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

djimi · 12-01-2014 07:14PM

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 · 12-01-2014 07:15PM

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 · 12-01-2014 07:16PM

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 · 12-01-2014 07:38PM

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 · 12-01-2014 07:40PM

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 · 12-01-2014 07:43PM

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

Fred Swanson · 12-01-2014 07:44PM

This post has been deleted.

cerastes · 12-01-2014 07:45PM

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 · 12-01-2014 07:50PM

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 · 12-01-2014 07:51PM

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 · 12-01-2014 07:54PM

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 · 12-01-2014 07:57PM

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 · 12-01-2014 07:57PM

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 · 12-01-2014 07:58PM

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 · 12-01-2014 07:59PM

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 · 12-01-2014 08:01PM

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 · 12-01-2014 08:07PM

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

rockdj316 · 12-01-2014 08:09PM

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 · 12-01-2014 08:10PM

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 · 12-01-2014 08:11PM

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!!!

cerastes · 12-01-2014 08:14PM

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!

we're all only going on whats been mentioned, but you're speculating that he's looking for money off you.
On the other hand, Id be confirming what seems to be true here, the mechanic seems to have lied to you and charged you for the luxury.

If you have been straight with the buyer during the sale, then you have nothing to lose by assisting and redirecting their efforts towards the garage, who seem clearly to be wrong, just try recover any of your costs first.
Id have a chat with the mechanic and see what they say about timing belt pump being done as one unit, why replace old belt? €350 etc on the basis of getting some cash back from that.

Not sure what the buyer will be able to achieve really, but if you've been straight then why not clear your name with them so at least their anger is at someone else, might save them bothering you.

rockdj316 · 12-01-2014 08:14PM

MadYaker wrote: »

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.

No,no receipt.
Family mechanic/friend so didn't think to even ask.

rockdj316 · 12-01-2014 08:16PM

cerastes wrote: »

we're all only going on whats been mentioned, but you're speculating that he's looking for money off you.
On the other hand, Id be confirming what seems to be true here, the mechanic seems to have lied to you and charged you for the luxury.

If you have been straight with the buyer during the sale, then you have nothing to lose by assisting and redirecting their efforts towards the garage, who seem clearly to be wrong, just try recover any of your costs first.
Id have a chat with the mechanic and see what they say about timing belt pump being done as one unit, why replace old belt? €350 etc on the basis of getting some cash back from that.

Not sure what the buyer will be able to achieve really, but if you've been straight then why not clear your name with them so at least their anger is at someone else, might save them bothering you.

That's what I'll be doing I'd say,new owner seems like a nice guy,even though he's understandably annoyed

MadYaker · 12-01-2014 08:26PM

Well if he is a family friend then id say its unlikely he screwed you over, so just get receipts off him for the work done, tell the buyer to feck off and you're grand.

the_syco · 12-01-2014 08:34PM

rockdj316 wrote: »

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

Get the receipt now, so if it turns nasty, you have proof of work done.

rockdj316 wrote: »

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.

Did the mechanic say this to you, or to the friend of a friend of a friend of a friend of a friend....? If the latter, I'd be thinking that the buyer is just trying to stir the sh|t, in the hope of causing a rift between yourself and the mechanic, and get their money back that way. Fcuk knows what the buyer did to cause the snap.

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!

Hrm. What's with the assessor? I'm wondering if he crashed it?

rockdj316 wrote: »

That's what I'll be doing I'd say,new owner seems like a nice guy,even though he's understandably annoyed

Don't bend backwards too much, as you don't know yet what his angle is. I'd wonder what shape the car is in?

spaceHopper · 12-01-2014 08:44PM

Was there something wrong with the pump you normally change the belt and because it makes sense you do the pump at the same time the labour cost of doing one is the same as both. If the belt failed then it was in poor condition when the pump was changed the mechanic should have seen it. I've never heard of just the pump being done. I think he did nothing at all and took your money belts hardly ever. Tell him the buyer is having it looked at and they will check the pump is new. Let him offer that maybe the new belt was faulty and he'll fix the car. Try to stay out of it

rockdj316 · 12-01-2014 08:50PM

spaceHopper wrote: »

Was there something wrong with the pump you normally change the belt and because it makes sense you do the pump at the same time the labour cost of doing one is the same as both. If the belt failed then it was in poor condition when the pump was changed the mechanic should have seen it. I've never heard of just the pump being done. I think he did nothing at all and took your money belts hardly ever. Tell him the buyer is having it looked at and they will check the pump is new. Let him offer that maybe the new belt was faulty and he'll fix the car. Try to stay out of it

Definitely a new pump anyway cos the old one was pissing water,and he showed me the old one after it was taking out.
Just a question for anyone in the know though and just shear curiosity,why does a belt snap?Does it wear thin?Would it be put on too tight or too loose?

MANSFIELD · 12-01-2014 08:50PM

Take a look at the timing belt that snapped - you will soon see if its an old or new timing belt.

rockdj316 · 12-01-2014 08:52PM

MANSFIELD wrote: »

Take a look at the timing belt that snapped - you will soon see if its an old or new timing belt.

It only went through the Nct too in November,so I definitely thought twice over after it was in the garage that everything was ok

kaimera · 12-01-2014 08:53PM

Does this not come up a bit here where TB goes and even with a new belt, if the old/cheap tensioners are used may as well not bother?

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

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