Advice needed please re faulty car service.

pseudopensioner

As said previously, I cannot fault the repsonses from the garage nor their subsequent dealings to address the situation. Costs of the replacement car alone ( to them) has, I feel been a measure of their good faith and acceptance of the happenstance.

So, in keeping with my normal approach to a problem (give folks the opportunity to correct errors) and taking on board the good advice received from this forum, I (and daughter) will sit on this for a little while.

pseudopensioner

Update-

Following the delay in getting the car back, daughter got a little 'angsty'. Took some persuasion from me backed up with good advice from a knowledgeable relative whose an early retired mechanic, that if she gave the garage hassle they may just turn around and say " OK, we made the error, here's a payment for book price". She eventually realised that being stroppy could lose her £1000s. Although an excellent driver, she has little knowledge regarding the mechanical aspects of a car., OK with tyre pressure/oil/water/ etc. that's about as far as her knowledge goes, so she pays for experts to sort out problems , not that she's had many with this car.She responds promptly to any indications that anything is amiss with a car. Until June last year she had a company car, hence the low mileage on the Toyota

So, apparently the new engine that was purchased/ installed wasn't the correct one, thus another new one had to be sourced/purchased, this was fitted last wednesday/thursday and the car was to be tested friday and returned to our garage for collection today. I await the telephone call confirming this.

Does anyone have any advice re collecting the car, anything to be aware of, look out for? I have noted the need for the early service.

Apologies for the long post but in view of the kind help and assistance already offered on here, it's only right and proper to keep you all updated.

Delivery_Driver

If it is indeed a brand new engine, then she should take advice/read up on running it in.There are various opinions on this but I used this method:

http://www.mototuneusa.com/break_in_secrets.htm

It's probably not to everyone's taste, so if there is a manufacturer's guide then she could use that.

pseudopensioner

Car collected today complete with brand new engine and in beautiful running order, as it was when it went in for its service!

I appreciate the costs to the company for the steps they have taken to correct the error which occurred.

It's good to know that there are decent businesses around. None of us are infallible and mistakes can and do happen. It's the way complaints are handled that makes the difference between a good company and a bad one.

I thank everyone who contributed to this thread for the very helpful advice I received.

pseudopensioner

Oh dear. Not such beautiful running order as initially thought, although engine fine. I reversed the car from the the garage forecourt, a litle forward and a little reverse needed to accomplish the same. Had difficulty negotiating first gear, never had a problem before!

Daughter drove the car home and it appears that there is a problem with the clutch. So it looks like the clutch wasn't replaced properly following the new engine installation.

So back to the garage the car will go. Whether it will necessitate it being removed back to ??? ( I know where and who but don't think it's prudent to say) where the new engine was installed, I don't know. Will find out more tomorrow.

marlot

It might just be the clutch needing adjustment.

red_eye

Notmyrealname wrote: »

Why not? I once bought a 10 year old Ford Sierra. The previous owner did silly mileage on it and had a warranty. In the pile of receipts was a brand new engine supplied and fitted by the local Ford dealership at a cost of £1300. The engine was almost brand new.

they would probly buy the car then pay silly money for a new engine. whats wrong with a recon?

pseudopensioner

marlot wrote: »

It might just be the clutch needing adjustment.

Yes, that's what I'm thinking, just wondering whetjer they'll do it themselves or insist on it going back to the 'specialist garage' that fitted the new engine.

Oh well, let's see what tomorrow brings. The garage manager was standing at the side of the car when I had difficulty engaging gears, so he's well aware.

pseudopensioner

Car going back into garage on wednesday to be examined by their Master Technician, the one who said "metal finings and shavings in new oil filter... probable new engine". If the problem is as as simple as 'bleeding' they will address it there and then, if however there are other issues, the car will be transported back to the people who fitted the new engine.

So, on we go.

As said previously in view of the very helpful advice I've received on here, I feel it only fair to keep you updated. Our trials and tribulations and ultimate outcomes may be of benefit to anyone else who experiences similar problems.

Thanks again.

pseudopensioner

Another update-

Clutch hadn't been bled properly, that's now resolved and mechanically the car is as good as new.

However we had noted that collection of the car following return from the 'specialist' new engine installer, there were two quite obvious indentations on the upper aspect of the offside front wing.

Asked the garage to investigate because the car had been as they themselves said in immaculate condition. Following chase up of the collection and delivery notes from the specialist and diagrams depicting damage. The garage have determined that the bodywork damage was sustained during the new engine installation.

Repairs to bodywork to be corrected and said specialists have accepted responsibility and will be billed accordingly.

I have learned much from this experience. Just wish the internet and MSE had been around earlier in my life, I could have saved so much money and had much less stress with other car issues.