Garage Dispute

[malagabob]

A friend has a problem. His car broke down and a broken cam belt and damaged valves were found. The garage he took it too said they had a used engine they could fit as it was the safer option than trying to repair the head.
A few weeks after the repair it broke down again and it was taken back to the same garage, who have since sent a bill for the repairs. The friend complained that it should have been under some kind of warranty. The garages reply was it was a used second hand engine and a breakdown was or could be possible. They have since threatened to go to court over non payment of the bill.

[Mamyalynne]

When offered the replacement ebgine instead of a repair he really ought to have asked if there was any guarantee rather than assume it.

A ReCon Engine comes with a written Guarantee but if he has no documentation this could be hard for him to fight.

[tonyav]

Was it a re con or just a used engine out of another car ?.
If it was damaged valves then would have probably been better off having a new or re con cylinder head fitted.

But seeing as the garage just happened to have a used engine lying around !.

[Rob57]

If they did not imply or specify a warranty at the time of the engine swap, you have no legal grounds to argue your case. In the future, always ask how many kms the used engine or transmission has on it before authorizing a swap. If it's a low mileage piece, reputable shops will provide a written warranty as there is virtually no risk to them, if they do good work.

[tonyav]

If it was damaged valves then would have probably been better off having a new or re con cylinder head fitted.


Unless the valves had smashed the top of the pistons.

[malagabob]

A warrant was implied verbally. Here is the garages reply on headed paper and I quote. "Oil and sludge can foul up an old engine that has not been used for some time. These are serviceable items." The work the garage did was flush out old engine oil and fit new oil filter, The bill was £ 360 for this and 1 new McPherson Spring. Which is not disputed.
Wouldn't it have been better to flush engine before fitting or before passing back to customer ?

[tonyav]

malagabob, you have to add the engine flush additive then run the engine up to temperature and then change the oil and filter.

A warrant was implied verbally.

I doubt if that would stand up. Your friend should have gotten a written warranty.