(Old thread) Fixed parts, sold car, new owner says part was never fixed!

rockdj316

Hi all,
Basically I brought laguna to the garage 2 weeks before Xmas to have the timing belt and water pump done.A few days later I sold the car as I had something smaller lined up.
They checked the car themselves that night, gave it a good look under the bonnet,under the car,took it for a test drive and was happy to take the car away that night.
So anyway I got a call off them today to say that the engine had seized and they're not too happy about it and their mechanic is saying the the timing belt wasn't done with the water pump when I originally paid for both to be done.
The new owner now thinks that I sold them a faulty car on purpose when I genuinely didn't .
If push comes to shove am I liable?
My mechanic told me the pump and belt were done and the new owner gave the car the once over themselves and signed the log book there and then too.

rockdj316

rockdj316 wrote: »

Hi all,
Basically I brought laguna to the garage 2 weeks before Xmas to have the timing belt and water pump done.A few days later I sold the car as I had something smaller lined up.
They checked the car themselves that night, gave it a good look under the bonnet,under the car,took it for a test drive and was happy to take the car away that night.
So anyway I got a call off them today to say that the engine had seized and they're not too happy about it and their mechanic is saying the the timing belt wasn't done with the water pump when I originally paid for both to be done.
The new owner now thinks that I sold them a faulty car on purpose when I genuinely didn't .
If push comes to shove am I liable?
My mechanic told me the pump and belt were done and the new owner gave the car the once over themselves and signed the log book there and then too.

No you aren't liable.

Nino Brown

rockdj316 wrote: »

Hi all,
Basically I brought laguna to the garage 2 weeks before Xmas to have the timing belt and water pump done.A few days later I sold the car as I had something smaller lined up.
They checked the car themselves that night, gave it a good look under the bonnet,under the car,took it for a test drive and was happy to take the car away that night.
So anyway I got a call off them today to say that the engine had seized and they're not too happy about it and their mechanic is saying the the timing belt wasn't done with the water pump when I originally paid for both to be done.
The new owner now thinks that I sold them a faulty car on purpose when I genuinely didn't .
If push comes to shove am I liable?
My mechanic told me the pump and belt were done and the new owner gave the car the once over themselves and signed the log book there and then too.

Got the receipt by any chance?

Jesus.

Sounds like you stitched them right up

smellslikeshoes

Jesus. wrote: »

Sounds like you stitched them right up

Rubbish. If it's a private sale it's buyer beware.

Mycroft H

Go tell them to clear off. Buyer beware. You've no obligation to even entertain any of their problems.

djimi

Im assuming that you have a receipt to show that the timing belt was changed?

Private sale is always buyer beware unless the buyer can prove that they were sold a car that the seller knew to have a dangerous defect. Basically, good luck to them proving that!

rockdj316

smellslikeshoes wrote: »

Rubbish. If it's a private sale it's buyer beware.

I'll be taking a trip to the garage anyway tomorrow as now the new owner states they know the garage owner and they claim the garage owner said they were only supposed to do the water pump ,when I paid for both.Garage owner is a friend of the family too so well have to wait and see

Nino Brown

If the buyer asks has the timing belt been changed, and you say yes when it hasn't , I think they may have a case. Of course they'd probably have to prove you knew it wasn't changed

Nino Brown

Would any garage really just change a water pump, and not change the timing belt?

Mycroft H

rockdj316 wrote: »

I'll be taking a trip to the garage anyway tomorrow as now the new owner states they know the garage owner and they claim the garage owner said they were only supposed to do the water pump ,when I paid for both.Garage owner is a friend of the family too so well have to wait and see

Don't get involved.

djimi

Mycroft H wrote: »

Don't get involved.

