Car destruction

[beanson]

I recently had a timing belt fitted to my V reg V40 (btw I know nothing so if I get terminology wrong excuse me) by a reputable garage. A short time ago tapping noises came from the engine. Then as I was driving along the M5 the engine completely stoppped- I coasted onto the hard shoulder and the eventual RAC man reached into the plastic cover where the cam wheels are and just removed bits of cogs- the car is a write off.

Question- do you think that the garage could be culpable/ responsible?

The tension belt was fitted about the end of March (7 months ago)

thanks

[gatos]

Could it be Kwik Fit by any chance. Did they just change the timing belt, or did they change any other parts too?

7 months is some time ago but again, a timing belt is meant to last for a lot longer than that

[littlehomer]

Hey up,

I assume the belt has some sort of warranty and that the garage offer some sort of warranty on their work.

It's a big argument. I've no experience of it.

You'd have to somehow prove that the belt failed or that they fitted it incorrectly I imagine.

Unless someone independent can report that for you, it may be tough to convince the garage to do anything.

I feel many letters of complaint and the eventual threat of legal action coming along.

Many Thanks,

Daniel

[mikeyskona]

Hmm.. Might be worth going to small claims if another garage can back you up on the cause of the damage (job not completed correctly / Sub-standard parts used).

Question 3 on the DTi fact sheet for car sales and servicing may be relevent to you:
http://webarchive.nationalarchives.g...facts/cars.htm

HTH

Mike.

[beanson]

thanks for these replies chaps

[gmain1967]

In the 7 months since the timing belt/tensioner was done, how many miles have you covered? And has any other work been carried out by any other garage, on/around the cambelt/timing area?

[pookie]

What were the " bits of cogs" Did they break before the timing belt? Was anything else changed at the same time as the cam belt, like water pump, idlers etc.?


Pookie

[Jim_V70_2001]

I feel for you!

There are tales of the auxiliary belt breaking and fouling the timing belt which also then breaks.

So it may be nothing to do with the garage, although it is recommended to change the auxiliary belt at the same time as the timing belt (and also the tensioner and idler and diesel pump and its belt, and the water pump!!) there is no Volvo law to do so?

Unfortunately some of us have to pay a high cost at some point.

Basically - it would be better to replace each car a few thousand miles before the timing belt is to be changed, and tell the new owner it should be replaced at the next service. Many people do this - I got one but wasn't told that it was not only the timing belt but also ...!

And mine is due.

[beanson]

Pookie: The Cogs were what the tension belt wrapped around- this area was destroyed.
The timing belt was replaced becasue when they changing the plugs and coilk they noticed that there was a lot of wear on it and recommended the change- no water pump or idlers changed- the whole lot came to over £700

[beanson]

Gmain- don't know exactly how many miles but not huge amount perhaps 3K- no other WORK has been done but I did take it into the same garage 2 weeks ago to get them to look at it because there was a loss of power at one point while driving around town- I asked them to investigate- they said they couldn't find anything and suggested that it was gunk at the bottom of the petrol tank.