Fan Belt & Cambelt Failure 2.0Cr: Possible Garage At Fault (Advice Please)

[Wooody]

Car cuts out tonight, there's me thinking something minor. Recovery guy tells me Cambelt failure he can see fan belt has shredded which has likely contacted cambelt causing the failure. He also smells a small diesel leak in engine bay and suggests this will have contaminated fan belt causing the failure.

I have been aware of a small fluid leak (small wet patch under car when left- directly under cambelt area) since immediately after last service (at least 6 months ago). Stupidly I didn't get this checked out.

I've looked around internet and seen a few others have had similar failures attributable to the fuel filter seal not being replaced properly at service causing diesel to escape.

Do you think I have any rights of comeback to the servicing garage (VW specialist). Car is currently left outside another garage and problem not been fully diagnosed.

What would you do?

[DanialA11]

Worth a try

[Lewwy]

This is NOT the first time this has happened, have read of this happening quite a lot where a small leak on the fuel filter housing causes it to perish the fan belt and then it takes the cambelt out.

 

I was aware how easy it is to get a small fuel leak on the fuel filter when I changed mine. You have to be extra careful to ensure that it seals correctly.

 

I am afraid you have learnt of this the hard way - I feel for you - you must be gutted.

 

I would definitely try and take it up with the garage that changed the fuel filter as they have not checked the housing has sealed properly.

 

You may be looking at a bill in excess of £2k for this.

 

Lewwy

[Almal]

What usually happens is when the fuel filter is replaced you have to remove the top lid to the housing which can be stuck down quite firmly and upon removal you can distort the lid. So when it's tightened down it doesn't seal correctly therefore causing the leak. 9 times out of 10 it is this as opposed to the rubber seal failing. Did they replace the filter at your last service? If so that's most likely what has happened, I've seen it quite a few times. Hope this has helped.

[Wooody]

Thanks all.  Have spoken to the garage who've said that they are aware of an issue with Mann fuel filters that they have used in past and have therefore stopped using them.  Reporting manufacturer not admitting a problem. They seem willing to help out in some way, but are stating my fault for not going back to them with the leak.  Having to get car recovered to them for it to get looked at...

Edited 15 November, 2014 by davew255

[mikey vrs]

To wait 6 months to report the fault that you noticed straight after the service wont help,all this could have been avoided if you took it straight back after noticing the leak,hopefully you & the garage can come to some arrangement about the cost to fix it. 

[Wooody]

Got the car back yesterday.  All fixed.  Props to Autohaus Dolby in Sheffield who have (together with fuel filter manufacturer) covered the cost of the engine work.  Turns out the cambelt had slipped 5 teeth causing valve and rocker damage, needing full engine stripdown and 12 valves and all rockers replacing. Car now running fine though engine a bit noisy: hopefully this will settle down soon.

 

 

Matt and the team at Autohaus have been great with me, showing customer service to be very proud of: many thanks.

[silver1011]

Result!