Did I kill my friends car?
Poll: Did I kill my friends car?
Total Members Polled: 273
Discussion
Strange story happened to my this weekend. Went on a trip with some friends and we took one of my mates Skoda Superb estate 1.4 petrol, front wheel drive and manual, ca. 2018.
My friend drove ca. 4 miles to the next town to pick something up, we stood for 10 minutes and I took over. Another 4 miles to the motorway. (also I think my mate drove the car the same morning already, but not sure). While adjusting various stuff, I spotted the car had a digital oil temperature readout and I recall seeing something in the 80s degree C. Entering the motorway, I accelerated from 2nd gear gradually to 100% throttle and shifting into 3rd before the red line to get the underpowered, heavy car to motorway speed.
That is when the car flashed an EPC warning and went into a 4000 rpm max safemode. My mate/owners first reaction was „oh no, why did you accelerate like a lunatic, this hasn‘t happened in over 2 years (!)“
I pulled into a service station a mile further away and stopped. After having the ignition off for 30 seconds, the warning was away and we continued our journey. Accelerating gingerly, but driving between @70-90mph in 5th and 6th, after 50 miles the car list power, slowing down to around 30mph, me pulling on the hard shoulder, but after about 30 seconds everything was back to normal. Just the EPC and 4000 rpm safemode flashing.
We left the motorway turned the car of for 10 minutes and everything was fine again. Continued the 200 miles journey with the occasional EPC warning for a minute, but no other issue.
My mate starts making comments about how I‘m paying for all of this, which at that point I thought he was joking. The next day, he and others drove the car, but I didn‘t. Same story: occasional EPC warning light with no other symptoms and went away after a short time. Of course I google what it could be and I wasn‘t worried about it being a major issue.
But I started to realise he wasn‘t joking and was blaming me for the fault and is excepting me to pay for any repair.
Today I went home by train early, but started to get angry text messages of my mate driving home, now having a check engine light and the car running rough and shaking.
What baffles me is that my mate is a pistonhead but a bad driver. Other than not being an attentive driver, he labours the engine. He drives around in 6th gear with 1000 rpm wherever possible. Of course I told him that this is a bad habit and puts enormous strain on the engine, mainly crank bearing, piston but also wears down the oil film. He was having none off it, claiming a low rpm equals low stress on the engine.
He is dead sure that I killed his car because I supposedly thrashed his car from cold like a lunatic and that I was paying for it.
Anyhow, really stupid situation to be in and I told him to discuss this in person and that he is more than welcome to ask any mechanic for advice, but that I‘m not responsible for this.
What is your take on this? Any opinions welcome!
My friend drove ca. 4 miles to the next town to pick something up, we stood for 10 minutes and I took over. Another 4 miles to the motorway. (also I think my mate drove the car the same morning already, but not sure). While adjusting various stuff, I spotted the car had a digital oil temperature readout and I recall seeing something in the 80s degree C. Entering the motorway, I accelerated from 2nd gear gradually to 100% throttle and shifting into 3rd before the red line to get the underpowered, heavy car to motorway speed.
That is when the car flashed an EPC warning and went into a 4000 rpm max safemode. My mate/owners first reaction was „oh no, why did you accelerate like a lunatic, this hasn‘t happened in over 2 years (!)“
I pulled into a service station a mile further away and stopped. After having the ignition off for 30 seconds, the warning was away and we continued our journey. Accelerating gingerly, but driving between @70-90mph in 5th and 6th, after 50 miles the car list power, slowing down to around 30mph, me pulling on the hard shoulder, but after about 30 seconds everything was back to normal. Just the EPC and 4000 rpm safemode flashing.
We left the motorway turned the car of for 10 minutes and everything was fine again. Continued the 200 miles journey with the occasional EPC warning for a minute, but no other issue.
My mate starts making comments about how I‘m paying for all of this, which at that point I thought he was joking. The next day, he and others drove the car, but I didn‘t. Same story: occasional EPC warning light with no other symptoms and went away after a short time. Of course I google what it could be and I wasn‘t worried about it being a major issue.
