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MG MGF Technical - Help required re major repair

My car suffered an HGF in late November and was repaired by the dealer I have always used (and been pleased with). While this was being done I requested that they replace the timing belt.(the car had done 48k). When I got the car back it had a rattly, tinkling kind of noise on start up and often long after. As the car is not my everyday transport it had only done 2 or 3 hundred miles since then but seemed to drive fine. It went for its 1st MOT in mid March, and I had mentioned this noise whn I dropped in off and it appeared to have been resolved when I collected it and it sailed the MOT. I drove home 6 miles and put it in the garage where it remained until Friday when I decided to take it to work as it was a lovely day and I could get the roof down for the 1st time this year. 30 miles and it started making a horendous rattling noise and lost power on a slip road, I pulled over and tried to restart - more rattling no spark. Called AA, had it recovered to said dealer. They called this morning and said it would be £500 to strip to find problem, but thought the timing belt tensioner had snapped. If so, the damage could be extensive! I feel that they should have some sort of responsibility over this but they are saying that it is not common practice to replace the tensioner when they replace the belt and their mechanics have never heard of one failing. Is this the case? any advice or assistance appreciated.

Cheers
Alan
a g dunlop

Sad news Alan, certainly sounds as if the timing belt has jumped, which does put piston/valve contact into the realms of likelihood. I'm assuming it is the manual type tensioner? I believe the dealer is correct in that the 'usual' practice would be to re-use the old tensioner unless it showed signs of wear/damage.

The fact that there was noise evident immediately after the repair does suggest that the tensioner may not have been re-fitted correctly. Can you ascertain what they did in order to cure the noise, albeit temporarily?

Supposing they've not begun to unbolt anything yet, perhaps it would be worth having someone independant inspect it - if the tensioner has for example not been bolted in correctly and has worked loose, presumably twice, then you have a very strong case. If the tensioner is firmly attached but the bearings have failed or something has snapped, it may be possible to work out from the position of the tensioner whether the new belt was fitted too tightly for a 'worn' tensioner. In which case, you'd have a very strong case too.

£500 would almost buy you a secondhand engine with a 30 day warranty, perhaps worth considering...
Mike Hankin

When my car had HGF some 4 years ago at 82000km the workshop recomended the Tensioner, Cam belts and Waterpump be replaced as they tend to go and as the head was off it would barely add to the labour costs. My replacement waterpump packed up some 65000km later. In fact most workshops recomend that when changing cam belts do the tensioner at the same time.
Andrew W Regens

Alan

When I had my belts done last year, the garage replaced the tensioner as part of the job.

By the way, they are not an ex MGR garage.

Jason
Jay Smith

Thanks for replies so far. they have come back and reported that, as expected the tensioner has broken and this has caused extensive damage. They are quoting £1500. I have stated that I am holding them responsible in part and expect some sort of movement on this before I take it to trading standards. At least my AA warranty will pick up the first £500. I only took it out a few weeks ago as I had lost confidence in the car a bit after the HGF.
a g dunlop

Hi, Alan ,sorry about the bad news.
When i got my hg done i asked the garage to replace the pre tensioner which they did (local small gaRage)
When i picked the car up i double checked that they had done it and they said it was "part of the cam belt kit" as they put on a new belt at the same time (as requested).
Any one else heard of it as a kit before??
Mel..
m e johnson

Yes it is part of the kit, when I changed my belt a few weeks ago, the tensioner came in the kit. This was the automatic tensioner. Prehaps when the car has the manual tensioner the parts have to be sourced separately. I also changed the water pump at the same time, might as well when you are changing the belt.

Tony
A J Duthie

It is a VVC so I believe that to be manual tensioner. This of course means nothing to me. It is really difficult trying to deal with garages when you know nothing about cars except where to put the petrol!
a g dunlop

Hi Alan,

I sometimes get the feeling that the guys at the garage know nothing about cars too!

My vehicles always seem to come out in worse condition that when they go in to, what would appear to be, reputable garages.

This has been my experience with Reg Vardy (ex-MGR dealer), Town & County (Land Rover dealer) and Specialst Cars (VW dealer)all in Aberdeen.

:-(

Sam
Sam Murray

Alan, Yep garages are pants, specialist garages are even bigger pants.
I think you should have a very good case with the trading standards people, if you need any help, I'm happy to have a chat to the guys in my organisation on my side of the border. I would suggest quoting the sale of goods act to the garage, this states that the item sold must be fit for purpose, obviously the belt was not properly fitted as they failed to replace the tensioner! Same happened to me new belt no tensioner! Fortunatly I spotted it befor the belt slipped and the pistons met the valves.
My F has just emptied my pocket to the tune of £520 new front lower arms and all the associated bits!! P323XJR's first MOT failure, so guess I should not grumble too much.
Its predictable that the car and garage will wait untill you buy a new house and Brava befor letting you down.
Hope that its all sorted out and you choose not to shoot it. Still hope to see ya both in Nethy Bridge.
Terry and Lynn
H.T. Garnick

Update;
Well the damage, as expected, was extensive and the estimate was £1500. I was not best pleased but to cut a long story short managed to negotiate it down to £1150 of which my AA warranty will cover £500 (minus £25 excess). Had them change the water pump, tensioner etc as well as all the valves and liners. So hopefully it will be ok now.
Terry; I am hoping the TF will be fine for the 'Highlander' but have got the GT on standby just in case! Oh and the 'Brera' took great offence at being called a 'Brava'! You better watch it doesn't bite you next time you see it!

Cheers
Alan
a g dunlop

This thread was discussed between 06/03/2007 and 22/03/2007

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