Not sure what to do-advice pls .
Discussion
A month or two before Le Mans I had to take my 400se in to get a leaky exhaust manifold sorted. Some of you will remember that when I went to get it the other manifold suddenly sprang a leak whilst in the workshop and this too then needed to be fixed.
When I finally collected the car the second time it was much better - although I did think that I could still hear a slight "tick" on cold starts but I put it down to my being oversensitive.
One thing I was not happy about was a small amount of damage to the bodywork that happened during the time at the garage, but I was confident that they would put that right when I got back.
Did my Le Mans trip and all went well except my "imaginary cold start tick" seemed to be getting worse.
I contacted the garage on my return and I've booked the car in next week to get the body damage sorted and also for them to look at some other bits and bobs I want sorting. I didn't mention the "tick" though, cos I still wasn't sure if it was only me, and it usually went away once the engine had warmed up.
Driving the car today and after a loud Cracking noise the "tick" became a fully blown manifold!
A quick look under the bonnet revealed several manifold bolts not tightened at all ( ie I can see daylight between the washer and the head!) whilst others seem incredibly tight. If I'm not mistaken one bolt appears to have been sheared off and stuffed back into its hole. The thing is what come back do I have on the garage? A mate reckons the manifold might be irrevocably damaged because it was so unevenly tightened. I can't really afford to replace the unit (the last lot of manifold repairs cost me nearly 500 quid)but what do I do if the garage won't play ball?
If they have sheared a bolt in the head what has to be done to get it out? (its the lower one nearest the bulkhead on the passenger side) The car is practically undrivable now and I feel gutted.
The specialist who did the work is reputable but I'm worried I'm going to be left footing the bill.
Any advice?
Andy 400se
When I finally collected the car the second time it was much better - although I did think that I could still hear a slight "tick" on cold starts but I put it down to my being oversensitive.
One thing I was not happy about was a small amount of damage to the bodywork that happened during the time at the garage, but I was confident that they would put that right when I got back.
Did my Le Mans trip and all went well except my "imaginary cold start tick" seemed to be getting worse.
I contacted the garage on my return and I've booked the car in next week to get the body damage sorted and also for them to look at some other bits and bobs I want sorting. I didn't mention the "tick" though, cos I still wasn't sure if it was only me, and it usually went away once the engine had warmed up.
Driving the car today and after a loud Cracking noise the "tick" became a fully blown manifold!
A quick look under the bonnet revealed several manifold bolts not tightened at all ( ie I can see daylight between the washer and the head!) whilst others seem incredibly tight. If I'm not mistaken one bolt appears to have been sheared off and stuffed back into its hole. The thing is what come back do I have on the garage? A mate reckons the manifold might be irrevocably damaged because it was so unevenly tightened. I can't really afford to replace the unit (the last lot of manifold repairs cost me nearly 500 quid)but what do I do if the garage won't play ball?
If they have sheared a bolt in the head what has to be done to get it out? (its the lower one nearest the bulkhead on the passenger side) The car is practically undrivable now and I feel gutted.
The specialist who did the work is reputable but I'm worried I'm going to be left footing the bill.
Any advice?
Andy 400se
Hi Andy - sorry to hear about the problem. How long has it been since the repair was carried out? If it was within 6 months I would go back to the garage straight away as most reputable garages have a 6 month guarentee for their work. If you are not sure - get someone to call them as a mystery shopper to make an enquiry about a repair and ask them to confirm about their guarentee - get a name.
The hard part is proving it was their fault. But once you have got their confirmation of such a gaurentee - go back to them and make them aware of the problem stating your rights to have the poor workmanship fixed under the terms of their guarentee. Its obvious the person who fixed the problem didn't know what they were doing and you shouldn't have had to pay for it either. Go back and make a fuss, be firm and assertive not bolshy.
Good luck - keep us informed. Remember, a poor reputation is bad for business I would also threaten to expose them on this site if they don't cooperate as well as contacting your local trading standards people too.
Schazz
The hard part is proving it was their fault. But once you have got their confirmation of such a gaurentee - go back to them and make them aware of the problem stating your rights to have the poor workmanship fixed under the terms of their guarentee. Its obvious the person who fixed the problem didn't know what they were doing and you shouldn't have had to pay for it either. Go back and make a fuss, be firm and assertive not bolshy.
Good luck - keep us informed. Remember, a poor reputation is bad for business I would also threaten to expose them on this site if they don't cooperate as well as contacting your local trading standards people too.
Schazz
Thanks for the advice Schazz. Some good points in there, and much appreciated. Repair was within the last couple of months so I hope I'll be OK.
Sorry I'll have to delay your ride for a while, till this is all sorted . (I'm in Derbyshire anyway so it will need to be planned - maybe at PH4?)
I'll keep everyone posted as to how I get on.
Andy 400se
>> Edited by andymadmak on Saturday 29th June 21:12
Sorry I'll have to delay your ride for a while, till this is all sorted . (I'm in Derbyshire anyway so it will need to be planned - maybe at PH4?)
I'll keep everyone posted as to how I get on.
Andy 400se
>> Edited by andymadmak on Saturday 29th June 21:12
Sorry to here that. If its the garage I think you used then I can only say I have had good service/advice over the years off them (mail order only). Hope the tradition continues when you go back.
I have, in the past, extracted several duff studs but I had good access to drill a hole for the extracter. It is tight there. Enough room for a right angled drill? Also if you end up doing it yourself, don't buy cheap extractors, they can break in the stud and are as hard if not harder than drills. Other way I have overcome this is to drill out and re-tap, but thats another can of worms if there is no room.