If its true that the timing belt wasnt changed after the garage said that it was then Id be going back to them also. That is a very dangerous thing for a garage to lie about.

cerastes

rockdj316 wrote: »

Hi all,
Basically I brought laguna to the garage 2 weeks before Xmas to have the timing belt and water pump done.A few days later I sold the car as I had something smaller lined up.
They checked the car themselves that night, gave it a good look under the bonnet,under the car,took it for a test drive and was happy to take the car away that night.
So anyway I got a call off them today to say that the engine had seized and they're not too happy about it and their mechanic is saying the the timing belt wasn't done with the water pump when I originally paid for both to be done.
The new owner now thinks that I sold them a faulty car on purpose when I genuinely didn't .
If push comes to shove am I liable?
My mechanic told me the pump and belt were done and the new owner gave the car the once over themselves and signed the log book there and then too.

I dont think you'd be liable as a private sale, unless maybe you misrepresented it as having work done?
You dont seem 100% certain the work was done?

rockdj316 wrote: »

I'll be taking a trip to the garage anyway tomorrow as now the new owner states they know the garage owner and they claim the garage owner said they were only supposed to do the water pump ,when I paid for both.Garage owner is a friend of the family too so well have to wait and see

I dont get this, are you now saying the garage claimed they only did the water pump? do you have a receipt that says what was done and paid for?

cerastes

djimi wrote: »

If its true that the timing belt wasnt changed after the garage said that it was then Id be going back to them also. That is a very dangerous thing for a garage to lie about.

Id be looking for a refund myself
looks like the garage which claimed certain work was done previously for the OP/former owner, charged for it and now the car has clapped have tried to get out of it with the new owner but have at the same time dropped themself in it with the original owner??

Bruthal

Mycroft H wrote: »

Don't get involved.

When the timing belt was paid for?

Renegade Mechanic

Has the engine actually seized? Or has the timing belt snapped....

Mycroft H

Bruthal wrote: »

When the timing belt was paid for?

Car is hardly his problem though anymore. Be hard to chase up this without getting involved with the new owner

cerastes

Renegade Mechanic wrote: »

Has the engine actually seized? Or has the timing belt snapped....

Thats more relevant to the new owner, isn't it?, but the OP if they sold it in good faith and have a receipt to prove timing belt was done should be in the clear with the new owner and be getting a refund from the garage, whether the belt snapped or not if it was payed for and not actually done, the mechanic appears to have admitted it wasn't done.
Whats the receipt say?



but out of curiosity Id like to know myself.

michael999999

Any time I've bought a second hand car, first thing I do is change the belt and water pump. I don't care when the seller tells me it was done.

Tell them its not your problem op, they bought as seen and drove it for two weeks.

rockdj316

Mycroft H wrote: »

Don't get involved.

That's what I was thinking too,any standard timing belt or water pump kit comes with both items in it!
I've no receipt either,just gave the guy cash and took the car away.Family friend so didn't even think to ask tbh

Bruthal

Mycroft H wrote: »

Car is hardly his problem though anymore.

Well, if I paid a few hundred for a job that was not actually done, and it came to light soon afterwards, Id be going back to see about it, especially if they are known well to me.

Everyone is different though.

mr_edge_to_you

It was a Laguna. It was never going to end well!

In fairness..... out of courtesy to the buyer I'd raise the issue with the mechanic but wouldn't be doing much more than that. Hard for the buyer not to feel like someone pulled a fast one!

those are the risks when you buy a car privately.

cerastes

Mycroft H wrote: »

Car is hardly his problem though anymore. Be hard to chase up this without getting involved with the new owner

Getting ripped off by someone I know would be, Id warn the rest of my family off for a start.Then go looking for my money.

rockdj316 wrote: »

That's what I was thinking too,any standard timing belt or water pump kit comes with both items in it!
I've no receipt either,just gave the guy cash and took the car away.Family friend so didn't even think to ask tbh

How much was i? if you paid the rate for a timing belt change and it wasnt done, Id reconsider the friendship myself, Id at least be saying it tio them, no more business and if I didnt get my money back, Id be damn sure to let as many people know about it too.

Bruthal wrote: »

Well, if I paid a few hundred for a job that was not actually done, and it came to light soon afterwards, Id be going back to see about it, especially if they are known well to me.

Everyone is different though.

