Engine failure within 5 years - where to compain

Dmas72

I have been driving a Peugeot 308cc for the past 3 years (second owner). The car is less than 5 years old with <25K mileage. This week, the engine was destroyed due to timing chain guard failing and smashing into the pistons. The cost of repair is over £6K for a reconditioned engine with fitting. What are my legal rights? Not getting much of a response from Peugout.

rich13348

How does a guard, that sits outside the engine, break and hit the pistons, which are kinside the engine behind the very thick strong piece of metal known as the block. Sounds dubious.
In another note if the car is 5 years old it's out of warranty you will have to prove that the engine failed due to manufacturing fault and not wear and tear or improper servicing then take them to small claims court.
I don't like to sound like chumlee but Dark Matter?

AdrianC

Sounds like the cover got caught in the chain/belt, causing it to skip teeth or break,causing valves to hit pistons. Which raises the question of what caused the cover to not be properly secured... Foreign object damage? Previous maintenance?

Dmas72

Not being mechanically minded I am working from the information provided to me by the garage (the Peugeot dealer). The gard/guide sitting next to the timing chain collapsed and it is this that caused catastrophic failure of the engine. Cost of repair is £4K for reconditioned engine and £2K fitting. Very disappointed.

AdrianC

Ah, a guide... Big difference to a guard...

Retrogamer

Who did you buy it from?

reeac

Timing chain TENSIONER?

bigjl

Nearly 5 yrs old and around 25k

I wonder if it was treated to an annual service?

As already touched on above I would suspect it could have been a tensioner problem perhaps. And the reason being too many short trips perhaps alongside extended service intervals?

My sister had a Pug a few years ago and the service interval was something silly like 18k miles of two years if I remember correctly.

If this is a genuine thread and not a DM situation then I would not advise spending £6k on a 5yr old petrol 308.

It is time for a low miles used engine or time to sell it on eBay for spares or repairs.

Dmas72

The car has full service history. My concern is more to do with who to complain to, as you would not expect this type of failure at low mileage within 5 years. Peugeot have shown little interest in assisting. Going by the information provided by the garage the car does have a timing chain rather than a belt (they also sent over photos) and while this is intact the guard/guide collapsed due to a crack on the component. Been looking at second hand engines online and been getting some quotes. Prices range from between £1,100 to £2,200 with delivery - I don't know why the dealer engine is £4,000.

arcon5

Because the dealer engine will be a reconditioned one rather than just a breakers yard.

loskie

Mileage is suspiciously low!
It's 5 years old, you have had it for 3.
Why should you expect anyone to bail you out?