Hi folks,

I took my 2010 Ford Fiesta Sport van in for a service and the guys at the garage found oil on the timing belt cover. Not a lot, just a bit, they said.

I took it back to them today for them to have a look at, and the "minor oil leak" has now turned into a vague quote to the tune of £2,000 (WTF???) because they think it's either the oil pump or a leak from the engine - and it will take them a week to find and sort out.

...er... there's no oil on the ground in my parking spaces at home or at work and the oil warning light hasn't come on. (My Sierra used to SPEW oil all over the palce, so I know what an oil-starved engine sounds like: rattley!!)

The van is 4 years old! How the hell has an oil pump failed or the engine sprung a leak? And why will it cost £2,000 and a week's labour??

(This is the same lot who told me that my front brake disks need replacing because they are a bit scored and that the pads need replacing because they are 50% worn.)

I seriously need help, advice or suggestions on this because £2,000 is a shedload of cash!!!

:-(

It's a 1.6 litre turbo diesel, if that's any help...

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Are you checking the oil level yourself to see if it's losing anything?

Personally think you need a new garage but I'm not a mechanic.

Are you checking the oil level yourself to see if it's losing anything?

Personally think you need a new garage but I'm not a mechanic.

My thoughts exactly!

Agree with Allan.

Check your oil levels and always get a second opinion. If it was major it would be on the floor and/or a lot more would evident in the engine bay. It's not unusual for some garages to make sure some oil is found.........

The oil levels are always stable. I've had The Van a year and not had to top it up. This is why I'm baffled.

If anyone knows of a good garage/mechanic within driving distance of Epsom or Woking in Surrey, PLEASE let me know!!

x

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Oh, this has just got better...

According to the engineer it could be:

a. Oil pump (£1000)
b. Engine latter £2300

and while we're in there,

c. Why don't we have a look at the clutch and see if it needs replacing? (£900)

…and when I drove off, the fan was SCREAMING!! So they had to send an engineer out to rescue me because I REFUSED to drive one more inch!! He then … wiggled the relay. And has promised that they'll have a replacement in stock when I bring it in to have the rest done. I can replace a sodding relay myself, I'm sure, I just need a reliable garage/mechanic!!

I. AM. FURIOUS!!!!!

Is it a business van or just you wanted a van? Just I remember being in a halfords autocentre one time. Think it was an mot I was getting. Anyway, a guy comes into the office and says to manager. 'That's xyz van booked in for service. It missed its last service.....kerr ching' queue fist motion.

I just thought at time, that's Rediculous and especially in front of customers.

I think a lot of businesses get ripped off. They seem to have the whole Scottish gas contact too. You'd think they make enough without ripping the p...

Is it an actual ford dealer ?

You need to report these people. They are clearly scamming you.

It is definitely second opinion time if nowt else

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Allan: yes, it's my company vehicle. But I take care and pride in my vehicles coz I want them to remain smart and in good working order. Just because it's a little panel van, does not mean I can't/won't look after it!! (I love my little van!!)

Can't believe (well, actually, I can!!) that Halfrauds said that out loud!! Oh my gods!! But point taken...

;-)

SandyCat: I may very well give Trading Standards a call... Just imagine if it was a dear little old lady with only £2,000 to her name!! These guys are ruddy crooks!!

>:-(

The Van is booked in on Tuesday at a garage recommended to me by a trusted cab driver. I spoke to his preferred mechanic and he says it can't be leaking FROM the oil pump, because the oil pump is INSIDE the damned thing. It's more likely to be a seal/gasket. NOT a £1,000 pump or the £2,300 mid-engine ladder.

Sure, he'll still have to take the thing apart and charge me for it, but that's fine. No probs with that. More around the £800 mark, IF EVEN NECESSARY, he said. He's going to investigate first and the report back....

I'm also going to ask him about whether or not the vehicle has a 'magic undertray' that would prevent me from seeing any oil leaking out and stop it dripping down onto the ground. Think Fraud's mechanic told me that when he took the tray off, LOTS of oil came splashing out. If he means the sump, which would have oil in it anyway, I will be going absolutely ***BLEEP*** MENTAL at them!!

Anyone know about a Magic Under Tray under a 1.6 litre turbo diesel engine? (I'd go outside and shove my head under the car, but I'm in my jammies and don't want to upset the neighbours.)

(Can you tell that I'm angry?? Hee!!)

:-D

Meanwhile, the breakdown of Think Fraud's costs were:

£1,000 - oil pump

£2,300 - mid-engine ladder

£900 - clutch (if part-worn)

£ unknown - new front discs (only lightly scored)

£ unknown - new brake pads (with 50% wear)

£ unknown - new engine fan relay

Oh, and then there's the VAT... ...and the bit where the timing belt might need replacing if oil's got on to it... ...and I'm sure they muttered something about the turbo too.

...erm... The brakes are fine for now, thank you, the relay I can replace myself IF it sets the fan off non-stop screaming again, the clutch feels fine - and I'd LOVE to know where the £900 comes from because a new clutch only cost me £450 on my old Focus, I'd bet you any money you like they'd try and replace the oil pump AND the ladder AND the timing belt AND the turbo - oh, and one of my friends told me that they 'broke' her car TWICE and only gave her a free service offer in return. Which would cost them next to nothing.

I think the words I am looking for start with F and end with OFF...

:-D

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Cripes, that was a long ol' rant...

O_o

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Some do have undertrays, my Focus has an undertray/splash guard that covers the underside of the entire engine. Mine is soaked in oil, but only coz some clumsy Twonk spilled it when refilling at last service.

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Righto. I'll ask about my van and what the guy was talking about when I take it in to the other garage.

:-D

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Took the van in to the second garage yesterday, they gave the engine and undertray (yes, it has one) a thorough clean, popped it up on the ramp and left the engine running...

No leak.

Not even a drip.

The mechanic is baffled and more than a bit stumped that the first garage said that they had cleaned the engine and undertray, but evidently didn't, because the grime, dirt and oil in the undertray hasn't been touched and is as expected for a four year old car.

He tells me that undertrays generally have holes in them, so if my van did have a leak, oil would be seen on the driveway at home and at work. Both are clean.

He said that the oil could simply be from where someone had sloppily topped up the oil and heat and time had caused it to spread, but until he gets it back on Thursday, he can't say much more than that.

He's suspicious, so am I.

...and he hasn't charged me a bean for the investigative work, so he'll be getting a BIG box of biscuits!!

:D

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The first garage saw you as an easy mark and decided to make up work by the looks of it. Do you have anything from Garage 1 in writing? Get a report from Garage 2 and call trading standards before anyone else gets ripped off!

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Very bad to hear about the bad service buddy, hope you get everything sorted, in connection with the under tray, we call it a bash plate as the name suggest basically stopping rocks etc from causeing dammage too your car, I one day had to spend 3 hours in the middle of the Kalahari Dessert taking the thing off because a #$%^ poared petrol in my diesel car. anyway thats a story for another day.

Ah! The Kalahari? I grew up in South Africa (born in the UK, family moved to SA, came back to the UK 11 years later) so that's a familiar name!

Now: how did you end up, in the Kalahari, with the wrong fuel, taking the car apart?

:D

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P.S. I had the final check done on my van a couple of weeks ago. Final report from the second garage: No fault found.

They had my car in for inspection six times, found a TINY leak, tightened up a few bits and bobs, charged me tuppence...

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