Halfords Autocentre Ceased my Engine

Karthikeyan

AdrianC wrote: »

This would be a lot easier if you took a little more care over the wording. I'm presuming English is not your native language, but - please - help us to help you.

OK, so taking a guess at what it really says...

Incorrect plugs, causing obstruction of piston travel? In other words, the plugs are too long, and so the piston hit them?

That would have happened the instant the engine was turned over on the starter motor the very first time, to move it off the ramp. For plugs badly enough damaged by that that bits broke off and moved around the engine, I doubt it would be running. Even then, I doubt it would seize. Valves may bend, and a piston may even be holed, but not seized. Anybody with the most basic mechanical sympathy would have been wondering what the horrible noises were.

Both NGK and Halfords recommend the same plug for a 2013 2.0 Qashqai - PLZKAR6A-11 - are those the plugs that were fitted? What does your Halfords invoice say?

Thanks, I understand that the Spark Plug may not be the reason.


But
1) I have spent £500 with Halfords, they haven't identified the cause clearly but fixed Spark Plugs and Ignition Coil. Even after taking back to them they changed the thermostat and the next week, the engine is seized.
2) Nissan has given me a written report saying the Spark plug fitted is incorrect.
3) Both Nissan and Halfords did not mention the model of the Spark plug in the documents.

m0bov

You really need to sort out your facts to make a case:
What do Nissan say are the correct plugs?
What did Halfords say were fitted?
What are ACTUALLY in your engine?
Why did Halfords do further work after the plugs were fitted?
What was the nature of the breakdown? Any dash lights? High temperatures?

m0bov

Also, does NISSAN state in writing they plugs caused the damaged?

pappa_golf

knowing nissan (cop out clause) they were not genuine nissan plugs , therefore they were incorrect

stuart2088_2

None of this makes any sense.
Nissan blame the spark plugs but yet it took three weeks of usage to seize.
I think if the engine has seized it must be more to do with the overheating issue.
Just as an aside why would you take the the car to Halfords in the first place but then take it to Nissan.
Why not take it to Nissan in the first place.
If by some slim chance the the spark plugs have made contact with the pistons the engine would have seized immediately not weeks later.

Karthikeyan

m0bov wrote: »

Also, does NISSAN state in writing they plugs caused the damaged?

Yes, in writing

Karthikeyan

stuart2088 wrote: »

None of this makes any sense.
Nissan blame the spark plugs but yet it took three weeks of usage to seize.
I think if the engine has seized it must be more to do with the overheating issue.
Just as an aside why would you take the the car to Halfords in the first place but then take it to Nissan.
Why not take it to Nissan in the first place.
If by some slim chance the the spark plugs have made contact with the pistons the engine would have seized immediately not weeks later.

It doesn't make sense, but this is what exactly happened.
I took the vehicle to Halfords as they fixed the spark plugs and thermostat in the previous weeks. As Halfords were not able to get it fixed the last time, I took the vehicle to Nissan.
Not sure why Nissan has given me a report, If Spark Plug can not cause damage to Engine. I Even specifically called them and asked them that the vehicle was running for couple of weeks after the Spark Plugs were changed. They are still saying that the Spark Plugs are the cause of the engine damage.


Really confused.

arcon5

I'd go elsewhere.
Both garages sound incompetent

Karthikeyan

arcon5 wrote: »

I'd go elsewhere.
Both garages sound incompetent

Both of them are contradicting on the root cause of the issue, but both have confirmed that that engine has been completely damaged and can not be repaired.




After Nissan's report and after I complained with Halfords, their senior technician again looked at my vehicle and below is his findings.


Causation is due to a failure of the camshaft timing drive system which has allowed the camshaft timing to desynchronise when the engine was running such that the exhaust valves and the some of the inlet valves have impacted the pistons. The repeated impact on the exhaust valves while still rotating has detached the heads of 6 valves and once free these have subsequently damaged the cylinder head, pistons and spark plugs.



The retaining bolt for the inlet camshaft adjuster has broken this could have contributed to the timing chain tension being lost along with the timing synchronisation.

AdrianC

Karthikeyan wrote: »

1) I have spent £500 with Halfords, they haven't identified the cause clearly but fixed Spark Plugs and Ignition Coil. Even after taking back to them they changed the thermostat and the next week, the engine is seized.

4 x plugs - £16.50 each from Halfords site.
4 x coils - £40 each from another site.
Thermostat - £15

That's either a heck of a lot more labour than I'd expect to do that work, they had you bent double over a barrel, or they did more work than just those.

2) Nissan has given me a written report saying the Spark plug fitted is incorrect.
3) Both Nissan and Halfords did not mention the model of the Spark plug in the documents.

I find it hard to believe Nissan would blame "incorrect" plugs without specifying what was fitted - and, given the linguistic confusion in your earlier post, there may well be some misunderstanding. Are you willing to scan the report and post it?