2001 1.6 16v Megane 83000 miles
** I know this looks long but it's a good read and it would really help me argue my case with the garage**
My water pump suddenly got very noisy, I was leaking coolant and the engine started to overheat. Knowing that the water pump is cam belt driven and knowing how expensive a broken cam belt could cost I receovered it to my nearest AA recommnded garage.
They stripped it back and confirmed that the water pump had gone (2 metal blades broken). They quoted me around £440 to replace water pump and cam belt which I agreed and they carried out this work. (The cam belt had never been replaced previously)
Once above finished they then test drove the car and subsequently told me that I had an oil leak from crank shaft oil seal or housing. They advised extra £90ish to fix which I agreed. (Don't know why they didn't spot this when replacing cam belt etc...never mind...the story goes on)
They changed the crank shaft oil seal and casing/housing, put on another new cam belt (so they tell me) and then took for another test drive but this time it broke down!
They recovered it, told me about the breakdown and after inspection advised me that 2 inlet valves were bent. They reckon the crank shaft pulley was faulty and that is what has caused this.
At NO cost to me (sounds very guilty) they went on to replace all four inlet vales, new gaskets and another new cam belt&kit.
When I picked it up they said that blood sweat and tears had gone in to my car quite literally as one of the technician injured his hand so badly on my engiine that he spent the afternoon in A&E. I asked what happened and they told me that he was wiping the engine down with a rag (whilst it was running) and the rag got caught in the Aux drive belt. It trapped his hand knocking his knuckles repeatedly against one of the pulleys. Idiot!
Anyway it drove and idles absolutely perfectly. Only problem was a small amount of smoke coming from the rear of the engine. I took it straight back and they inspected it for 10-15 minutes and assured me that it was simply escess oil buring off and should stop smoking after 10-15 miles.
25 miles later I now have oil on my driveway and it's still smoking. Took it back to them again and after a more detailed inspection they advised that the cam shaft oil seal is leaking and that they have now replaced this item (free of charge). Must point out here that whilst they had it on this occasion they allowed the car to run out of petrol whilst investiagting the smoking & oil leak.
I picked the car up again and drove off with it still smoking a little, they assured me again that was due to excess oil burning off. When I got round the corner from the garage I had to brake but when I did the oil and stop light came on briefly and the engine nearly cut out. It wasn't idling that well either.
I took it back again and they said that oil levels were ok and the idle/near cut out may be due to the car running out of fuel on them and some gunk may have got in the fuel injection system. They cleaned the idle control valve which they said was dirty. (probably caased in my opinion by all the smoke from the burning oil) and they emptied a can of fuel system cleaner in to my tank and told me 'try that'
After 5-10 miles it still tries to cut and out during braking the oil and stop light flcikers when I brake
It's back with them now and I am waiting for the next update. They said that they have ordered a new idle control valve and will start inspecting in full again when new part arrives.
My questions are
1) Are they incompetent or are they just very unlucky
2) Is is likely that the pulley was faulty casuing the car to break down and damage the inlet valves or it is more likely they fittled the cam belt wrong or didn't lock the engine correctly.
3) Should/would they have replaced the cam shaft oil seal when the replaced the inlet valves
4) What is now causing the car to idle poorly and oil/stop lights come on when breaking.
Thanks a million, Frustrated Megane Owner.
|
I know this looks long. Your not kidding im lost now.!
That engine should have just been replaced it's dead end of.
|
> wiping the engine down with a rag (whilst it was running)
The garage? Not called "The Ranch" is it?
|
If you are an AA member contact the AA and complain volubly that the garage are a bunch of incompetents...
(and even if not, do the same).
I find the story hard to believe... but taken on face value the garage should close down.
|
|
Sounds like a comedy of errors, although not very funny for you. I can't help feeling sorry for the garage though having done stupid things myself which have resulted in considerable expense to myself. I suspect that they had not fitted the cambelt properly but as they remedied the damage caused they must have some integrity. As for all the other problems - I just don't know.
|
the story...continued.
The garage called me today to say that the oil leak was in fact from the rocker cover gasket so they replaced it with original renault parts. I guess this was initially fitted incorrectly by them when they renewed all the head gesket set after replacing the valves.
They have now said however that there is ANOTHER oil leak but they do not know where it is from. They say it has hem baffled!. Right now I am more than baffled.
Do you reckon I could make them recover it a renault main dealer, let them fix it and pick up the bill.?
|
|
It sounds like they've taken on a trainee mechanic who doesn't know what he's doing.
|
"It sounds like they've taken on a trainee mechanic who doesn't know what he's doing"
So who's training him? Or is he learning by his mistakes!
|
|
|
|
"they went on to replace all four inlet vales"
Your engine has eight inlet valves!
|
I meant eight, they did say that eight were replaced.
Staying up late worrying if my car will ever drive again is sending my mind round the bend.
|
|
|
|
