[nomywell]

Hello all.

I hope somebody can give me a little help or a pointer to where I can get some help on this matter....

9 months ago I took my Renault Laguna Diesel (T reg) in to my local garage to replace the gearbox. They actually used a third party company to supply and fit the gearbox. When it came back, I couldn't get it into 1st or second gear very easily at all. So it went back. They sent the car away to the gearbox company who accepted it wasn't right and returned the car repaired. Same problem still existed however. It went away again and returned fine this time. Then 2 months ago it developed another problem where it would just pop out of 3rd gear when the car was idling at low speed down small hills for example. I went through the same process and again they accepted there was a problem and it came back fine.... for a while. Now it's started slipping out of gear again!

Now it's getting silly. My query is really, where do I legally stand? Can I get the car repaired at another garage and recoup my costs? Obviously I am loathed to take it back to the original garage yet again, only for it to go wrong again a few months down the line. Only of course it's now getting close to the end of the 12 months warranty.

Any ideas would be most welcome.

Thanks.

[fleetmech]

Originally Posted by nomywell

Hello all.

I hope somebody can give me a little help or a pointer to where I can get some help on this matter....

9 months ago I took my Renault Laguna Diesel (T reg) in to my local garage to replace the gearbox. They actually used a third party company to supply and fit the gearbox. When it came back, I couldn't get it into 1st or second gear very easily at all. So it went back. They sent the car away to the gearbox company who accepted it wasn't right and returned the car repaired. Same problem still existed however. It went away again and returned fine this time. Then 2 months ago it developed another problem where it would just pop out of 3rd gear when the car was idling at low speed down small hills for example. I went through the same process and again they accepted there was a problem and it came back fine.... for a while. Now it's started slipping out of gear again!

Now it's getting silly. My query is really, where do I legally stand? Can I get the car repaired at another garage and recoup my costs? Obviously I am loathed to take it back to the original garage yet again, only for it to go wrong again a few months down the line. Only of course it's now getting close to the end of the 12 months warranty.

When you say replacement gearbox are you referring to a brand new gearbox,
a reconditioned gearbox ,or a secondhand gearbox, or a repair to your old gearbox? Has the correct grade of lubricant been used as specified by the manufacturer or been topped with an incorrect lubricant during servicing? Does the vehicle to which this gearbox is fitted have other faults with the engine,clutch,driveline or engine mountings which are causing excessive load & vibration through the gearbox causing premature failure.Were you billed by the subcontractor or the garage?
I would contact the garage that supplied the gearbox and see if they will replace the gearbox with one from a different supplier whilst still under their warranty. The garage are probably as aggrieved with this supplier as you are because comebacks will tarnish their reputation too.

[nomywell]

Thanks for the reply fleetmech.

I just used a local garage to do the repairs. He then subcontracted out to a gearbox company who actually supplied a reconditioned gearbox to them. The engine mountings have been replaced, and also the clutch. There are no other faults.

Each time that the car has gone back, the gearbox company has taken the car to repair themselves.

I was billed by my local garage.

I would like to ask my garage to find another supplier, but how much power do I have to force them to do this?

Many thanks.

[Allgooda]

Renault Gearbox

Hi, about your legal rights my understanding is that in general terms if you buy anything you have grounds for demands of refund or replacement if the item you are buying is not fit for the purpose you are buying it for. The only thing to look out for is if there is any small print disclaimers (Which there maybe on a second hand gearbox) essentially offering NO gurantee from the supplier. If there is warranty etc then I believe you have just cause to have the warranty restarted from the date of resupply but this would be something to discuss with the local garage particularly if it is a garage u know well and trust. I think it may well be worth going to Citizens Advice Bureau or visiting their web site to confirm what your legal consumer rights are in this business.

Lastly, I am in the same unfortunate position of having just had my Gearbox go on my Renault Laguna. Would be really grateful if you could tell me what they charged you for the supply and also how much the fitting labour cost for this job please? And just as important as I am looking around for a gearbox supplier what is the name of the company that messed yours up so I can avoid using them please?

Good luck

Tony

[nomywell]

Hi Allgooda.

Thanks for the reply.

I have contacted the Renault dealer and they say it sounds like the main shaft bolt is not correctly torqued which is critical apparently. They would do the job and charge about £250. I am thinking of doing this and then going through the process of claiming the money back from my local garage. Wish me luck!

Sorry to hear about your gearbox! I think it's a weakness in them. Apparently around 70k which mine was. The total cost from my local garage - which isn't the cheapest - was £880. But that also included clutch. The gearbox supplier was a company called Black Diamond in Warrington.

Good luck...