Garage Error Help

Shikkaka

Shikkaka

Shikkaka

Soldato
Joined
10 Jun 2003
Posts
2,886
Location
Nottingham
Afternoon all,

I had a Milltek Manifold fitted by a tuning company 2 weeks ago. They came highly recommended on the car forum.

I've just got back from a week at the coast, 110 miles away. I got there ok but driving within the campus there was a loud bang followed by a very unhealthy noise.

I suspected an engine mount and know one has to be removed to fit a manifold. The AA came out and I was right. Turns out the garage haven't screwed it back in all the way nor have they used the correct tool rounding the screws off slightly.

The engine dropping has damaged a cv boot, worn the alternator belt slightly and knackered the engine mount.

Luckily I wasn't doing speed or on a busy road. The AA chap said it could have caused a nasty accident. I'm very lucky no engine/gearbox damage has been caused too.

I have a detailed report from AA and plenty of pictures.

What's the best route to go with this? I want them to cover the cost of the repairs as well as a thorough investigation of my car to check for any further damage and a refund or some sort of compensation for a frankly poor job, and potentially putting myself, girlfriend and 1 year old daughter at risk driving 110 miles to the coast.

Thanks
 
I would be screaming

This is why I don't have retard garages touch any cars of mine.

Gather your info, approach them very civily about it, if they are a decent garage they'll care about it

If they don't offer to cover the work see if they'll do other mods to compensate you?
 
I would go with Matt on that on, talk to them, in person preferably and see what they have to say about it. Make sure they put it right for you.

If they arent civil with you about it like you have been, then its probably time for the court.
 
I intend on approaching them civilly. They have a reputation for being good so doubt they will want to ruin that.

I just hope they realise the seriousness of it and accept they've messed up and correct accordingly.
 
oh, i thoguht it had been repaired

surely if they repair it someone will have to cover transport costs too

where is the car now?
 
as for garages not using proper tools... i did a cambelt change on an S4 i had years ago. the belt had been done previously by a well known vag tuner

certain allen bolts had been bodged with torx bits and then simply refitted

thinking about it, i know loads of stories about "tuners" doing terrible things to peoples cars
 
Matt82 said:
as for garages not using proper tools... i did a cambelt change on an S4 i had years ago. the belt had been done previously by a well known vag tuner

certain allen bolts had been bodged with torx bits and then simply refitted

thinking about it, i know loads of stories about "tuners" doing terrible things to peoples cars
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As a guess, would those be the ones on the crankshaft pulley??
 
Matt82 said:
thinking about it, i know loads of stories about "tuners" doing terrible things to peoples cars
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To me the word "tuner" always gives an image of the worst kind of bodger who believes they are the god of engines, but then go on to prove a little knowledge is a dangerous thing.
 
Matt82 said:
yeah, how on earth did you know that? and pas pump pulley too!

work in many vag things?
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Yes! :)

The small Hex headed bolts that retain the pulleys are almost always impossible to undo using a stock hex key (Bad design choice!). Attempting to do so almost invariably rips the centres out. using a Torx key (or hammering in a spline bit) is often the only way of undoing them (and even that doesn't always work)

I usually try to ensure that I have a spare set for reassembly but they are VAG parts so have to be ordered specially and may not necessarily be available at short notice.
 
in my experience, once the allen it rounded, the next best thing is 12pt socket hammered on, but if you first try to get the allen bolts out using an impact driver, it seems to work very well, you dont even have to hold the pulley
 
shauncr91 said:
What is the company Steameh?
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I'm not going to name and shame yet. I want to get this dealt with firstly.

Unless you have some work booked in somewhere and wish to know for your own reasons? In which case let me know where you are booked in and I will tell you if it's them or not.
 
I've sent a complaint e-mail to them as follows.

Following my phone call this morning regarding my manifold fitment on the 8th of November 2012, invoice attached (1) I would like to raise a formal complaint regarding this and the potentially dangerous outcome this could have caused.

On the 23nd of November whilst on holiday, my car made a horrendous bang followed by a loud knocking noise. I stopped the car and opened the bonnet to find that the engine had dropped on the offside. I called the AA out immediately and upon inspection it was confirmed that the offside engine mount had not been screwed in correctly. I have attached the AA breakdown report (2).

As you can see from the attached picture (4), there is a different amount of thread above each tightening bolt and much more 'visible' thread in comparison to once The AA had re-assembled (5). Also on (4) you can see where it has tore the thread inside the mount. Furthermore, it appears the incorrect tool was used to tighten the screw, (6) shows the damage. (7) shows the damage to the thread on the engine block.

Further damage has been caused to the offside CV boot (8 and 9) and clip (10) as well as slight damage to the auxiliary belt and the engine mount itself.

Frankly this is unacceptable as an 'Authorised Milltek Sport fitting centre' and doesn't bare thinking about had I been travelling at speed when this occurred. I would like to point out I had travelled a 110 mile journey on the 17th to the coast with my girlfriend and 14 month old daughter in the car. The AA technician commented this could have been a much worse scenario and that, quote "Your lucky your not going home in a box".

I feel at the very least the cost of the repairs and an investigation into my vehicles health should be covered by yourselves. I want this to be carried out at an official Ford garage as unfortunately I have lost faith in *garage*, after all this is simply a screw that has not been tightened sufficiently.

I hope you realise the severity of this matter and undertake an investigation as to why this has happened.

I look forward to a prompt response outlining the actions you are going to take to rectify this.
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They have replied with the following. This is the other branch based in Essex, not the branch that did the work.

Sorry you have had problems with this job, I am also surprised this has happened.

We would like that car collected by us and returned to our office here in Essex where we can inspect and rectify the work.

I understand your view that you would like it taken to a Ford Main Dealer but we would like to rectify and check the work immediately and return your car to you.

Please let me know when it would be possible to collect the car.
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What would you do in this situation? The car is no way going back to the garage that fitted the Manifold but a different branch?
 
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