Garage blew turbo help!

spodoinkle

I left my car in for brake pads, came bac to pick it up and the garage had blown the turbo while test driving. They have said there was a bit hanging off/wearing down this long time and it was only a matter of time.

If this is true and the turbo was on its last legs, do I have any comeback considering it blew while in their posession?

Cuddlesworth

At least you don't have to pay to get it towed to a garage.

spodoinkle

Cuddlesworth wrote: »

At least you don't have to pay to get it towed to a garage.

After Hours is that way <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Cuddlesworth

I think it's more that way>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>


But unless you can prove the garage damaged your turbo through negligence, your tough out of luck.

my3cents

Surely worth the €25 cost of a small claims court case to see if you can get the garage to pay.

Whats to say the turbo would have gone on for a lot longer with the OP's style of driving and was pushed over by someone in the garage seeing what it could do?

spodoinkle

Well heres the thing: they did a health check 1st prior to the turbo blowing on which they have noted "advised oil at minimum"; now I have went back this evening and they have quoted £900 to replace. I have questioned why I have to pay as it was damaged in their care, they replied the turbo was about to go and oil was at the bare minimum anyway.

Now if the garge new the oil was at the bare minimum, surely they should have known not to be driving the car??

El Guapo!

It's not the garages fault that the turbo went while it was with them. It's just bad timing. It's not like it was deliberately sabotaged.
Instead of seeing this as an opportunity, and looking for ways to sting the garage into paying for your blown turbo, why not just pay to fix it yourself.

YbFocus

Turbos don't go in ten mins.
If the oil was at the minimum the harm could have been done previous.
Checking the oil yourself should be a weekly thing. 15k km is a long time not to open the bonnet.
Doubt you have a hope to be honest.

punisher5112

Seriously op you need to look after your car better and turbo can go at any time.

Even if one was rallying the car the turbo is there to give you that boost.

What car year and engine?

Oh look while I had my car in for a service they used €5 worth of petrol moving the car out of the garage should I chase them for that?

I can never understand this mentality as how could anyone decent run a business and actually make money.

If they did something to the car and broke something yes chase it up but seriously the turbo could have went when you drove out the gate.

Chris_Heilong

Thats why garages have insurance, get the garage to sort it for you.

9935452

El Guapo! wrote: »

It's not the garages fault that the turbo went while it was with them. It's just bad timing. It's not like it was deliberately sabotaged.
Instead of seeing this as an opportunity, and looking for ways to sting the garage into paying for your blown turbo, why not just pay to fix it yourself.

Completely agree here . Turbos dont go in an hour . just bad timing,
Op how long have you owned the car and and how many miles is on it.
Do you start up the car and let it warm up until you drive off .
Do you let the car tick over for 5 minutes before you stop it.
Thats the recommended way of taking care of a turbo but most people just start a car and just drive it on

bucketybuck

A question for the OP. You state that the garage blew your turbo, can you explain exactly how they did that?

Are you implying they took some action that directly resulted in the turbo failure? That seems to be what you're saying, so can you explain what that action was?

Or is your claim simply "They drove the car which blew the turbo", because there are a lot of problems with that claim.

porsche boy

If the oil was noted at the minimum, you pads were low & your turbo was on its last legs i would have to say this was down to lack of maintenance by the OP.
Depending on the car, 900 for a replacement turbo is maybe a little on the high side... what car is it?

spodoinkle

A lot of opinions here.....

I check fluids and tyre pressure every 2 weeks so not sure why there is the assumption I dont look after my car, oil was fine last time I checked and I thought thats when you know to change your pads porscheboy, when theyre worn? Do you change them every month or something?

Off topic but the irish mentality to customer service is bizarre, the main response here has been tough titty, I posted this same scenario on a UK form and the responses were the complete opposite.

Thanks for the replies lads but I will be trying to get as much as I can for this; I left my car with a garage and it was their responsibilty to look after it while in their posession, the facts are they knew my car had the minimum level of oil in it, chose to drive it anyway, blew the turbo, then explain the turbo went because of the low oil, there has to be some responsibility on their behalf.

