HI

My Octavia has dropped the engine 1.9tdi. yes dropped it. The AA have never seen a Octavia in such a state!! It has recently just had a cam belt and water pump change at the local Skoda dealership. (Last week)

Can anybody confirm if the belt change requires any engine mounts to be removed or loosened please?

The car is two years old done 98k and has a full Skoda service history. I suspect the dealership have cocked something up here like not retightening the mount.

Not sure if the driveshafts and gearbox are damaged yet and will probably have the dealership telling me thay are not liable. Anyway it is waiting outside the dealership for their attention in the morning

Has anybody had an engine mount fail?

Any help or suggestions greatly appreciated

I think they would probably take a mount off by the left hand side to assist with access and maybe others too.

When they put it back they would have to use new bolts as the engine mount bolts are a single use item.

2 years old 98K :eek:

Yep the engine mountings (both parts) have to be removed. Bolts have to be replaced and torqued up. Check your invoice for 5 bolts.

Much appreciated Will tell you how it proceeds

Gentlemen

Thankyou for your speedy reply much much appreciated. I think I am going to need an independant inspection done as evidence if I need to take the matter to court. I am having the engine photographed in its sorry state.

Since my first posting at Midnight last night my father in law who drives the car as a Taxi has now admitted a non dealership garage has carried out the work and NOT Skoda.

I therefore have no comeback on Skoda and rightly so.

I want the inspection to concentrate on the engine mountings and look specifically for the following:-

1:Evidence of loose bolts

2:Check the torque on these bolts

3:Confirm the bolts are new and have not been reused

Who would you recommend to do the inspection?The AA and RAC both do inspections for about £130 but look at 150 items! I only need them to comment on the engine mounts and the general condition of the car(its in excellent condition). Who ever does the inspection must have a recognised qualification that the court will accept if we end up there

Any advice greatly appreciated. The car is based in Hamilton Glasgow

Many Thanks

If the cambelt wasn't done by Skoda, then why not get your local Skoda dealer to do the inspection :confused:

Inspectors used by Insurance companies for accident damage are qualified inspectors, I know yours isnt accident but many do mechanical inspections as well & often cheaper than the AA & RAC, might be worth trying one of those.

Your Insurance co should be able to give you some names or alternativly ask a few of the local bodyshops, they have names & should know who is most likely to be "your friend"

See if the guy who did it is in the SMMT, (society of motor manufacturers & traders) thats another door to knock on

Guys A quick Update

Due to the excellent advice I have had from the forum I was able to pressure the local garage into admitting liability. The garage could not produce evidence of new bolts being used on the engine mounts or the torque figures used for the job!!!

The car is now back with the local garage and awaiting a new set of bolts and a new engine mount from Skoda. We will them be able to see if further damage has been caused to the driveshafts or gearbox.

Without your invaluable advice and knowledge the outcome could have been very different. My father in law who drives the car made a bad mistake. The Skoda dealer was only £100 more expensive for the same job.

Once again thanks

regards

Spangle

Guys A quick Update

Due to the excellent advice I have had from the forum I was able to pressure the local garage into admitting liability. The garage could not produce evidence of new bolts being used on the engine mounts or the torque figures used for the job!!!

The car is now back with the local garage and awaiting a new set of bolts and a new engine mount from Skoda. We will them be able to see if further damage has been caused to the driveshafts or gearbox.

Without your invaluable advice and knowledge the outcome could have been very different. My father in law who drives the car made a bad mistake. The Skoda dealer was only £100 more expensive for the same job.

Once again thanks

regards

Spangle

Good news, let us know how it all goes

Good to see such swift acceptance from the 3rd party garage and to be honest I think you should thank your lucky stars.

A lesson to be learned here, cheapest isn't always best.

I echo what Stu says, you are a fairly lucky guy.

Guys A quick Update

Due to the excellent advice I have had from the forum I was able to pressure the local garage into admitting liability. The garage could not produce evidence of new bolts being used on the engine mounts or the torque figures used for the job!!!

The car is now back with the local garage and awaiting a new set of bolts and a new engine mount from Skoda. We will them be able to see if further damage has been caused to the driveshafts or gearbox.

Without your invaluable advice and knowledge the outcome could have been very different. My father in law who drives the car made a bad mistake. The Skoda dealer was only £100 more expensive for the same job.

Once again thanks

regards

Spangle

Sorry to hear about your car, sounds like a half a job outfit, or that they just didn't know about the stretch bolts. How much is it for a cambelt to be fitted at the dealer? so I can start saving. Thanks

IIRC cambelt service is in the region of £500