A little bit annoyed by my local garage

[johnnyb47]

Hi again.
Just the other week I decided to retire my aging car for a newer one.
It was getting really tired and becoming unreliable.
As I'm single care free, bald and middle aged I bought a nice little convertible to look a right wally in it.
It's got a stupidly low mileage and I'm enjoying it so much.
It's certainly not new but it's immaculate.
Anyway (sorry for rambling) I've decided to get the cam belt/water pump and tensioner replaced as I can't see any records on the service history of it being done.
There's no point burying my head in the sand and ignoring it, because if it where to snap the damage could be catastrophic.
So i booked it in to the garage to replace it, and what a polava it's been.
They've striped it down and then realised they haven't got the specific cam locking tool to fit the new belt.
They've ordered one in but it's now been 4 days waiting for it to arrive.
I'm not too impressed to be honest because I depend on my car for work.
It's turned my 10 hour day into a 14 hour day with having to use the Spartan public transport around my part of the world.
I wished they would of checked before hand to see if they had the right tools to do the job before they stripped it down as I'm now stuck in limbo waiting for the cam locking tool to arrive.
Anyway back to my Southern Comfort and some rubbish TV 🤣

 

[screenman]

I would be disappointed as well, but there again I only use experts so it would be unlikely to happen to me, also I do not amongst my many motor trade customers have one that would sell a car that the cambelt may shortly need changing. I would suggest that you just have to be patient and learn a lesson.
What type of car?

 

[Drago]

Tell them to get the fattest cable ties they can find and put them through the holes in the cam sprockets to lock them to one another.

Or they can do the Fuzz Townshend method...


View: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Tti7sGU1dOA&pp=ygUWR3V6eiB0b3duc2hlbmQgY2FtYmVsdA%3D%3D


Either way, if they've not figured out one of these wheezes by now they're probably not fit to be wielding spanners.

 

[johnnyb47]

The garage I've taken it to have got a good reputation.
The car in question is that little Peugeot 206 cc 2 litre I've been harping on about many many months ago.
From the garages point of view I suppose they've got to do everything by the book.
Yes they could use tipex to mark the pulleys up or cable ties, but if it's out by just a tooth it could bugger the engine up ,and I don't suppose any garage wants that liability on them and there reputation tarnished.
It's frustrating but as @screenman says I've just got to be patient.
I'm starting to feel a bit more mellow about it tonight after a few Southern Comforts but today I was starting to get a little bit prickly over it

 

[screenman]

The tools are only £25 on fleabay, Eurocarparts will also sell them. I think you are being stalled.

 

[johnnyb47]

Funnily enough I popped into the local motor factors today enquiring about them to see if I could get things moving forward.They were coming back with prices of around £100.
I didn't know you could get them a cheap as £25.
I could imagine a trading garage would probably opt for the expensive ones though

 

[screenman]

Funnily enough I popped into the local motor factors today enquiring about them to see if I could get things moving forward.They were coming back with prices of around £100.
I didn't know you could get them a cheap as £25.
I could imagine a trading garage would probably opt for the expensive ones though

Check out ebay, cheap or expensive they all work the same. 53 years of motor trade experience, 48 of those owning and running my own businesses.

 

[johnnyb47]

Anyway,
The Southern Comfort is making me see double on my phone now and I'm feeling a little cream crackered after a busy week at work so I'm bidding you all a good night.
Thanks for the great advice and help.
All the very best to you good friends 👍

 

[Drago]

Get back to the garage and start taking hostages. Go all Hans Gruber on their asses!

 

[dicko]

I have used white Tipex to mark the various crank and camshaft teeth, carefully removed the belt and slip the new one on. Then check everything in correct position and tension belt so you can just turn the belt thro 90 degrees with your fingers. Remove plugs, turn it over, check Tipex marks again, replace plugs and start it up.

 

[lazybloke]

I'd have expected a reputable garage to offer a courtesy car right from the start, and again after they ****ed-up.

 

[screenman]

I have used white Tipex to mark the various crank and camshaft teeth, carefully removed the belt and slip the new one on. Then check everything in correct position and tension belt so you can just turn the belt thro 90 degrees with your fingers. Remove plugs, turn it over, check Tipex marks again, replace plugs and start it up.

There could be a problem there, it may be a diesel. They tend to be a bit short on spark plugs.

 

[dicko]

There could be a problem there, it may be a diesel. They tend to be a bit short on spark plugs.

That’s true, when I changed the belt on my Citroen ZX all the important revolving bits had timing holes in them.
Flywheel 6mm hole Camshaft M6 lock screw and Fuel Pump M6 lock screw. It was very simple.

 

[stephec]

Get back to the garage and start taking hostages. Go all Hans Gruber on their asses!

Are you sure about that? 😂

 

[johnnyb47]

I had a call from the garage yesterday (Saturday) informing me the locking tool had finally arrived and that the car will be ready on Monday.
Do you think I should haggle down the bill considering the messing around they've caused 🤔