errands, then on way to pick him up, ABS cuts out, airbags cut out, dashboard displays go, we're in the middle of a junction, fortunately we get off the junction when the engine cuts out. Just glad we didn't have our son in the car at the time!
Leave it by the side of the road for an hour, just enough time for the car to recover and just enough power for us to get it home. Call RAC out who say seems like alternator is dead, and is puzzled why garage 2 replaced steering pump without telling us that it's the alternator that is going and didnt replace that instead.
Now we have to have the car towed to be sorted again this time we're looking at even more money! Is it normal for a garage not to replace a faulty part and to replace a part that isn't faulty?
I'm completely drained and so is our bank account.
Just thought it might help to get it out of my system.
Jon
I've had a noise coming from my engine (02 Xsara Picasso) for a while now so had an ex-mechanic neighbour have a quick look. He suggested it could be the timing belt, so booked it in for that to be done as it was due.
Garage one does said timing belt change but says noise coming from power steering pump and quotes around £320 for it to be repaired. I say leave it with me so I can shop around.
Talk to a friend who recommends garage 2, who quote me around 200 for it to be done. So take it there today, they replace steering pump with reconditioned one (no mention of that to me), but say noise coming from alternator and should be safe to drive, quote me £150+vat. I dont have much money after spending £110 for timing belt, and £216 for steering pump to be replaced which didnt seem to need it.
Driving home car starts reporting battery charge fault, smells really bad, and still making noises.
Drop our son off at a club, go do a few errands, then on way to pick him up, ABS cuts out, airbags cut out, dashboard displays go, we're in the middle of a junction, fortunately we get off the junction when the engine cuts out. Just glad we didn't have our son in the car at the time!
Leave it by the side of the road for an hour, just enough time for the car to recover and just enough power for us to get it home. Call RAC out who say seems like alternator is dead, and is puzzled why garage 2 replaced steering pump without telling us that it's the alternator that is going and didnt replace that instead.
Now we have to have the car towed to be sorted again this time we're looking at even more money! Is it normal for a garage not to replace a faulty part and to replace a part that isn't faulty?
I'm completely drained and so is our bank account.
Just thought it might help to get it out of my system.
Jon
0
Comments
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If it was the alternator that was at fault all along then your friend's diagnosis was incorrect and so was that of the first garage.
Second garage diagnose fault correctly.
I just wonder if when you went to first garage did you say "please replace my drive belt" or did you ask them to diagnose the noise?
When you went to garage two did you say "please replace steering pump" or did you ask them to diagnose the noise.
I would suggest your friend misdiagnosed the fault and that has led to extra expense.
I do sympathise with you because I know what it is like to be in this situation with a limited budget.
On the plus side you have had the timing belt replaced before it snapped and ruined the engine and you got a reconditioned pump at less cost than a brand new one.0 -
Buy the garage a present.
A length of 3/4 rubber tubing.
Tell them if they put their ear on one end and move the other around the engine, they might get more return customers.
Explain how it works, when the noise gets louder at the other end, it's that bit that needs fixing....Hi, we’ve had to remove your signature. If you’re not sure why please read the forum rules or email the forum team if you’re still unsure - MSE ForumTeam0 -
It is when the customer is the one dictating what parts are to be replaced!Is it normal for a garage not to replace a faulty part and to replace a part that isn't faulty?
You went with your neighbours suggestion and instructed a garage to change the cambelt (this was completely pointless by the way, you only got the belt done for £110 but you needed a full kit fitted if there's a noise suspected to be coming from the cambelt area).
They did what you asked them to do... but then mentioned the noise might be from the power steering.
You decided to take it to another garage and instructed them to change the power steering pump... they did exactly what you said, but told you it was probably the alternator...
Really not the best way to go about things!
Please don't get it towed to another garage and just tell them to change the alternator...
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In a nutshell, don't tell a mechanic what to do unless you're sure that's what needs doing.0
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A wise old mechanic will dig out the timing strobe on belt pulley problems.
A lot tend to be the crank pulley bearing that is failing and causing wobble on the belt, it causes wear in other parts around the belts.
the strobe will soon show where the wobble is.Hi, we’ve had to remove your signature. If you’re not sure why please read the forum rules or email the forum team if you’re still unsure - MSE ForumTeam0 -
Buy the garage a present.
A length of 3/4 rubber tubing.
Tell them if they put their ear on one end and move the other around the engine, they might get more return customers.
Explain how it works, when the noise gets louder at the other end, it's that bit that needs fixing....
Personally I'd put the rubber tube in the garages other aperture:D
But seriousley, a problem like this occours so often because;
1) car taken to garage, diagnosed with a fault but pricey
2) car taken to 2nd garage for quote on work that 1st garage had diagnosed. They are cheaper so get the job.
3) diagnosis was wrong, empty pockets and arguments with 2 garages.
Yes I'm repeating what an earlier poster said but it needs repeating, it happens too often so "never give your own or anyone elses diagnosis of a fault to a garage unless you are 101% certain you are right, and then there's only 1 person to blame.:o
Sorry to op, no use to you but may help someone else;)I like the thanks button, but ,please, an I agree button.