I agree

OP did you think the timing belt was done? why does the mechanic think it wasn't paid for now? you didnt sound certain in the first post, it was only after I saw the post and added it as a quote where you suggested the mechanic claimed not to have it done.
Id be pretty pissed at the guy.

Saucy McKetchup

rockdj316 wrote: »

That's what I was thinking too,any standard timing belt or water pump kit comes with both items in it!
I've no receipt either,just gave the guy cash and took the car away.Family friend so didn't even think to ask tbh

If he's a family friend he'll give you a receipt for the work done! someone's lying here.

keithclancy

Less involvement the better tbh.

The more you involve yourself the more you create problems and the more the buyer thinks he's owed something.

road_high

keithclancy wrote: »

Less involvement the better tbh.

The more you involve yourself the more you create problems and the more the buyer thinks he's owed something.

Totally agree. Give your man the name and number of the garage. Apart from that nothing more to do with you op.

rockdj316

cerastes wrote: »

Getting ripped off by someone I know would be, Id warn the rest of my family off for a start.Then go looking for my money.



How much was i? if you paid the rate for a timing belt change and it wasnt done, Id reconsider the friendship myself, Id at least be saying it tio them, no more business and if I didnt get my money back, Id be damn sure to let as many people know about it too.



I agree

OP did you think the timing belt was done? why does the mechanic think it wasn't paid for now? you didnt sound certain in the first post, it was only after I saw the post and added it as a quote where you suggested the mechanic claimed not to have it done.
Id be pretty pissed at the guy.

Yeah basically I paid to get the timing belt and water pump done.Few days later sold it to the new owner.He was driving yesterday and the car packed up,he asked me where I got the car fixed and I told him.He got back to me today saying a friend of a friend knows the mechanic in the garage where I got the belt/pump done and now the mechanic is saying it was only brought in for a leaky pump so that's all they fixed.After I was told by them the pump and belt were done.
Genuinely don't want the guy thinking I knowingly sold him a dodgy car, especially when I sold it outside my front door and that too

mr_edge_to_you

rockdj316 wrote: »

the mechanic is saying it was only brought in for a leaky pump so that's all they fixed.After I was told by them the pump and belt were done.

how much did you actually hand over in cash? that'll clear up a lot of issues. Sure you'd hardly get a timing belt/water pump change for less than €350. (maybe you would?)

rockdj316

mr_edge_to_you wrote: »

how much did you actually hand over in cash? that'll clear up a lot of issues. Sure you'd hardly get a timing belt/water pump change for less than €350. (maybe you would?)

That's exactly what it was!Right on the button

Supergurrier

If you told them the timing belt was done and it wasn't them all I can say is shame on you especially if you are trying to passthe buck to the garage.

However from a technical and legal POV you should be fine regardless if this is the case or not as if you sold them a car where the belt had snapped how would he have driven it home.

What kind of time period since it was bought 3 weeks ?

I know a guy who sold a car and five months later year man rings him looking for a full refund as it was too heavy on fuel.

Best of luck with it tbh regardless

jimb43

1) YOU BROUGHT CAR TO GARAGE / REQUESTED WATER PUMP AND TIMING BELT TO BE DONE . the car was yours
2) you collected the car from garage and the garage said the work was done. the car was yours
3)you sold the car "private " new owner looked at car test drove car, bought car, the car is now not yours

car brakes down, Unlucky the car is NOT YOURS


you have no obligation to even speak to the guy. and even if he starts to try and make something of it , you just before sale requested for the pump and belt to be changed, paid for the work to be done. if it turns out that the work was not done , you are still not liable for anything as its not your fault the garage is a rip off , and you done and said everything in good faith, unlucky new owner

djimi

Correct me if Im wrong but to change a water pump does the belt not have to come off either way? If so, then why on earth would they put the old belt back on again?

Or have I got that arseways? I know that belt and pump are usually replaced as a pair.

rockdj316

Supergurrier wrote: »

If you told them the timing belt was done and it wasn't them all I can say is shame on you especially if you are trying to passthe buck to the garage.

