Should this have been seen during service?

glack

My car was in the garage during the week for full service and a number of other maintenance issues (break disks, pads, timing belt, bulb replacement) pre my NCT today. My car failed due to a broken coil spring. Should the mechanic have seen that? Car was driven less than 5 miles on smooth road between service and NCT so unlikely it broke during that time. Just annoyed at the hassle of having to bring it in again as it’s a huge hassle to be without my car.

barneygumble99

glack wrote: »

My car was in the garage during the week for full service and a number of other maintenance issues (break disks, pads, timing belt, bulb replacement) pre my NCT today. My car failed due to a broken coil spring. Should the mechanic have seen that? Car was driven less than 5 miles on smooth road between service and NCT so unlikely it broke during that time. Just annoyed at the hassle of having to bring it in again as it’s a huge hassle to be without my car.

Assuming you told him it was going for nct, he definitely should have notice it. What make of car is it btw??

glack

barneygumble99 wrote: »

Assuming you told him it was going for nct, he definitely should have notice it. What make of car is it btw??

A 2013 Ford Focus.

barneygumble99

glack wrote: »

A 2013 Ford Focus.

Front spring?

glack

barneygumble99 wrote: »

Front spring?

Yes

barneygumble99

glack wrote: »

Yes

Common enough issue on them. Mainly passenger side. But all springs should be checked during a service regardless of whether they are common to break on a specific model or not.

Del2005

glack wrote: »

My car was in the garage during the week for full service and a number of other maintenance issues (break disks, pads, timing belt, bulb replacement) pre my NCT today. My car failed due to a broken coil spring. Should the mechanic have seen that? Car was driven less than 5 miles on smooth road between service and NCT so unlikely it broke during that time. Just annoyed at the hassle of having to bring it in again as it’s a huge hassle to be without my car.

I really hope these weren't the front discs and pads he was supposed to do. A broken spring could be missed doing a visual but if they are working on the brakes missing the broken spring would raise my suspicions of how much work they actually did or if they are competent doing the work.

bucketybuck

Del2005 wrote: »

I really hope these weren't the front discs and pads he was supposed to do. A broken spring could be missed doing a visual but if they are working on the brakes missing the broken spring would raise my suspicions of how much work they actually did or if they are competent doing the work.

Or to play devils advocate, would perhaps indicate that the spring did only break after the service. The mechanic would have been looking right at it so how likely is it that they diagnosed the other items but didn't see the spring?

Incompetent mechanic or unlucky coincidence, either is possible.

Toyotafanboi

That and usually when the spring breaks in those they loose a few inches off the very end of the coil, it doesnt snap in the middle and dangle.

I wouldn't be looking to excuse them missing it but a quick visual may not have spotted it.

RandomViewer

Usually just nip near the end, car doesn't drop noticeably ,could be missed

glack

Interesting takes here. Thanks to all. Was the front pads and disks. I think it’s more likely something that was just missed. My family has been using this mechanic for years and they have a great reputation locally so I would think it could just have been overlooked. Or is broken in the manner described above making it easy to overlook. I’m over my initial frustration now.

Four Phucs Ache

I was at our driveway pillar talking to a neighbour a while back, out of nowhere this loud metal twang stopped us and we looked around.

The front spring went on the mondeo, was driven that morning. Only dropped about 10mm.

It can happen anytime and instantly.

Its had the other corners go since. 2001 model.

bobbyy gee

You should feel a broken coil
At a service they would not really look for. It. As they would have to lift the car

beauf

bobbyy gee wrote: »

You should feel a broken coil
At a service they would not really look for. It. As they would have to lift the car

I've often had a broken spring and not noticed it. In fact last time it passed the NCT suspension test and was only spotted in the visual at the end.

Another time spring broke when the car was parked and it dropped like 20-30mm. Very obvious.

I would not lose any sleep over it being missed.

sumo12

Tip generally breaks off the end of the coil, might be as small as 1cm and it is generally not visible as the base of the coil sits in a saucer if you like. 100% could be missed without calling into question the integrity of the work or competence of the mechanic.

meathstevie

2013 Focus, that spring has contracted and expanded a few million times by now.

It’s not really a big deal and as people have said here, if it’s a small piece that has broken at the top or bottom of the spring it can be easily overlooked.

If I were you I’d get both sides replaced as the other one might not be the freshest anymore either. A set of front springs for a Focus is not going to be very expensive and it doesn’t take a lot of time to put them in either.