Which garage is right?

stephan · 14-09-2010,01:54 PM

Right, this post is a bit longer so sorry about this.

My 54 Touran STDI broke down. I was driving at about 20mph and the engine went off and I heard a really bad sound from the engine. A garage did some diagnostic on it and they basically said that the waterpump broke which caused the cambelt to come off. You need a new cambelt (didn't mind that as I have no clue when the cambelt was last changed) and a new waterpump.

As this garage couldn't do it for some time as they were busy I got the car towed to another garage (They also said that this job would take 3 hours). After a few days they said they fitted the cambelt and the waterpump but the car won't start properly. They had done some diagnostics (which they never asked me to do and they charged me for this) and it needs camshaft position sensor. They couldn't get the part right then so I took it somewhere else. They ordered the part in for me and fitted it (within 1 hour and not 3 as previously quoted) but the car still wouldn't start properly. The new garage said that they suspect that the timing might be out which would also cause the same fault to come up. As it was a friday they said to come back monday.

I decided to call the garage that fitted the cambelt to let them rectify the problem. On saturday I went out with the whole family (2 children 1 and 4 and wife) and got stuck at a shops carpark for over an hour. Then we decided to get the car towed home. At this time I got so annoyed at the garage that fitted the cambelt that I decided I wouldn't take it to them as I simply didn't trust them at this time any more. I took the car to the garage that fitted the sensor and they said it was the timing that was 1 tooth out and they would get it all the time. The garage was even kind enough to take a picture for me before they fixed it.

I called the garage that fitted the cambelt and told them that I didn't have any trust in them and as they haven't fitted properly to see what we can do as I spent about £280 on work that didn't have to be done if they had fitted the cambelt properly.

I was told that it is almost impossible to fit the cambelt incorrectly as the timing tools has alignments on it. They in turn blamed the garage that fitted the sensor that they should have checked the timing before they fitted it. (wonder why they didn't check the timing).

I also was told that the reason why fitting the sensor would have taken 3 hours because they would have taken of the cambelt to check everywhere for debris from the waterpump (why didn't they do this before?).

So as you can see its all a mess. I am planning to seek legal advice but I was wondering what garage seems to be telling rubbish.

**phil miller** · 14-09-2010,07:03 PM

right it is poss to get the timing a tooth out even with the locking tools, any debrie from the water pump would be in the coolant system or under the cambelt cover, the problem is 3 different garages have done half jobs on your car now so the garage that fitted the belt can simply say it was correct, i do feel for you as im in the motor trade and some of the storys i hear make you wonder why some garages have any work

, is the timing correct now, is the car starting as it should? your biggest problem will be getting the first garage to take any blame on this, now if im wrong please tell me, but my understanding of the law is this, if i do a job on a car and its wrong i have to be given the chance to put it right FOC, now because you havent let them put it right im not sure how you stand now, i think you will have a fight on your hands and if you took legal action then it could end up costing you alot more in the long run, please dont get me wrong im not on the garages side, as a mechanic the one job i hate is when i have to fix a car that someone else has had a go at because i believe everyone should have the chance to fix there **** ups, best thing to do is speak to all the garage owners involed and see what happens before doing anything

**zollaf** · 15-09-2010,08:59 AM

i would agree with phil, a garage has to be given the opportunity to fix a mistake. one thing though, since the cambelt has ceased to be a cambelt, this would normally cause the valves and pistons to have a meeting, which usually results in bent valves, meaning the cylinder head has to be removed to remedy the situation.

stephan · 15-09-2010,10:04 AM

Thanks for your replies.

@Phil: Yes the car works perfectly now. I looked at the Trading Standards website and it states that if you don't trust the garage that you can take the car somewhere else.

@zollaf: Yes I know. I have been very lucky. I guess the slow speed saved my engine.

I have been thinking about this a lot for the last days and I think I will just forget about it. Entering a legal dispute about this would probably require a lot of time focusing on this and I rather spend that time with my family. It just really annoys me that some garages are doing work and they don't seem even to know how to do it. Don't they require a license and a certification that they are allowed to repair vehicles?

**Brian Considine** · 15-09-2010,10:27 AM

Originally Posted by stephan

. Don't they require a license and a certification that they are allowed to repair vehicles?

Like a lot of trades/professions in the UK you don't need any sort of licence or certification to trade.

Frustrating I know when you end up with different opinions, but, as you wisely (IMHO) decided to not go down the legal road it's probably best to cut your losses & move on - at least you did'nt end up with bent valves !

Best thing for the future would be to find youreslf a good independant in your area - I'm sure some forum members will be able to recommend someone in your area if you post where you live.