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Blown engine - where does the customer stand?

  • 30-11-2015 09:20PM
    #1
    Miley Byrne
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,493 ✭✭✭


    First of all this question doesn't relate to my own car. It's a car owned by a friend of mine but he wanted to know my opinion on where he stands.

    He got his car serviced by his local garage(not main dealer) where he always takes his car. A few days after the service a light came on so he went back to get it checked out. They told him that it would be better to take it to a main dealer. He didn't have a problem with this so he rang a main dealer and told them the story. He made an appointment for the following morning.

    Anyway he arrived and had it looked at. The mechanic dipped it for oil and said it was fine but might be no harm to add a drop even though it wasn't at a level that would cause the oil level light to appear. The light on in the dash was an oil pressure light and he was told that it was probably the oil pressure switch needing to be replaced. Part needed to be ordered so they would have it in a couple of days.

    This is where the problem arose. My friend asked if he should leave the car at the main dealer until the part was fitted. He was told " no, there's no fear of it. Drive away and come back in a couple of days". So away he went, and of course, the engine blew the following day.

    He rang the main dealer who tried to wash their hands of it by saying it was between him and whoever serviced the car.

    In my opinion, the fact that the main dealer looked at the car and added oil to it plus refused the option of keeping the car until the switch was fitted leaves them open to scrutiny.

    Any opinions?


«13

Comments

  • #2
    Truckermal
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,043 ✭✭✭Truckermal


    Well holy God that's not on at all at all at all. .


  • #3
    biko
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 81,060 ✭✭✭✭biko


    You didn't mention car brand or year.
    "Blew up" is a pretty vague term. Did something break, catch fire, or stop/seize?

    If it's Ford, try to go directly to Ford Ireland, etc for other brands.


  • #4
    Toyotafanboi
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,903 ✭✭✭✭Toyotafanboi


    Truckermal wrote: »
    Well holy God that's not on at all at all at all. .

    Yeah, in fairness driving your car for a good solid week with the oil pressure warning light illuminated, really not the slickest move.

    I can't honestly see the dealer telling someone it was 100% ok to drive on. Maybe if pushed for an answer, they may have said "there is a probability you will be fine, but there is a risk involved even if remote" and the owner took that as "drive her on boss, sure there's oil in it".

    You'l struggle to pin this on the dealer. The owner knew there was a potential oil pressure fault and he had the option to leave it with them.


  • #5
    Miley Byrne
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,493 ✭✭✭Miley Byrne


    biko wrote: »
    You didn't mention car brand or year.
    "Blew up" is a pretty vague term. Did something break, catch fire, or stop/seize?

    If it's Ford, try to go directly to Ford Ireland, etc for other brands.

    Sorry Biko. It's an 09 Subaru. One of those AWD Wagons. He lost power and suddenly bad noise from the engine and it stopped there and then


  • #6
    Miley Byrne
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,493 ✭✭✭Miley Byrne


    Toyotafanboi wrote: »
    Yeah, in fairness driving your car for a good solid week with the oil pressure warning light illuminated, really not the slickest move.

    I can't honestly see the dealer telling someone it was 100% ok to drive on. Maybe if pushed for an answer, they may have said "there is a probability you will be fine, but there is a risk involved even if remote" and the owner took that as "drive her on boss, sure there's oil in it".

    You'l struggle to pin this on the dealer. The owner knew there was a potential oil pressure fault and he had the option to leave it with them.

    Ya look I can only give the facts as I know them but I tried to get him to be as specific as he could. He offered to leave the car. He had no problem doing that because he was worried about potential damage himself. Surprised they didn't just keep the car after he suggested it tbh


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  • #7
    visual
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,265 ✭✭✭visual


    Miley Byrne wrote: »
    Sorry Biko. It's an 09 Subaru. One of those AWD Wagons. He lost power and suddenly bad noise from the engine and it stopped there and then

    Is it diesel ?


  • #8
    Miley Byrne
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,493 ✭✭✭Miley Byrne


    visual wrote: »
    Is it diesel ?

    Yes. Presume 2L


  • #9
    Dero
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 748 ✭✭✭Dero


    Uh oh, sounds familiar...


  • #10
    savagethegoat
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,297 ✭✭✭savagethegoat


    Oil level and Oil Pressure are separate issues. Obviuosly one cause of an oil pressure light coming on could be absence of oil.

    as a rule of thumb, an oil warning light means "do not drive any further"

    Maybe the level was low before the service and the damage already done.


  • #11
    screamer
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,191 ✭✭✭screamer


    Like any car your mate is on his own with this one. Garages never take responsibility for anything great industry to be in when you think about it.


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  • #12
    Truckermal
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,043 ✭✭✭Truckermal


    Dero wrote: »
    Uh oh, sounds familiar...

    I was going to post that too, obviously your old like me to remember Glenroe. .:o


  • #13
    Miley Byrne
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,493 ✭✭✭Miley Byrne


    savagethegoat wrote: »

    Maybe the level was low before the service and the damage already done.