Will the grammar and spelling police respect I do make grammatical errors, and have carp spelling, no need to remind me.;)
Always expect the unexpected:eek:and then you won't be dissapointed0 -
Hi all.
I've had a noise coming from my engine (02 Xsara Picasso) for a while now so had an ex-mechanic neighbour have a quick look. He suggested it could be the timing belt, so booked it in for that to be done as it was due.
Garage one does said timing belt change but says noise coming from power steering pump and quotes around £320 for it to be repaired. I say leave it with me so I can shop around.
Talk to a friend who recommends garage 2, who quote me around 200 for it to be done. So take it there today, they replace steering pump with reconditioned one (no mention of that to me), but say noise coming from alternator and should be safe to drive, quote me £150+vat. I dont have much money after spending £110 for timing belt, and £216 for steering pump to be replaced which didnt seem to need it.
Driving home car starts reporting battery charge fault, smells really bad, and still making noises.
Drop our son off at a club, go do a few errands, then on way to pick him up, ABS cuts out, airbags cut out, dashboard displays go, we're in the middle of a junction, fortunately we get off the junction when the engine cuts out. Just glad we didn't have our son in the car at the time!
Leave it by the side of the road for an hour, just enough time for the car to recover and just enough power for us to get it home. Call RAC out who say seems like alternator is dead, and is puzzled why garage 2 replaced steering pump without telling us that it's the alternator that is going and didnt replace that instead.
Now we have to have the car towed to be sorted again this time we're looking at even more money! Is it normal for a garage not to replace a faulty part and to replace a part that isn't faulty?
I'm completely drained and so is our bank account.
Just thought it might help to get it out of my system.
Jon
Your error was, as well as trying to do this on the cheap using friends, that you told the garage what to do when you don't know yourself.
i.e. garage (1) said (a) but then you took it to garage (2) and told them to do (a) which they did for you. Sadly garage (1) obviously got it wrong when they diagnosed (a) was fault, but since you decided against using garage (1) you have no comeback.
Next time, go to a garage and simply describe the symptoms and ask them to both investigate and (after getting you permission) fix the fault you describe.
I would also suggest you get the car regularly maintained by someone who knows what they are doing to help avoid future breakdowns. If something is advised as needing repair, get it repaired."Now to trolling as a concept. .... Personally, I've always found it a little sad that people choose to spend such a large proportion of their lives in this way but they do, and we have to deal with it." - MSE Forum Manager 6th July 20100 -
most power stearing pumps are recon even from main dealers, as well as alternators and startermotors when bought from a motor factor.
your old one is taken off and then sent back to the supplier who inturns send it back to the manufacturers for them to strip and rebuild if possible.
when i hear noises from a engine the first things i rule out is: ALTERNATOR (test with volt meter) check pully and aux belt some alternators have a clutch type pully that do make a low tone noise sometimes. then onto aux belt tensioner if fitted, is the tensioner worn? then onto timing case tak off inspection cover, start car, strobe the crank pully then onto the cam pully's for wobble, then inspect the tensioner and water pump, if nothing is diagnosed there, onto hydrolic tappets. if the noise is dominant in the timing/engine side and not gearbox side, where the thrust bearing and gearbox bearing could be the trouble.
trouble with friends giving opinions is that if they havent been around cars fro a while dont really know whats going on and hazard a guess.
never tell a garage what to replace when you have no definitive answer to the problem yourself.0 -
atrixblue.-MFR-. wrote: »most power stearing pumps are recon even from main dealers, as well as alternators and startermotors when bought from a motor factor.
your old one is taken off and then sent back to the supplier who inturns send it back to the manufacturers for them to strip and rebuild if possible.
when i hear noises from a engine the first things i rule out is: ALTERNATOR (test with volt meter) check pully and aux belt some alternators have a clutch type pully that do make a low tone noise sometimes. then onto aux belt tensioner if fitted, is the tensioner worn? then onto timing case tak off inspection cover, start car, strobe the crank pully then onto the cam pully's for wobble, then inspect the tensioner and water pump, if nothing is diagnosed there, onto hydrolic tappets. if the noise is dominant in the timing/engine side and not gearbox side, where the thrust bearing and gearbox bearing could be the trouble.
trouble with friends giving opinions is that if they havent been around cars fro a while dont really know whats going on and hazard a guess.
never tell a garage what to replace when you have no definitive answer to the problem yourself.
The normal method is to remove the auxilary belt as this usually drives the alternator and power steering and has numerous pulleys in the drive chain. Easy then to spin each in turn or rule out all of them,
Have no worries about the use of a recon rack, if you new the price of a genuine one you's be glad they did. :eek:I like the thanks button, but ,please, an I agree button.
Will the grammar and spelling police respect I do make grammatical errors, and have carp spelling, no need to remind me.;)
Always expect the unexpected:eek:and then you won't be dissapointed0
This discussion has been closed.
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