So there I was, just pulling out of work when BANG! as I went over a speedbump that I go over everyday at ~5mph. Thats odd I thought, its never bottomed out on that one before. So I drive about 1/4 mile and pull over to investigate the strange noise that is now coming from the engine bay. I pop the bonnet to find that the engine mount by the cambelt is now not doing anything as the bolts have failed! The bottom pulley by now has eat the plastic tray underneath and melted the belt.

Whilst waiting for the recovery truck I was poking around the broken mount, the bolts were still hanging from the upper part, one snapped and the other one perfectly intact. Hmmmmmm I thought, then it occured to me that Skoda had changed the cambelt 6000 miles ago, and soon after then I had been experiencing a clunk when pulling away which I put down to ARB or something. Looking at the damage now, it is clear that the second bolt was never done up, so the engine was hanging on just one bolt which understandably has now broken. The car is now at a good independant who said exactly the same thing.

It goes to show, you pay peanuts and get monkeys. I remember now why I have always done all my own work on cars.

Sorry for the long post, just thought I would share my days events with you!

Was the bolt left loose or was it not replaced?

It looks like it was never screwed back into the housing, just left there in the clearance hole.

Do you have an invoice for the repair?

I really hope you do as that would help getting this paid for by the dealership I'd imagine.

Glad it didn't drop out whilst you were at high(er) speeds, can't even begin to imagine what could have happened :eek:

i'd be going back to skoda with this, don't they have some form of compulsory warranty with any work they do?

Yep - but I'd feel a lot better with an invoice in/on hand

Yes I do have an invoice for the work, but looking at their standards I would rather just use the independant I have been using for years for my old Mk2 Gti. At least I know they will do a good job and I will get it back on Mon/Tues.

I can imagine the answer Skoda would give me - 'there is no proof sir that the bolts were not re-tightened correctly, all our technicians are highly trained YTS drop-outs, etc'

If the damage proves to be worse than 2 new bolts, an aux belt and the lower engine cover then I will probably go back to them with a report from the garage.

The reason I asked if you had an invoice was to check if you have paid for two new mounting bolts. If you havent been billed for them they may not have been fitted.

The engine mounting bolt snapped on my Octavia too. It only looked about 10 mm in diameter! This caused the engine to slip off the bushes and wrecked my gearbox.

I won't get started on my feelings for Skodas now.

Good luck getting yours sorted.

its got nothing to do with being a skoda, just either bad luck or bad workmanship by one individual.

i had a nova TD that had snapped the engine mount bolts, it can happen on any car.

first thing to do i think is approach the garage that did the work and see what they are willing to do to help.

and jonboy i think if you actually cared to lok into it the skoda(and indeed the while of the VAG group) technicians are not YTS dropouts infact far from it, they are highly trained indiviuals that need to reach high standards. but then i work for a local council so must be a lazy good for nothing that has 4 hour lunch breaks and drinks tea constantly :thumbdwn:

Could have been worse, Toyota forgot to refill one of our Avensis's up with oil after they had 'serviced' it the other day, result? - One completely knackered engine, they are now unbelieveably tring to say that WE should have checked the oil before we drove the car and it's our fault?? The big man from Toyota is coming to give a final verdict soon but if it doesn't go our way we will be sueing them for not only the cost of a new engine to be fitted but loss of earnings for a driver for every day it's off the road.

:eek:

thats absolutely unbelievable!!

i very much doubt that their arguement would stand up in a court of law, terrible.

Ouch that sounds even worse.

I'd still go back to the original dealer though, definitely don't take it to a 3rd party first as it could be a genuine reason not to sort you out.

It's quite likely the dealership will try to sort out the problem if they care about reputation

Could have been worse, Toyota forgot to refill one of our Avensis's up with oil after they had 'serviced' it the other day, result? - One completely knackered engine, they are now unbelieveably tring to say that WE should have checked the oil before we drove the car and it's our fault?? The big man from Toyota is coming to give a final verdict soon but if it doesn't go our way we will be sueing them for not only the cost of a new engine to be fitted but loss of earnings for a driver for every day it's off the road.

Surely the oil pressure light would have come on as soon as they drove the car out of the service bay? Unless they employ blind mechanics

There would appear to be 2 relevant conditions (highlighted by me) on the back of the standard Skoda dealer invoice as follows.

14. The work carried out as specified overleaf is warranted against faulty workmanship for a period of 12 months or 12,000 miles, whichever occurs first, from the date of completion of the work. This does not seek to affect your rights under common law.

9. Except in so far as liability may be placed upon the Retailer by the Unfair Contract Terms Act 1977 or in respect of a vehicle subject to the Manufacturer's Warranty or a replacement component fitted to a vehicle in the course of service or repair and similarly subject or by law no conditions or warranties are given or implied as to the quality of goods or services supplied by the Retailer or their fitness for any particular purpose whether such purpose shall be known to the Retailer or not. The Retailer will however without prejudice to its rights here under correct all faults in Inspection Service or Repairs operations carried out by the Retailer and occurring by reason of the Retailer's default or negligence and shown to be such to the Retailer's reasonable satisfaction.

Surely the oil pressure light would have come on as soon as they drove the car out of the service bay? Unless they employ blind mechanics

It would seem apparently, that the avensis doesn't have one? either that or it just doesn't work!

Got the car back today, 2 new bolts, a ribbed belt and they had to drill the broken bolt out of the housing - £115. I dont thats too bad and it saved me the hassle of doing it myself.

Similar with my wifes Leon, bought with recent Cambelt change at 55000 and at 61000 and dropping of kerb very slowly went bang and same bolts broke/came loose. Also damaged undershield as you stated.