Also if the manifold is steel then it may be flexible enough to handle it?
Good luck.
I have, in the past, extracted several duff studs but I had good access to drill a hole for the extracter. It is tight there. Enough room for a right angled drill? Also if you end up doing it yourself, don't buy cheap extractors, they can break in the stud and are as hard if not harder than drills. Other way I have overcome this is to drill out and re-tap, but thats another can of worms if there is no room.
Also if the manifold is steel then it may be flexible enough to handle it?
Good luck.
quote:
Sorry to here that. If its the garage I think you used then I can only say I have had good service/advice over the years off them (mail order only). Hope the tradition continues when you go back.
I have, in the past, extracted several duff studs but I had good access to drill a hole for the extracter. It is tight there. Enough room for a right angled drill? Also if you end up doing it yourself, don't buy cheap extractors, they can break in the stud and are as hard if not harder than drills. Other way I have overcome this is to drill out and re-tap, but thats another can of worms if there is no room.
Also if the manifold is steel then it may be flexible enough to handle it?
Good luck.
Don't think there's room in there for anything much!
I'm speeking to the garage this morning. The work was only done at the very end of April so it has to be covered in my view.
I'll post some info when I know more
Cheers
Andy
Speaking from (recent!!) experience of bodgy twats who strip threads in alloy cylinder heads, I can offer the following...
I had 5 out of 8 threads stripped, also in the n/s manifold. I looked into the drill/ tap/helicoil in situ scenario, but there wasn't room at the back of the bay for even the smallest r/angled drill I could borrow.
Then I considered taking the engine off its mountings and lifting it as high as poss with a crane, then leaning it over. I still think this might work, but in the event I took the cylinder head off, found more probs and took the whole motor out. I was then able to effect some additional repairs and improvements around the place, but I digress.
Helicoiling the stripped threads is a piece of cake, but you may find that the holes wander a midgies todger, enough so that the cumulative error means the manifold bolts won't all go in. I found there was enough meat on the manifold flanges that I could run them through with a 12mm drill to correct the error.
Worst case scenario, if you or the garage have to take the head off, it's not really THAT expensive a fix. If you have snapped bolt(s) then all I can say is you must have a tough cyl. head, 'cos the amount of torque you can apply to those bolts is high! I doubt you'd have an easy job extracting a snapped one in situ.
I appreciate it's not your fault but that of the last git, but as I say worst case...
W.
I had 5 out of 8 threads stripped, also in the n/s manifold. I looked into the drill/ tap/helicoil in situ scenario, but there wasn't room at the back of the bay for even the smallest r/angled drill I could borrow.
Then I considered taking the engine off its mountings and lifting it as high as poss with a crane, then leaning it over. I still think this might work, but in the event I took the cylinder head off, found more probs and took the whole motor out. I was then able to effect some additional repairs and improvements around the place, but I digress.
Helicoiling the stripped threads is a piece of cake, but you may find that the holes wander a midgies todger, enough so that the cumulative error means the manifold bolts won't all go in. I found there was enough meat on the manifold flanges that I could run them through with a 12mm drill to correct the error.
Worst case scenario, if you or the garage have to take the head off, it's not really THAT expensive a fix. If you have snapped bolt(s) then all I can say is you must have a tough cyl. head, 'cos the amount of torque you can apply to those bolts is high! I doubt you'd have an easy job extracting a snapped one in situ.
I appreciate it's not your fault but that of the last git, but as I say worst case...
W.
Well Nick, it goes back in to ***** tomorrow. (I'm a good boy aren't I Ted!) I've discussed the problems with the proprietor, and we will see how things get sorted. I haven't revealed that I know about the stripped thread yet. Lets see if it gets spotted when he does the repair. Its easy for me to check when I go to pick it up! He's got 3 weeks, cos I'm away.
More news then!
Cheers
Andy 400se
>> Edited by andymadmak on Friday 5th July 22:47
More news then!
Cheers
Andy 400se
>> Edited by andymadmak on Friday 5th July 22:47
Well the beast is now with the garage. Having spoken to the man in charge I feel good about getting it all resolved amicably.
As a bonus today Nubbin took me out for a thrash in his Tamora. All I can say from thr passenger seat is WOW WOW WOW WOW WOW!!!!!!! (thanks again Duncan)
Truly awesone. The acceleration, roadholding and handling are the stuff that we wedge boys can only dream about!
Wedge soundtrack is better though! I feel a difficult choice approaching.
Cheers all
Andy 400se
As a bonus today Nubbin took me out for a thrash in his Tamora. All I can say from thr passenger seat is WOW WOW WOW WOW WOW!!!!!!! (thanks again Duncan)
Truly awesone. The acceleration, roadholding and handling are the stuff that we wedge boys can only dream about!
Wedge soundtrack is better though! I feel a difficult choice approaching.
Cheers all
Andy 400se
quote:
Well the beast is now with the garage. Having spoken to the man in charge I feel good about getting it all resolved amicably.
As a bonus today Nubbin took me out for a thrash in his Tamora. All I can say from thr passenger seat is WOW WOW WOW WOW WOW!!!!!!! (thanks again Duncan)
Truly awesone. The acceleration, roadholding and handling are the stuff that we wedge boys can only dream about!
this would'nt be the 400 I saw on Thursday having roll bar fitted, and had flat tyre, would it?
Wedge soundtrack is better though! I feel a difficult choice approaching.
Cheers all
Andy 400se
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