Garage Have Damaged Our Car

seasidegirl80

Morning All,

Ok I may go on a bit but I could really do with some advice please, Here goes:

2 weeks ago our car (Vauxhall Frontera 2000 Plate) went into the garage for a '2/3 day job' to have the oil pump and clutch replaced. The mechanic phoned us and said that he could now see that the timing belt and water pump needed replacing aswell, we gave the go ahead for this work to be done aswell.

Work was taking ages and everyday we phoned and asked when it will be ready and kept getting told tomorrow etc etc........

Anyway last night we got a phone call from the mechanic saying there was a problem and could we go to the garage. When we got there he said that when they started the engine they heard a clunk and then the engine seized. They are insisting that they had got the timing right and they dont know what the problem is.

They have said they will look at it but it could take 3 days to find out the problem and if they can repair it it will take 4 weeks!! My partner uses this car for work so this is not fair as they have already had it for 2 weeks and we are losing business.

Is there a time limit we can get them to fix it in?

Thanks in advance.

Road_Hog

seasidegirl80 wrote: »

to have the oil pump and clutch replaced. The mechanic phoned us and said that he could now see that the timing belt and water pump needed replacing aswell,

he said that when they started the engine they heard a clunk and then the engine seized. They are insisting that they had got the timing right and they dont know what the problem is.

Oh dear, I think they know exactly what the problem is.

seasidegirl80 wrote: »

Is there a time limit we can get them to fix it in?

This is where it gets tricky. The law generally uses phrases like, a reasonable time period, but doesn't actually stipulate what that is. That's why we have courts and judges to interpret what is reasonable in any given case.

However, even using a court wouldn't be a quick solution. A think a visit to the manager followed up by a letter stating the facts might be your first step. Outlining things like, the car (at least the engine) was running fine when you brought it in, they've had it two weeks (for what was quote as a 2/3 day job). If there is a problem with the engine, have they stripped it down to inspect it, if not why not. It is not an acceptable time limit to keep the car and what are they doing to sort it out and what about a courtesy car.

As always, remain calm, no emotion and stick to the facts, have them written down beforehand. Work out what we be an acceptable outcome so that you know what to agree to and don't get railroaded. If you get fobbed off, then the small claims court it is.

TrickyWicky

Thats very bad.

In other words the garage didn't have a clue about the timing on this engine, were over confident about it being an easy job, didn't have the correct timing locking kit (which they obviously needed) and its gone belly up on them. Now they've discovered that the parts they need to fix it are expensive, they can't afford them and are unwilling to drop their own wages to cover it. Thats what it sounds like to me!

Some engines you can do a cambelt change on easily. Others have a funny system where you need to lock certain parts of the engine otherwise something slips internally and screws it over yet you can't see any physical change to the timing from the outside. I know there are a few Renaults which have this weird setup yet my neighbour ignored this advice when doing our cambelt and yes, he trashed the engine our too.

You have one or two complex options:
Threaten legal action / consumer direct / trading standards
Remove the car from them via a low loader take it elsewhere for repair and then sue them via the small claims court. Be sure to get a receipt from the recovery company showing where they picked it up from and where they took it to because no doubt the garage will deny having anything to do with it when they get the claim.

OR you can leave the car there and risk letting them fix it when they can be bothered to find the cash for the parts. Even then the odds are pretty high they'll screw something else up.

colino

I suggest the quickest , cleanest way of dealing with this is telling the "mechanic" he has just bought himself a car. Any muppet can work on these and having taken so long to create so much havoc, he's never going to be in a position to work out what he has done wrong. You could have someone else fix (no-one likes estimating how much to clean up someone elses mess) and try to sue him or get a second-hand engine, but in a 12 year old Frontera that's just not worth the hassle.

Strider590

colino wrote: »

but in a 12 year old Frontera that's just not worth the hassle.

I'm surprised it's lasted that long, those things always were a steaming pile of ****.... :rotfl:

(sorry OP, but they are)

Garage may have done OP a favour!

Rolandtheroadie

Strider590 wrote: »

I'm surprised it's lasted that long, those things always were a steaming pile of ****.... :rotfl:

(sorry OP, but they are)

Garage may have done OP a favour!

Wash your mouth out.
Just bought one for the school run.

Sgt_Pepper_2

Strider590 wrote: »

I'm surprised it's lasted that long, those things always were a steaming pile of ****.... :rotfl:

(sorry OP, but they are)

Garage may have done OP a favour!

How is removing their daily transport a favour?

Road_Hog

Strider590 wrote: »

I'm surprised it's lasted that long, those things always were a steaming pile of ****.... :rotfl:

Garage may have done OP a favour!

I would imagine that the OP is somewhat stressed out at the moment and humour doesn't go down that well.

TrickyWicky

Strider590 wrote: »

I'm surprised it's lasted that long, those things always were a steaming pile of ****.... :rotfl:

(sorry OP, but they are)

Garage may have done OP a favour!

Most cars are a pile of dog turd at that age but that doesn't change the fact that the op is in need of transport does it.

Strider590

TrickyWicky wrote: »

Most cars are a pile of dog turd at that age but that doesn't change the fact that the op is in need of transport does it.

Hmmm, no they're not.... And the Frontera was pretty awful straight off the production line!! I wouldn't want to rely on something THAT bad.

OP needs transport, I suggest chase garage, tell then tell them they'll have to foot the bill for a hire car if they can't sort out the problem, chances are they'll fold and pay close to going rate for the car, they should be insured for this and besides they'll know the scrap metal value exceeds the cars actual value.

Then OP can buy something else, something not quite so awful.

Alias_Omega

A few good ideas..

I would ask the garage to buy the car from yourself, whilst you remove the tax and cash it back in.

or

They hire you a car, until yours is replaced. If they dont hire/loan you a car, you will hire one anyhow and recover the costs through the small claims court.

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The first option would probably bring a settlement of about £500-700, as they fetch £1000 ishy on eBay.