Stheno

spodoinkle wrote: »

A lot of opinions here.....

I check fluids and tyre pressure every 2 weeks so not sure why there is the assumption I dont look after my car, oil was fine last time I checked and I thought thats when you know to change your pads porscheboy, when theyre worn? Do you change them every month or something?

Off topic but the irish mentality to customer service is bizarre, the main response here has been tough titty, I posted this same scenario on a UK form and the responses were the complete opposite.

Thanks for the replies lads but I will be trying to get as much as I can for this; I left my car with a garage and it was their responsibilty to look after it while in their posession, the facts are they knew my car had the minimum level of oil in it, chose to drive it anyway, blew the turbo, then explain the turbo went because of the low oil, there has to be some responsibility on their behalf.

So in two weeks your oil went from being fine to being at the bare minimum?

What make and model of car?

challengemaster

Stheno wrote: »

So in two weeks your oil went from being fine to being at the bare minimum?

What make and model of car?

Max to min is usually 1L on the dipstick. What's considered normal or within tolerance oil consumption for a lot of cars is 1L per 1000km. Plenty of VW cars would be towards the higher side of that tolerance.

bucketybuck

spodoinkle wrote: »

A lot of opinions here.....

I check fluids and tyre pressure every 2 weeks so not sure why there is the assumption I dont look after my car, oil was fine last time I checked and I thought thats when you know to change your pads porscheboy, when theyre worn? Do you change them every month or something?

Off topic but the irish mentality to customer service is bizarre, the main response here has been tough titty, I posted this same scenario on a UK form and the responses were the complete opposite.

Thanks for the replies lads but I will be trying to get as much as I can for this; I left my car with a garage and it was their responsibilty to look after it while in their posession, the facts are they knew my car had the minimum level of oil in it, chose to drive it anyway, blew the turbo, then explain the turbo went because of the low oil, there has to be some responsibility on their behalf.

Ah. So this is just a standard "I only want the replies that agree with me" thread and a chance to bash the garage.

I notice you didn't answer my earlier question. How exactly did the garage cause the fault with your turbo?

Stheno

challengemaster wrote: »

Max to min is usually 1L on the dipstick. What's considered normal or within tolerance oil consumption for a lot of cars is 1L per 1000km. Plenty of VW cars would be towards the higher side of that tolerance.

Jaysis, even with the alfas I didn't go through that much oil :pac:

YbFocus

If an oil seal went last week it would most definitely burn a litre of oil in a week.
I really don't think it's the garages fault.

You really are attacking people that don't sout your opinion which is hilarious!

Jayop

spodoinkle wrote: »

A lot of opinions here.....

I check fluids and tyre pressure every 2 weeks so not sure why there is the assumption I dont look after my car, oil was fine last time I checked and I thought thats when you know to change your pads porscheboy, when theyre worn? Do you change them every month or something?

Off topic but the irish mentality to customer service is bizarre, the main response here has been tough titty, I posted this same scenario on a UK form and the responses were the complete opposite.

Thanks for the replies lads but I will be trying to get as much as I can for this; I left my car with a garage and it was their responsibilty to look after it while in their posession, the facts are they knew my car had the minimum level of oil in it, chose to drive it anyway, blew the turbo, then explain the turbo went because of the low oil, there has to be some responsibility on their behalf.

Generally the main cause of a turbo to go is though a lack of constant oil changes. It's pretty much inconceivable that the garage could have done anything to cause it to go while it was in their care. As has been said, they generally go over months and years getting progressively closer to the moment they go bang.

If you went to the doctor complaining of a sore foot and had a heart attack while you were there, but you wouldn't blame the doctor. It's exactly the same thing here.

Why did you bring it in to them in the first place out of interest?

Hachiko

All cars need to be maintained and serviced, ones with turbos even more so.

