Fiesta service dispute

devonhil

Thanks AdrianC that's really helpful. Electrics were fine but starter motor did absolutely nothing so engine definitely seized. The engine was not turning under any circumstances, clutch or no clutch. 

Goudy

This doesn't mean the engine is seized, it could be something else is seized and is stopping the starter (and wheels when bumping it) turning the engine.

If there's a problem with the gearbox, clutch, starter motor or flywheel and it's jamming the flywheel the starter won't turn the engine and neither will bumping it. It'll all appear locked up and siezed. This is why they want to remove the gearbox.

I guess there's no warranty and a service history is no guarantee against faults, so you've little option but to pay.

angrycrow

I once had to help a woman who stalled her escort in front of me. Engine would not turn over on starter and car could not be pushed at all even with a couple of hefty blokes leaning on it. I jumped in and quickly established the clutch cable had failed jamming it in gear. We rocked it back and forth and managed to disengage the gear box at which point it fired up fine but the clutch was dead. Suspect it was a cheap fix for her.

Ops clutch is likely to be hydraulic but could still be jammed due to failed slave cylinder or pressure plate. 

Given there is nothing at this stage to suggest the failure is due to anything the garage did it is not unreasonable of them to charge for diagnostic work. 

devonhil

Thanks for replies people. The gears did not seem stuck at all and there were no warning signs of gear or clutch issues. The car was towed easily (using tow bar with all four wheels on ground) which I think means it wasn't stuck in gear?

mattyprice4004

Engine failure can happen at any time, I had one 50 miles after performing my own service. All levels correct, new filter and correct spec of oil - it was just time for that engine.

You don't get written notice, you don't get any advanced warning - it just happens. It could have happened in 2,000 or 20,000 miles time, but it didn't - it's likely just bad luck.

The wrong oil won't usually cause an outright seizure, especially on something as workaday as a Fiesta. Cheap runabouts are designed to deal with less-than-optimal servicing; so even if the wrong grade of oil had been used you'd likely never have any directly related problems anyway.

Essentially you're asking the garage to work for free on your car after a probably-unrelated incident, so I'm not surprised they're being resistive. If the oil level was OK, it's likely just very bad luck.

SteveJW

Back in the days of Ford Capris, Escorts etc their were two oil filters that would fit certain engines, one had  release valve fitted, the other one didn't, externally appeared identical but with different part numbers

More than one case of severe engine damage due to fitting the wrong filter

Probably not applicable here

foxy-stoat

Using the wrong oil would not seize an engine, maybe if you drive a Veyron at 180mph for an hour or two with 15W 40 instead of 0W 20 or whatever they take you may do some damage, but not even master Yoda would be able to tell without striping the engine down.

Likely cause of the failure, whatever it may be, is the fact that its a 5 year old Fiesta with 90,000 miles.  Best find out whats really up with it.  Ask why they are striping the gearbox though.   I would trust a mechanic when they say the engine isn't seized after the its spent time on it in the workshop over an AA person roadside diagnostic check.

devonhil

Thanks everyone, looks like scrap then as cannot afford new engine (I was told around £3k?). I'll also need to take out a loan to pay off the remaining finance 😕. Any ideas what I would get for it for scrap (or maybe i don't want to know!)? Must admit, I am disappointed that a very carefully cared for diesel engine should only last 90k though - in my mind a 5yo diesel of that mileage should last a bit longer.

AdrianC

Which engine is in your Fiesta? The 1.6TDCi?

It shouldn't be hard to source a replacement engine and get it fitted for a lot less than £3k - but, even at £3k, the car is worth a lot more than that. Of the 200 2015 diesel Fiestas on Autotrader, just 8 are <£4.5k, and another dozen <£5k. The median price is around £6.5-7k.

Scrapping it would be pointless.

foxy-stoat

There would of bee a reason why the engine is seized, although why would the dealer go into the gearbox to find out the reason.....has it been 100% diagnosed?