Seat Leon Cupra cam belt woes

[kaivaksdal]

Hi all
I bought a lovely Seat Leon mk2 Cupra about 4 months back. Full service history and 28k miles perfect, I thought.
However, no cam belt change yet - 2010 car meant 5 years old and despite being low mileage, I asked for the cam belt to be done before I bought it. The car dealer sent the car to Seat and it was done.
So 4 months and around 4,000 miles later, the cam belt has failed. Not snapped, but timing is completely out and engine sounds like a bag of nails.
When it happened I was just pootling along so I declutched and switched off.

Here's the question. What would you say my position is with Seat when I call them tomorrow?

I propose taking the car to an independent specialist to assess the damage then ask Seat to pay for the assessment, any work (rebuild or otherwise) plus I need a car to use while that's happening.....

Does this sound reasonable??

Thanks
Kai

[kaivaksdal]

Cheers all

So yes I have the dealer stamp and invoice for the cam belt change so I'm pretty sure it was done.

I can't take the car to them as 1) it won't even start 2) the Seat dealership is about 100 miles away from me 3) if I give it to them first, the cynic in me says they will find anything else so as NOT to have to pay..... An independent will at least tell me straight, right?

Hope that makes sense

[kaivaksdal]

Thanks again
The dealers have comfirmed that IF it is any of the cam belt, water pump, tensioners etc that has failed then they will pay for the repairs. However, if it is anything else, anything at all, then theye will not.
This is why I'm paying an independant to verify, photograph and log everything that has occurred.
I'll let you know as it happens....
Kai

[kaivaksdal]

I thought that mate but I told them what I was doing and they agreed it's well within my rights to get an independent to look at it. Using that information, they will happily take it if it turns out it's their fault.
Fingers crossed.

[kaivaksdal]

Thanks again. I hear you.
The independent is only going to assess the damage, not strip it all down and fix anything so hopefully this is a happy half way house.
I'll let you know and appreciate your advice here.

[kaivaksdal]

So here's the next chapter:
The car is now back with the Dealership that originally fitted the cam belt, kit and water pump.
The wouldn't fetch it, so I've had to pay the AA 250 quid to take it to them.
The dealership has looked at it and say (quote) " something must have got into the cam belt area - like a stone or piece of metal- and damahed the belt and tensioners..."

This has caused the belt to jump 6 teeth, tear the edge of the belt and remove all tension from the tensioners. They claim that they put a new belt on and the car runs fine with no damage to head or valves.

I have NEVER heard of something getting into the cam belt area, breaking stuff and then disappearing after the event.

The dealership won't pay anything. Apparently this does not come under warranty as a foreign object is not their fault.

They want 450 for another new cam belt, kit and water pump and cannot give any guarantee that the car will be ok or not - "it might be fine..."

I've asked Seat UK fir help, the AA (who originally recovered the car) and have an independent report that says the damage was most likely caused by over tightening of the cam belt.

I am not to blame and can't / won't pay for this damage and DO NOT want a performance car that "might be ok"....

Any advice gratefully received.

[kaivaksdal]

Thanks again fellow ph's

I am waiting for Seat UK to come back to me - they don't work weekends!
AA legal team said to write to the dealership and explain that I have independent advice and reports and that I am giving them one final chance to make right. If they do not, I will be taking the car back, getting it fixed at an independent garage local to me and taking this legal.

Not only do I have to think about getting the car fixed now but I'll always be worrying that it may never be 100% again. Lastly, every day without my car is costing me in public transport and just sheer "pain in the but not having a car".

I need to wAit til Monday morning to hear from Sear UK then get writing.

In the background, I spoke with my local Seat dealer who said that they have never heard of a foreign body getting in and damaging the cam belt and tensioners in over 10 years so I think that puts that to bed.

[kaivaksdal]

SEAT UK got involved yesterday and are looking through the photographic evidence to make a decision.
The way I see it, either:
A) The dealer fitted the camblet, water pump and tensioners incorrectly which - over 4,000 miles - wore away the inside of the belt, causing it to slip
OR
B) Seat/VW have designed a car which allows large stones/pieces of metal into the cambelt area which caused the failure
OR
C) Some other parts in there were faulty when fitted or from new and should not have faileed

One way or another, I am over £500 down in personal expenses and my car still isn't fixed.

Let's see what Seat UK say later today.

[kaivaksdal]

Following on from some heated discussions and the threat of legal action, the dealership and Seat UK have gone 50/50 to repair the car. I'll be collecting it tomorrow.
I just hope that there is no long lasting damage to valves or head that don't show themselves until later on.....
Thanks for everyone's input on this.
Fingers Crossed
Kai

[kaivaksdal]

Good thinking.
I'll bring that up tomorrow
Cheers

[kaivaksdal]

Yes thanks all good.
The car was returned all well and good and no damage.
I noticed that the head bolts had been undone and marked so I guess they either changed it or checked it and all fine.
Thanks for the advice Pistonheads team.
Kai