    No there was no light on before it was serviced.


  • #14
    Stheno
    Moderators, Business & Finance Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 51,685 Mod ✭✭✭✭Stheno


    Miley Byrne wrote: »
    No there was no light on before it was serviced.

    RDad the thread linked a few posts up lots of useful Info there


  • #15
    savagethegoat
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,297 ✭✭✭savagethegoat


    Miley Byrne wrote: »
    No there was no light on before it was serviced.

    the oil pressure light does not record low oil, by the time the light comes on it may already be too late.


  • #16
    gctest50
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,534 ✭✭✭gctest50


    Miley Byrne wrote: »
    .........The light on in the dash was an oil pressure light and he was told that it was probably the oil pressure switch needing to be replaced. Part needed to be ordered so they would have it in a couple of days. ...........

    shouldn't have driven it until a new oil pressure switch was fitted

    or better idea :

    someone should have tested the oil pressure with a gauge

    something like this :

    https://www.machinemart.co.uk/p/clarke-cht712-oil-pressure-test-kit/


  • #17
    Miley Byrne
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,493 ✭✭✭Miley Byrne


    gctest50 wrote: »
    shouldn't have driven it until a new oil pressure switch was fitted

    or better idea :

    someone should have tested the oil pressure with a gauge

    something like this :

    https://www.machinemart.co.uk/p/clarke-cht712-oil-pressure-test-kit/

    Well this was his main gripe really. The fact that the mechanic told him to drive on even though he said he could leave the car. After reading the other thread(thanks) it probably wasn't the switch at all but a more terminal problem. Surely being a main dealer they would have been aware of the issues that have cropped up and advised him not to drive the car


  • #18
    mickdw
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 23,815 ✭✭✭✭mickdw


    I'd be very pissed at main dealer.
    He turned up with a low oil pressure light and was told it was likely the switch and allowed to drive on. That is negligent imo.
    You cannot ever assume a low oil pressure light is a switch fault. Ever.
    If the guy at the dealer said that the oil level is fine - drive on, he clearly wasnt qualified to service a shipping trolley never mind a car.


  • #19
    magentis
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,237 ✭✭✭magentis


    Main dealer shouldnt have told him to drive on.I wonder did the original garage use the wrong oil filter or fcuk up fitting it?Are they a cartridge type filter?


  • #20
    walus
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,669 ✭✭✭walus


    What is the mileage on the car? Irrespectively of that the dealer should not be advising that the car is ok to drive with a low pressure oil warning unless the pressure switch was tested and confirmed to be faulty. What kind of mechanic adds oil thinking it will fix its pressure and seeing that this obviously did not help lets the car be driven as if nothing was wrong? Having said that the damage was most likely already done before the owner called into the dealer. I suspect an engine rebuild will be needed here.

    ”Where’s the revolution? Come on, people you’re letting me down!”



  • #21
    Special Circumstances
    Closed Accounts Posts: 7,540 ✭✭✭Special Circumstances


    magentis wrote: »
    Main dealer shouldnt have told him to drive on.I wonder did the original garage use the wrong oil filter or fcuk up fitting it?Are they a cartridge type filter?
    Sounds like oil pressure and crank/bearing damage could be a chicken and egg thing with those boxer diesels.

    Are the cartridge filters know for been fecked up by people fitting them. Had an unfortunate experience with that myself. You'd wonder about any garage that couldn't fit an oil filter right.


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  • #22
    walus
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,669 ✭✭✭walus


    Boxer diesel does not use cartridge filters. Most likely the oil pump was down.

    ”Where’s the revolution? Come on, people you’re letting me down!”



  • #23
    Special Circumstances
    Closed Accounts Posts: 7,540 ✭✭✭Special Circumstances


    mickdw wrote: »
    You cannot ever assume a low oil pressure light is a switch fault. Ever.
    You just about could with a VW - if you were feeling lucky, punk.
    Boxer diesel - no fupping way:eek:


  • #24
    9935452
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,983 ✭✭✭9935452


    savagethegoat wrote: »
    the oil pressure light does not record low oil, by the time the light comes on it may already be too late.

    Agree , A lot of oil pressure switches are designed to turn on at 6 or 7 psi .
    Healthy oil pressure is around 40 psi.
    so by the time the light turns on the pressure is low.
    The ops friend should never have driven the car with the oil pressure light on.
    the odd thing is the engine lasted so long with the oil pressure light on.


  • #25
    selous
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,373 ✭✭✭selous


    Yeah, very odd it lasted that long, mine popped after 2 minutes flashing, full Subaru service history and only 2.5 months after a service too with a Subaru dealer, they didn't seem to notice anything wrong in that service, yet end result is same as if Benji in the shed up the lane serviced it. Very disappointed in Subaru and their customer service,


  • #26
    clogher71
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 561 ✭✭✭clogher71


    I don't think anyone has mentioned this, but where does the OP's own mechanic come into this? . He took his money for the handy job servicing the car and probably had being so for a while, servicing the car, maybe changing brake pads etc, but as soon as there was a sniff of trouble, his reaction was 'oh no, you will have to goto the dealer with that!!'

