Cambelt just snapped, advice needed 57 A3 TDI
Discussion
Hi all
Gutted post, driving home tonight and my cambelt has just snapped
Now i'm gutted iv'e only had the car 4 months and here's why I seek advice. I bought the car privatly paid cash it's a 57 plate 2.0 tdi s/line fsh with 110k. Service book shows belt changed at carlisle audi @ 72k and the chap i bought it off said that the belt had just been changed about a month prior to me getting it at a local garage but no reciept.
Anyway should I speak to the owner and see if it had been changed and try and persue the garage as it must have a warranty unless it was cash in hand or speak to Audi UK and see what if any warranty they give as the car has only covered 40k since it was changed and the belt intervals are 80k and 160k.
Advice please as I'm about to cry
Gutted post, driving home tonight and my cambelt has just snapped
Now i'm gutted iv'e only had the car 4 months and here's why I seek advice. I bought the car privatly paid cash it's a 57 plate 2.0 tdi s/line fsh with 110k. Service book shows belt changed at carlisle audi @ 72k and the chap i bought it off said that the belt had just been changed about a month prior to me getting it at a local garage but no reciept.
Anyway should I speak to the owner and see if it had been changed and try and persue the garage as it must have a warranty unless it was cash in hand or speak to Audi UK and see what if any warranty they give as the car has only covered 40k since it was changed and the belt intervals are 80k and 160k.
Advice please as I'm about to cry
Sounds unfortunate but as far as I'm aware cambelts can snap at anytime whether it be 2000 miles or 100,000 miles. You may be lucky and little damage may have been done but you won't know until the heads off. I think it may be a case of aceepting it although theres no harm in looking into it with audi and the garage that may have changed it.
This will be difficult.
You may have a claim against the garage who fitted the belt, but without a receipt you'll struggle. This also complicates the story with Audi as they will point to poor parts/workmanship. I'm surprised the belt was changed again as surely it was well within the specified interval - something suspicious here? Otherwise you'd have had a better claim as it was a main dealer fitted belt which changed.
You could try a claim against audi, or appeal for goodwill, but unless you're dishonest about the non-dealer work being done you would have no chance, and even then you'd need a gold-plated main dealer service record.
You should discuss this with trading standards, but on a car with that mileage I think you're just purely out of luck.
You may have a claim against the garage who fitted the belt, but without a receipt you'll struggle. This also complicates the story with Audi as they will point to poor parts/workmanship. I'm surprised the belt was changed again as surely it was well within the specified interval - something suspicious here? Otherwise you'd have had a better claim as it was a main dealer fitted belt which changed.
You could try a claim against audi, or appeal for goodwill, but unless you're dishonest about the non-dealer work being done you would have no chance, and even then you'd need a gold-plated main dealer service record.
You should discuss this with trading standards, but on a car with that mileage I think you're just purely out of luck.
I have the car registered with audi uk. I'm hoping as they changed the belt they might give a little on the repair costs. I wasn't sure what had happened at first as the car still turns over but a quick peek behind the covers shows a slack belt so i'm not holding too much hope
Do they bend valves etc, any idea on costs
Do they bend valves etc, any idea on costs
GreigM said:
This will be difficult.
You may have a claim against the garage who fitted the belt, but without a receipt you'll struggle. This also complicates the story with Audi as they will point to poor parts/workmanship. I'm surprised the belt was changed again as surely it was well within the specified interval - something suspicious here? Otherwise you'd have had a better claim as it was a main dealer fitted belt which changed.
You could try a claim against audi, or appeal for goodwill, but unless you're dishonest about the non-dealer work being done you would have no chance, and even then you'd need a gold-plated main dealer service record.
You should discuss this with trading standards, but on a car with that mileage I think you're just purely out of luck.
IIRC the interval on the majority of VAG diesel engines is a suggested 4 years, with a check at 60k and subsequent checks at 20k. You may have a claim against the garage who fitted the belt, but without a receipt you'll struggle. This also complicates the story with Audi as they will point to poor parts/workmanship. I'm surprised the belt was changed again as surely it was well within the specified interval - something suspicious here? Otherwise you'd have had a better claim as it was a main dealer fitted belt which changed.
You could try a claim against audi, or appeal for goodwill, but unless you're dishonest about the non-dealer work being done you would have no chance, and even then you'd need a gold-plated main dealer service record.
You should discuss this with trading standards, but on a car with that mileage I think you're just purely out of luck.
If you get the covers stripped and it appears to be a new belt, and you somehow have the receipt, you could take it up with audi or whoever supplied the belt and perhaps get a warranty claim. If the belt appears to never of been changed, well, thats for you to take up with the seller, something you're probably not going to get very far with from a private sale.
Bezerk said:
I agree with others who say just get it fixed.
Cost wise it really does depend how much damage has been done.
If everything needs replacing, all valves etc. my guess is £1500+ at Audi.
I think the above's spot on unfortunately - I doubt Audi will be interested if it was changed outside of the dealer network.Cost wise it really does depend how much damage has been done.
If everything needs replacing, all valves etc. my guess is £1500+ at Audi.
Definitely something fishy going on here. If it was changed at 72k, why change it again at 110k? Even going from when it was first changed you would expect it to last at least another 40k/couple of years.
Regardless, speculation is a bit futile. It's your car and it is broken, therefore it is your problem. It sucks but that's life!
Regardless, speculation is a bit futile. It's your car and it is broken, therefore it is your problem. It sucks but that's life!
Does belt look new?
Had a similar thing happen.
I bought a car with belt done and a reciept and then sold it to a friend and the belt snapped.
Gates analysed the belt and said it was the original and hadnt been changed.
Friend contacted a solicitor who said the case could only be taken further by the named person kn the reciept.
Garage was contacted who didnt want to know. Wouldnt even look at the car.
Your only chance is that the audi garage that changed it which you have reciept for offer some good will but I dont think you have a much chance.
Simon
Had a similar thing happen.
I bought a car with belt done and a reciept and then sold it to a friend and the belt snapped.
Gates analysed the belt and said it was the original and hadnt been changed.
Friend contacted a solicitor who said the case could only be taken further by the named person kn the reciept.
Garage was contacted who didnt want to know. Wouldnt even look at the car.
Your only chance is that the audi garage that changed it which you have reciept for offer some good will but I dont think you have a much chance.
Simon
As previous posters have said, you will have no joy from Audi as they didn't fit the last cambelt. You have no recourse against the seller as it was a private sale unless he made untrue statements about the car. The last garage who fitted the cambelt won't be interested either as you are not in contract with them.
I am curious as to why the last owner was fastidious enough to get the cambelt replaced early yet not fastidious enough to keep a receipt.
I am curious as to why the last owner was fastidious enough to get the cambelt replaced early yet not fastidious enough to keep a receipt.
MAFOOGOON said:
I have the car registered with audi uk. I'm hoping as they changed the belt they might give a little on the repair costs. I wasn't sure what had happened at first as the car still turns over but a quick peek behind the covers shows a slack belt so i'm not holding too much hope
Do they bend valves etc, any idea on costs
don't try and run the car or turn it overDo they bend valves etc, any idea on costs
could be a water pump seizure that's buggered it all
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