I drove my 2011 Insignia Exclusive auto 2.0 diesel (104,000mi) for just 10 minutes (about 4 miles) to a garage, having booked to have fitted a new water pump and timing belt. Everything had been ordered for the work by the garage. I topped up the coolant before driving off, as the car overheated about 9 days earlier just as I was getting home. This was when I booked to have the work done. At the garage, I parked the car perfectly in the waiting area, the engine had started and run perfectly on the journey, the engine temperature was normal (90), the water level had dropped about one inch. I then left the key with the garage and went home to wait for a call to say it was ready.
Later that morning, the garage rang to say they couldn't start the car and had tried numerous times. I told them to wait for the yellow lights to go out. They said they knew that but wanted me to come. I said that the car runs perfectly, and that it had never given me any problem and to do the work, because I was sure it would go. They then told me that they pushed the car to the bay, opened it up and found that the timing belt had slipped, likely causing the camshaft lugs to hit the valves. They are not claiming responsibility for the damage to the engine. For me, it all seemed so unbelievable, but I had to use a recovery vehicle to get the car back to my drive. Question: Was the garage at fault?
Can anyone, with expert experience on this forum, offer advice as to what the garage should or should not have done?
I was only concerned about the engine overheating. I had told them that the water pump was leaking. Thanks in advance. (PS _ You don't list "Insignia")
Later that morning, the garage rang to say they couldn't start the car and had tried numerous times. I told them to wait for the yellow lights to go out. They said they knew that but wanted me to come. I said that the car runs perfectly, and that it had never given me any problem and to do the work, because I was sure it would go. They then told me that they pushed the car to the bay, opened it up and found that the timing belt had slipped, likely causing the camshaft lugs to hit the valves. They are not claiming responsibility for the damage to the engine. For me, it all seemed so unbelievable, but I had to use a recovery vehicle to get the car back to my drive. Question: Was the garage at fault?
Can anyone, with expert experience on this forum, offer advice as to what the garage should or should not have done?
I was only concerned about the engine overheating. I had told them that the water pump was leaking. Thanks in advance. (PS _ You don't list "Insignia")
Oct 6, 2023 at 7:12 AM
