Auto Service Centre Breaks Car

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Lemoenboer

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I'd rather not mention any names here, but I would appreciate any advice as I think this one is going to be a whopper.

Who should be responsible if you take your car to a service centre for a service and then get a call that the car broke down when they went for the test drive?

There was an intermittent rattle in the engine bay which I stated in the pre-check book in, but some days it's there and some days its gone so I asked them just to do the service and to do a general check if everything is fine in the engine bay.

It sounds like valves bent with the break down and what not, so I suspect it's going to cost $$$

My knowledge is VERY limited in this area, so any advice is appreciated.

Apologies in advance if this is not the correct thread.

Thanks in advance!
 
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It sounds like the timing belt/chain gave notice, leading to bent valves. Maybe the intermittent rattle that you noticed was a precursor to this. It's going to be difficult to prove liability.
 
Haven't they pointed you to your insurance as yet? I seem to remember that on the back of that form you sign there is indemnity that you automatically give them when you sign the form. There have been a couple of stories about such incidents.
 
thechamp said:
Haven't they pointed you to your insurance as yet? I seem to remember that on the back of that form you sign there is indemnity that you automatically give them when you sign the form. There have been a couple of stories about such incidents.
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Do you mean a third part warranty or similar when you mention insurance?

Because normal motor insurance won't cover mechanical failures.
 
supersunbird said:
Do you mean a third part warranty or similar when you mention insurance?

Because normal motor insurance won't cover mechanical failures.
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Yes, it should be a warranty in this instance, I was thinking of the customer who's car was crashed in a similar test drive incident.
 
Yeap, my insurance confirmed that they do not cover mechanical failures. (Expected)

Next steps - waiting for quote on parts and labour and need to compare this to costs of engine replacement and labour.

The joys...
 
Lemoenboer said:
Yeap, my insurance confirmed that they do not cover mechanical failures. (Expected)

Next steps - waiting for quote on parts and labour and need to compare this to costs of engine replacement and labour.

The joys...
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What was the car in for, normal filters and oil service? are the same guys doing the repairs?
 
I'm still flabbergasted by the timing of the failure though - haven't dealt with an ombudsman but do you guys think it will be of any help referring this to them?

I feel I'm not to blame for the failure, but also, it's an old car so it could've happened to me as well, just very suspect it's never died on me, but the morning I take it for a service - boom...
 
thechamp said:
What was the car in for, normal filters and oil service? are the same guys doing the repairs?
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In for a minor service + intermittent ticking sound (was gone the morning I took it in) - in engine bay area.
 
It would be very hard to prove it was not just bad timing and that the engine was not on its death bed before you booked it in.

I do think though you should get an independent mechanic to have a look as well and see if the people doing the service did not mess around with your engine.

Do you have a tracker installed in your car? Can you check what speed and where they were driving at what time and where the brokedown happened?
 
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terencej said:
It would be very hard to prove it was not just bad timing and that the engine was not on its death bed before you booked it in.

I do think though you should get an independent mechanic to have a look as well and see if the people doing the service did not mess around with your engine.

Do you have a tracker installed in your car? Can you check what speed and where they were driving at what time and where the brokedown happened?
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Unfortunately not, but after this I can see the value of storing data somewhere when you give someone else your car keys.

The benefit is not just locating a stolen vehicle...
 
Who says it was not just bad timing? It kind of sounds like it was going to go anyway and was just a matter of time. Just unlucky for the smuck doing the test drive that it had happened at that moment.
 
terencej said:
Who says it was not just bad timing? It kind of sounds like it was going to go anyway and was just a matter of time. Just unlucky for the smuck doing the test drive that it had happened at that moment.
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These things happen, I once parked in the morning at work, went out to lunch midday, come knockoff time the car wouldn't start, dead coil.

In OP's case it does sound like it was an unfortunate incident, including the fact that the car had some intermittent rattling it's not far fetched to assume that it was a case of bad timing.
 
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