However from a technical and legal POV you should be fine regardless if this is the case or not as if you sold them a car where the belt had snapped how would he have driven it home.

What kind of time period since it was bought 3 weeks ?

I know a guy who sold a car and five months later year man rings him looking for a full refund as it was too heavy on fuel.

Best of luck with it tbh regardless

That's the thing as far as I'm concerned going by what the mechanic told me at the time the timing belt was done.

I can understand if the new owner feels hard done by but I paid for the belt and pump to be done and as far as I was concerned they were.

Just hope he doesn't think I fooled him ya know?!

rockdj316

djimi wrote: »

Correct me if Im wrong but to change a water pump does the belt not have to come off either way? If so, then why on earth would they put the old belt back on again?

Or have I got that arseways? I know that belt and pump are usually replaced as a pair.

Yeah you're right!

cerastes

rockdj316 wrote: »

Yeah basically I paid to get the timing belt and water pump done.Few days later sold it to the new owner.He was driving yesterday and the car packed up,he asked me where I got the car fixed and I told him.He got back to me today saying a friend of a friend knows the mechanic in the garage where I got the belt/pump done and now the mechanic is saying it was only brought in for a leaky pump so that's all they fixed.After I was told by them the pump and belt were done.
Genuinely don't want the guy thinking I knowingly sold him a dodgy car, especially when I sold it outside my front door and that too

For 350 off an independant?? Id be expecting a timing belt or do I have that arseways? certainly not just a water pump. what make is the vehicle?
In that case Id be looking for something back off the garage and not in lieu, you say you paid for the timing belt and it looks like it and the garage claims it wasnt done, therefore he ripped you off as far as I can tell.
If the engine just seized (I take it back it does seem relevant) then its a seperate issue regarding the new owner, and Id say they have no recourse and you have no obligation to assist them, but Id be looking for cash back off the garage anyway.

If the belt snapped and it wasnt done, then the garage has made you look like a liar, Id be looking for my money back and again while you have no obligation to talk to the buyer, it looks (it would to me if I was the buyer) suspect if you did nothing wrong and wont help them out as its the mechanic (by what you have said) that lied to you.

Technically the buyer may have no recourse, cant see why you wouldnt try clear your name with them.

rockdj316

Renegade Mechanic wrote: »

Has the engine actually seized? Or has the timing belt snapped....

From what I can make out,from his texts, the belt snapped.

TheBody

Do you have a receipt describing the work you got done to the car?

Fred Swanson

This post has been deleted.

cerastes

rockdj316 wrote: »

From what I can make out,from his texts, the belt snapped.

In that regard, you paid for it to be done, the garage has made you look like a liar, and ripped you off. Which looks like it has resulted in another person getting screwed over too.

I cant see how the buyer could get recourse from you, but they may have some ability to get recourse from the garage if you back them otherwise its pretty **** for them, when its clear who is at fault.

Its the same as if someone drove into your car, you saw it but it helps if you have a witness, some bystander witness doesnt want to get involved so stays quiet and wont support you.

el pasco

rockdj316 wrote: »

Hi all,
Basically I brought laguna to the garage 2 weeks before Xmas to have the timing belt and water pump done.A few days later I sold the car as I had something smaller lined up.
They checked the car themselves that night, gave it a good look under the bonnet,under the car,took it for a test drive and was happy to take the car away that night.
So anyway I got a call off them today to say that the engine had seized and they're not too happy about it and their mechanic is saying the the timing belt wasn't done with the water pump when I originally paid for both to be done.
The new owner now thinks that I sold them a faulty car on purpose when I genuinely didn't .
If push comes to shove am I liable?
My mechanic told me the pump and belt were done and the new owner gave the car the once over themselves and signed the log book there and then too.