You cant just expect to leg around in your car all that time without even checking the oil level., thats if it was 15k miles.

edit* seeing it burned 1 litre of oil in a very short time.

Thats not the garages fault either though. Thats assuming you checked the oil like you said so.

What is this car btw.

pred racer

Tbh if I left my car in and it was working, came back and the turbo was blown, you better believe I'd be expecting it fixed.

Jayop

pred racer wrote: »

Tbh if I left my car in and it was working, came back and the turbo was blown, you better believe I'd be expecting it fixed.

Even if it was on the verge of collapse and there was literally nothing the garage did to bring on the failure other than happen to be in possession of it when it happened?

delahuntv

The garage said oil was at bare minimum!

Many years ago I learnt not to believe everything a garage mechanic tells you.

Some people here seem to think a garage is the epitome of truthfulness and trust. Experience tells me otherwise.

Garage guys love taking cars for testdrives - and they abuse cars in an unbelievable manner.

Bandara

spodoinkle wrote: »

A lot of opinions here.....

I check fluids and tyre pressure every 2 weeks so not sure why there is the assumption I dont look after my car, oil was fine last time I checked and I thought thats when you know to change your pads porscheboy, when theyre worn? Do you change them every month or something?

With respect, if your oil was at a minimum level when you car was dropped into the garage and you are checking it every two weeks then your not checking it correctly.

And as further aside, I'd venture absolutely no one checks their fluids and air every two weeks unless they have an issue with their car that would cause them to do so, or their car is a very high performance one that would require it.

Stheno

pred racer wrote: »

Tbh if I left my car in and it was working, came back and the turbo was blown, you better believe I'd be expecting it fixed.

But surely with a turbo which is not prone to "sudden" failure, you'd notice something deteriorating over time anyway and be aware of it?

To give you another example, my mechanic told one of his customers that he needed his belt done within x amount of miles.

Customer ignored him, then booked it in over the miles, and the belt literally snapped in the mechanics yard as the customer drove it in.

In that case, then the customer should pay imo.

Would this not be the same?

On the opposing side, OH had his car serviced last week, and there was a bit of tinkering with fuses etc due to an error that was bleeping. Ever since the window switches are randomly not working. It's either something small like a fuse has gotten loose, or else there might be something bigger. I'd expect my mechanic in that case to do a bit of diagnosis, and if it's minor fix it, but if it's a part that's just naturally died and needs replacing, I'd pay for that.

That make sense?

pred racer

Jayop wrote: »

Even if it was on the verge of collapse and there was literally nothing the garage did to bring on the failure other than happen to be in possession of it when it happened?

That's what I'd tell you if I blew your turbo...... "It was on the way out anyway mate )

Why would I take the garages word for this, they blew my turbo of course they're gonna try not pay for it.

delahuntv wrote: »

The garage said oil was at bare minimum!

Many years ago I learnt not to believe everything a garage mechanic tells you.

Some people here seem to think a garage is the epitome of truthfulness and trust. Experience tells me otherwise.

Garage guys love taking cars for testdrives - and they abuse cars in an unbelievable manner.

The important point here is bare minimum. This is fine, that's why it's called minimum. If it was below minimum that'd be a different story. But you're right, I wouldn't believe them anyway.

Jayop

How does one go about blowing a perfectly good turbo in a matter of hours?

bucketybuck

pred racer wrote: »

Why would I take the garages word for this, they blew my turbo of course they're gonna try not pay for it.

And how did they cause the turbo to blow?

Bannasidhe

Bandara wrote: »

And as further aside, I'd venture absolutely no one checks their fluids and air every two weeks unless they have an issue with their car that would cause them to do so, or their car is a very high performance one that would require it.

I do.

I have to drive on rural 'roads' from Cork to Limerick every two weeks in all kinds of weather conditions to collect my grandkids and I damn well check fluids and air before I leave.

