Garage fitted faulty water pump.

Korkyb

Hi all

My elderly mother in law’s Fiat 500 had its timing belt and water pump changed at a garage at the end of Feb 2024 at a considerable cost.

4 months later a MOT noted the car had a coolant leak – unfortunately my mother in law did not link this to the recent work carried out.

After a service at the beginning of March this year I was made aware that the new water pump was leaking coolant and given that the car had travelled less than 1500 miles in the last year and the previous MOT note about a leak it seems highly likely that the pump had been leaking since being fitted.

I contacted the garage who inspected the car confirming the water pump was faulty but as the pump only had a 12 month manufacturer warranty and it was a couple of weeks over the 12 month point that it would cost my mother in law the same amount again to replace the water pump as she paid last year.

I feel pretty guilty as it was me that recommended the garage to my Mother in Law so I’m looking into what options she has.

While the garage probably doesn’t have a “legal obligation” I feel that morally to wash their hands of the matter and effectively say that fitting a faulty part has nothing to do with them is a shoddy and unfair way of treating a customer (especially given most of the cost in rectifying the faulty pump that they fitted is labour).

Am I right to feel this or should she just suck it up as part of the cost of motoring?

knightstyle

The warranty is completely separate to your rights as a consumer.  Go back and say the pump you paid them for is not fit for purpose.   Look up consumer rights and do not be mislead by the warranty.

oldagetraveller1

The cynic in me would question whether the pump was actually changed with the timing belt. Presumably it's all concealed behind cover(s)?

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head

Hello OP

Goods need to be durable with regards to price so if a pump is expected to last longer than 12 months (I have no idea about cars but it seems to me that it should), they should repair/replace and if they refuse you can reject the pump, seek a refund (minus 12 months use) + the cost of removal and refit as damages.

Pragmatically the garage are going to resist so how much of a fight do you wish to put up  

Is this just a stand alone garage or part of a big chain? If part of a big chain the worth complaining higher up, if not up to you whether you wish to push the point. If you do I wouldn't use that garage again, although I probably wouldn't any way based on what has happened.