Cambelt snapped .... just changed by garage
Discussion
Hi Guys,
Quick query for my mate ....
He had his Ccambelt changed last week on his car (Saxo I think) - it snapped yesterday and appears to have taken most of the engine with it.
It was changed last week by a garage.
Clearly, he's entitled to a new cambelt, but what about the damage to the engine ?
Thanks,
Martin
Quick query for my mate ....
He had his Ccambelt changed last week on his car (Saxo I think) - it snapped yesterday and appears to have taken most of the engine with it.
It was changed last week by a garage.
Clearly, he's entitled to a new cambelt, but what about the damage to the engine ?
Thanks,
Martin
Gawd knows, but did he just have the belt changed ? (its always rather a good idea to have the tensioner changed too).
Also, a lot of cars also run other things from the cam belt, the water pump is a popular one, it'd be bloody unlucky if it failed just after a belt change, but bear in mind it could've done.
Also, a lot of cars also run other things from the cam belt, the water pump is a popular one, it'd be bloody unlucky if it failed just after a belt change, but bear in mind it could've done.
I would think so... Whilst I'm sure there are some weasel words about "consequential loss" in any warranty, basically it is a given that, if the cambelt snaps prematurely, then the engine will be lunched. Unless he has shown negligence by driving it after knowing of the failure then I can't see how they can get out of this- it's down to him to claim from the garage (Letting them sort out the engine would seem to be an equitable state of affairs) and from then on the garage needs to chase their supplier.
carreauchompeur said:
I would think so... Whilst I'm sure there are some weasel words about "consequential loss" in any warranty, basically it is a given that, if the cambelt snaps prematurely, then the engine will be lunched. Unless he has shown negligence by driving it after knowing of the failure then I can't see how they can get out of this- it's down to him to claim from the garage (Letting them sort out the engine would seem to be an equitable state of affairs) and from then on the garage needs to chase their supplier.
I think it'll depend largely on why the new belt broke, and if the mechanic made a mistakeAs mentioned above, if the car has cam belt driven components, might just want to make sure water pump or something hasn't seized before going down and causing a stink.
Be bad luck if it has, but a new cambelt/tensioner could well have put straw/camel-back stress on a weak/dying bearing...
Be bad luck if it has, but a new cambelt/tensioner could well have put straw/camel-back stress on a weak/dying bearing...
Thanks everyone - yep, I've told my colleague to check that anything else driven on the belt isn't seized.
I suspect it's too much of a coincedence for it not to be related. My main concern is whether the cost of the engine fix is legally covered by the snapping of the belt.
I seem to recall that under consumer law, it is the case that a failure due to incorrect workmanship, of a faulty fitted part should be put right, ie. you are entitled to have the vehicle put back to the condition it was in before any work was done.
Martin
I suspect it's too much of a coincedence for it not to be related. My main concern is whether the cost of the engine fix is legally covered by the snapping of the belt.
I seem to recall that under consumer law, it is the case that a failure due to incorrect workmanship, of a faulty fitted part should be put right, ie. you are entitled to have the vehicle put back to the condition it was in before any work was done.
Martin
Was having a chat with my mechanic/engine builder about this the other day
He had a WRX come back in with a snapped cambelt after a change. Was correctly fitted, genuine Subaru part, just had a fault.
Engine rebuilt by him at the expense of the manufacturer. Just took a while to sort it out. He said if it was his fault he would have had to have cover the cost.
He had a WRX come back in with a snapped cambelt after a change. Was correctly fitted, genuine Subaru part, just had a fault.
Engine rebuilt by him at the expense of the manufacturer. Just took a while to sort it out. He said if it was his fault he would have had to have cover the cost.
I've never heard of a faulty cam belt, they are a strategic component that are well manufactured and tested.
When one snaps (within it's life span) it's usually due to something else going wrong, such as a siezed tensioner. Even then a belt will squeel loudly for miles before it lets go completely. I once drove 100 miles with a siezed tensioner, and the belt was shredded but still didn't let go. They are strong as fook.
Like said, your mate need's to check that nothing is siezed, but even if it is, an over tensioned belt may have caused the siezure, but how do you prove that? You can't. Just hope the garage will put it right at a reduced cost as a gesture of good will?
To the previous poster, how did the garage prove the cam belt was faulty?
When one snaps (within it's life span) it's usually due to something else going wrong, such as a siezed tensioner. Even then a belt will squeel loudly for miles before it lets go completely. I once drove 100 miles with a siezed tensioner, and the belt was shredded but still didn't let go. They are strong as fook.
Like said, your mate need's to check that nothing is siezed, but even if it is, an over tensioned belt may have caused the siezure, but how do you prove that? You can't. Just hope the garage will put it right at a reduced cost as a gesture of good will?
To the previous poster, how did the garage prove the cam belt was faulty?
deeps said:
I've never heard of a faulty cam belt, they are a strategic component that are well manufactured and tested.
