Engine issue straight after Service

  • Grovesie2's Avatar
    Hi there,

    We have a 17 reg Fiat 500 that was running fine apart from an oil leak we only picked up on recently.

    We took it for a service and to fix the oil leak which the London based garage did for £600 give or take.

    As soon as we drove away there was a weird sound in the engine, like an odd ticking noise. We took it back in a week after and they had a look and basically said "we don't know what the issue is but you likely need a new engine". It's done 48k milage so not massive.

    Obviously we were shocked that all they suggested was a new engine and wouldn't take any responsibility. We took it to another garage that opened it up and had a look and ended up replacing the vanos gear, solenoid, timing belt, water pump, spark plug, alternator belt and oil filter all for the grand sum of £2,800.

    I'm useful on cars but i went back to original garage to speak to them and they, of course, said it was just unlucky timing issue and not their fault.

    My question here to people far more in the know than me is that is there a high chance that the issue was caused by the mechanic during the service or fixing the oil leak? I have legal cover through my insurance so is it worth going down the legal route or is it likely to just be really bad timing and something we have to swallow up this time?

    Thanks for the thoughts in advance

    Tom
  • 2 Replies

  • Best Answer

    olduser's Avatar
    Best Answer
    Through you legal cover you should be able to get advice.

    It is going to be very difficult to prove anything now, there is a remote chance that there may be traces left on the engine of the fault that was causing the noise if it was inspected by an engineer but it is a very long shot.
    The engine would have to be pulled apart to check, and if nothing is found you would have to pay.

    The second garage, looks as though they have replaced the stuff that ought to be replaced because the engine was opened up.
  • Grovesie2's Avatar
    @olduser Thanks a lot for the reply. Thought as much that it would be hard to prove but also sounds like a lot of the cost was just from the rebuild which is frustrating but I guess at least a new belt should extend its milage.

    Oh well. Will just have to suck it up to expensive bad luck.