Whic mechanic do I believe or should I just get a new car???

Question

I took my car in to be checked for a knock, one mechanic said the cam belt was about to snap which was causing it, and another said the cambelt was fine and it was just wear and tear on the engine. Who do I believe and is it time to get a new car as my cars only worth £500 anyway!!!

My last service was in January and I topped up the oil at the beginning of august... :(

Answer 1

Get a new car.

If your car is worth £500 it sounds like you're going to have to pay a fair portion of that just getting it fixed.

Bite the bullet.

Answer 2

Wether its worth keeping or not depends on the general condition of the car, how long have you had it, do you know the service history, do you like it?
Cambelts & tensioners do wear in time and each car has a specific service interval for changing the belt, typically 5 years/ 60,000 miles but it can be much sooner. The noise you get from a worn belt / tensioner is different from a worn big end, so one of the mechanics has to be wrong. If the belt goes and you have an interferance engine, most are, it will bend the valves which can be expensive to repair, I know on a Ford mondeo they cost £40 each, so for a 16v engine that could be £640 before fitting = O.
Cars are cheap these days, look on Ebay and see what £500 will buy.

Answer 3

The second mechanic doesn't know! Don't take it to a main dealer, take it to a smaller garage you've had recommended. I know, my hubby is a self employed mechanic and the number of times that people have been told they need a new engine, when all that it needs is the oil changing is unbelievable.
By the way, when did you get it serviced? Cars always knock when they need the oil changing, diesel or petrol!!? Pull the dipstick and see - if the oil feels thin and is black, try servicing it. Costs about on average £30 tops to get the bits and oil...

Answer 4

If your last service was in January, and you only topped it off with oil in August, then you shouldn't own a car.

There is no way to know if a cam belt is going to break at any given time. They last about 75k miles

Answer 5

depending what car u got it usually costs at least £200 to have a cambelt replaced so i would say its not worth repairing, just get another 1, but you could always take your old 1 and trade it in against another car at a garage, you might get a few hundred for it rather than just sending it to a scrap yard

Answer 6

I'd agree with "Gypsie" it's down to economics I'm affraid. You may spend £300 on repairs to put the car on the road but the car is still only worth £500.

I'd start looking around and get another quote for your existing car, but start looking for another...just in case!

Answer 7

I would but a new car, mechanics r n the business of making money on doing repairs to your old car. They will tell u anything to get u in their shop.

Answer 8

Hiya
Try The AA or RAC they are brilliant for this & they probly wont charge you as for the cam belt braking it dosent normly give any notice when its going to snap you should get it changed regulary
Hope this helps John

Answer 9

Take it to another mecanic and don't tell them what the others said...get him to give you a quote, if it's more than £100 for repairs, I'd just get a new one....
It's always the problem with buying old cars, you never guaranteed for anything.

Answer 10

Get a third opinion to be sure. It sounds like normal wear and tear, is it a ford by any chance.
Maybe drive it till it dies and replace as repairs might be too costly