But I started to realise he wasn‘t joking and was blaming me for the fault and is excepting me to pay for any repair.
Today I went home by train early, but started to get angry text messages of my mate driving home, now having a check engine light and the car running rough and shaking.
What baffles me is that my mate is a pistonhead but a bad driver. Other than not being an attentive driver, he labours the engine. He drives around in 6th gear with 1000 rpm wherever possible. Of course I told him that this is a bad habit and puts enormous strain on the engine, mainly crank bearing, piston but also wears down the oil film. He was having none off it, claiming a low rpm equals low stress on the engine.
He is dead sure that I killed his car because I supposedly thrashed his car from cold like a lunatic and that I was paying for it.
Anyhow, really stupid situation to be in and I told him to discuss this in person and that he is more than welcome to ask any mechanic for advice, but that I‘m not responsible for this.
What is your take on this? Any opinions welcome!
If all you did was redline a warm engine in 2nd and change into 3rd as normal without 'power shifting' or money shifting it into 1st by accident, you were just unlucky to be behind the wheel when something failed. The car should be able to take 100% throttle when warm and shift up a gear.
Are you sure you've properly described exactly what you did? Or were you abusing the car a bit?
Are you sure you've properly described exactly what you did? Or were you abusing the car a bit?
He’s not your mate. Blaming you for an existing issue on his car is a d**k move. The fault has existed for a while now and he’s using you to extort monies out of. Tell him to do one.
It sounds like a sensor on the car has been on its way out for a while and finally has gone completely out of spec so the ECU is has flashed it up. As you said if its been over 2 years since the first time that has happened then he needs to look after his car better..
It sounds like a sensor on the car has been on its way out for a while and finally has gone completely out of spec so the ECU is has flashed it up. As you said if its been over 2 years since the first time that has happened then he needs to look after his car better..
Edited by Dewithedragon on Sunday 4th February 22:17
Why would you think it's ok to accelerate full throttle and rev it towards the red line in someone else's car? You know he doesn't drive the car like that, so why was it ok for you?
Most people wouldn't be happy if other people did that with their car without permission.
Most people wouldn't be happy if other people did that with their car without permission.
Edited by Driver101 on Sunday 4th February 22:22
You didn't do anything that the car isn't designed to do. It sounds like a coilpack and because he didn't get it sorted there and then, and instead drove it for miles, he's probably caused damage.
Bad luck that you were driving it at the time. It could have happened to him while he was driving it.
Bad luck that you were driving it at the time. It could have happened to him while he was driving it.
I didn‘t „redline“ the car, but changed before hitting the limiter. Also I suppose a limiter would cut fuel and/or ignition, hence the word limiter. I‘d be surprised if the car didn‘t have this.
I have great mechanical sympathy but I do take a car by his neck, especially if it is underpowered. I treat other peoples stuff not differently than I treat my own stuff.
Without even knowing what the fault actually is (sound like a broken throttle body to me), there is no way I caused it in 10 minute/4 miles of driving, imo.
I really don‘t think my friend is trying to pull one on me, but rather that he is clueless.
I have great mechanical sympathy but I do take a car by his neck, especially if it is underpowered. I treat other peoples stuff not differently than I treat my own stuff.
Without even knowing what the fault actually is (sound like a broken throttle body to me), there is no way I caused it in 10 minute/4 miles of driving, imo.
I really don‘t think my friend is trying to pull one on me, but rather that he is clueless.
Maybe I'm old fashioned but I would never jump into the driving seat of somebody else's car and immediately red-line it in second gear.
Leaving that aside, it's not obvious how such driving would cause an immediate engine problem. First step is to find out what's actually wrong with the car and work from there. Since it happened while you were driving it would be polite to assist with the process even if you don't feel any personal responsibility for whatever the fault turns out to be.
Leaving that aside, it's not obvious how such driving would cause an immediate engine problem. First step is to find out what's actually wrong with the car and work from there. Since it happened while you were driving it would be polite to assist with the process even if you don't feel any personal responsibility for whatever the fault turns out to be.
