Car repairs (Very long post - sorry)

[trishie]

Hi - I wonder if anyone can help?

Back in May when the car had the ITV - the mechanic advised us that the cam belt needed chanrging sooner rather than later. We took it straight to our local mechanic who carried out the work. My Hubby said right from getting it back that it didn't feel "right" and within a couple of weeks the engine blew.

We took it back to the mechanic who told us it was a very serious problem and quoted us €900 for the work. At that time we just didn't have that kind of money so the car stayed with the mechanic for a couple of months while we attempted to raise the cash.

At the beginning of October last year we managed to pay him and he commenced the work

After many visits and phone calls and involving friends who speak better Spanish than we do - we eventually got it back in the New Year. We had actually been promised it on the Saturday before Xmas but when we went to pick it up we were told that there was a problem getting the oil pressure up

When we collected it a couple of weeks ago we were then told it was fine but to keep an eye on the oil as the engine had had a complete rebuild. We live 16k from the garage and the oil light came on before we had got home. We filled it with what oil we had left and it seemed OK.

On Tuesday last week we planned a trip to Granada - the first time out since getting it back. Again the oil light came on so we stopped and filled it which again seemed OK apart from it still didn't feel right. 20k down the road there was an almighty bang and thick black smoke pouring from the engine and exhaust and the road covered in oil.

We got towed in again and here is where my problems lie. I speak a little Spanish but nowhere near enough to deal with a situation like this. The mechanic is not being receptive to me talking to him and just keeps saying he doesn't understand me. I managed to explain that we believe its his fault and want it fixed. From what I can understand he is saying it is a totally new problem and nothing to do with the work he carried out. I can't see it. We do not have anywhere near enough money to pay to have it done again or even to take it elsewhere


Whats the best thing to do now? Ask for a complaints form - does anyone think that will help? We also can't afford legal representation and certainly can't afford to be without a car as my husband can't work all the time its off the road

Help anyone?

Thanks

[Devils Advocate]

What a pain

There's probaly little you can do in reality unless it's possible to get an exact breakdown of what this so called mechanic has done to the car and then get another independent guy to verify what he has said and also diagnose what caused the oil pressure to vanish in the latest issue with the car.....coincidences do happen but a pound to a penny it's bad workmanship.............jeez I wish you luck with it though as it's not right.

Out of interest, the guy who said initially that the cam belt needed changing, are you saying it was the guy at the ITV station?..........if so, what's it got to do with him?

Or was it the mechanic who pre-ITV'd it maybe?......even then what made him say a change was needed straight away?..............it's impossible to tell ....................unless you said to him it hadn't been changed for 40000 miles or he gleaned it from the service records.

I think you need the second opinion before you could go down the legal route ...................best of luck though, I do hope you get a result, you deserve one!

[Laslomas]

If the mechanic is adamant that it is a new problem ask him for a detailed quote for the work now needed to put the car right. At least then you will know where he thinks the problem is.

Did you get proper facturas for the repairs that state what he did to the car previously, a breakdown of the parts, labour, etc. in May and then again in October? If you were charged IVA you should have been given these invoices. If you did not get them, I suggest asking one of your spanish speaking friends to help you to ask the mechanic for the facturas. Then between you, you can hopefully work out what was actually done at each repair. Tell him you want to fill in a form in his complaints book if you think the problem has not been dealt with correctly by him. These complaint forms are taken seriously by the trading department at the local Town Hall and if you proceed he must agree on an action to overcome the complaint within a certain time. Most businesses will try to stop a complaint being filed against them, and become more amenable.

If you paid without IVA then still ask for a breakdown of the costs that you did pay, you still need a dummy factura for your own information. If this was the case and he has been working 'outside the system' he may want to be sure you take this no further, and come to an agreement over putting things right for you.

Good Luck.

[Enrique]

Hi,
To follow on from DA's post...........
I was surprised the ITV tester mentioned the cam belt as its not an ITV requirement to test, and is normally hidden behind covers.
Most modern engines require "Make" Specialist tools to lock the engine when taking the old one off, so if you're not doing this particular make model regularly then its not worth having the tools.
If a cam belt "lets go" then you could expect a bill of around £1200 in UK to get things fixed.
The fact that Hubby said it didn't feel right on collecting it the first time would possibly indicate that the timing had slipped when the new belt was installed.
Sounds like you may have to cut your losses and get another car as this particular repairer is not going to sort your problem.
I hope you get some action with the complaint form.

[Retro P]

How old is the car, model, rhd lhd ??

[trishie]

Thanks everybody so far - doesn't look too good for us then

Retro - its a 1997 LHD Diesel Chrysler Voyager

Cut losses and get another car?????? Not financially viable at the moment.

The reason the ITV highlighted the original problem is because the belt was emitting smoke at the time of the test - hence we dealt with it straight away

[Retro P]

Hmm, looks like you were just unlucky, but, a diesel Chrysler voyager aint a bad car, I agree that it might be difficult to get your money back but it's probably worth investing that bit extra to keep you on the road. good luck with it, have you tried contacting Spanish lad? he seems to know a few people??