MOT resulted in grands worth of work????

movilogo

this may serve as a warning to others to check the maintenance of cam belts carefully.

While I fully agree with this, but one can't deny the fact that cambelt snapped while the car was with the garage!
They have asked later when the cambelt was last changed. But if they were true professional, they should have asked the question
BEFORE the test and mentioned this to OP that this situation might happen!

It is not rare that something has broken on cars while in a garage (either intentional/negligence or accidental damage). If this happens, the garage should provide the compensation. What if the OP had lost the receipt of cambelt change? The onus should be on the garage to prove that it wasn't their fault!

cyclonebri1

movilogo wrote: »

While I fully agree with this, but one can't deny the fact that cambelt snapped while the car was with the garage!
They have asked later when the cambelt was last changed. But if they were true professional, they should have asked the question
BEFORE the test and mentioned this to OP that this situation might happen!

It is not rare that something has broken on cars while in a garage (either intentional/negligence or accidental damage). If this happens, the garage should provide the compensation. What if the OP had lost the receipt of cambelt change? The onus should be on the garage to prove that it wasn't their fault!

I understand what you saying but don't fully understand the legalities of the situation so won't comment further on that aspect, but probably a disclaimer signed before the test is in order, if only to be an active jolt to the maintenance memory?

On the same theme, how else could the MOT guy thats trying to pass your cars handbrake, but by using maybe a bit more force than an 8 stone female can apply, snaps the already rusted and faultering cable. I know this if different but I personnally want them to find any problems that I'm unaware of on my cars. All I'm saying is that probably garages do need some protection as they do have to test some components further than some owners do. Not that this has anything to do with the original posters engine blow up IMHO. Can't believe I'm sticking up for a garage:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

jeannieblue

movilogo wrote: »

While I fully agree with this, but one can't deny the fact that cambelt snapped while the car was with the garage!
They have asked later when the cambelt was last changed. But if they were true professional, they should have asked the question
BEFORE the test and mentioned this to OP that this situation might happen!

It is not rare that something has broken on cars while in a garage (either intentional/negligence or accidental damage). If this happens, the garage should provide the compensation. What if the OP had lost the receipt of cambelt change? The onus should be on the garage to prove that it wasn't their fault!

No, the onus should be on the garage that replaced the cam belt - even if the receipt was lost, they should still have records, and take it up with them - can't blame the MOT station for this, people must be responsible for seeing that their cars are regularly serviced and maintained - especially before it goes for an MOT test!:rotfl:

mrsyorkie

Hope you get it sorted out. I must say that 1000 pounds for a Cam Belt is a bit extortionate. Ring round some garages and see what they can do it for - you'll probably find one who'll do it for a couple of hundred quid. Ring your friends/family and see if there is anyone who can tow you to a cheaper garage or home again.

cyclonebri1

mrsyorkie wrote: »

Hope you get it sorted out. I must say that 1000 pounds for a Cam Belt is a bit extortionate. Ring round some garages and see what they can do it for - you'll probably find one who'll do it for a couple of hundred quid. Ring your friends/family and see if there is anyone who can tow you to a cheaper garage or home again.

But it's not the cost of a cam belt change, it's the cost of damage to the engine caused by the cam belt breaking, now that could easily top 1K

Of course this is not yet confirmed hence my comments earlier about the top having to come off to determine the extent of the damage

mrsyorkie

True, I forgot about that!

I'd still call different garages though and try to get it cheaper if I could.

Rob50k

Been in the motoring game for a too many years and I have seen this happen on MOT before more than once, It is fair to say that as a matter of course i would always ask a customer presenting either an old or over 50K car if they have had their cambelt done due to the stesses of the Deisel fast pass Mot test were a Mot pass is only acheived by reving the vehicle to its guvnor.

If you find out that the belt has been replaced and it is a decent belt manufacturer, you may have a parts warranty claim that they will accept, this is more likley if Genuine parts have been used, Also worth noting that many vehicles have a idler/tensioner wheel which can often be the casue of belt failure rather than the belt just breaking.

Even being in the game I have fallen foul to this and despite belt change i forgot to order the tensioner, though it won't matter and 6 months later on Xmas morning i was towing it home and ended up replacing the head assembly £600. all for a £30 part if forgot to order!

Shop arround for quotes, then you can guage if £1k is too expensive.

jeannieblue

We always order in cam belt kits - unless the customer says no, we change it all whilst 'in there'. Quite often on second cam belt change - we advise customer it may need water pump too.

hartcjhart

JeannieB
yep I always advise about water pump,but the ammount of people that say no coz of the extra small cost amazes me,

but I chuckle when I hear that a while down the line it has packed up:rotfl: :rotfl:

movilogo

he onus should be on the garage that replaced the cam belt

Cam belts on Renault engines are quite notorious as they snap quite often (even after recommended change) Just check Parker's or Honest John's discussion forum on that.

Peugeot and Alfa Rome also suffer frequent cambelt failures!

To be on safe side:
1. Change cambelt always at relevant intervals
2. Avoid buying cars which uses cambelt in an interference engine (cambelt failure in non-interference engine won't cause any damage)
3. Buy a car with chain cam driven engines (old Nissans, most BMWs, most Suzukis etc. etc.)