Honda civic diesel - Cambelt failure liability

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Fri 31 May 2013 00:13
Honda civic diesel - Cambelt failure liability - Stewart Honda

I have a Honda Civic 2005 (diesel) which broke down while on the road. The recovery mechanic suspected a cambelt failure. The car was towed to the dealer where I bought the car and where the servicing has been done. The dealer has undertaken an initial inspection and has indicated that they think the engine had a catastrophic failure which resulted in the cambelt failing. They have not given an opinon on what caused the engine failure. The engine has not been stripped down as yet. The cambelt was inspected 6 months ago by the dealer. The water pump or pulleys were not inspected at that time.

The dealer has indicated that the engine repair will be around £2500 and that they have no liability to cover any of this cost as they think the engine failed first causing the cambelt to fail rather than the cambelt failing first. This effectively leaves me high and dry.

I would like to ask some advice on what to do next. Should I push for an independent mechanic to strip the engine to ascertain what caused the failure of the cambelt or should I let the dealer do it? Are there any details I should ask the dealer to ensure that the cambelt was inspected/serviced properly etc? Finally, what type of evidence would I need to take a claim to the small claims court?

thanks in advance...

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Fri 31 May 2013 00:18
Honda civic diesel - Cambelt failure liability - Simon
Who do you think that you have a claim against on an 8 year old car?
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Fri 31 May 2013 13:25
Honda civic diesel - Cambelt failure liability - Stewart Honda

Good question...I am investigating it because when the car was taken to the dealer, after they had an initial inspection, they said that the engine failed due to driver error (that an inappropriate gear change had been made at a high speed). I know this was not the case, so this raised my suspicions. As the cambelt was replaced by the dealer less than 6 months ago, I am investigating whether cambelt failure could have been the cause and if there is any recourse.

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Fri 31 May 2013 01:12
Honda civic diesel - Cambelt failure liability - Soichiro
Is this a 1.7L 7th gen civic or a 2.2L 8th gen civic.
If it's the 2.2 it doesn't have a belt but a chain.
Timing chains well known to let go on these.
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Fri 31 May 2013 10:19
Honda civic diesel - Cambelt failure liability - RT

To follow up Simon's comment - unless you have an extended warranty then there's no claim for an 8-year old car that's long out of original warranty.

Servicing inspections are a good idea but don't impose any warranty conditions on the dealer.

If you've an extended warranty, claim on it's provider - otherwise this is just one of the risks of owning a car out of warranty - on average it's a cheap way to run a car but if you're the unlucky one with a failure then it becomes expensive.

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Fri 31 May 2013 13:27
Honda civic diesel - Cambelt failure liability - nortones2

Engine failure causing cambelt failure? How convenient for the garage - and how unlikely it seems to me, especially as they haven't stripped it down. How can they know? It might be worth getting the engine inspected, preferably by someone who is outside the repair industry, IYKWIM.

I think you might have an argument for some recompense if it was the cambelt. Wife's Jetta petrol cambelt failed at 6 years old. VW paid for the labour. We argued the following points 1. there was no specific recommendation for belt replacement for that model. 2. I had specifically asked when the belt should be replaced at a service, but received no answer. Mechanic looked at belt and OK'd it. 3. Full VAG service history.

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Fri 31 May 2013 14:02
Honda civic diesel - Cambelt failure liability - Stewart Honda

Thanks for that...I understand the car is out of warranty and I do not know what (if any) warranty would have been given by the dealer when they replaced the cambelt 5 months ago. I am just suspicious that they have blamed the engine seizing (and the resulting cambelt failure) on driver error (inappropriate gear change at a very high speed), which was impossible. As i said, the engine has not been stripped down yet. I assume it would be difficult to prove whether or not the cambelt was fitted properly when it was repalced, resulting in it failing and causing the engine to seize.

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Fri 31 May 2013 14:30
Honda civic diesel - Cambelt failure liability - TeeCee

I do not know what (if any) warranty would have been given by the dealer when they replaced the cambelt 5 months ago.

I'll have a tenner on six months or more, seeing as they're doing their level best to blame anything but the belt for the failure.....

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Fri 31 May 2013 13:32
Honda civic diesel - Cambelt failure liability - Stewart Honda

thanks for getting back to me. It is a 1.7L diesel. As the belt was replaced less than 6 months it is surprising that it should fail so soon, or perhpas it hadnt been fitted properly. That is why I am looking into it.

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Sun 2 Jun 2013 00:29
Honda civic diesel - Cambelt failure liability - focussed

The 1.7 litre unit in the 7th generation civic is an Isuzu 4EE2 CDTi - 101hp, 220Nm, DOHC

This engine is a modified version of the Isuzu 4EE1 and is part of the Circle L family of engines. The 4EE2 was originally produced as a Di or DTi unit for Vauxhall/ Opel and was eventually modified to a common rail unit first used in the Honda Civic and later in the Vauxhall Corsa B (not to be confused with Isuzu Z series units!).

Parts can be ordered from Honda, Vauxhall and I dare say Isuzu however there seems to be little difference in price if any so I'd just save the hassle and stick to official channels.

The 2.2 Ctdi Honda manufactured unit was not fitted until the 8th generation which car production started 2006.

The 2.2 Cdti is not known to break timing chains unless oil change intervals are neglected or oil quality is compromised.

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Sun 2 Jun 2013 01:25
Honda civic diesel - Cambelt failure liability - Soichiro
Actually the eighth gen civic was introduced in 2005.

There is well known issues with the timing chain and oil pump chain on the 04/05 iCtdi engine. So much do that Honda extended the warranty to 7 years or 125k miles.
So in reality early iCtdi civics could be affected.

The common symptoms are a noisy timing chain which leads to the oil pump chain snapping and the subsequent loss of lubrication destroys the engine.
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Sun 2 Jun 2013 23:18
Honda civic diesel - Cambelt failure liability - focussed
Actually the eighth gen civic was introduced in 2005.
Not according to HJ -introduced 2006, the 8th gen 06 model year production started in 05.

There is well known issues with the timing chain and oil pump chain on the 04/05 iCtdi engine.
In CRV's and Accords yes, in 8th gen Civics not in any significant number unless oil neglected.

So much do that Honda extended the warranty to 7 years or 125k miles. So in reality early iCtdi civics could be affected
See above

The common symptoms are a noisy timing chain which leads to the oil pump chain snapping and the subsequent loss of lubrication destroys the engine.

Not a common failure on the 8th gen Civic, thousands of members in the owners club can't be wrong Soichiro San.

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