Any mechanics around?

jbainbridge

I think I would be arguing it was fine until they added the sealant ... as they say - 30 minutes later it died.

The sealant hasn't exactly worked out as the cheap fix they promised. I would think £600 would have easily covered fitting a new radiator!

colino

Get the car taken to a real garage. No sane, legal, bona fide garage would add gunk to a coolant system ,even at a customers request, it is a bodge. Equally with a car running one minute and cut out the next, they would have done some basic checks, even thrown it on the diagnostic machine, before forcing a diesel to jump its timing.
Pay whatever bill is presented, and ensure you mark it, all copies, paid under protest, and you will be awaiting the results of an independent inspection, that you will commission.
The inspection will either demonstrate a badly maintained engine who's timing chain tensioner is knackered through bad oil service regime, or an engine that has been carelessly cooked while it sat in the corner of the garage running and then was killed off by bump starting on a hill.

lost_the_plot

colino wrote: »

Get the car taken to a real garage. No sane, legal, bona fide garage would add gunk to a coolant system ,even at a customers request, it is a bodge. Equally with a car running one minute and cut out the next, they would have done some basic checks, even thrown it on the diagnostic machine, before forcing a diesel to jump its timing.
Pay whatever bill is presented, and ensure you mark it, all copies, paid under protest, and you will be awaiting the results of an independent inspection, that you will commission.
The inspection will either demonstrate a badly maintained engine who's timing chain tensioner is knackered through bad oil service regime, or an engine that has been carelessly cooked while it sat in the corner of the garage running and then was killed off by bump starting on a hill.

Thank you, yes a new radiator would probably have been the better idea. Best thing about it my mum was happy to pay for a new radiator it was the garage that recommended the sealant. They are the so-called professionals so she trusted their judgment.

atrixblue.-MFR-.

lost_the_plot wrote: »

Labour, sealant, emission part and for chain

lets break it down here.
I would only pay this on a credit card and sign the receipt saying something along the lines paid pending report.

emission part was changed because it stopped and failed to restart under their care, wich maybe a result of their mistakes it did not cure the problem hence I would try a negotiation on it based on lack of diagnosis to say that may be the problem. they guessed at that and they should take some the hit derived from the decision.


Bump starting, usually its fine to do it once or twice, but repeatedly trying it can cause more harm than good bump starting is something I would class as only doing (especially to a diesel) in emergency situations to get the car to safety after a brake down and that's the only way to start it, doing it repeatedly just to start it to move it or to test it is a NO NO in my book it stresses the engine and gearbox entirely passed what a normal working starting car would go through normally adding excess stress to almost every moving part in the engine not to mention decreasing the life of the clutch and stressing the timing parts I would be asking for the OLD PARTS BACK to get them inspected and tested.


pay via credit card would be the best way IMHO here. if not an option, then I would write on the receipt vehicle damaged next to my name and retain a copy of receipt to claim a charge back on a debit card if the other garage writes and agree's the actions taken by the previous garage was wholely or partially responsible for the damage or some damage, the work was substandard or not needed.


EDIT colino got the advice bit about the payment PAID UNDER PROTEST I couldn't think of the word. knew but couldn't think it.

lost_the_plot

In the process of getting a quote to get it moved. thanks guys.

atrixblue.-MFR-.

lost_the_plot wrote: »

In the process of getting a quote to get it moved. thanks guys.

I would approach the main dealer and ask how much they would charge to have their low loader go collect it.

Rolydog2001

You should never bump start a modern car, it does not work (no battery power nothing works fuel/spark Etc) plus it can make the cam belt or chain in this case snap or jump.
chris

lost_the_plot

He is refusing to take payment. Should we be suspicious. It is getting picked up tomorrow afternoon

arcon5

Sorry, but they may well have done nothing wrong here.

Okay, they don't seem like the best garage in the world but that doesn't mean they are crooks.

They was using a sealant for the radiator - okay, on a car this age there's no way in hell i'd be doing that, but the cooling system alone would not make the engine cut out and not stop - and if the HG went or car OHd like was suggested you'd notice long before it stopped running.

The fact they are not taking payment could mean they know they've done something else wrong or could just be they are doing the right thing, considering they as the professionals have been unable to diagnose a fault after a lengthy period of time!

At the end of the day, it's just a machine. And a service is basically just an inspection that barely goes beyond visual along with some new oil and filters and an MOT is basically a safety check... just because a car is serviced and MOTd doesn't mean it won't go wrong.

Babbawah

It's not possible for a car to pass an MOT with a water leak unless it wasn't spotted by the tester.

Did your mum advise them of the water leak before or after the test?

This is extremely important, because your mum may have come across a fraudulent garage claiming to be MOT testers and the Police may need to be involved.

Especially as their isn't an MOT test station in the whole wide world that would use an addative leak sealant to fix a water leak !