Vauxhall Adam Catastrophic Engine Failure
Discussion
Hi all,
Looking for some advice/help! My Vauxhall Adam is 3 and 1/2 years old, warranty ran out in March this year. Currently has 26k miles on the clock.
Last week, whilst driving back to Newcastle from Leeds, a red warning light appeared stating 'oil failure, turn engine off'. I immediately pulled over and turned the car off. I attempted to turn the engine back on and it did start but it sounded like a bag of hammers. The RAC came out 3 hours later and advised that the oil pump had seized and therefore caused the engine to fail too.
I was towed back to Newcastle and rang Bristol Street Motors to see if they could help as this was where my usual service had been. They told me to bring the car in and they'd do a diagnostic test on the car to identify if it was actually the oil pump/engine, so I did. They advised if it was the engine, with it being a newish car they could possibly provide a contribution towards this but estimated it would cost 4.3k to fix, my car is only worth about 6k if that!
They have done an initial diagnostic, however, did not even look at the engine... Advised me that my battery is dead (my hazards were on for 5 hours sitting on the A1... so I wasn't surprised it was dead tbh). Charged 90 quid for that and are now requesting 640 quid to do a diagnostic test on my engine!
Spoke to Vauxhall themselves, who said they'd investigate this with the dealer. Totally been messed around as rang back today to hear them ask 'oh, have you not rang the dealer?'... Been told unless I pay the 640 to get the diagnostic done they won't even consider the contribution to the engine, which is understandable. However, my issue is, is that I've had no warning to say there was something wrong with my oil until this red warning light, which has then led to catastrophic engine failure!
Has anyone else experienced anything like this? If so what would your advice be?
- Pay the 640 and hope that Vauxhall offer a decent contribution to the car
- Get a second hand engine fitted by another garage
- See what price Vauxhall would offer to purchase the car back and just get a new car?
Appreciate any advice that you have as I'm useless with cars!
Looking for some advice/help! My Vauxhall Adam is 3 and 1/2 years old, warranty ran out in March this year. Currently has 26k miles on the clock.
Last week, whilst driving back to Newcastle from Leeds, a red warning light appeared stating 'oil failure, turn engine off'. I immediately pulled over and turned the car off. I attempted to turn the engine back on and it did start but it sounded like a bag of hammers. The RAC came out 3 hours later and advised that the oil pump had seized and therefore caused the engine to fail too.
I was towed back to Newcastle and rang Bristol Street Motors to see if they could help as this was where my usual service had been. They told me to bring the car in and they'd do a diagnostic test on the car to identify if it was actually the oil pump/engine, so I did. They advised if it was the engine, with it being a newish car they could possibly provide a contribution towards this but estimated it would cost 4.3k to fix, my car is only worth about 6k if that!
They have done an initial diagnostic, however, did not even look at the engine... Advised me that my battery is dead (my hazards were on for 5 hours sitting on the A1... so I wasn't surprised it was dead tbh). Charged 90 quid for that and are now requesting 640 quid to do a diagnostic test on my engine!
Spoke to Vauxhall themselves, who said they'd investigate this with the dealer. Totally been messed around as rang back today to hear them ask 'oh, have you not rang the dealer?'... Been told unless I pay the 640 to get the diagnostic done they won't even consider the contribution to the engine, which is understandable. However, my issue is, is that I've had no warning to say there was something wrong with my oil until this red warning light, which has then led to catastrophic engine failure!
Has anyone else experienced anything like this? If so what would your advice be?
- Pay the 640 and hope that Vauxhall offer a decent contribution to the car
- Get a second hand engine fitted by another garage
- See what price Vauxhall would offer to purchase the car back and just get a new car?
Appreciate any advice that you have as I'm useless with cars!
I'd love to know what diagnostics they intend to do for £640 when you already know the engine is f**ked !!
And I would barely trust a main dealer to even know how to diagnose let alone rebuild lol
Really...your cheapest option would be find a reputable garage and get a good replacement engine, there's bound to be plenty of them about ?
