[PaulRobins]

Hi, I've just registered here to ask for your opinions & help.

I have recently (10 days ago) bought a Transit Connect van on a 55 plate, 1800 TDDI.
I decided to have a timing belt fitted although it wasn't quite due yet. The vehicle has done 74,000 miles.
I used a local Mobile mechanic who came and fitted the belt & tensioner 2 days ago, That afternoon I used the vehicle for the first time since the belt change, I had driven approx 3 miles before there was a screeching sound coming from the engine, I was on a dual carriageway and was about to pull over into the next layby when I heard a bang & the engine stopped, I managed to cruise into the net layby with my hazzards on.

I looked under the bonnet & found half of the timing belt had 'blasted' it's way through the plastic cover which once protected it from the outside world. I called the mechanic to tell him I had a problem and he happily came down to inspect the engine, He dismantled it right there, He seen the belt which is now frayed badly along one edge of it, He then started to dismantly the top of the engine since the top pulley was loose, He discovered the Cam Shaft had smashed into 5 pieces. He offered to tow the van back to his place and dismantle the engine to see what other damage has been caused. He insists this is not down to a faulty/badly fitted Timing belt so accepts no responsibility.

Can anyone advise me if what he says about this not being his fault is possibly true or not?
I feel the squealing before the engine failed indicates that something was going wrong with the belt BEFORE the engine self destructed.
Is it possible that this is just a bad co-incidence.

I appreciate any comments from any user although I would GREATLY appreciate a comment from a time server, trained & knowledgeable mechanic.

Thanks for reading & commenting on this.

Paul.

[Wesley]

Originally Posted by PaulRobins

Hi, I've just registered here to ask for your opinions & help.

I have recently (10 days ago) bought a Transit Connect van on a 55 plate, 1800 TDDI.
I decided to have a timing belt fitted although it wasn't quite due yet. The vehicle has done 74,000 miles.
I used a local Mobile mechanic who came and fitted the belt & tensioner 2 days ago, That afternoon I used the vehicle for the first time since the belt change, I had driven approx 3 miles before there was a screeching sound coming from the engine, I was on a dual carriageway and was about to pull over into the next layby when I heard a bang & the engine stopped, I managed to cruise into the net layby with my hazzards on.

I looked under the bonnet & found half of the timing belt had 'blasted' it's way through the plastic cover which once protected it from the outside world. I called the mechanic to tell him I had a problem and he happily came down to inspect the engine, He dismantled it right there, He seen the belt which is now frayed badly along one edge of it, He then started to dismantly the top of the engine since the top pulley was loose, He discovered the Cam Shaft had smashed into 5 pieces. He offered to tow the van back to his place and dismantle the engine to see what other damage has been caused. He insists this is not down to a faulty/badly fitted Timing belt so accepts no responsibility.

Can anyone advise me if what he says about this not being his fault is possibly true or not?
I feel the squealing before the engine failed indicates that something was going wrong with the belt BEFORE the engine self destructed.
Is it possible that this is just a bad co-incidence.

I appreciate any comments from any user although I would GREATLY appreciate a comment from a time server, trained & knowledgeable mechanic.

Thanks for reading & commenting on this.

Paul.

Hi Paul,

contact your insurance company, and have the vehicle taken to an independant unbiased garage, who will liase with them,;)

they, the "insurance company", can liase/assess and review further actions that will help to resolve your issue.;)

wes.

[Rolebama]

The only way a timing belt will fray on one edge after fitting is if a component was incorrectly fitted. From your description, I would say it is the fault of the mechanic, so just tell him to get on and fix it at his expense.
I don't understand why Wesley would refer you to your insurer.

[MrDanno]

Originally Posted by Rolebama

The only way a timing belt will fray on one edge after fitting is if a component was incorrectly fitted. From your description, I would say it is the fault of the mechanic, so just tell him to get on and fix it at his expense.
I don't understand why Wesley would refer you to your insurer.

I agree, The timing belt would only fray on the side if it was running off centre and that is down to whoever fitted it. They should have made sure it ran on the centre of the pulleys when they fitted it.

I'm also confused what an insurance company would do about shoddy car repairs?

[PaulRobins]

Thanks for your comments, Firstly I have calmed down a bit since this was first posted and I have accepted that 'poo' happens!

Anyway, the comments made about the belt being poorly fitted and not in the center of the pulleys, The pulleys have guide rails on them, Well at least the one I could see (Top end) so I can't see how the belt wasn't running in the center of the pulleys. I saw the comment about insurance companies earlier today and couldn't make any sense of it, I fail to see the use of contacting them, They'll charge me for any advice I ask them and they'll do nowt anyway. Thanks for your input anyway Wesley.

I've now spoken to the Mechanic who fitted the belt, I'm happy to accept that there IS a possibility that it's not his fault, He offered to fix it by fitting a new head on the engine at cost price as a compromise but I decided to go one further and asked him to source a complete new/recon/scrap engine to fit just in case the fault was caused through something else in that engine. I need to eliminate as much chance of this happening again.

The good news is I am getting a 'scrap yard' engine & Box from an 07 van with 34,000 miles on the clock which had a rear end smash, He's charging £650 - £750 for it fitted. I accept he may be at fault but without any real evidence I feel he's tried to help and therefore he deserves a little understanding on my part.

Thanks for your comments on this and although it may appear like I have asked for & ignored your comments I can only apologise but I get the feeling that if I pushed him hard to pay he would just disappear anyway and not actually pay up. Being nasty gets you nowhere! And while there's a chance he could be in the right I have to consider it.

Paul...