Do you trust the place that repairs your car?

henrik1971

I've been using the same garage for years, but must admit to having a few vague nagging doubts about one or two of the repairs they've done for me over the years.

About 3 years ago I had a failed cabin fan (which meant no heat, aircon or demist), the garage replaced it, cost about £100, but then it went again a few months ago. Shouldn't something like a cabin fan last the life of the car - or at least (say) 100k miles?
Last weekend the auxillary belt snapped without warning (it was only fitted 25k miles ago), so had it repaired. Collected the car on Tuesday and during the journey home has a bit perturbed, as when waiting at junctions, the tickover seemed a bit 'lumpy', which it wasn't before, but I am ultra sensitive to every little noise, and so I thought I'd just see how the car ran over the next couple of days before making any decisions. Anyway 36 hours later, I'm out somewhere and the car makes a small bang and the engine dies. I suspect the timing belt may have snapped as the same thing happened to me about 10 years ago in a previous car. I've had it taken to a different garage recommended by a friend for diagnosis, so should know the outcome tomorrow. If it is the timing belt, I had the belt, water pump and followers, etc. changed about 4 years / 40,000 miles ago. The manufacturer service interval is 72k miles, Haynes recommend 60k to be safe. So when I think about all this, I think:
1. With the cabin fan and now the timing belt/water pump thing, is is more likely to be bad luck, or is the garage fitting cheap/second hand parts?
2. Is the timing belt snapping within 72 hours of the aux belt snapping , bad luck, coincidence, negligent or sinister? Or is it actually quite common?

BTW, the car is 11 years old, diesel, and has 158k miles on it, but it has been serviced and maintained properly all its life.

What do you think?

I was reading another post on this forum a few minutes ago on a similar topic "Is it worth repairing my car"
I'm very much - better the devil you know, etc., but the point that poster makes about losing confidence in a car is hard to refute. Logic and economics suggest people like us should probably stick with it if the repairs cost less than the value of the car. However, once you've started giving in to the logic and getting the car fixed - you're stuck when something else goes, because you think about the £400 you spent 3 months ago and the £300 you spent a few months before that and then you decide that you can't afford not to carry on getting it fixed!

In the meantime I find myself in this position ( and I think the other poster
feels the same) whereby each time I think about making a car journey, I start to feel a bit anxious. Have I got a phone with me? Is the purpose of my journey essential? If I broke down how could I get my passengers on to their destination quickly? Best avoid making trips on bank holiday weekends when garages are closed and rental car places are closed? If its a long trip I start to plan what I would do if I broke down on the way to my destination - would I get towed to the destination or back home? I think about whether the train is a viable alternative. I think about making important long journeys early - even the day before and then staying overnight close to the destination, just so I can be sure of getting there, or at worst having time to make alternative arrangements if the car broke down.
I know all cars have their problems, but 'better the devil you know' can end up feeling like self-flagellation.

Strider590

Cabin fans are a common problem, either the fan goes or the resistor pack does. Cause is almost always blocked windscreen scuttle drainage and a wet pollen filter, which in turn causes the fan motor spindle to corrode.

Timing/cam belts usually have a X miles or X years, whichever comes sooner replacement interval. Much like with servicing, a lot of people seem to think they can skimp if they do lower mileage.
They take a lot of punishment, not only from mechanical strain, but also repeated explosure to heat/cold, it's the tensioner that usually gives out first and takes the belt with it.

I'm leaning towards your garage being less that competent, but it's a tough call.

forgotmyname

Possible the drive belt snapped and damaged the cambelt?

72k miles average, check the manual and it will probably state that under some conditions the interval should be shorter.

It shouldnt snap at 40k miles but you think it was 4 years, so may have been due anyway?

Why did it snap though? Belt failed? Pulley or tensioner failed? or the drive belt damaged it?

Should a cabin fan last longer than 3 years, most likely but again is it the fan or a switch / resistor issue?
Is something causing the items to fail or is it a different issue?

arcon5

And how would a drive belt snapping take the timing belt with it

mcjordi

arcon5 wrote: »

And how would a drive belt snapping take the timing belt with it

ive known some to take out the timing belt.. no idea how it does it but some do..

angrycrow

arcon5 wrote: »

And how would a drive belt snapping take the timing belt with it

Its not unheard of aux belts breaking up and throwing peices into the cambelt housing, sooner or later the pieces get between the belt and the crank sprocket causing the belt to jump or the teeth to strip off the belt.

arcon5

Hmmm, highly unlikely, but I suppose it's possible if you are really that unlucky. Or if somebody in the past has butchered the plastic cover for the timing belt. But it's not something that generally happens.

loskie

Arcon maybe you profess to know too much. A known fault with modern Volvos is auxilliary belt failure taking timing belt with it.

SailorSam

Most jobs i'll get my Haynes annual out and do them myself. So i trust me, any work may take a bit longer than a garage would have done but i know they're done properly. I think i'd be hesitant to change a timing belt. The garage i used all the time when i was on the Cabs would do my car for me if i was stuck, but now he's died and i'm not sure where i'd go.

JP08

On the old Mitsubishi Galant I had the aux belt snap - the reason was the failure of the bottom pulley. This was one of those with an inner core, a rubber layer and an outer surface for the belt drive (ie supplied some damping to the aux belt drive from engine shocks etc). The rubber had failed, meaning the pulley was running all cockeyed. The first warning was the aux belt dying, but not before the crooked pulley surface had ground a groove through the timing belt cover and worn the edge of the timing belt.

Fortunately, my local garage is pretty trustworthy and diligent in their checks ...

EssexExile

Yes I trust the place that repairs my car. I've been going there twice a year for about 15 years & had no cause for complaint. I only went there because it's within walking distance but it's turned out well.

There is a National Tyres opposite & some people take there cars there for servicing & MOT, I often wonder why.