MOT resulted in grands worth of work????

neversaynever

OK so I am not up on cars but hey i took my W reg clio in for its MOT this mornin, rang about 11 and was told it was booked in around 2 ready for 3. At 3ish rang and was told that the cambelt had snapped when they were testing the emmissions. Apparently this could have happened at any time and they asked if the cambelt had been changed at 60k, as my current mileage is 79k. I bought the car having done 72k so was not sure - still not until i get my car back with the docs in it? He said it could cost around a thousand pound to get it fixed. I have used the same garage for years with different cars, little jobs really. He sends his MOT cars to another local garage - my dad had his done at same place N reg Astra last week n it flew through. I am aghast really, desperate for my car for work - just floored me when i heard this. Any suggestions, advice, shoulder to cry on???? don't go tellin me that i should have used a more reputable one cos i have already had that off my ex (any wonder y he is my ex??:mad: ) how can i prove negligence - for all i know they revved the balls off it but i don't so??

jeannieblue

Re the last point - they have to rev it high for the emissions test....

Hate to say this, but really should've checked if cam belt had been changed when you bought it. It's a bit of one of those 'if onlys' situations. MOT stations/garages generally speaking, are highly monitored by VOSA these days.

Sorry, but think you have come a cropper here.

Hope I'm wrong...

hartcjhart

they dont 'rev the balls of it' BUT have to keep the revs high enough to do the emissions test as JeanniB said,

sadly cambelts will break whenever they want to so sadly no comeback on the garage,

as to reputable(a point for your ex) all garages have to rev the car

as to the cost a grand sounds a little ott BUT I am not sure if when the belt snaps drops the valves drop enough to hit the pistons,if they dont then it should be a hell of a lot cheaper eg

cylinder head complete from breaker/ebay £150 and thats a high price

new belt kit apx £70

Gasket set £40/50

labour 200

apx £500 or cheaper

this is based on a 1.2 petrol model

Wig

The MOT test is now rediculous with them revving it so high, but they have to do that according to the test, it's not their fault it's the governments fault

Re: the cam belt, yes the high revving could have been the final straw that broke your belt, but that's your fault for having a belt in poor condition not theirs for high revving see point above..

Should've asked previous owner for proof of last belt change, if none can be supplied should have the belt changed ASAP and factor that into the price you are willing to pay for the vehicle.

W reg clio 79K worth about £1,600

What *I* would do.

Tow the car home assuming it still has some Tax on it keep it on the highway or on your driveway if you got one. ideally it should also be MOT'd aswell but that's less important when it is sat outside your house rather than driving around.

Phone scrap yards to see if they have the correct engine for your car. If you find one, ask if they will swap them for you, or ask a cheap garage if they will arrange to pick up the engine from the scrap man and swap them over for you.

You could also go down the route of asking garage to take off the head to se the damage then obtain a scrapyard replacement cylinder head and have it fitted.

The two options will prbably cost similar amounts, but shouldn't cost more than 500, unless I'm missing something.

Conor_3

The test centres now display clear warnings about the test and what can happen with a car that's not been serviced properly.

goldspanners

neversaynever wrote: »

how can i prove negligence - for all i know they revved the balls off it but i don't so??

its easy you can prove negligence no problem.
as you dont know when the belt was last changed so this proves have been negligent.

ahh,now i see your trying to blame the garage.

whether they have revved the balls off it or it was just ticking over your belt was due to snap if this was the original belt.

its like a joiner coming to do work in your house then he finds its riddled with dry rot,would you still want to prove that the joiner has been negligent?

anewman

If the garage intentionally snapped the belt, they'd have probably injured themselves if the car was running, or if not running the car would not have any bent valves or damaged cylinder head. In my opinion garage is not at fault.

As for getting that repair cost down, call around. A good option might be to get hold of a good scrap cylinder head with valves included, and get that fitted.

jockettuk

if it was me i would just to put my mind at rest ring around some more garages in cluding local dealers to see how much they would charge for the work and then if they cheaper use that to haggle with the garage, im sure they think you cant afford not to go with them as you cant drive away the car but i would then say to them but yes the other garage will come and town the car to there garage, play them off one another but looks like you going to have to pay someone to get it fixed and it looks like its one of those nice little things when your a car owner

Taadaa

I reckon you will find someone to do it for less than £1k, esp if you quote them. I'm sorry for yout troubles!:grouphug:

hartcjhart

forgot to say when you phone around for a quote dont mention the Grand price

Pew_Pew_Pew_Lasers!

neversaynever wrote: »

how can i prove negligence - for all i know they revved the balls off it but i don't so??

Your car has an engine limiter. Your engine correctly maintained should be able to sit on that limiter for minutes at a time.

If the belt is original you've had it.