Have I been ripped.

runnerstar99

Please Help!

I recently went a garage for work to be done on a alternator "reconditioned" which was dead at the time, upon handing him the fiesta van 1.8 diesel everything was working fine, as previously been driving for 3 months up till the battery went dead on a Friday, parking up and leaving to Monday.

Upon picking the van up Tuesday, the mechanic explained there is a leak from the pump for power steering which is dripping fluid/oil showing me a large pool directly below, then showing me the position of the alternator, which happened to be right next to the pump, checking the bottle for fluid and finding it empty.

Querying the fact that I don’t believe there was a leak before, he told me, there defiantly was, after paying and taken the van back to my apartment block, inspecting the place where I have been parking, under ground parking in dry area, NO fluid stains was present what’s so ever.

Can any one tell me if in there opinion, would the alternator being extracted could interfere with the pump at any point causing this problem.

I could really do with the advice chaps I know nothing about cars.

Esel

Please Help!

I recently went a garage for work to be done on a alternator "reconditioned" which was dead at the time, upon handing him the fiesta van 1.8 diesel everything was working fine, as previously been driving for 3 months up till the battery went dead on a Friday, parking up and leaving to Monday.

Upon picking the van up Tuesday, the mechanic explained there is a leak from the pump for power steering which is dripping fluid showing me a large pool of fluid/oil directly below, then showing me the position of the alternator, which happened to be right next to the pump, checking the bottle for fluid, finding it empty.
Querying the fact that I don’t believe there was a leak before, he told me, there defiantly was, after paying and taken the van back to my apartment block, inspecting the place where I have been parking, under ground parking and dry there were NO fluid stains what’s so ever.

Can any one tell me, if in there opinion,
would the alternator being extracted could interfere with the pump at any point causing this problem.

I could really do with the advice chaps I know nothing about cars.

This will be a lot easier for people to read. If composing your post in another program, use Notepad rather than Word. The formatting and colour can make it very hard to read otherwise.

garyegt

did you notice the power steering or anything was heavier due to having no fluid in it?

how much did he charge you for it?

runnerstar99

This will be a lot easier for people to read. If composing your post in another program, use Notepad rather than Word. The formatting and colour can make it very hard to read otherwise.

thanks for the tip

runnerstar99

garyegt wrote: »

did you notice the power steering or anything was heavier due to having no fluid in it?

how much did he charge you for it?

230 inculding vat

runnerstar99

runnerstar99 wrote: »

230 inculding vat

No there was nothing wrong with the steering and the bottel was half full before handling him the van, all the all was on floor of garage.

radharc05

I dont know if this will help you but -

In that particular vehicle the power steering is v near the alternator and the hoses have to be disconnected in order to attend the alternator.

So it probably leaked out when he disconnected it!

why, Did he charge you extra to fix this?
What part of the country you in out of interest?

runnerstar99

radharc05 wrote: »

I dont know if this will help you but -

In that particular vehicle the power steering is v near the alternator and the hoses have to be disconnected in order to attend the alternator.

So it probably leaked out when he disconnected it!

why, Did he charge you extra to fix this?
What part of the country you in out of interest?

I dont think it's just a case of disconnecing hoses as the leak is cuming from the pump it self.

I havent paid him to fix it, just paid for the altanator to be fixed.

Dublin/Chapelizod Is my location and chapelizod is the location of garage.

LoveDucati2

I had a similar problem with a garage near Naas road. Hose went in the Auto Gbox, they broke the oil cooler along the threads while taking the old hose off. They let some apprentice do it because I had to take it to a welding company in Park west to repair (they were able to tell the force used to break it).

Problem was that its a Jatco gbx in Rover 75, there was 1 new part in Europe somewhere and no 2nd hand in the UK at all.

After a bit of shouting I paid the garage but I should have taken it further.

runnerstar99

LoveDucati2 wrote: »

I had a similar problem with a garage near Naas road. Hose went in the Auto Gbox, they broke the oil cooler along the threads while taking the old hose off. They let some apprentice do it because I had to take it to a welding company in Park west to repair (they were able to tell the force used to break it).

Problem was that its a Jatco gbx in Rover 75, there was 1 new part in Europe somewhere and no 2nd hand in the UK at all.

