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

rockdj316 · 12-01-2014 06:02PM #1

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.

12-01-2014 06:04PM

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 · 12-01-2014 06:05PM

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. · 12-01-2014 06:14PM

Sounds like you stitched them right up

smellslikeshoes · 12-01-2014 06:16PM

Jesus. wrote: »

Sounds like you stitched them right up

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

Mycroft H · 12-01-2014 06:18PM

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

djimi · 12-01-2014 06:19PM

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 · 12-01-2014 06:20PM

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 · 12-01-2014 06:22PM

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 · 12-01-2014 06:23PM

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

Mycroft H · 12-01-2014 06:23PM

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 · 12-01-2014 06:24PM

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 · 12-01-2014 06:25PM

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 · 12-01-2014 06:28PM

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 · 12-01-2014 06:29PM

Mycroft H wrote: »

Don't get involved.

When the timing belt was paid for?

Renegade Mechanic · 12-01-2014 06:30PM

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

Mycroft H · 12-01-2014 06:32PM

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 · 12-01-2014 06:36PM

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 · 12-01-2014 06:36PM

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 · 12-01-2014 06:37PM

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 · 12-01-2014 06:37PM

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 · 12-01-2014 06:42PM

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 · 12-01-2014 06:42PM

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 · 12-01-2014 06:42PM

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 · 12-01-2014 06:49PM

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 · 12-01-2014 06:54PM

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 · 12-01-2014 06:57PM

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 · 12-01-2014 07:02PM

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 · 12-01-2014 07:04PM

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 · 12-01-2014 07:10PM

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 · 12-01-2014 07:11PM

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

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

Comments