Paid for car repair but broke down again 1 mile later

jimmylad007

Hello

I need some advice please

On Friday, my Vauxhall Meriva's engine cut out and wouldn't start back up. I rang the breakdown company who said they weren't sure what the fault was, but "if <he> had to guess, <he> would say it's probably the crankshaft sensor". So he towed me to the garage and he told the owner what he thought. The car was booked in to be repaired 3 days later.

So today I paid £90 for my new crankshaft sensor and drove away, literally one minute before closing time. One mile / five minutes later, guess what, the car stalls and won't restart again.

I intend to ring the garage first thing, but I could do with some advice. Where do I stand now I've paid for something that obviously didn't need fixing?

Thank you

motorguy

jimmylad007 wrote: »

Hello

I need some advice please

On Friday, my Vauxhall Meriva's engine cut out and wouldn't start back up. I rang the breakdown company who said they weren't sure what the fault was, but "if <he> had to guess, <he> would say it's probably the crankshaft sensor". So he towed me to the garage and he told the owner what he thought. The car was booked in to be repaired 3 days later.

So today I paid £90 for my new crankshaft sensor and drove away, literally one minute before closing time. One mile / five minutes later, guess what, the car stalls and won't restart again.

I intend to ring the garage first thing, but I could do with some advice. Where do I stand now I've paid for something that obviously didn't need fixing?

Thank you

So, effectively, you (through the breakdown company) told the mechanic to replace the crankshaft sensor and he did that?

jimmylad007

No. The breakdown company told him he "thought" the crankshaft sensor needed replacing

Fat_Walt

jimmylad007 wrote: »

No. The breakdown company told him he "thought" the crankshaft sensor needed replacing

And you agreed to that being done?

Or did you ask them to fully investigate the cause?

jimmylad007

The breakdown guy was the one who did all the talking to garage. I just signed his "I've been taken to a garage" paperwork and got the bus home. I didn't say anything to the garage myself. I'm starting to think that I've been screwed over by green flag rather than the garage...

tacpot12

You've been screwed over by yourself. You took the easy option of letting a third party manage your relationship with the garage. Next time speak to the garage yourself.

jimmylad007

tacpot12 wrote: »

You've been screwed over by yourself. You took the easy option of letting a third party manage your relationship with the garage. Next time speak to the garage yourself.

That isn't helpful. I'm asking for advice here.

Mr.Generous

Did they read fault codes with a laptop or handheld device from the vehicle diagnostic port? If not the recovery guy probably guessed whatever he believes is a common fault with that vehicle. Get that done before agreeing any other (guess) work.

jimmylad007

Mr.Generous wrote: »

Did they read fault codes with a laptop or handheld device from the vehicle diagnostic port? If not the recovery guy probably guessed whatever he believes is a common fault with that vehicle. Get that done before agreeing any other (guess) work.

He attempted to, but he said there was no code showing

arcon5

My first thoughts are flywheel damaged or disintegrating taking CS sensor with it... Thus sensor a sympton of another problem.

But best bet to get towed back to garage and discuss it with them and let them investigate and go from there

KingS6

tacpot12 wrote: »

You've been screwed over by yourself. You took the easy option of letting a third party manage your relationship with the garage. Next time speak to the garage yourself.

This.

How do you know if the Green Flag person is good mates with the garage staff? They could have just netted their mate a £90 job. Plus whatever it's going to cost to put the actual problem right.