After a bit of shouting I paid the garage but I should have taken it further.

can you advised, what could I do to take this further,

LoveDucati2

Not sure what you can do. I had proof that they broke the cooler because I had the 2 pieces.

Thank fu*k for Nassau Engineering Ltd in Park West.

If it wasn't for them I would not be driving.

Voodoomelon

OP, is it still leaking now though?

Darragh29

Is there a possibility that fluid was leaking down onto the alternator and was the cause of the problem with the alternator??? Also, is it possible that the fluid just happened to drip into the alternator and got splattered around the engine compartment by the moving rotor windings in the alternator?

If he had to remove the power steering reservoir to get at the alternator, it could have been damaged in the process of removing it. If this happened, it isn't necessarily his fault, this happens regularly when working on vehicles and it isn't necessarily the mechanics fault if it does happen.

Darragh29

runnerstar99 wrote: »

I dont think it's just a case of disconnecing hoses as the leak is cuming from the pump it self.

I havent paid him to fix it, just paid for the altanator to be fixed.

Dublin/Chapelizod Is my location and chapelizod is the location of garage.

What probably happened was the pipe going between the power steering pump and the power steering reservoir was moved while working on the alternator and it either cracked or else the rubber seal at the pipe union where the pipe connects to the pump was damaged. Again, this isn't always the fault of whoever is working on the car. Unfortunately these things can and do happen, pipes can crack, seals can get damaged, no matter how careful you try to be, especially when trying to work around power steering pipes...

Cuddlesworth

Darragh29 wrote: »

What probably happened was the pipe going between the power steering pump and the power steering reservoir was moved while working on the alternator and it either cracked or else the rubber seal at the pipe union where the pipe connects to the pump was damaged. Again, this isn't always the fault of whoever is working on the car. Unfortunately these things can and do happen, pipes can crack, seals can get damaged, no matter how careful you try to be, especially when trying to work around power steering pipes...

Are you saying that when working on somebody's vehicle and you create a fault, its not your responsibility to fix it?

Darragh29

Cuddlesworth wrote: »

Are you saying that when working on somebody's vehicle and you create a fault, its not your responsibility to fix it?

You haven't "create a fault". The nature of the work is that it is invasive and when your working on a car, parts can be damaged or partially worn already and you disturbing them can often reveal a fault that was already there. This is something that inherently comes with working on cars and the older the car, the more likely it is to happen. Of course it is more likely to happen if you are being heavy handed but sometimes no matter how careful or delicate you are being, there is a part you are working on that is nearing end of life anyway and you moving it has just revealed this to be the case and then it has to be replaced.

LoveDucati2

Cuddlesworth wrote: »

Are you saying that when working on somebody's vehicle and you create a fault, its not your responsibility to fix it?

If the garage f*ck up and cause a fault they will usually bullsh1t you about worn part, unforseen fault etc. Most people just accept this for some reason.

Always know exactly what work is to be carried out on your car. Always agree a price beforehand, and make sure that the Mechanic must contact you before carrying out anything else.

Cuddlesworth

Darragh29 wrote: »

You haven't "create a fault". The nature of the work is that it is invasive and when your working on a car, parts can be damaged or partially worn already and you disturbing them can often reveal a fault that was already there. This is something that inherently comes with working on cars and the older the car, the more likely it is to happen. Of course it is more likely to happen if you are being heavy handed but sometimes no matter how careful or delicate you are being, there is a part you are working on that is nearing end of life anyway and you moving it has just revealed this to be the case and then it has to be replaced.

I'm sorry but even though I am well aware that its very possible that pre-existing problems can exist and be brought to the fore, are you saying that in the process of removing or working around a motor and you damage a part in this process its not your fault?

Would you simply not factor the chances of this into your original costs and take the hit?

Darragh29

LoveDucati2 wrote: »

If the garage f*ck up and cause a fault they will usually bullsh1t you about worn part, unforseen fault etc. Most people just accept this for some reason.

Always know exactly what work is to be carried out on your car. Always agree a price beforehand, and make sure that the Mechanic must contact you before carrying out anything else.

Unfortunately many people will not get their head around this until they go to do a particular task someday and they experience this for themselves.

