Did the mechanic mess up?

cleopatra65

Hi - I'm a self confessed eejit where cars are concerned, I point them in the right direction & hope for the best!! The temp gauge on my car (Citroen C3) started flashing on intermittently so I took to garage, they advised it probably needed new head gasket. They changed the oil filter and oil and put it some sort of silicone they said may or may not buy me a bit of time, but unfortunately the intermittent flashing continued - I only drove it twice and took it back to them, It's been a good little car so I asked them to sort the gasket figuring better the devil you know and all that.


Picked it up Wednesday and the light flashed once on & off but didn't do it again so I figured it was OK. Have driven it about 40 miles (spread over 4 short trips) since then but yesterday the temp gauge flashed on, stayed on & the engine light came on too. I drove it for about another 500 yards, fortunately I was near my mother's house, & have abandoned it there. The fan had cut in and carried on for about 10 minutes, checking the engine there was literally no oil in it. I've been told either they forgot to put any back in or they didn't screw something up properly & that my engine will now be knackered.


I paid £580 for the gasket and various bits (including new cam belt, whatever that it) as I couldn't afford another car. I guess what I'm asking is:
1. Is it definitely ruined?
2. What do I ask the garage to do when I call them tomorrow?
3. Could it have been caused by anything else?


I literally am clueless when it comes to cars and this is just my luck. Any advice or commiserations very gratefully received!!

forgotmyname

Always check the oil and fluids after a service. Ive seen them come back with no oil or overfilled far too often.

Check for oil leaks under the engine.

It maybe their fault. They may have mis-diagnosed the fault and did all that work for nothing.

Or it maybe a new fault.

The only way to find out is get it inspected before you contact them. That way when they give you the verdict you already know the answer and if they are trying to fob you off.

AdrianC

If there'd been no oil in it, the oil pressure light would have been on all the time.

cleopatra65

Thanks so much for responding - originally garage said I was losing coolant, there was no evidence that I was losing oil at that point (I've googled the signs!!). They changed oil filter as part of a 'mini service' at the first visit. Could I have even driven it the 40 miles if they hadn't put oil in at second visit? I'm guessing they must have drained oil out when they put the new sump in?


I just really don't want to sound clueless when I call the mechanic tomorrow. He is a longstanding friend of my brother's (& has been running a well respected local garage for 30 years) which makes it slightly more awkward but I do trust that he wouldn't be trying anything sneaky.


I am so unlucky with mechanical things!!

cleopatra65

AdrianC wrote: »

If there'd been no oil in it, the oil pressure light would have been on all the time.

so it could have been they didn't tighten something & it leaked out gradually? There's no evidence of oil on the ground where I park the darned thing?

harveybobbles

I'm more concerned how they came to the conclusion that it was poss head gasket..

mgdavid

cleopatra65 wrote: »

so it could have been they didn't tighten something & it leaked out gradually? There's no evidence of oil on the ground where I park the darned thing?

if the oil had leaked out then the whole underside of the car would be covered in it. Easy to check.
If your garage has 'messed up' as you put it, they can fix it and claim on their professional business indemnity insurance (unless they are a cowboy/cheapskate operation and don't have any).

Norman_Castle

Did you check the oil after the car had been standing for a few minutes?. Its unlikely the dip stick reaches the bottom of the sump so the oil may be very low but there may be enough to maintain oil pressure and hopefully prevent damage. As above, without oil, the oil light should be on. The problem appears to be overheating which should have been resolved by the garage.

cleopatra65

I was worried someone may say that - it has crossed my mind!! What a mess........so I may well have spent £500 I didn't have on something that may not have needed doing and ruined my engine in the process. Blooming marvellous.


I didn't win the lottery last night either which is my only hope of getting mobile again. Could anyone advise if I have any recourse with the garage at all please? I don't want to throw any more of my credit card at this.

Norman_Castle

As the garage recently changed the oil filter and diagnosed the overheating as a failed head gasket and charged you to repair it, they should take responsibility for their work. There may be another related but undiagnosed fault but hopefully the garage will be fair with either its failed repair or further work.

cleopatra65

Thanks everyone for your patience & advice, I'm just bewildered - there's definitely been no oil light on (except the temperature gauge as I described before) & there's definitely been no evidence of a big oil leak all over the engine or the road. Yet the oil stick thing was bone dry when I checked it after it had been parked up for 20 minutes, I didn't like to go near it whilst the fan was still whirring!!! There hadn't been any mention of losing oil either in either of the two trips to the garage - but it's definitely gone somewhere, if it was ever there in the first place?


So in a nutshell no oil light on or signs of oil leaking but definitely no oil in the oil tank.....


It's all rather mysterious - thanks again though, I really do appreciate you taking the time to advise me