The cost of repair was £800. I bought the car in March with an MOT for one year (was a computer MOT and can be found on DVLA website). The mileage was 73000 and the timing belt should have been definitely replaced (Vauxhall advises doing it after 40000m). Should I sue the garage that didn't fix it? it also says that they replaced the breaks but the it turned out after few months that I need new breaking pads! I want to get the money back, do i have a chance?
2006-12-26 09:20:09 · 18 answers · asked by ngapleaz 1 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
You have to take into account that the mileage recommended for a belt change is only approximate and the fact that the car has done 33,000 miles since the last belt change ( a difference of only 7,000 miles ) is neither here nor there , you would not have a case in a court of law .
Regardless of his spelling mistakes dsclimb1 is quite right when he mentioned the m.o.t it only state`s that the car was roadworthy on the date of inspection and has no connection to your timing belt !
And the brakes may also have been changed but everybody drives differently and the previous owner may of been very heavy footed when it came to braking , added to the fact that you have had the car for 9 month`s and brake shoe`s & pad`s do not last as long as they did 10 or so year`s ago ( all asbestos was removed from brake`s so now they overheat and wear down quicker )
You must also check the dealer service book and check to see that it has been stamped at every service ( after a while people don`t bother with the dealer as they are to expensive so they go elseware and any work done after that may not be recognised by the dealership )
Looking at the fact`s you do not have a case !
2006-12-26 10:06:18 · answer #1 · answered by charlotterobo 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
An MOT does not give any indication of service history. You should check service history to see when the timing belt was last changed if at all. It is up to you to check these things when you buy the car. If it was a main dealer purchase then you may be able to get them to cover the cost of the replacement but only if you catch them with there pants down i.e. lieing about the history or service work done. Sounds like you are using some back street garage which normally means you have no come back warranty nor gaurentees. Think you would be wasting your money trying to sue.
2006-12-26 09:30:12 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
MOT makes no difference at all, its a road safety visual check.
I used to work for vauxhall and depending on the engine then it is advised to be replaced every 40,000miles Or 4 years whichever comes first. Need to check the service history on the car, very unlikely you will get any where in suing the garage about the timing belt, it is an advisory to replace so up to the owner at the time if they get it replaced. I would complain about the brakes, but depends exactly what was replaced though. Good Luck
2006-12-27 23:01:40 · answer #3 · answered by nim_squidge 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
This is something you should have checked in the service record prior to buying the vehicle. A cambelt that hasn't been replaced on schedule is a huge repair bill waiting to happen. This is not the garage's responsibility, it's a case of caveat emptor.
To be honest, if you think an MOT covers the engine then you really shouldn't be out on your own buying a car.
2006-12-26 19:51:22 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Stop thinking that the MOT is anything other than a SAFETY check.
It is YOUR responsibility to check the service intervals.
The ONLY way you can get a claim is if it is recorded that the belt was changed in the last year..then claim under the BELT guarantee or if the garage said the belt was changed at the correct interval in the sale paperwork.
2006-12-26 12:21:07 · answer #5 · answered by creviazuk 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
did you ask the garage to do the work?
The MOT has nothing to do with the belt and only proves its road worthiness on the day of test.
Unless you have a vauxahall service history book stamped up, then that would show that vauxhall should have dont it, if not then you have nothing to complain about
PS the lawyer at the bottom is not, he does not know his sewing!!!! or his spelling
You are lucky it was only £800 it could have been much worse, i presume its a desiel.
2006-12-26 09:22:07 · answer #6 · answered by dsclimb1 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
how do you know it was the original belt could have been changed, you should have asked the previous own when the timing belt was last changed , if you had taken it to a garage to be serviced, when you bought it and had the timing belt done it would not have cost you £800 i think that you are annoyed by this mistake that you have done and trying to pass the blame on when it is completely your mistake
2006-12-27 13:55:27 · answer #7 · answered by alectaf 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The garage didnt need to 'fix it' as it was running when they sold it to you NINE months ago.
You've had ample time to check the history and get any MAINTENENCE work done in that period.
As everyone else says the MOT doesn't cover belts anyway.
2006-12-26 11:41:22 · answer #8 · answered by Mark B 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I doubt that you have a case it might well have had a belt change at 400000, if the car has been thashed that can shorten the life of the belt considerable , your only hope is that the speedo has been backed , check with previos owners , if they say for instance that it had done 80000 when they sold it you would have no problem getting your money back
2006-12-27 02:28:50 · answer #9 · answered by ? 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
you should of checked the service history before you bought the car, at least you could of ask if the belt had been done, Ive just bought a car and no sign of the belt being changed on service book so i had them fit one in on the price,
2006-12-26 09:29:06 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