Oil Change - Let down by mechanic!!

flusteredmotorist

Not sure what to do in this situation.  

Obviously due to this cover situation, money is tight.  My car needed a minor service but I couldn't afford to go to my usual main dealer.  Anyway, as the car is now 4 years old and I intend on keeping it, I decided that a main dealer service wasn't warranted so I decided to use a mobil mechanic to just do an oil and filter change. A quick google found me a local mobile mechanic who said he would do an oil and filter change for £59.  

A time was agreed and he turned up to do the job.  The problems started when he had drained the old oil and was refilling with new.  I could see it leaking onto my drive from where I was stood in the house. When I pointed this out to him, he stuck his head under the car and said something about the nut in the sump having worn and not fitting correctly and allowing it to leak.  He said it wasn't a major problem and asked me for some old newspapers or towels to soak up the spilt oil.  I duly gave them to him and once he laid them down on the driveway, he drove off to get a new sump screw.

This is now the last I've seen from him and this was two days ago.  Oil is all over my drive and my car is up on some stands. I don't even know if I can move my car as there is no oil in it.  I'm at my wits end and don't know where to turn.  

DUTR

Have you paid him? Seems remarkably cheap for an oil/filter change, DIY costs me about that.

flusteredmotorist

No, he didn't;t ask for any money as he said he had to rush off to get the new part needed to tighten the sump screw or something.

roddydogs

Sounds like he  crossed a thread, and he left the axel stands!?

AdrianC

roddydogs said:

Sounds like he  crossed a thread

Sounds like a crossed-Fred.

shaun_from_Africa

I would suggest getting a trusted mechanic to have a look at it. By "not fitting correctly and allowing it to leak", I wouldn't be surprised to find that what he actually meant was than when refitting the sump drain plug, he managed to cross thread it and now it's either jammed solid or the sump itself is damaged and will need replacing (or an insert fitted if this is possible).
If it was simply a worn thread on the plug, this would have cost a few £s and a couple of minutes extra work once he had bought it.

fred246

Does sound like someone has just registered this new account to post this story. Suspicious. At least it's cheaper than having your car wrecked by the main dealer.

ssparks2003

fred246 said:

At least it's cheaper than having your car wrecked by the main dealer.

You just can't help yourself can you.

flusteredmotorist

Not sure what people are getting at but I do wish that I had taken the car to the main dealer for the service as I doubt this would have happened.  I've now got a car I can't use and an oil stained driveway.  

I presume the only option I have is to find a garage that can recover the car and repair the sump?

mr_stripey

fred246 said:

Does sound like someone has just registered this new account to post this story. Suspicious. At least it's cheaper than having your car wrecked by the main dealer.

not really. lots of people register for the first time when they are seeking help....

shaun_from_Africa

flusteredmotorist said:

I presume the only option I have is to find a garage that can recover the car and repair the sump?

Before you go to the cost and trouble of doing that, do you know anyone who could have a look at it for you?
It might need a sump repair/replacement but then again it might be as simple as fitting a new sump plug and sealing washer.