I also wouldn't take a garages word for anything having failed NCT tests on things I had been specifically billed for as being repaired by a garage - my brother was billed over three grand for repairs after his merc failed the NCT and it failed for the exact same things on the retest.

the_syco

What sort of car was it? Nice little run around? Many miles on it before it?

Oh, and if they have changed the turbo already, ensure you get to see the old one.

You said you check it regularly; how regular did you need to top up/change the oil?

pred racer

bucketybuck wrote: »

And how did they cause the turbo to blow?

Who cares, it was working, now it's not and I didn't break it.

If you borrowed someone's car and burst a tyre, what would you do?

Stheno

Bandara wrote: »

And as further aside, I'd venture absolutely no one checks their fluids and air every two weeks unless they have an issue with their car that would cause them to do so, or their car is a very high performance one that would require it.

Bannasidhe wrote: »

I do.

I have to drive on rural 'roads' from Cork to Limerick every two weeks in all kinds of weather conditions to collect my grandkids and I damn well check fluids and air before I leave.

I also wouldn't take a garages word for anything having failed NCT tests on things I had been specifically billed for as being repaired by a garage - my brother was billed over three grand for repairs after his merc failed the NCT and it failed for the exact same things on the retest.

Same here, having had alfas for years, it was every week, now it's every two weeks as we alternate checking both cars.

Seriously, Bandara, why wouldn't you? There can be weeks I can do 800 miles in my car, in that case I'd check it that week rather than wait. Check oil, water/screenwash, and tyre pressue

Jayop

pred racer wrote: »

Who cares, it was working, now it's not and I didn't break it.

If you borrowed someone's car and burst a tyre, what would you do?

Completely different thing.

If you borrowed someones car and the tyre was completely worn and there was a nail sticking out the side then it went flat it might be comparable, but even still borrowing and leaving to a garage are completely different.

pred racer

Stheno wrote: »

But surely with a turbo which is not prone to "sudden" failure, you'd notice something deteriorating over time anyway and be aware of it?

To give you another example, my mechanic told one of his customers that he needed his belt done within x amount of miles.

Customer ignored him, then booked it in over the miles, and the belt literally snapped in the mechanics yard as the customer drove it in.

In that case, then the customer should pay imo.

Would this not be the same?

On the opposing side, OH had his car serviced last week, and there was a bit of tinkering with fuses etc due to an error that was bleeping. Ever since the window switches are randomly not working. It's either something small like a fuse has gotten loose, or else there might be something bigger. I'd expect my mechanic in that case to do a bit of diagnosis, and if it's minor fix it, but if it's a part that's just naturally died and needs replacing, I'd pay for that.

That make sense?

Every case is different Stheno, but if I left a perfectly working car in for a service and the turbo is gone when I come back, whoever broke it is fixing it.

The belt is different, he was warned, didn't bother, game over.

Now I trust my garage, but there isn't many more of them I would trust.

pred racer

Jayop wrote: »

Completely different thing.

If you borrowed someones car and the tyre was completely worn and there was a nail sticking out the side then it went flat it might be comparable, but even still borrowing and leaving to a garage are completely different.

Not in this case, if someone else's property is in your possession you bend it, you mend it.
Why are you so willing to take the garages word for this?
In my extensive experience (I'm on the road a long time, many cars, many miles, many garages) garages will try to weasel out of paying for anything, up to and including major wheel and body damage.

Stheno

pred racer wrote: »

Now I trust my garage, but there isn't many more of them I would trust.

That's also what is skewing my perspective, if something went wrong while the car was with my mechanic, I'd 100% have faith that it wasn't him that caused it, I'd also expect that with something that is prone to failure over time, I'd have noticed something that would indicate it.

I guess if the op posted the car/model/whether or not it was a garage he usually deals with it might make a difference.

If I sent my car into a new garage and they came up with that, I might think differently

YbFocus

pred racer wrote: »

Not in this case, if someone else's property is in your possession you bend it, you mend it.
Why are you so willing to take the garages word for this?
In my extensive experience (I'm on the road a long time, many cars, many miles, many garages) garages will try to weasel out of paying for anything, up to and including major wheel and body damage.

