Faulty car part from Ebay

BrentMeister

Blackbeard_of_Perranporth wrote: »

BoP now interjects, because I have nought else to do for 30 seconds!

OP's car had a broken thermostat, and went to garage to to enquire. Garage man said they would fit genuine part. OP, thinking better, decided he knows best and searched through some internet wizardry and found another part similar to said thermostat device far far far cheaper, and empied his poctes of cash and bought said.
He went back to garage man and said 'Sod your part, fit this!'
Garage man fitted OP's part and OP ventured off on the Queen's highway.
Suddenly, fitted thermostat device exploded and the car broke down.
OP called out man with tow truck and is lucky to be alive.
OP returned to garage and said their are at fault.

It is understood children are not involved.

Its amazing how honoured one feels when you get a BoP interpretation!

Not quite how it happened, but thanks

NotRichAtAll

Imo you cannot just point to a theromstat and say its broken as there is nothing really to see externally except the housing unit.

thermostat
http://static.pakwheels.com/2015/05/bypass_valve.jpg

housing
http://www.auto-spot.ca/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Thermostat-+-Housing.jpg

also your local garage could of probably got the part just as cheap as you did. Also you can always check the part by putting it in a pan of boiling water and watch it operate. did you get the correct operating temperature thermostat for your car? 180 F/82 C is a common temperature. You would of also seen your temp gauge go into high if the thermostat had failed this would of happened in about 15-20 mins.
i have cut and pasted the part below for your info

A failed thermostat will prevent the engine from operating within its ideal temperature range and affect its performance. For example:

A thermostat stuck opened will cause a continuous flow of coolant, resulting in a lower operating temperature. Since the oil operates below temperature, the condition accelerates parts' wear, reducing engine efficiency and increasing emissions over time.
On the other hand, a thermostat stuck in the closed position will prevent coolant flow and cause the temperature to steadily rise. If you fail to notice and keep your engine running, in a matter of minutes your engine self-destructs. Literally.
Either way, your engine will suffer damage. The difference is just in the amount of time it takes.

Still, a failing thermostat is not the only cause for an abnormal engine operating temperature.

Other reasons include low coolant level, a bad water pump, a worn out or loose water pump belt, cooling system leaks, a clogged radiator, a failed radiator fan and a collapsed radiator hose.

Whatever the cause, it's a good idea to start looking into the problem before it's too late.

BrentMeister

NotRichAtAll wrote: »

Imo you cannot just point to a theromstat and say its broken as there is nothing really to see externally except the housing unit.

thermostat
http://static.pakwheels.com/2015/05/bypass_valve.jpg

housing
http://www.auto-spot.ca/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Thermostat-+-Housing.jpg

also your local garage could of probably got the part just as cheap as you did. Also you can always check the part by putting it in a pan of boiling water and watch it operate. did you get the correct operating temperature thermostat for your car? 180 F/82 C is a common temperature. You would of also seen your temp gauge go into high if the thermostat had failed this would of happened in about 15-20 mins.
i have cut and pasted the part below for your info

A failed thermostat will prevent the engine from operating within its ideal temperature range and affect its performance. For example:

A thermostat stuck opened will cause a continuous flow of coolant, resulting in a lower operating temperature. Since the oil operates below temperature, the condition accelerates parts' wear, reducing engine efficiency and increasing emissions over time.
On the other hand, a thermostat stuck in the closed position will prevent coolant flow and cause the temperature to steadily rise. If you fail to notice and keep your engine running, in a matter of minutes your engine self-destructs. Literally.
Either way, your engine will suffer damage. The difference is just in the amount of time it takes.

Still, a failing thermostat is not the only cause for an abnormal engine operating temperature.

Other reasons include low coolant level, a bad water pump, a worn out or loose water pump belt, cooling system leaks, a clogged radiator, a failed radiator fan and a collapsed radiator hose.

Whatever the cause, it's a good idea to start looking into the problem before it's too late.

Thanks for your reply.

The thermostat was faulty because it had come detached from the housing in the middle and was flapping around - Thus the coolant being sprayed everywhere.

This was a complete unit purchased, thermostat in the housing, however appears that the manufacturer had sealed the thermostat into the housing with sealent, which had failed.

cajef

Still cannot work out how a failed thermostat caused water to spray everywhere unless the engine overheated and blew a hose or the housing was loose, in which case surely the temperature gauge would have shot up or a warning light should have lit.

BrentMeister

cajef wrote: »

Still cannot work out how a failed thermostat caused water to spray everywhere unless the engine overheated and blew a hose or the housing was loose, in which case surely the temperature gauge would have shot up or a warning light should have lit.

Its not really that difficult to grasp. The sealant became hot causing the thermostat to separate and come out of the housing allowing all the water which would pass through to be sprayed everywhere.

BrentMeister

s_b wrote: »

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

Helpful as ever.

Blackbeard_of_Perranporth

[QUOTE=Blackbeard_of_Perranporth;70420663OP,_thinking_better,_decided_he_knows_best_and_searched_through_some_internet_wizardry_and_found_another_part_similar_to_said_thermostat_device_far_far_far_cheaper[/QUOTE]

BrentMeister wrote: »

Its not really that difficult to grasp. The sealant became hot causing the thermostat to separate and come out of the housing allowing all the water which would pass through to be sprayed everywhere.

BrentMeister wrote: »

Thanks for your reply.

The thermostat was faulty because it had come detached from the housing in the middle and was flapping around - Thus the coolant being sprayed everywhere.

This was a complete unit purchased, thermostat in the housing, however appears that the manufacturer had sealed the thermostat into the housing with sealent, which had failed.

So the part purchased by OP failed. How is the garage responsible for this?

BrentMeister

Blackbeard_of_Perranporth wrote: »

So the part purchased by OP failed. How is the garage responsible for this?

I haven't laid any blame on the garage. Not sure where you got that from.

takman

BrentMeister wrote: »

Just the same as a plumber letting you choose and purchase a bathroom suite, or an electrician allowing you to purchase your own light fittings.

Oh, you do realise we're posting on a forum called moneysavingexpert dont you?!

Why didn't you fit the part yourself? its not difficult to do and now you have to pay to have it fitted twice by a garage! not moneysaving at all!

BrentMeister

takman wrote: »

Why didn't you fit the part yourself? its not difficult to do and now you have to pay to have it fitted twice by a garage! not moneysaving at all!

We really are straying away from the original question now!

The same reason I got a kitchen fitter to fit my kitchen, a bathroom fitter to fit my bathroom, an electrician to do my electrics etc.

Page 2 and we've discussed my reasons for buying parts, not fitting them myself but not a single answer in response to my question.