Any mechanics around?

lost_the_plot

Hi there I hope someone may be able to help me. My mum has a diesal 57 plate vauxhall vectra estate which she has owned for the last 3 years. The cars mileage is in the 50,000 (but will have to check this). The car has always been reliable, never been sluggish or a slow starter and runs smoothly and quietly.

Now on Monday 23rd February my mum took the car to an MOT centre for its test. The car flew through the test with only an advisory on a tire. The car had a water leak which she informed the garage of on the day of the MOT, so was booked in the following day (Tuesday 24th) for the leak fixing.

Now the garage told my mum that the car needed a new radiator but they wanted to try and fix the one already in by added some sort of sealant into it. My mum gave the yes so off they went to fix the radiator.

Now they informed my mum that the engine had to run for an hour while the sealent worked. About half an hour into the car running it then just cut out and the garage could not get it started.

So for a week they have had the car claiming they were completley baffled to what was wrong with it (their words). First they thought it was an emission problem so they ordered a part and replaced but still it would not start.

Whilst they were doing this they were taking the car up and down a long hilly road to jump it (it would start like this) and we have no idea how many times they have done this.

And so today, a whole week after having the car, the garage are now saying the timing chain has moved and he DOES NOT THINK there is any damage to the engine.

My question is could this be completley coinicidental or is there a possibility that while the garage were messing with the radiator could they have moved the chain? Also could they have damaged the engine by running/jumping it god knows how many times?

The fact that there were no issues during the MOT, no issues with the car being sluggish or not wanting to start and that it has taken the garage a week to find the problem does not sit right with me.

Thank you if you have kept up with me so far. I feel so sorry for my dear mum and hate the thought that she may be being ripped off.

atrixblue.-MFR-.

What are the results of the ECU diagnosis if they have peformed one! if they havent done one to find out why it wont start then they have been guessing at things and changing parts when it doesn't need it.


An emission part failure may show up in an emission test and EML code be displayed, although passed the emission reading for MOT the emission read out should be higher than normal but under that what would constitute as a fail.


I don't add any addative to engine coolants, it can cause issues with water pumps and internal water galleys in the engine block, its not something I would put in a 3 yr old car that has a leaking rad. just replace the rad and replenish the water/antifreeze and bleed the system for a small leak in a rad, addatives rarely work out and when they do don't last that long so its not really purse friendly way of doing things.


as for the timing chain jump, repeated stresses of jump starting it could have caused it to jump.


I think they are separate issues but the garage should finding out what the cause was to make sure they didn't do anything wrong to cause it. It should go into the main dealer for a proper diagnostic test IMHO if the the indy garage cant get their equipment to get a detailed diagnosis.

lost_the_plot

I do not think they have persformed any diagnosis tests. I think, like you said they are guessing.

Interesting that the repeated jumping could have caused the chain to jump.

Can i ask would the car make any sort of noise or show any other signs (apart from not starting) that the chain may have jumped.

Marktheshark

Get the car OUT and take it somewhere where they know what they are doing.
The Tech 2 software will test every part on the car in 30 seconds and a crank test will show any parts not communicating.
It needs to go to someone who knows what they are doing, part swapping trying to get it started and trying to tow it off ?
!!!!!! are they doing ?
Heaven knows what damage they have done trying to get it started.
They might have blown the head by letting it overheat with the coolant level low.
Out, and to someone who has a bit more idea.

lost_the_plot

Oh god I hope not I have phoned mum and told her what you have said.

Can the garage stop her from removing the car or will they demand payment. The bill at the moment is at £600. All over a water leaks geez

jbainbridge

£600 ... what for?

enfield_freddy

but they hav,nt completed the job,


bumping a car with that compression (diesel) could cause problems , the vehicle needs to be checked over using the right equipment ,

lost_the_plot

jbainbridge wrote: »

£600 ... what for?

Labour, sealant, emission part and for chain

Marktheshark

Oh dear she has fallen in with a right bunch of thieves here and i take it the car is still not running despite these clowns wanting £600

fivetide

Certainly not paying for the chain as there is every likelihood they damaged it.


Sounds like they are having your trousers down.

lost_the_plot

Marktheshark wrote: »

Oh dear she has fallen in with a right bunch of thieves here and i take it the car is still not running despite these clowns wanting £600

Nope it is still with them. Im going to persuage her to get it towed elsewhere. Just hope they dont cause a scene