TBP88
Well-known member
Hi All
Bit of a sob story here, let me get to it.
About 3 months ago my car's (Alfa 147 JTD) turbo went pop. My usual mechanic (Auto Azzuri, run by George) was on holiday so I was compelled to find a new mechanic.
Given the limited time and the immediate desire to have my car fixed I took it to XYZ garage (using false names as you'll read it's probably legally appropriate).
XYZ said that yes, my turbo had gone pop, it needs to be replaced. I said, ok, how much. They quoted me R17k, and I said ok, go ahead. After about 4 weeks of up and down I finally got my car back, it didn't feel 100% but I thought it might just need running in. However it never improved and after about 300km of driving error lights popped up so I returned.
They said the turbo had gone again... At this point I was already annoyed. The owner of the shop tried to make me liable and offered to go 50-50 but I refused and simply wanted to know on what basis I could be liable, he eventually acquiesced and they honoured their warranty on the part (meant to be 12 months), refurbished it and put the car together again.
I got the car back about 2 weeks later. The car pulled fine now, however it did make a higher and louder whine than before - something I attributed to the new turbo. I asked the mechanic about this at the time and he said it would go away after a while.
It didnt, about 500km later I returned again, again the turbo had failed. This time they took it to a specialist shop which reported that something had destroyed the impeller blades. I have seen the internals of the turbo, the damage is extensive and apparant.
Now they're saying I'm liable as something inside my car is causing the turbo to fail (they believe some dirt or metal particulates are entering the inlet side via the "accumulator" or some other inlet side part and damaging the impeller blades.
I just got off the phone with the owner of the establishment who, after much foul language and rudeness said that either I pay for the new turbo, or he will charge me for all the labour in stripping the car and cleaning the pipes (???), this after I explicitly said to him, that he must let me know what should happen going forward and him informing me that he would not charge me for the labour involved in establishing the route cause of the turbo failures.
Now, frankly, I took my car to them on the understanding that they'd not just "chuck a new part on" and hope for the best. Obviously I understood that they'd establish the route cause of the failures. For me to be held liable is sickening and, frankly, the rudeness of the owner shocks me (he said, and I quote, "if you want to get lawyers you can, and I'll crush you like a f***in' ant") (apologies if bad language isn't allowed here - that is a direct quote).
I'm probably going to have to pay them for this repair simply to get the vehicle back, however I have already informed them that I accept no liability and am going to open proceedings with the motoring ombudsman to, ideally, get my money back.
Does anyone have any experience of something like this happening? As I understand if they had left big dirt or a bolt in the inlet the turbo would have failed instantly, having seent he impeller it looks more like a progressive failure, so how is this possible?
And further, does anyone have any advice in terms of how to progress with my claims against this specific mechanic shop? Do I pay and get my now "fixed" car and hope all is well? Do I not pay and hope they don't sabotage the vehicle? (Having spoken to him, he seems EXACTLY the type to do that).
Thanks all!
Bit of a sob story here, let me get to it.
About 3 months ago my car's (Alfa 147 JTD) turbo went pop. My usual mechanic (Auto Azzuri, run by George) was on holiday so I was compelled to find a new mechanic.
Given the limited time and the immediate desire to have my car fixed I took it to XYZ garage (using false names as you'll read it's probably legally appropriate).
XYZ said that yes, my turbo had gone pop, it needs to be replaced. I said, ok, how much. They quoted me R17k, and I said ok, go ahead. After about 4 weeks of up and down I finally got my car back, it didn't feel 100% but I thought it might just need running in. However it never improved and after about 300km of driving error lights popped up so I returned.
They said the turbo had gone again... At this point I was already annoyed. The owner of the shop tried to make me liable and offered to go 50-50 but I refused and simply wanted to know on what basis I could be liable, he eventually acquiesced and they honoured their warranty on the part (meant to be 12 months), refurbished it and put the car together again.
I got the car back about 2 weeks later. The car pulled fine now, however it did make a higher and louder whine than before - something I attributed to the new turbo. I asked the mechanic about this at the time and he said it would go away after a while.
It didnt, about 500km later I returned again, again the turbo had failed. This time they took it to a specialist shop which reported that something had destroyed the impeller blades. I have seen the internals of the turbo, the damage is extensive and apparant.
Now they're saying I'm liable as something inside my car is causing the turbo to fail (they believe some dirt or metal particulates are entering the inlet side via the "accumulator" or some other inlet side part and damaging the impeller blades.
I just got off the phone with the owner of the establishment who, after much foul language and rudeness said that either I pay for the new turbo, or he will charge me for all the labour in stripping the car and cleaning the pipes (???), this after I explicitly said to him, that he must let me know what should happen going forward and him informing me that he would not charge me for the labour involved in establishing the route cause of the turbo failures.
Now, frankly, I took my car to them on the understanding that they'd not just "chuck a new part on" and hope for the best. Obviously I understood that they'd establish the route cause of the failures. For me to be held liable is sickening and, frankly, the rudeness of the owner shocks me (he said, and I quote, "if you want to get lawyers you can, and I'll crush you like a f***in' ant") (apologies if bad language isn't allowed here - that is a direct quote).
I'm probably going to have to pay them for this repair simply to get the vehicle back, however I have already informed them that I accept no liability and am going to open proceedings with the motoring ombudsman to, ideally, get my money back.
Does anyone have any experience of something like this happening? As I understand if they had left big dirt or a bolt in the inlet the turbo would have failed instantly, having seent he impeller it looks more like a progressive failure, so how is this possible?
And further, does anyone have any advice in terms of how to progress with my claims against this specific mechanic shop? Do I pay and get my now "fixed" car and hope all is well? Do I not pay and hope they don't sabotage the vehicle? (Having spoken to him, he seems EXACTLY the type to do that).
Thanks all!