In fairness Pred its super rare a turbo just drops like that. If it did it definitely had underlying issues.
If it was a dent or a burst wheel or a tear in the seat, totally their fault.

But there is very little they could do to destroy the turbo in a couple of hours or days.

The harm was done, to my mind anyway, previous to this.

bucketybuck

pred racer wrote: »

Who cares, it was working, now it's not and I didn't break it.

If you borrowed someone's car and burst a tyre, what would you do?

I can cause a tyre to blow, by hitting potholes, kerbs or by driving over nails. Actions of mine could cause a tyre to burst.

What action of the garage caused that turbo to blow?

pred racer wrote: »

Every case is different Stheno, but if I left a perfectly working car in for a service and the turbo is gone when I come back, whoever broke it is fixing it.

You haven't a clue who broke it. All you know is who had it when it finally failed.

damon5

A quote and many have asked the same question "I guess if the op posted the car/model/whether or not it was a garage he usually deals with it might make a difference " could you answer this pls,curious...

TRADES SUPPLY AVAILABLE

Ahhhh yes yes yes the truth has been told, delahuntv you're absolutely correct, I grew up in the UK but have been living here for the past 18 years and I can honestly tell you, "Mechanics"!!!!!!!! I have not come across one I could trust, even to this day, The difference in the Uk, and alike, they have trading standards that came down hard on ""Backstreet garages" and main dealers because they were all at it, telling folk there were things wrong with their vehicle(s) when it was complete and utter bull****e,, I would be intregued to know the make and model of the car to get a second, third, fourth quote for the turbo,, £900, I say ""NINE HUNDRED POUNDS!!"" for a turbo !! sounds a bit over the top !! wouldn't trust any of them(I have served way more than a 3 year apprenticeship doing my own mechanical work now and just get on with it myself, you can by the right tools for the right job for less than the normal rates),,, GET SEVERAL OTHER PROFESSIONAL OPINIONS...

BMJD

spodoinkle wrote: »

I left my car in for brake pads, came bac to pick it up and the garage had blown the turbo while test driving.

Do you know exactly what distance they drove? How long did they have the car in their possession? I don't recall ever having a car test driven just for new pads. I wouldn't expect it to be moved more than a couple of metres tbh. My guess is that the mechanic rallied it around the place, to pick up parts or whatever. I would consider going the small claims court route.

pred racer

bucketybuck wrote: »

I can cause a tyre to blow, by hitting potholes, kerbs or by driving over nails. Actions of mine could cause a tyre to burst.

What action of the garage caused that turbo to blow?


You haven't a clue who broke it. All you know is who had it when it finally failed.

Have you ever dropped a nut or washer into an inlet pipe? Have you ever disconnected an oil line and forgot to reconnect it before a test drive? Have you ever forgotten to fill a car with oil after a service? Have you ever put on a timing belt wrong? Have you ever parked a perfectly good car and come back a couple of days later (knowing that it hadn't been moved) to find both rear springs broken?
No?
Well all these things have happened to me or close friends of mine and when the car shat itself the garage tried to claim no fault.
Give me your car for an hour and I can wreck the turbo for you if you don't believe me.
Only difference is, if I broke it, (or to be pedantic, if it broke while I had it) I'd fix it.

Stheno

TRADES SUPPLY AVAILABLE wrote: »

Ahhhh yes yes yes the truth has been told, delahuntv you're absolutely correct, I grew up in the UK but have been living here for the past 18 years and I can honestly tell you, "Mechanics"!!!!!!!! I have not come across one I could trust, even to this day, The difference in the Uk, and alike, they have trading standards that came down hard on ""Backstreet garages" and main dealers because they were all at it, telling folk there were things wrong with their vehicle(s) when it was complete and utter bull****e,, I would be intregued to know the make and model of the car to get a second, third, fourth quote for the turbo,, £900, I say ""NINE HUNDRED POUNDS!!"" for a turbo !! sounds a bit over the top !! wouldn't trust any of them(I have served way more than a 3 year apprenticeship doing my own mechanical work now and just get on with it myself, you can by the right tools for the right job for less than the normal rates),,, GET SEVERAL OTHER PROFESSIONAL OPINIONS...

