aux belt broke and hit cam belt after new alternator. Now what?

[brownpatch]

Hi guys/gals
I put my car in the garage for a new alternator before i went on a recent holiday as it was on its way out, I only drove the car a few days on my return and half the belt has shredded off the alternator and tangled in the cam belt, the cam is believed to have slipped a few teeth due to this and obviously caused a fair bit of damage.
I just want to know if anyone else has come across this and if there is anything i can do through the garage that carried out the work as I feel i shouldn't have to foot the bill on something that isnt my fault, the car insurance dont want know as they said its mechanical and said I would have to go through trading standards if i wanted to pursue it.
As the garage is a small local village garage i dont want to cause grief and know its going to be me ending up digging deep to get it fixed or end up selling the car as scrap due to the costs. (2004 clio 182 sport).
Any help or advice would be appreciated.

 

[Dan@SJM]

If they didn't replace the aux kit, it's down to them really. They should have replaced it as it was coming off. Another prime example why going to a specialist is worth the extra.

 

[Darren S]

Aside from shafting me up the arse with the final bill and leaving off all of the arch liner screws from the front bumper - I'll give Renault Bury that - they did strongly suggest that I get the full aux belt kit changed at the same time. As I had a horrendous rubber burning smell from the instant the alternator packed in, it was a bit of a no brainer for me - even if the smell wasn't down to the belt itself.

The garage really should have advised you differently and it's a tough one to call - especially if the garage is a local one. I'd still chase it with them though - clearly this was a knock-on effect of the work that's been done (or not) in this case....

​D.

 

[barker22]

had slightly similar with a pas pump. it wasn't quite aligned properly and it shredded the belt. took the cambelt with it. The garage paid at their own cost for a full rebuild with new belts. So if the garage is decent enough then they should fix it.

 

[Korky]

The garage should have insurance to cover this sort of stuff. Maybe ask one of the specialists on here for a price of a rebuild and other the garage a third party option. A similar situation happened to another guy on here a week or so ago.

 

[brownpatch]

What happend with the other guys who had similar thing happen? Also what would be involved if it was 3rd party claim through the garage?
Problem I'm faced with now though is I dont really want the garage who done the alternator carrying out an engine rebuild on my car....would you?
Recently spoke to a specialist £1200 worst case scenario inc labour costs and parts. Ouch

 

[Sam]

Depending on mileage sometimes it's better buying a new engine and doing the belts while its outside the car then dropping it in.

£1200 seems steep?

 

[Dan519]

They have a legal obligation to warranty the work and parts for 12 months and reasonable mileage (12k is normal)

 

[Fred@BTM]

Depending on mileage sometimes it's better buying a new engine and doing the belts while its outside the car then dropping it in.

£1200 seems steep?

"Worst case scenario"

16 new valves/valve guides
possible damaged rocker/s
skim
head gasket
head bolts
waterpump
cambelt kit
dephaser
aux kit
coolant
oil
etc etc

 

[brownpatch]

Cheers guys, real helpful, off to the garage tomorrow for the bad news to them.:S Not sure on how to claim against them though if i take the car elsewhere. Also the car is still with the garage at the mo. So i suppose i got to tread a little careful.

 

[brownpatch]

Cheers Fred, will be in touch.

​

"Worst case scenario"

16 new valves/valve guides
possible damaged rocker/s
skim
head gasket
head bolts
waterpump
cambelt kit
dephaser
aux kit
coolant
oil
etc etc

 

[Andyrg@ ClioTurbo]

Dont forget damage to the piston tops?? From impact?

 

[Chip-mk1]

Dont forget damage to the piston tops?? From impact?

Indeed, nice hard whack on the top of the pistons can find a weakspot in the terrible piston castings round the ring lands and so the real "worst case" is that you put it all back together and then one of the pistons breaks up on the ringland and it all has to come apart again.

Depends what rpm it happened at really, higher the rpm at time of failure the more chance of piston damage. You normally get away with it, but its a possibility sadly

 

[brownpatch]

The car was very low revs when it went, I'd just gone round the corner into work at about 15mph. So fingers crossed.

 

[Chip-mk1]

The car was very low revs when it went, I'd just gone round the corner into work at about 15mph. So fingers crossed.

Hopefully a secondhand head swap, or a rebuild of your head will sort it then.

I'd certainly be willing to chance the pistons under those circumstances personally.