Legally you're not liable but I would want to check out your mechanic to make sure he doing his work properly

BMJD

Politely tell him that it is not your problem and to not have any further contact with you. If he persists, report him to the Gardai for harassing you. I wouldn't be surprised if he demands some cash as compensation for the alleged engine failure.

rockdj316

cerastes wrote: »

For 350 off an independant?? Id be expecting a timing belt or do I have that arseways? certainly not just a water pump. what make is the vehicle?
In that case Id be looking for something back off the garage and not in lieu, you say you paid for the timing belt and it looks like it and the garage claims it wasnt done, therefore he ripped you off as far as I can tell.
If the engine just seized (I take it back it does seem relevant) then its a seperate issue regarding the new owner, and Id say they have no recourse and you have no obligation to assist them, but Id be looking for cash back off the garage anyway.

If the belt snapped and it wasnt done, then the garage has made you look like a liar, Id be looking for my money back and again while you have no obligation to talk to the buyer, it looks (it would to me if I was the buyer) suspect if you did nothing wrong and wont help them out as its the mechanic (by what you have said) that lied to you.

Technically the buyer may have no recourse, cant see why you wouldnt try clear your name with them.

Yeah,I'm going to the mechanic myself tomorrow to see what the story is and to see if they actually claimed that only the pump was done to the new owners friend.

As I said I don't want to be held liable as I feel I'm in the right but I can definitely see why the new owner may seem its suspect.

rockdj316

He's telling me he's getting an accessor out to look at it during the week.
Don't know if he's just stating a fact or if he's expecting me to cough up!

djimi

Fred Swanson wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

Problem here is that you have a third party (in this case a garage known mutually to both seller and buyer) telling lies to the buyer to make it look like the OP has deceived them. Given the situation, Im not entirely sure that the OP can ignore this one and hope it goes away, because frankly I dont think that it will given what the seller has been told by the garage.

emeldc

djimi wrote: »

Correct me if Im wrong but to change a water pump does the belt not have to come off either way? If so, then why on earth would they put the old belt back on again?

Or have I got that arseways? I know that belt and pump are usually replaced as a pair.

They are usually replaced as a pair, in fact they usually come in kit form of a pump, a belt, tensioners, pulleys etc. It really doesn't make sense to me to go to the trouble of replacing the pump and not doing the belt as the belt is usually the cheaper part. On the other hand if the belt was replaced and not tensioned properly, then maybe the new belt slipped. And so another can of worms is opened.
Either way it's tough on the buyer but little to do with the OP I think.

djimi

rockdj316 wrote: »

He's telling me he's getting an accessor out to look at it during the week.
Don't know if he's just stating a fact or if he's expecting me to cough up!

One question Id be asking the buyer is if they got the car checked over before buying, and you had told them that the belt had been changed, then why did their mechanic not check the belt to confirm your story? It would be fairly obvious to a mechanic that a belt was only a couple of days old Id imagine.

BMJD

rockdj316 wrote: »

He's telling me he's getting an accessor out to look at it during the week.
Don't know if he's just stating a fact or if he's expecting me to cough up!

wish him luck and don't entertain anything further. And next time you sell a car, use a throwaway phone!

ardle1

Where did the mechanic get 350€, if he didn't do the belt also! or at least claim he also did belt!!

rockdj316

djimi wrote: »

One question Id be asking the buyer is if they got the car checked over before buying, and you had told them that the belt had been changed, then why did their mechanic not check the belt to confirm your story? It would be fairly obvious to a mechanic that a belt was only a couple of days old Id imagine.

That's the other thing I was thinking,did they just tell me that the belt was done with the pump and they just maybe didn't tighten the belt properly or something

MadYaker

Do you have receipts for the work done? If you have receipts for the timing belt and the water pump then you're grand.

If you don't have these receipts then it might not be so simple. It all depends on what the garage say, if they say they installed the water pump and timing belt then you're grand. If they say they only did the water pump and you don't have receipts to prove otherwise then it starts to look a lot like you knowingly mislead the buyer, even if you didn't.

bigboss1986

Nino Brown wrote: »

Would any garage really just change a water pump, and not change the timing belt?

Yes if it would be rotary engine wich doesnt have timing belt or chain

OP dont worry.SOLD AS SEEN!!!