Several of us on here have mechanics we trust 100% if you want to post a thread with your location and asking for a recommendation. I know from posts on here and my own personal experience that there are plenty out there who are perfectly trustworthy

BMJD wrote: »

Do you know exactly what distance they drove? How long did they have the car in their possession? I don't recall ever having a car test driven just for new pads. I wouldn't expect it to be moved more than a couple of metres tbh. My guess is that the mechanic rallied it around the place, to pick up parts or whatever. I would consider going the small claims court route.

Would you expect it to be driven for a routine service?

TRADES SUPPLY AVAILABLE

@Pred racer......100% agree !!

BMJD

Stheno wrote: »

Would you expect it to be driven for a routine service?

It wasn't in for a routine service.

TRADES SUPPLY AVAILABLE

Stheno wrote: »

Several of us on here have mechanics we trust 100% if you want to post a thread with your location and asking for a recommendation. I know from posts on here and my own personal experience that there are plenty out there who are perfectly trustworthy



Would you expect it to be driven for a routine service?

Im in Galway/Mayo area and have a Transporter T5 (so a mechanic who knows VW's would be good) thanks for the recommendation in advance. Also a Range rover (the sweethearts).

bucketybuck

BMJD wrote: »

I don't recall ever having a car test driven just for new pads. I wouldn't expect it to be moved more than a couple of metres tbh. My guess is that the mechanic rallied it around the place, to pick up parts or whatever. I would consider going the small claims court route.

Utter rubbish. Mechanics should always test drive after brake pads are changed because of the horrific liability that can result from an accident caused by a fault with the brakes. They have to be sure the brakes are fine, so they drive it.

For you to claim that they "rallied it about the place" is simply uninformed speculation.

pred racer wrote: »

Have you ever dropped a nut or washer into an inlet pipe? Have you ever disconnected an oil line and forgot to reconnect it before a test drive? Have you ever forgotten to fill a car with oil after a service? Have you ever put on a timing belt wrong? Have you ever parked a perfectly good car and come back a couple of days later (knowing that it hadn't been moved) to find both rear springs broken?
No?
Well all these things have happened to me or close friends of mine and when the car shat itself the garage tried to claim no fault.
Give me your car for an hour and I can wreck the turbo for you if you don't believe me.
Only difference is, if I broke it, (or to be pedantic, if it broke while I had it) I'd fix it.

I could wreck a turbo a lot quicker than that, but of course that would be me actively intending to wreck a turbo. Still you don't seem to understand the distinction.

All of your little examples are irrelevant to this case. By the account in the OP the garage replaced brake pads and then took a test drive, at which point the turbo failed. No inlet pipe removed, no oil drained, no timing belt removed. They worked at the brakes and an then engine part failed. I would just love to hear how one caused the other?

Stheno

TRADES SUPPLY AVAILABLE wrote: »

Im in Galway/Mayo area and have a Transporter T5 (so a mechanic who knows VW's would be good) thanks for the recommendation in advance. Also a Range rover (the sweethearts).

IF someone doesn't see this and respond to it, just start a thread asking for a recommendation

There's a few people up that way on here

Stheno

BMJD wrote: »

It wasn't in for a routine service.

I'd class changing the brakes as a routine service tbh, they are consumables, and I'd want a mechanic to test drive afterwards to make sure they were ok

bucketybuck

TRADES SUPPLY AVAILABLE wrote: »

Im in Galway/Mayo area and have a Transporter T5 (so a mechanic who knows VW's would be good) thanks for the recommendation in advance. Also a Range rover (the sweethearts).

A recommendation? You can't trust any of them, don't you remember?