When one snaps (within it's life span) it's usually due to something else going wrong, such as a siezed tensioner. Even then a belt will squeel loudly for miles before it lets go completely. I once drove 100 miles with a siezed tensioner, and the belt was shredded but still didn't let go. They are strong as fook.
Like said, your mate need's to check that nothing is siezed, but even if it is, an over tensioned belt may have caused the siezure, but how do you prove that? You can't. Just hope the garage will put it right at a reduced cost as a gesture of good will?
To the previous poster, how did the garage prove the cam belt was faulty?
Absolutely no idea to be honest. Just a general conversation. Been operating for 15 years and has had 2 belt changes go bad. One from his own mistake which he acknowledged and repaired and one due to a fault with the product. Not sure of the details. Could have been a tensioner fault rather than the belt. When one snaps (within it's life span) it's usually due to something else going wrong, such as a siezed tensioner. Even then a belt will squeel loudly for miles before it lets go completely. I once drove 100 miles with a siezed tensioner, and the belt was shredded but still didn't let go. They are strong as fook.
Like said, your mate need's to check that nothing is siezed, but even if it is, an over tensioned belt may have caused the siezure, but how do you prove that? You can't. Just hope the garage will put it right at a reduced cost as a gesture of good will?
To the previous poster, how did the garage prove the cam belt was faulty?
deeps said:
I've never heard of a faulty cam belt, they are a strategic component that are well manufactured and tested.
When one snaps (within it's life span) it's usually due to something else going wrong, such as a siezed tensioner. Even then a belt will squeel loudly for miles before it lets go completely. I once drove 100 miles with a siezed tensioner, and the belt was shredded but still didn't let go. They are strong as fook.
+1. These belts are incredibly strong and it is almost unheard of for a new one to fail of its own weakness.When one snaps (within it's life span) it's usually due to something else going wrong, such as a siezed tensioner. Even then a belt will squeel loudly for miles before it lets go completely. I once drove 100 miles with a siezed tensioner, and the belt was shredded but still didn't let go. They are strong as fook.
Maybe the belt was never actually changed?
inthedark said:
when I was in the trade if a new belt snapped of it's own accord then
it would be claimed under a parts warranty and usually a short engine
would be supplied.
When you say that, do you mean a "top end"?it would be claimed under a parts warranty and usually a short engine
would be supplied.
I've just bought a Seat Leon Cupra for wifey, and they are changing the timing belt (78k and can't tell when it was done before, if ever). It was something the garage mentioned to me about another car; how their mechanic got the timing belt incorrectly fitted and the customer beenfitted from a new "top end".
RichBurley said:
inthedark said:
when I was in the trade if a new belt snapped of it's own accord then
it would be claimed under a parts warranty and usually a short engine
would be supplied.
When you say that, do you mean a "top end"?it would be claimed under a parts warranty and usually a short engine
would be supplied.
I've just bought a Seat Leon Cupra for wifey, and they are changing the timing belt (78k and can't tell when it was done before, if ever). It was something the garage mentioned to me about another car; how their mechanic got the timing belt incorrectly fitted and the customer beenfitted from a new "top end".
deeps said:
When one snaps (within it's life span) it's usually due to something else going wrong, such as a siezed tensioner. Even then a belt will squeel loudly for miles before it lets go completely. I once drove 100 miles with a siezed tensioner, and the belt was shredded but still didn't let go. They are strong as fook.
Sorry, I think you are way wrong here, in all my life in the trade you will never get notice that a cam belt is going to break. They will never squeal as they have teeth, and once one lets go, you are past the point of no return.Now, if it was a "fan" belt, "ancillary" belt, or belt not related to the physical valve timing, that is a different kettle of fish. They can squeal there heads off if they require tightening or something needs replacing.
Cam belts do fail, and manufacturers are well aware of it.
We had a cam belt kit fitted to our Astra due to a grumbling tensioner bearing and sure enough the belt snapped a few days later.
It was quickly determined that one of the new tensioners was defective so it was all repaired at the cost to the cam belt kit manufacturer.
It was quickly determined that one of the new tensioners was defective so it was all repaired at the cost to the cam belt kit manufacturer.
Edited by dogbucket on Thursday 4th June 09:38
750turbo said:
deeps said:
When one snaps (within it's life span) it's usually due to something else going wrong, such as a siezed tensioner. Even then a belt will squeel loudly for miles before it lets go completely. I once drove 100 miles with a siezed tensioner, and the belt was shredded but still didn't let go. They are strong as fook.
Sorry, I think you are way wrong here, in all my life in the trade you will never get notice that a cam belt is going to break. They will never squeal as they have teeth, and once one lets go, you are past the point of no return.Now, if it was a "fan" belt, "ancillary" belt, or belt not related to the physical valve timing, that is a different kettle of fish. They can squeal there heads off if they require tightening or something needs replacing.
Cam belts do fail, and manufacturers are well aware of it.
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