Of course a mechanic should contact you if the job changes in any way from what was agreed at the outset.

This is precisely why some dealerships will not take in cars over a certain age, some dealerships will not take in cars manufactured before 2004, etc, and this is exactly why. It starts getting messy and complicated sometimes, you go to take off bolts that have been in the same position for 5 plus years and exposed to the elements and next thing they are sheering off and all the rest of it.

It's nice to think that everything with vehicle maintenance is black and white and one part comes out and another goes straight back in but in reality it doesn't always happen like this...

Gary ITR

LoveDucati2 wrote: »

I had a similar problem with a garage near Naas road. Hose went in the Auto Gbox, they broke the oil cooler along the threads while taking the old hose off. They let some apprentice do it because I had to take it to a welding company in Park west to repair (they were able to tell the force used to break it).

Problem was that its a Jatco gbx in Rover 75, there was 1 new part in Europe somewhere and no 2nd hand in the UK at all.

After a bit of shouting I paid the garage but I should have taken it further.

You should just stop driving. Seriously the amount of problems you've had with cars and garages is unreal

Darragh29

Cuddlesworth wrote: »

I'm sorry but even though I am well aware that its very possible that pre-existing problems can exist and be brought to the fore, are you saying that in the process of removing or working around a motor and you damage a part in this process its not your fault?

Would you simply not factor the chances of this into your original costs and take the hit?

That's exactly what I'm saying. If your car has a problem coming into a garage that has already been there but is excaberated by the fact that the mechanic has had to move that part out of his way to work on something behind or underneith it, there is no way on earth that the mechanic can be held responsible for that problem that existed before he even saw your car.

And then if I were to use your approach above, and the job turns out to be extremely straightforward, I'm charging you for work that isn't necessary and I'm getting it in the neck on that front! It's also making me uncompetitive. If I want to take an alternator out of a car, I might have to take the power steering pipes out of my way. I might also have to move air conditioning pipes out of my way. I might also have to remove an engine mounting out of my way and a coolant expansion bottle. Am I to charge you for all these parts in case when I go to move them on an older car, a problem arises that was already there before I went near the car???

I can understand how people who don't work on cars can look at this and see malworkmanship or unprofessionalism or lack of skill but having done the job, I see how easily these problems appear out of nowhere. And it's not just me, I get at least 2-3 phone calls a week from mates who are doing work on cars and they started off fixing a starter motor or an alternator and they end up with another problem entirely that they just got sucked into and these guys are very capable, skilled and also honest mechanics.

LoveDucati2

Darragh29 wrote: »

Unfortunately many people will not get their head around this until they go to do a particular task someday and they experience this for themselves.

Of course a mechanic should contact you if the job changes in any way from what was agreed at the outset.

This is precisely why some dealerships will not take in cars over a certain age, some dealerships will not take in cars manufactured before 2004, etc, and this is exactly why. It starts getting messy and complicated sometimes, you go to take off bolts that have been in the same position for 5 plus years and exposed to the elements and next thing they are sheering off and all the rest of it.

It's nice to think that everything with vehicle maintenance is black and white and one part comes out and another goes straight back in but in reality it doesn't always happen like this...

Very fair point TBH

Darragh29

I've a cousin who was replacing a crankshaft pulley on a BMW 318 the other day...

The bolt that holds on the crankshaft pulley is known for being very difficult to remove, even in BMW dealerships they have trouble getting these bolts out. He had to remove components directly in front of the area he was working on at the front of the engine. He tried using a 1/2 inch socket with an impact gun to remove the bolt but no joy. He went off and borrowed a 1 inch heavy duty impact gun and bought a BRAND NEW impact (heavy duty) socket with a swivel head from a local supplier.

This would be typical of this guys approach, using the right tools for the job so he can do it right with minimal hassle and messing... He put the impact gun up to the bolt and tried to remove it again and instead of removing the bolt, the pin in the BRAND NEW swivel head he had just bought for this particular job, snapped and went flying. Where did it end up???

Buried in the radiator that had been moved gently out of the way! So what started off as a simple crankshaft pulley replacement job, by the worst possible turn of luck, ended up needing a new radiator...