Advice needed

peedoff_motorist

Took a car to a mechanic we've been happy with for years last November and had nothing but trouble since!

Our car wouldn't start and we're told it might be a head gasket job costing approx £700. Told him to carry on as we needed the car.

In January we received the car back and a bill for £1300+ due to extensive diagnostic work that turned out to be a problem with the piston rings.

We had the car back for a week and the turbo went! The mechanic kindly offered to fit a new one for free if we bought the turbo. Managed to get one for £200 (instead of £700) but this lasted a week before having to get another under warranty.

Finally got the car back a month ago and it's conked out again this week! Not being a mechanic I don't know what's gone wrong with it this time but really don't want to take it back to the same garage as I think it all stems back to the initial repair work.

Pulling what hair I've got out here and not knowing a thing about cars need some advice please.

Strider590

How exactly did you get £500 off the price of the Turbo?

Piston rings have a limited number of reasons they can go.... Mains ones being the oil levels not being maintained and/or the engine being driven far too hard for too long.

If either of the above were true, then the turbo will have suffered as well. So if you bought a 2nd hand turbo or an aftermarket part (not to OEM quality), then the 2nd failure wouldn't come as a surprise.

peedoff_motorist

Turbo was bought online from a dealer on PARTS Gateway. so second hand.

Basically what I would like to know is could all faults be related to the initial job done and if so would I be in my rights to demand that the car is fully repaired or ask for money back?

tberry6686

Basically what I would like to know is could all faults be related to the initial job done and if so would I be in my rights to demand that the car is fully repaired or ask for money back?

Why would you expect money back or free repairs ?

As has been said piston rings rarely go and when they do it is normally down to lack of oil. This would also cause damage to the turbo so that's all reasonable. You bought a used turbo that you have no idea of the history of, it could well have been on it's last legs when purchased so not the mechanics fault there either.

The only reason there could be for a free repair is if the fault is the same as before or caused by a bad previous repair. Any idea why the car will not go now ? any symptoms or just won't start ?

forgotmyname

You need to get the problem diagnosed to have any idea if its related.

You have given no clue as to what the fault is other than it conked out.

You supplied a used turbo with an unknown background, Im surprised he didnt charge you for replacing it the 2nd time.

I would have warned you, Any parts you supply are your problem. If it blows up on the way home after i fit it then its tough luck.

Top secret one off spy cars always conk out with no warning. All standard.

Jet propulsion gyro may need recalibrating, Missiles maybe due a service. Maybe the uplink with the secret moon base has been severed?