Fan Belt

ToriP

Took my car in for service and cam belt change on Thursday. I thought it was worthwhile doing the cam belt as it's getting on a bit now.

While they had the car I received a phone-call advising me to change the front two tyres and both sets of front pads - fine, do it.

An hour later I got another call saying while they had the cam belt off it may be worthwhile having the water-pump changed at the same time to be cautious - fine, do it

They also did spark-plugs, filters and fan belt.

On Friday I got a whacking noise from the engine while driving which increased with revs. I pulled over noticed the fan belt was frayed and one of the grooves was loose and just hitting the engine whilst it went round. Called the AA who were great (I had to join over the phone - long story) and he rotated the fan belt round and sliced a whole length of frayed groove off

He said I should take it back but he thinks
a) wrong belt used which was too wide or
b) belt not on properly

Anyone have any other ideas? - I'll be taking it back this week, the car is running but the AA guy said keep it below 60

Norman_Castle

Presumably a serpentine belt with notches that fit into grooves. If there's a spare notch on one edge of the belt its the wrong belt and a bodge.

enfield_freddy

never mind , you now have 12 mths breakdown cover with the AA , this is an ideal situation to be in , should you need to have your car serviced at that place again,


ask the AA for a refund , they will charge you a cancellation fee , deduct what you get back from what you paid , those are damages , you require the car fixing plus your costs

ToriP

Thanks,

I just don't understand how they can bodge these jobs on a Ford Fiesta, one of the most common cars on the road! I was under the impression these jobs were routine enough

arcon5

They should have asked before starting the job about the water pump, its common to do it all in one - sounds like a strange outfit through to whole fiasco

gardner1

ToriP wrote: »

Took my car in for service and cam belt change on Thursday. I thought it was worthwhile doing the cam belt as it's getting on a bit now.

While they had the car I received a phone-call advising me to change the front two tyres and both sets of front pads - fine, do it.

An hour later I got another call saying while they had the cam belt off it may be worthwhile having the water-pump changed at the same time to be cautious - fine, do it

They also did spark-plugs, filters and fan belt.

On Friday I got a whacking noise from the engine while driving which increased with revs. I pulled over noticed the fan belt was frayed and one of the grooves was loose and just hitting the engine whilst it went round. Called the AA who were great (I had to join over the phone - long story) and he rotated the fan belt round and sliced a whole length of frayed groove off

He said I should take it back but he thinks
a) wrong belt used which was too wide or
b) belt not on properly

Anyone have any other ideas? - I'll be taking it back this week, the car is running but the AA guy said keep it below 60

was it kwik fit by any chance

ToriP

It wasn't a chain! It was an independent. Just a bit annoyed as it all cost £700 which is a fair whack for me when I hadn't planned it. I just thought a Ford Fiesta would have a standard belt for the model and it would be a standard job to replace it. Especially as the initial fan belt was working fine

Astronaughtwannabe

Some fan/aux belts have a tendency to take the timing belt with them when they go, thus the belt should have been new anyway.

londonTiger

ToriP wrote: »

Thanks,

I just don't understand how they can bodge these jobs on a Ford Fiesta, one of the most common cars on the road! I was under the impression these jobs were routine enough

its straightforward if you take it to a ford specialist. independants work with every make and model of car so more likely to miss something

Norman_Castle

ToriP wrote: »

Thanks,

I just don't understand how they can bodge these jobs on a Ford Fiesta, one of the most common cars on the road! I was under the impression these jobs were routine enough

My local car shop gave me a succession of belts which they thought should fit my car. None did. They even showed me their parts book proving the belts should fit. I went somewhere else and was supplied with the correct length belt which according to the first shop didn't exist.

The piecemeal approach to the required work and fitting a functioning but wrong part suggest finding a new garage.

fred246

There is only one way to know a job has been done properly. DO IT YOURSELF.