What is life like with your car? Let us know and win £500 in John Lewis vouchers | No thanks

Startering bill

I recently had a new starter motor fitted to my VW Caravelle. Three days later the gear wheel shattered and the teeth had to be removed from the engine. This turned out to be a big job involving removing the gear box also and I had a labour charge of nearly £600. Could you give any advice about where I stand in getting a reimbursement from the manufacturers and how best to go about this?

Asked on 26 September 2009 by

Answered by Honest John
Fitting the new starter motor was an external job, but only half of it. The original starter pinion must have chewed up the flywheel starter ring, which is why it broke up. To replace it, the engine and transmission had to be separated, which is an expensive job.
Similar questions
I have a motor caravan on a Peugeot "Boxer" 2.5TD chassis, circa 1996. The gearbox has recently been replaced. Now, if after driving for some miles and while in 5th gear I brake it becomes impossible to...
I have owned a Sept 2010 1.6TDI Skoda Octavia with the dry 7 speed DSG gearbox from new. Currently it has about 44,000 miles on. I like the car "it does what it says on the tin" However there is a recurring...
I have had a Corolla semi-auto for eight months. It suddenly lost power and failed to select gears. First repaired at a gearbox specialist workshop, having a gearbox, acutator and 2 ECU cards replaced,...
 

Value my car

Save £75 on Warranty using code HJ75

with MotorEasy

Get a warranty quote

Save 12% on GAP Insurance

Use HJ21 to save on an ALA policy

See offer