I recently had a cambelt change on my ford focus at a ford garage and when I went to collect the car, they had put the old cambelt and tensioner in a see through bag. They hadn't changed the pulley though and said that it didn't need renewing. My question is where do I stand legally should the pulley fail and cause engine damage, and how long after the date when they did the job are they still liable
2007-02-14 06:21:06 · 11 answers · asked by Anonymous in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
At my shop with Timing Belt services we ALWAYS offer the guest the option of in addition to replacing the Timing Belt itself, replacing the tensioner, pulley(s) and, if applicable, the water pump along with the belt. We always inform the guest these items are optional, and recommended only as preventive maintenance. If the customer opts not to replace any of those items, it gets documented on the work order and the customer signs it.
Problem solved.
A lot of people (most) opt not to replace anything other than the belt because of the cost and that's fine, so long as I have it in writing that they were given the option and declined.
If there was nothing wrong with the pulley there is certainly no NEED to replace it, and chances are it will never fail anyway. Most don't. Replacement is not required by Ford when replacing the belt. Replacement of the pulley then would have been a purely preventive measure if there was nothing wrong with the pulley. Therefore, from a legal standpoint, if the pulley did fail at some point down the road I don't think there is any liability on the part of the shop. It was after all, functioning properly when they serviced the vehicle and its replacement is not required by the vehicle manufacturer. Personally though, I think they should have given you the option of replacing it and let you make the decision, simply because that is the best thing to do from a standpoint of offering good service.
2007-02-14 07:58:25 · answer #1 · answered by Naughtums 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most care repair facilities have a 90 day guarantee on their work either posted in their shop or on your paperwork. If not, you have no guarantee at all. Also as a side note, the reason that a cam belt need changing is that the other components (pulley included), mileage, and age wear the belt which is the consumable item. The pulley is most likely OK, so quit worrying. A mechanic who performs this work knows what he is doing, so I wouldn't be too concerned about it - the worst thing that would happen is belt breakage and another replacement (no permanent engine damage).
2007-02-14 06:54:34 · answer #2 · answered by Doug R 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
most likely the pulley won't fail, Even on cars like older Mitsubishi's with the 2.0l that are prone for that rarely fail even if never changed. If they told you that it didn't need to be changed just make sure it says on the work order that they didn't do it at their one recommendation and you should be covered till the next time that is listed in the maintenance schedule. If it recon mends to have it changed every 70k miles you will be covered till the next time 70k miles is up. But you have nothing to worry about. Good luck hope this helps
2007-02-14 06:27:01 · answer #3 · answered by Dina B 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
sounds like an honest garage if you asked for it to be done then take it back but most fords now recommend you change the idler pulleys as well and should all come as A kit worth a phone call to fords diffrent branch an call there bluff
2007-02-18 06:01:05 · answer #4 · answered by cartmanswork 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Cam belt pulleys generally last the life of the car. You obviously went to an honest dealer who did not sell you anything unnecessary which is unusual in itself.
2007-02-14 06:32:55 · answer #5 · answered by yes_its_me 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
when i change cam belts i do this as a matter of course because sods law dictates that one will fail, the tensioner may appear to be fine, but for how long? i have seen lots of tensioners fail as well as belts, if you were happy to pay for it, they should have done it as they would have had to of taken it off to properly check it for wear and tear r damage, more likely i think is that it probably was o.k to look at but they probably could not undo iy and may have damaged the alan key bolt or such like, i would talk to the service manager and see what they are prepared to do for you as in my opinion they should have done it anyway.
Either way learn from it and never take it back there again!!!!
Mechanic 15 years
2007-02-15 11:06:12 · answer #6 · answered by brommas 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
They didn't change it because it didn't need changing? The cam belt pulley should last for the life of the car, its not something that's changed as part of a standard cam belt change.....
2007-02-14 07:25:43 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
they might desire to now disguise the belt and pulleys till the subsequent time the belt is due a transformation. it is frequently in basic terms the tensioner Ford propose changing besides so do no longer rigidity approximately it. No technician will positioned a sparkling belt on if that they had any doubt a pair of pulley, it is in simple terms no longer rather well worth the fear.
2016-12-17 09:58:47 · answer #8 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They aren't. No repair shop is required to change a component that is good, unless you specifically have asked them to. If they could, where would it stop? "Well, yeah, you just wanted a battery, but we changed your water pump and starter too. Nothing wrong with it, we just decided it was a good idea."
If they had changed it, and it was good, you'd be here asking "Can they charge me for changing a part that was good without my approval?"
2007-02-14 06:27:28 · answer #9 · answered by oklatom 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You asked this yesterday - why do you feel the need to ask again
There is no problem
2007-02-14 06:26:10 · answer #10 · answered by jamand 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