I need a bit of help with this one please. My Octavia's engine has just fallen down, but not completely out and has possibly done damage to other components. The main problem however is that the engine mounting bolts have snapped and are stuck in the block. The guy who changed my cam belt about a month and a half ago swears it was not his work that did this. I am not so sure. He says that should he have trouble removing them it will require an engine lift etc and that will run around £300. Is this guy liable? He says he's only ever seen this once before. I can't even tow the bloody thing as I could end up doing more damage! I'm in a fix! Only one good thing is that the cam belt is still intact. Thanks.

I would for sure say don't drive it.

I've not done a CamBelt on an Octy myself so I don't know if the bolts are supposed to be replaced or not.

Is the guy who changed it a VAT registered garage? If so then it may be possible to pursue a claim.

According to my Haynes book of fables,the bolts on the mountings should be renewed after they have been removed. Your engine mountings would have been removed to allow cambelt change. As above I would take car back and ask "mechanic" to fix it.

Thank you. I don't know if the guy is vat registered. I don't know if he actually changed the bolts or just put them back in. Problem is he has the car and does not accept responsibility. He says his work was fine and this is a problem he has only encountered once before in 20 years.

If he was a DIY mechaninc doing you a favour then it's tuff luck. If he operates as a company from premises then you may well have a case but it could be a drawn out small claims court issue.

You would have to prove that the bolts weren't replaced. If they were replaced then ask him to provide you with the invoice as they will be warranted by VAG.

He does run his own small company. Himself and another guy. I wonder should I ask him for the bolts?

I wouldn't think he'll give them to you.

I had exactly the same thing with my octavia about 3 weeks after i bourght it from the garage, engine basically dropped, was the bolts snapped on the right hand engine mount, this did various damage, a few pipes, alternator belt and cam-belt etc, had it all inspected by local garage, looked like the previous garage which had changed the cambelt hadnt done the bolts up the specified torques, resulting in failure. Also the cam-belt tensioner kit had been itted incorrectly, resulting in a loose cambelt which had jumped a tooth in the timing, so alittle longer and the engine could have gone valve to pistion resulting to a dead engine.

The repairs to get it back on the road cost me about £850 all in all, however the garage i got the car off denied that it was anything to do with their workman ship.

Very dissaponted in garage, certainly wont look at any of their cars again.

I have had the discussion with my local Skoda dealer and they said they hadn't seen the problem before, and I would not be able to prove who was at fault. They said it could have happened anyway. Possibly sooner than a month and a half after the cam belt was changed. The guy who fitted it claimed he did everything to the letter, and he does these cars regularly. After speaking to Skoda and the fitter I am inclined to believe it is just an unfortunate incident. This guy deals with a lot of taxi drivers in a fairly mean part of Belfast. I would imagine if he's pulling stunts he wouldn't last long. I should have the car back tomorrow, with new cam belt as it was damaged in the fall. No more damage (fingers crossed)

I have seen it happen a couple of times which is why we always replace the bolts and torque them to the correct vaule.

Over tightening these bolts is just as bad as not doing them up enough.

This thread is starting to worry me.

I just got my cambelt, tensioners, water pump, and hydraulic damper changed by a mechanic that works in a VAG dealership.

I bought the parts myself, and paid him cash.

Does anyone know the part number of the bolt, and whether or not it is a big job to "retro fit" this mounting bolt?

silvergun, were you invoiced for replacement bolts?

If not, then they were presumably not fitted. Failure here is not unknown.

rotodiesel.

Surely the new bolts would look all shiny and new ....maybe?

You'd reckon, but my engine bay looks nearly new clean anyway, after 5 and a half years, and 77_000 miles or so.

For the OP, is it the RH lower mount that's collapsed?

Post removed....wrong thread.

Surely the new bolts would look all shiny and new ....maybe?

When I changed mine the new main dealer replacements were silver/grey, whereas the original ones were green. HTH :sofahide:

I'm 100% sure you need new bolts for a cambelt change.

If he didn't change them he would be liable I'd have thought.

Is the garage part of the Good garage Scheme? If he is it might be contacting them regarding the issue if he is.

Hope it gets sorted mate.

After reading this and currently halfway through the cambelt change I realise I am 2 or 3 bolts short!!!

The most important ones that go into the block!!

If anyone has these I am willing to pay good ££ or swap a brand new Koni sport spring kit

But I need for this monday!!!!

My car has the AQY engine 2.0

I live in march cambridgeshire you can email me at [email protected]