cambelt warranty ????? please help

labasblue

Hi All


I have a 2006 ford focus 1.6tdci. last January (2013) I had the turbo changed and cambelt along with other parts that come to a whopping £2700 almost double the estimate.


This weekend the car just stopped and wouldn't start after getting it towed to a different garage they have told me today that the camshaft pulley bolt has sheared off in the engine, and the probable cause is a incorrectly adjusted or poorly fitted cambelt.


I contacted the garage that did the original job and they told me sometimes they just snap and will need a new engine as all the valves are probably bent and it isn't economical as the work cost would exceed the value of the car.


if the cambelt did cause the damage are they liable for fixing the car?


it is a small independent garage and I have only drove about 8000 miles since the original work was done.


thanks for any help in advance.

DUTR

What parts were changed? Usually the ancillary parts around the cambelt are replaced at the time, I'm surprised a turbo has to be replaced often it is the hose that springs a leak.
Perhaps time to right off the car if you are not prepared to take the gaargage to court with a solid case to win.

labasblue

Thanks for your reply,


I am unsure about what sort of warranty I have from the garage for the work they carried out as it is 12 months since the work was done.


If I do have a chance then I am willing to go all the way.

DUTR

labasblue wrote: »

Thanks for your reply,


I am unsure about what sort of warranty I have from the garage for the work they carried out as it is 12 months since the work was done.


If I do have a chance then I am willing to go all the way.

Well it's difficult , if your requested the belt to be replaced and they replaced the belt, then that is their defence, the water pump and other bolts may not be included, some places may replace them other places may not.

labasblue

thanks again
I will investigate the actual cause of the camshaft pulley failure and get back to you.

forgotmyname

Are you over 12 months from having the work done? I think you may find it hard to prove they were at fault if you did 8000 trouble free miles in 12 months before it failed.

Are they a main dealer? £2700 for a turbo and cambelt? Thats stupid money unless a main dealer with new parts.

gabitzul

I have a 2005 MK2 Focus but petrol, and when replacing the cambelt you need to undo the camshaft bolts (they are taper fit) for the two camshafts in order to align the new belt correctly. Therefore, if (and only if) the procedure is the same for the diesel 1.6, they would have touched it and possibly tightened it too much.

Get an engineer's report I would say, they should be able to work out if it has snapped because it was overtightened or just tired.

atrixblue.-MFR-.

my first attack in a court would be is the person qualified and certified to state the bolt broke due to overtightening reason behind this would be to throw the whole report into doubt about its accuracy, we can all look at bolt and draw an opinion of how it broke but unless your qualified metallurgist its just an opinion.


Then my next attack would be my work is guaranteed for 12months OP is out of my warranty.
my next attack would be that the focus owner drives short distances, which increases stress on the engine, this factor could have resulted in the engine not heating upto temp and then cooling down repeatedly over a 8000 mile in 12month may have caused the issue.


I see a difficult case to bring forward in a court that's for sure.

colino

Forensic examination of the components will cost you more than the value of the car. No evidence means no case, so either punt it on as is or try and sweet talk the garage to getting a deal on getting it back on the road. After a year of motoring, your not going to win in court.

takethatfan1978

The same thing happened to me a couple of years ago.
I booked my car in to a local independent garage for timing belt/water pump change and service at the cost of £420.
12 months later and only 7000 miles the belt snapped. Got RAC to tow me to garage who weren't interested at all.
It was a gates timing belt kit that was fitted so I done some research and it was guaranteed apparently for 2 years and so many miles(can't remember what exactly)
I complained to gates about it who did not really want to help but I kept at it. I also spoke to trading standards who advised me to contact mechanic asking for a repair. Mechanic was not happy,he told me lie after lie and refused to repair. I contacted gates again who agreed to inspect the car/belt. Once mechanic was informed of this he wrote me a letter saying 'belt snapped due to incorrect fitting and human error 'it would be repaired. No apology,nothing!

He obviously didn't want gates involved and told them he already agreed to repair which at that point he hadn't. He started the work the day before they were due to inspect. My husband went to look at the car unannounced when it was opened up and he said the belt did not look 12 months old but that it was very worn/tatty. The mechanic tried to stop him access to it.The garage did not even replace it in the first place!

Car got repaired after 4 weeks,and I never went back to garage again. The guy was an absolute con artist.

The car in question was a 2000 megane coupe that I originally paid £920 for however age/cost should not matter.I was so mad that I paid someone for work and he conned me. Car is still running great today at just over 13 years old although I no longer have it)


Depending on the manufacturer of the parts,I would contact them to ask for their advice. They may fob you off but i got mine repaired. Citizens advice/trading standards may also be able to help.

Good luck

The mechanic originally tried to blame rust but then admitted car was fine and it had been serviced regularly and looked after. It was his dam laziness and incompetence!

polomints

Am I only one who thinks £2700 has to be close to what the car is worth?

atrixblue.-MFR-. wrote: »

we can all look at bolt and draw an opinion of how it broke but unless your qualified metallurgist its just an opinion.

Eh?