Sue1962

Member
A few of you may remember my saga back in May / June when I had problems with my 1999 1.8 Freelander. There was loss of power and no acceleration at all. It was sent to a garage after having all electrics done & new fuel pump.

The garage could not solve the problem after 2mths of having the car with them and I ended up taking it back to where I had purchased it in November last year. They fixed the problem within 3 & a half hours !!!! It was the timing. They told me that the garage that had taken off the head should have realised this and sorted it.

It's finally back on the road and has been perfect. I informed the garage that originally worked on the car that it had been a minor problem of timing and they refused to believe that was all it was.

However, I have, within the last week, received the bill from the garage that was originally working on the case but failed to fix the problem. As you will see by the end statement, THEY have taken credit for finding the timing fault when they didnt.

They have billed me as follows:-

Carry out code read check & exhaust gas check
Result Lambda sensor fault
Remove exhaust supply & fit new Lambda sensor
Refit exhaust downpipe
Road test - still hesitant on acceleration
Check Cam timing - result OK
Remove Cat convertor and inspect for blockages in exhaust - none found
Refit Cat as necessary
Check fuel injection system wiring & connectors, throttle position skicth and crankshaft position sensor
Check fuel rate - OK
Suspect oil viscosity
Drain engine oil - flush system
Refill oil system with correct grade engine oil
Road test - still hesitant on acceleration
Carry out compression test - list cyclinder number 3 & 4 low
Have main landrover dealer check over vehicle.
No fault found by main dealer although they suspect head hydraulic lifters failing.
On main dealer recommendation - remove cylinder head as necessary and send for checking.
Fault found and rectified.
Refit cylinder head as necessary
Run up enginer and road test.
Still hesitant on acceleration - when warm.
Check MAP sensor operation.
Discontinue on instruction from owner.

Garage had telephone conversation with Castle Motors, where vehicle purchased from and explained procedure of trying to rectify poor acceleration problem. Garage recommended Castle Motors replaced the ECM which also houses the MAP to rectify ignition timing.

TOTAL (includes labour, parts & VAT) £1,142.20

My argument is that they didnt even sort the problem out and couldnt wait to get the vehicle off the forecourt as it was an embarrassment becuase they couldnt fix it.

Should I dispute the bill or just grin and pay it ???
 
A few of you may remember my saga back in May / June when I had problems with my 1999 1.8 Freelander. There was loss of power and no acceleration at all. It was sent to a garage after having all electrics done & new fuel pump.

The garage could not solve the problem after 2mths of having the car with them and I ended up taking it back to where I had purchased it in November last year. They fixed the problem within 3 & a half hours !!!! It was the timing. They told me that the garage that had taken off the head should have realised this and sorted it.

It's finally back on the road and has been perfect. I informed the garage that originally worked on the car that it had been a minor problem of timing and they refused to believe that was all it was.

However, I have, within the last week, received the bill from the garage that was originally working on the case but failed to fix the problem. As you will see by the end statement, THEY have taken credit for finding the timing fault when they didnt.

They have billed me as follows:-

Carry out code read check & exhaust gas check
Result Lambda sensor fault
Remove exhaust supply & fit new Lambda sensor
Refit exhaust downpipe
Road test - still hesitant on acceleration
Check Cam timing - result OK
Remove Cat convertor and inspect for blockages in exhaust - none found
Refit Cat as necessary
Check fuel injection system wiring & connectors, throttle position skicth and crankshaft position sensor
Check fuel rate - OK
Suspect oil viscosity
Drain engine oil - flush system
Refill oil system with correct grade engine oil
Road test - still hesitant on acceleration
Carry out compression test - list cyclinder number 3 & 4 low
Have main landrover dealer check over vehicle.
No fault found by main dealer although they suspect head hydraulic lifters failing.
On main dealer recommendation - remove cylinder head as necessary and send for checking.
Fault found and rectified.
Refit cylinder head as necessary
Run up enginer and road test.
Still hesitant on acceleration - when warm.
Check MAP sensor operation.
Discontinue on instruction from owner.

Garage had telephone conversation with Castle Motors, where vehicle purchased from and explained procedure of trying to rectify poor acceleration problem. Garage recommended Castle Motors replaced the ECM which also houses the MAP to rectify ignition timing.

TOTAL (includes labour, parts & VAT) £1,142.20

My argument is that they didnt even sort the problem out and couldnt wait to get the vehicle off the forecourt as it was an embarrassment becuase they couldnt fix it.

Should I dispute the bill or just grin and pay it ???

Sue,,, if that is Castle Motors of liskeard...fronting many luxuries such as porches etc and even claiming to be an Augusta helicopter dealer..then I am not surprised.

I have heard plenty of ill tales about them. Definately shouldnt pay em.
 
get some legal adivce, I wouldn't pay it.
If anything, the diagnostic check and lamda sensor change sounds logical. The rest sounds like nonsense.

the garage listed that they took the head off, then fault found, what fault are they listing?
To take the head off, requires loosening the cam timing belt and tensioner, question is' was it just the lamda sensor? Or did the muppets on refitting the head mess up the timing and tensioner bolt not torqued up correctly. Later found by castle motors
Haynes suggest the tensioner bolt should be replaced as a matter of course. As does the MG official workshop manual for k-Series engines. If the official LR technical brochure for a cam belt change states this, and they haven't listed a new bolt on the bill, then its good grounds to place blame with them. As technically the bolt and tensioner should not be re-used. A new timing belt should also be fitted. Is it on the bill?

Plus the exhaust downpipe DOES NOT need to be removed to replace the lamde sensor, a 22mm crows foot spanner does the trick, it's specially made for that purpose.
 
Another dodgy motor sold by Castle Motors.
I'm surprised that anyone in Kernow doesn't know about them!

I'm not surprised that they managed to fix it though, because they currently have a very good technician (good mate of my son) but he's desperately looking for another job.
Name & shame the garage who failed to fix it!
 
Hi Guys

The garage that DIDN'T fix the job was Dave Datson's at Threemilestone, they're the ones that have sent me the bill.

Castle Motors (yes at Liskeard gav) are the ones that fixed it AND didnt charge me, even after I had bollocks them for selling me the car in the first place that could ahve already had the fault :confused:

Thanks for all your comments. Am going to seek advice from a) Trading Standards and b) Legal people

Thanks again xxxxxxxxx
 
Cashys right, get as much in writing as possible. Try citizens advice as I believe they have legal experts.By all means contact them, but don't hold out too much hope with Trading Standards (personal experience a long time ago). I suppose it all depends how good your local office is, but the legal route/solictors letters etc. will probably be more effective.

Good luck
 

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