If you pay the £640 to Vauxhall...really no idea what they're pretending they'll see or find out, unless you've driven it with no oil or something and more than likely they'll just say tough luck, keep your money and demand another small fortune.
Seems to be plenty of engines on ebay for example, ranging from £450-1000 although you dont state which engine you have.
And I would barely trust a main dealer to even know how to diagnose let alone rebuild lol
Really...your cheapest option would be find a reputable garage and get a good replacement engine, there's bound to be plenty of them about ?
If you pay the £640 to Vauxhall...really no idea what they're pretending they'll see or find out, unless you've driven it with no oil or something and more than likely they'll just say tough luck, keep your money and demand another small fortune.
Seems to be plenty of engines on ebay for example, ranging from £450-1000 although you dont state which engine you have.
stevieturbo said:
I'd love to know what diagnostics they intend to do for £640 when you already know the engine is f**ked !!
Take it out, drop the sump, remove the oil pump, and see what's actually broken. Obviously, the end result is the same, but if the seizure is caused by an oil pump failure it's a very different kettle of fish to if it's due to a lack of oil.
i'm confused why pay for diagnostics when rac said oil pump failure.
I would say it was faulty and remind Vauxhall under uk law, if there is a fault in oil pump you can claim costs back. you might need an expert report but worth a try. i would work out if it is better to scrap, replace engine.
I would say it was faulty and remind Vauxhall under uk law, if there is a fault in oil pump you can claim costs back. you might need an expert report but worth a try. i would work out if it is better to scrap, replace engine.
Thesprucegoose said:
i'm confused why pay for diagnostics when rac said oil pump failure.
Maybe the RAC are wrong?Thesprucegoose said:
I would say it was faulty
That's a bit of a truism. The question is why.Thesprucegoose said:
and remind Vauxhall under uk law, if there is a fault in oil pump you can claim costs back.
What law says that?Thesprucegoose said:
you might need an expert report
Which will cost how much?Thesprucegoose said:
i'm confused why pay for diagnostics when rac said oil pump failure.
I would say it was faulty and remind Vauxhall under uk law, if there is a fault in oil pump you can claim costs back. you might need an expert report but worth a try. i would work out if it is better to scrap, replace engine.
How would you know it was faulty if you had not taken it apart for an inspection ?I would say it was faulty and remind Vauxhall under uk law, if there is a fault in oil pump you can claim costs back. you might need an expert report but worth a try. i would work out if it is better to scrap, replace engine.
Is there even any oil still in the engine ? 6 months without checking the oil is a bad start, even if a common occurrence.
So whoever used the term diagnostic is perhaps a little misleading...inspection would be better wording. But I'd really doubt most main dealers would have the ability to take an engine apart let alone inspect and diagnose where a problem may have occurred....I wouldnt even trust most to do an oil change !
The OP could try kicking up on social media, maybe getting local radio involved as there are usually help areas there because the vehicle is such low mileage. However low miles does not always be a good thing depending how those miles are accumulated.
If the engine had oil in it and the car has a full Vauxhall service history you might get some goodwill from Vauxhall if its something like the oil pump has failed. However if it has run out of oil and/or has missed a service or not serviced by a Vauxhall dealer then you have no chance of any help from them.
The car has full service history and previous service was at a Vauxhall garage in March. I was advised from the RAC that there was still oil in it but that the oil pump wasn’t circulating it as it should. I did check the oil like I say about 2 weeks ago as I was going on a longer journey than I normally do. Again I don’t have the greatest knowledge about cars so just looking for advice.
Huntsman said:
Did you ask them what they would do for £640?
Say £100 an hour, that's five hours plus vat.
What on earth are they going to do for five hours to diagnose it?
Probably very little as they wouldnt know how...but charge it anyway.Say £100 an hour, that's five hours plus vat.
What on earth are they going to do for five hours to diagnose it?
Really...you could pay the £640 and take a gamble, or find a reputable garage who can swap an engine and pay maybe double that or so for a finished job.
Of course there is risk either way, depends which is the biggest gamble.
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