1.5 Blue HDI. Mechanic has damaged my engine, advice needed
Discussion
Hope someone can offer some advice on right and possibly mechanical knowledge. I’ll start by adding I’m not experienced with cars I’m relatively new to it all.
I have a 2018 3008 with the 1.5 blueHDI. I’d heard about issues with the 7mm chain. Cars in with a well established local garage, for cambelt+pump, upgrade kit to the 8mm chain for peace of mind and service.They tried to tell me they can just put the 8mm chain on and I told them I’d researched it and showed them the kit I’d seen is needed (new cams, the new housing etc).
after being messed around all week with excuses of why it’s delayed. they’ve admitted they thought it was fine to basically ignore me, and they’ve put the 8mm chain on and started it and the engines knackered.
They’ve admitted it’s their fault and to rectify at their expensive but I have absolutely no faith in them whatsoever at this point. They’ve told me they intend to skim them head as it’s “bad practice not too”, replace all of the valves, rebuild the engine and obviously fit the full kit like I actually paid for…
does this sound right and likely to have the engine put back right properly? I’ve read mixed things about skimming, is there anything I should look out for or expect them to do? I bought the car a matter of weeks ago with full history And very very well looked after, had a lot of faith it’d be a reliable motor and now it feels like it’s all been knackered up… could really do with some advice from someone more knowledgeable as I don’t know what to do or think and I’m worried I won’t get the car back right/the same as it was
I have a 2018 3008 with the 1.5 blueHDI. I’d heard about issues with the 7mm chain. Cars in with a well established local garage, for cambelt+pump, upgrade kit to the 8mm chain for peace of mind and service.They tried to tell me they can just put the 8mm chain on and I told them I’d researched it and showed them the kit I’d seen is needed (new cams, the new housing etc).
after being messed around all week with excuses of why it’s delayed. they’ve admitted they thought it was fine to basically ignore me, and they’ve put the 8mm chain on and started it and the engines knackered.
They’ve admitted it’s their fault and to rectify at their expensive but I have absolutely no faith in them whatsoever at this point. They’ve told me they intend to skim them head as it’s “bad practice not too”, replace all of the valves, rebuild the engine and obviously fit the full kit like I actually paid for…
does this sound right and likely to have the engine put back right properly? I’ve read mixed things about skimming, is there anything I should look out for or expect them to do? I bought the car a matter of weeks ago with full history And very very well looked after, had a lot of faith it’d be a reliable motor and now it feels like it’s all been knackered up… could really do with some advice from someone more knowledgeable as I don’t know what to do or think and I’m worried I won’t get the car back right/the same as it was
Is it likely any damage will be routed out n it’ll be 100% as should be? They have been decent admitted it’s down to their mistake etc, but it’s a lot of money I’ve spent on the car n I don’t wanna end up with weakened parts or problems down the line. Forgive me for being a bit clueless it’s simply because I am lol. I’m trying to learn but as I say I’m new to it all
I'm assuming the timing chain has slipped/jumped teeth, resulting in valve-piston contact either during starting or very shortly afterwards. If that's the case, the engine isn't at great speed, so the momentum of the parts which come into contact isn't that huge. Not like it snapped bouncing off the rev limiter, for example.
Also with it being a valve timing issue rather than a heat-related reason and/or head gasket failure, I'd not expect the head or block to be warped - but its worth checking. If they're offering to skim it too, I'd take them up on that because it gives longevity of the head gasket from future failure (basically it restarts the clock on its wear).
I'd say, you have a pretty good deal out of the situation, could have been a lot worse.
Also with it being a valve timing issue rather than a heat-related reason and/or head gasket failure, I'd not expect the head or block to be warped - but its worth checking. If they're offering to skim it too, I'd take them up on that because it gives longevity of the head gasket from future failure (basically it restarts the clock on its wear).
I'd say, you have a pretty good deal out of the situation, could have been a lot worse.
Hopefully at the end of it all you can ask them to warranty the work and also apply some discount to the timing chain costs for the grief caused. They may well make a bad job good and if so you should consider using them as they have demonstrated to look after you. Time will tell on that.
paul_c123 said:
I'm assuming the timing chain has slipped/jumped teeth, resulting in valve-piston contact either during starting or very shortly afterwards. If that's the case, the engine isn't at great speed, so the momentum of the parts which come into contact isn't that huge. Not like it snapped bouncing off the rev limiter, for example.
Also with it being a valve timing issue rather than a heat-related reason and/or head gasket failure, I'd not expect the head or block to be warped - but its worth checking. If they're offering to skim it too, I'd take them up on that because it gives longevity of the head gasket from future failure (basically it restarts the clock on its wear).
I'd say, you have a pretty good deal out of the situation, could have been a lot worse.
To clarify, a good deal would be for them to have installed the correct parts, and not have this situation at all. They botched why shoul of been a simple job, and caused the damage so they’re not doing me a favour by putting it right.. what I’m tryna ask to be clearer, is whether you’d trust them to put right what they’ve damaged properly, and what likely needs doing. Also with it being a valve timing issue rather than a heat-related reason and/or head gasket failure, I'd not expect the head or block to be warped - but its worth checking. If they're offering to skim it too, I'd take them up on that because it gives longevity of the head gasket from future failure (basically it restarts the clock on its wear).
I'd say, you have a pretty good deal out of the situation, could have been a lot worse.
They weren’t meant to fit a full kit, which I’d paid them for, to accommodate the 8mm chain, and instead they tried to leave the 7mm cams/sprockets/housing and just put the 8mm chain on. It therefore snapped and caused the damage.
For clarity, I'd say you're getting "betterment" in that you went in for a timing chain, and are coming out with a timing chain + reconditioned head. Sure, we'd all love if they fixed it properly first time but I can see how the 7mm vs 8mm issue occurred, after all they're human etc.
I'd not use a mixup between a 7mm and 8mm chain as an indication of corner-cutting, just that they never realised, or didn't check and see the 1mm difference.
I'd not use a mixup between a 7mm and 8mm chain as an indication of corner-cutting, just that they never realised, or didn't check and see the 1mm difference.
paul_c123 said:
For clarity, I'd say you're getting "betterment" in that you went in for a timing chain, and are coming out with a timing chain + reconditioned head. Sure, we'd all love if they fixed it properly first time but I can see how the 7mm vs 8mm issue occurred, after all they're human etc.
I'd not use a mixup between a 7mm and 8mm chain as an indication of corner-cutting, just that they never realised, or didn't check and see the 1mm difference.
Be honest now. Would you as a customer be happy here?I'd not use a mixup between a 7mm and 8mm chain as an indication of corner-cutting, just that they never realised, or didn't check and see the 1mm difference.
Edited by loskie on Saturday 8th March 21:24
From your description they are a decent garage as they’ve owned up and are going to rectify the damage.
The big one for me is them even mentioning getting the head skimmed most garages would do the absolute bare minimum but these guys seem to want to do it right as they don’t want it coming back after bodging it
Most garages would get the apprentice to pull it apart replace the bare minimum to sort it and send it out the door.
Local independent garages reputation is everything.
The big one for me is them even mentioning getting the head skimmed most garages would do the absolute bare minimum but these guys seem to want to do it right as they don’t want it coming back after bodging it
Most garages would get the apprentice to pull it apart replace the bare minimum to sort it and send it out the door.
Local independent garages reputation is everything.
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