I recently had my cambelt changed at a VAG specialist, it had previously been changed when I bought the car 2 years ago at a cost of around £300 - the private dealer arranged the work before I picked the car up.

 

Not so long after dropping my car off, the garage rang me up telling me what they found. The previous garage had used a bolt instead of a proper locking tool, they then started the engine without removing the bolt first causing it to shear off leaving the other half in the engine!

 

See attached photos. I had to pay a for additional labour to get it removed and for some bolts (can't remember what they were).  This sort of thing really bugs me, the garage showed me the relatively inexpensive proper locking tool that should have been used. It's not the fact that it cost me slightly more to get it rectified. I just can't understand how a garage would think it's acceptable to leave the car in such a state - surely they'd have known that the bolt was left in whent they started the engine? To top it off, the bolt was the wrong size anyway.

 

I was apparently very lucky that there wasn't any damage caused.

 

Rant over :p

Edited 16 August, 20169 yr by Dazza95

Very shameful for a so-called 'garage'.    Glad it's now sorted properly.

Very shameful for a so-called 'garage'. Glad it's now sorted properly.

Indeed, I was going to try get in touch with them but I feel there's little point after 2 years.

Thats bloody fantastic

Never seen it happen before but didn't think the bolt would snap, i would have thought somthing els would have failed first!

 

Lucky indeed

Edited 17 August, 20169 yr by hutchysrs50

Name and shame the garage. If it stops at least one person from potentially being unfortunate with them then I'd say that was a good thing...

Name and shame the garage. If it stops at least one person from potentially being unfortunate with them then I'd say that was a good thing...

 

Naz Motors http://www.nazmotors.co.uk/

 

The garage who sorted it all out was Autotechz in Nottingham - http://www.autotechz.co.uk/

 

I've been using them for a while now and they've always been spot on and are very knowledgeable. Not sure who I'm going to use now that I've moved to Chester though.

Edited 17 August, 20169 yr by Dazza95

just shows you how much torque that belt can transfer, that bolt didn't stand a chance.

Naz Motors http://www.nazmotors.co.uk/

 

 

Well they certainly don't know how to use apostrophes for a start.

Edited 18 August, 20169 yr by TMB

Well they certainly don't know how to use apostrophes for a start.

Ha. VW specialists apparently...

The first picture shows the head of the screw, is that just wedged into that slot? Surprised that didn't fall out if it's no longer engaged in anything behind there? Are they your pics, or by the latest garage?

Well they certainly don't know how to use apostrophes for a start.

Naz Motor is what? We need to know

The first picture shows the head of the screw, is that just wedged into that slot? Surprised that didn't fall out if it's no longer engaged in anything behind there? Are they your pics, or by the latest garage?

From my latest garage, does look like its wedged into the slot yes.

No-one could be cheeky enough to have done that themselves, then blame the previous garage, right? 

No-one could be cheeky enough to have done that themselves, then blame the previous garage, right? 

Agreed, looks more like it's been put in to lock the sprocket and overtightened and sheared off. No way that head would still be in the sprocket after 2 years of use.

I trust the garage enough and I don't believe they'd do something like that

That's good to hear. It would be very brazen behaviour.

Naz Motors http://www.nazmotors.co.uk/

 

The garage who sorted it all out was Autotechz in Nottingham - http://www.autotechz.co.uk/

 

I've been using them for a while now and they've always been spot on and are very knowledgeable. Not sure who I'm going to use now that I've moved to Chester though.

 

Hi mate,

 

There's a place in Llandudno called M&S automotive, they're an Audi and Honda specialist and they did my cambelt last month as they're pretty good with VAG cars.

 

There's also Wilsons in Rhuddlan near Rhyl who are a VAG independent specialist.

Naz Motor is what? We need to know

 

Hi mate,

There's a place in Llandudno called M&S automotive, they're an Audi and Honda specialist and they did my cambelt last month as they're pretty good with VAG cars.

There's also Wilsons in Rhuddlan near Rhyl who are a VAG independent specialist.

Excellent thank you