Timing Belt Replacement And Repair Opinions Wanted!

[yye-33w]

Hi , can anyone put their opinions here,

I had a 2nd hand engine put in about 12th feb 2007 it came from SA from a front cut and had 42000kms on it. I paid about $2800 all up for it including a stock new clutch plate. and engine installed

Basically when i got the car back i got in the car with my mechaninc and went for a drive to make sure it didnt break down, and guess what it broke down! My mechanic said it was a fuel pump. then eventually he bypassed the relay of the pump with my amp cable to get the car back to his shop. He didnt charge me for his time for this but i was charged $50 for his auto elec to fix the relay problem...??? i was furious!

Then about 2-3 weeks after i got my car back the timing belt was making a rubbing sound at low revs, My mechanic said it was about to break anytime i was like oh so you'll pay for that? hes like oh yer i forgot to tell you about that , i was trying to save you on costs and didnt ask you whether you wanted to replace the belt to get a 6 month warranty or just leave it. i was lfurious again! he goes sorry how about i do the belt replacement now for $100 and the cost of the part... i was like ok... and was furious cos i had little money. waited till May 30th, yesterday and the belt still hadtn snapped and i took it in to get the belt done.

then mechanic rings me up and says he has broken the top tank of my radiator as he was trying to get at the belt etc.

I was like ok... you will pay for all of that will you mate? he says no ill do it for the cost of the top tank, i was like ok....

I then got advise from 3 sources including fair trading NSW and 2 mechanics

Then today i asked my mechaninc "would you had to f touched my radiator at all if you had done the timing belt replacement at the time of the engine being put it?" (out of the car) he couldnt answer my question and kept rambling on about how brittle the top tank was and it would have snapped anyway in time. im like thats fair enough mate but it would have been on my head then not yours.

I WANT TO KNOW WHAT ANYONE HAS TO SAY ABOUT THIS

I WANT THE $50 FROM THE BREAKDOWN BACK from auto elec

I WANT THE COST OF THE TOP TANK REPLACED aswell

DOES ANYONE THINK THIS IS UNREASONABLE

[WRRR]

Depends what scope you and the mechanic agreed to.

If you asked for supply and install of a second hand engine normally you wouldn't have warrantee on the engine unless previous agreed. His liability is to get it in to a suitable standard and get it running.

If you didn't ask for the timing belt to be done - bad luck.

As for the breakdown if it wasn't directly related to anything the mechanic had done and seeing it was a fuel pump (I'd bet he hadn't touched) probably bad luck. Not very good support service though so vote with your feet next time.

Radiator damage - I'd argue that one, unless he told you that it may break due to age and he would take no responsibility. If he was just heavy handed bit different.

[yye-33w]

Depends what scope you and the mechanic agreed to.

If you asked for supply and install of a second hand engine normally you wouldn't have warrantee on the engine unless previous agreed. His liability is to get it in to a suitable standard and get it running.

If you didn't ask for the timing belt to be done - bad luck.

As for the breakdown if it wasn't directly related to anything the mechanic had done and seeing it was a fuel pump (I'd bet he hadn't touched) probably bad luck. Not very good support service though so vote with your feet next time.

Radiator damage - I'd argue that one, unless he told you that it may break due to age and he would take no responsibility. If he was just heavy handed bit different.

fair enought thanks for that dude, but we agreed on 6 months warranty. does this have to be in writing? also he said to me to get the warranty of the engine the radiator had to be flushed and coolant replaced so why didnt he tell me about the other vital important thing to get the warranty? or does this have to be in writing?

[Mr Eps]

I can't comment on the matter myself but all I can say is I'm sorry to hear this experience and change your mechanic!

[jake33]

sorry to hear that mate, if he broke it, he should fix it.

New mechanic!

take it to an experienced skyline workshop. hear all sorts of stories about family mechanics, firends mechanics, uncles best mates mechanic ect.. not really know what there doing. since i have extreamly little knowledge about skylines, i wouldnt take it anywhere else but a workshop that had extensive experience on these cars.

[kralster]

Yeah find a decent mechanic and stick with him.

I live in victor and work in adelaide about 80km away. But i still get my car serviced by the same guy in victor. It's a hell of an inconvience not having a car to get to work in, but i know i can trust him.

That doesn't really help you. But props to my mechanic!!

[yye-33w]

yer i def am gonna not go to him in the future hey like its just him and a 3rd year apprentice. i only went back there cos he said he would do the timing belt for $100 as he stuffed up and didnt tell me about replacing it to get the warranty etc at time of engine replacement

Turbo technics are definately getting my money from now on even thought hey r a bit more expensive they are more pro and no apprentices work there.

i think i am gonna only get the $150 i paid for the top radiator tank.

anyon else think that?

someone else must know more....

[yye-33w]

bump, anyone else wanna comment on this unproffesional? Dept Fair trading think i have a case for this to be investigated so anyone else?

BTW i have been truthful and honest in my tellings. I am an honest person and expect honest upfront Expertise when i take my car to a mechanic, especially this one as i have seen heaps of import cars there. Unfortuanlely i had to go back to him to get my timing belt done cheap and then he broke my radiator when this coudl have been prevented by giving me the option of replacing my timing belt at time of conversion back in Feb this year.

I will get my money for that radiator if its the last thing i do!!

Catch yas later

[Al]

CNBF reading everyones post, but here is my opinion.

To replace the engine you do not need to touch the fuel pump or it's relay, so put that down to a bad co-incidance and wear the $50.

But breaking the top tank off your radiator, as he is working on it, is bullshit and his neglegence. That should be covered by the w/shop.

Having said that, you also have to take into account that these cars are fast approaching 15yrs old, shit like this will occur and if you can't afford to fix it, them sell the car ASAP .

PS: Forgeting to tell/ask you about such an important item is just poor mechanics, time to find a new w/shop.