    OP walks into the dealers, maybe never even been in the place before, and all of a sudden the dealer has a problem customer !!

    I saw a case of this recently, used car bought from dealer, car serviced elsewhere, oil filter fitted incorrectly, oil leaks, turbo fails, car still under dealer warranty, guy goes back to his mechanic when light comes on, mechanic washes hands of it and tells him to go back where he bought is from as the car has a faulty turbo, guy causes a fuss where he bought the car, and his 'trusted ' mechanic gets away Scott free even though he probably fitted the filter incorrectly and was last to touch the car!!


  • #27
    Miley Byrne
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,493 ✭✭✭Miley Byrne


    clogher71 wrote: »
    I don't think anyone has mentioned this, but where does the OP's own mechanic come into this? . He took his money for the handy job servicing the car and probably had being so for a while, servicing the car, maybe changing brake pads etc, but as soon as there was a sniff of trouble, his reaction was 'oh no, you will have to goto the dealer with that!!'

    OP walks into the dealers, maybe never even been in the place before, and all of a sudden the dealer has a problem customer !!

    I saw a case of this recently, used car bought from dealer, car serviced elsewhere, oil filter fitted incorrectly, oil leaks, turbo fails, car still under dealer warranty, guy goes back to his mechanic when light comes on, mechanic washes hands of it and tells him to go back where he bought is from as the car has a faulty turbo, guy causes a fuss where he bought the car, and his 'trusted ' mechanic gets away Scott free even though he probably fitted the filter incorrectly and was last to touch the car!!

    Ya, from reading some of the lads comments on here then once the light came on the car should have been grounded immediately. Surely his own mechanic shouldnt have advised him to drive to the main dealer but to get a tow there instead.

    Also, someone asked what sort of mileage he put up after the light appeared....Well by the time he went to his mechanic and then onto the main dealer he said it was close to 100 miles.

    And there is approx 170,000 miles on the clock


  • #28
    allibastor
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,520 ✭✭✭allibastor


    Miley Byrne wrote: »
    Ya, from reading some of the lads comments on here then once the light came on the car should have been grounded immediately. Surely his own mechanic shouldnt have advised him to drive to the main dealer but to get a tow there instead.

    Also, someone asked what sort of mileage he put up after the light appeared....Well by the time he went to his mechanic and then onto the main dealer he said it was close to 100 miles.

    And there is approx 170,000 miles on the clock

    Got to love mechanics, they never take any blame and never give you a straight answer.

    Currently fighting with my own mechanic over similar issues, he fitted a new fuel injector pump, well one he got second hand, and now the electrics are. fúcked on it.
    All i got was, sure this is the problem with part! no solution or blame, just looking to buy yet another 150 euro part/


  • #29
    mickdw
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 23,815 ✭✭✭✭mickdw


    clogher71 wrote: »
    I don't think anyone has mentioned this, but where does the OP's own mechanic come into this? . He took his money for the handy job servicing the car and probably had being so for a while, servicing the car, maybe changing brake pads etc, but as soon as there was a sniff of trouble, his reaction was 'oh no, you will have to goto the dealer with that!!'

    OP walks into the dealers, maybe never even been in the place before, and all of a sudden the dealer has a problem customer !!

    I saw a case of this recently, used car bought from dealer, car serviced elsewhere, oil filter fitted incorrectly, oil leaks, turbo fails, car still under dealer warranty, guy goes back to his mechanic when light comes on, mechanic washes hands of it and tells him to go back where he bought is from as the car has a faulty turbo, guy causes a fuss where he bought the car, and his 'trusted ' mechanic gets away Scott free even though he probably fitted the filter incorrectly and was last to touch the car!!

    I don't agree at all. The main dealer getting a problem customer is 100 percent their own making on this case.
    -The customer drives in with oil pressure light on. If dealt with professionally, in the absence of a full diagnosis, they would have advised the customer that it could be simply the pressure switch or it could be a genuine oil pressure problem. The obvious advice then must be to not drive the car.
    When they decided to send the receptionist out to do the inspection and the advice given allowed the situation to develop to the point of engine blow up, I figure they created their own problem.


  • #30
    Miley Byrne
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,493 ✭✭✭Miley Byrne


    mickdw wrote: »
    When they decided to send the receptionist out to do the inspection and the advice given allowed the situation to develop to the point of engine blow up, I figure they created their own problem.

    It wasn't the receptionist who looked at it, it was one of the mechanics. But I agree, advice should have been to not drive the car


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  • #31
    mickdw
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 23,815 ✭✭✭✭mickdw


    Miley Byrne wrote: »
    It wasn't the receptionist who looked at it, it was one of the mechanics. But I agree, advice should have been to not drive the car

    I used receptionist as a figure of speech because whoever checked the car and figured that as long as there was oil in it, you were safe certainly wasn't a mechanic.
    He may be working there as a mechanic or an Apprentice mechanic but he knew nothing about engines.


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