Driver101 said:
Why would you think it's ok to accelerate full throttle and rev it to the red line in someone else's car?
Most people wouldn't be happy if other people did that with their car without permission.
Give over, it's an underengined lardbeast and the OP was joining a motorway; it's likely the safest way to do this if it was busy is to hoof it and use the available rev range. Most people wouldn't be happy if other people did that with their car without permission.
Maxym said:
Don’t think you were at fault. You need some better mates…
This. I'd certainly be mentioning the problem existing for 2 years or so, by his own admission, then telling him in no uncertain terms to do one! From the sound of it other mutual friends will know of it as well. As stated earlier, he's not a friend, he's a d
head trying to lay blame! Get rid of him, not in a permanent way obviously! 
hidetheelephants said:
Driver101 said:
Why would you think it's ok to accelerate full throttle and rev it to the red line in someone else's car?
Most people wouldn't be happy if other people did that with their car without permission.
Give over, it's an underengined lardbeast and the OP was joining a motorway; it's likely the safest way to do this if it was busy is to hoof it and use the available rev range. Most people wouldn't be happy if other people did that with their car without permission.
There is a lot of cars on the road that can't manage to do 0-60mph in the 8 second bracket. I haven't sat next to many people that have needed to use 100% throttle and go to the redline to join a motorway. Especially in a modern turbocharged engine with low down torque.
Edited by Driver101 on Sunday 4th February 22:50
hidetheelephants said:
Give over, it's an underengined lardbeast and the OP was joining a motorway; it's likely the safest way to do this if it was busy is to hoof it and use the available rev range.
They’re not exactly a ball of fire, especially if there was few lads in it, but they’re not that bad - plenty of other cars, let alone all other non-cars on the road, will be slower.I agree with others, taking someone else’s car even near to the red line is just plain rude, not to mention stupid.
Filibuster said:
What baffles me is that my mate is a pistonhead but a bad driver.
You mean he thinks he is. But he isn't is he. he probably thinks a BMW m-sport is a meaningful reference, doesn't he?Every template male thinks he needs to be seen to "know a bit" about cars, household electrics, sporting rules. Etc.
More sophisticated individuals can reconcile their limitations, but everyone else need their egos treating softly if you know about the subject but want an easy life.
Anyone who knows the first bit about motors would see what the fault even is trying to say before thinking of accusing you of anything. But unless they were poor and it was free, they wouldn't be driving a barge powered by 1.4 litres of mayhem in the first place.
Panamax said:
Maybe I'm old fashioned but I would never jump into the driving seat of somebody else's car and immediately red-line it in second gear.
Leaving that aside, it's not obvious how such driving would cause an immediate engine problem. First step is to find out what's actually wrong with the car and work from there. Since it happened while you were driving it would be polite to assist with the process even if you don't feel any personal responsibility for whatever the fault turns out to be.
I’m with you on this summary….Leaving that aside, it's not obvious how such driving would cause an immediate engine problem. First step is to find out what's actually wrong with the car and work from there. Since it happened while you were driving it would be polite to assist with the process even if you don't feel any personal responsibility for whatever the fault turns out to be.
Curious why he wanted you to drive: in over 45 years driving, I don’t think I have ever jumped in a mates car to drive it. Family, sure, with insurance fully in place, but not a mates. Maybe I have the wrong mates!
Sheepshanks said:
hidetheelephants said:
Give over, it's an underengined lardbeast and the OP was joining a motorway; it's likely the safest way to do this if it was busy is to hoof it and use the available rev range.
They’re not exactly a ball of fire, especially if there was few lads in it, but they’re not that bad - plenty of other cars, let alone all other non-cars on the road, will be slower.I agree with others, taking someone else’s car even near to the red line is just plain rude, not to mention stupid.
hidetheelephants said:
Unless someone specifically says so before I start driving I'll drive how I please within its rev range, what terrible fate do people think will befall a warm engine revved briefly to the start of the red line? They aren't made of cheese.
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff