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Thu 1 May 2003 16:24

Audi Dealer Screw Up - ian

This is a true story of a colleague at work, make of it what you will but a £3k cheque off a dealer for a new engine is a result in anyones book….

Driving along the motorway in an A4 tdi, he hears a loud thunk, car coasts to hard shoulder and rescue truck recovers car to local garage. Local mechanic takes cambelt cover off, cambelt intact but colleague notices some fraying on belt, engine will not turn over, suspected major internal damage. Car has done 140k miles(!) but at 120k had belt changed by Audi dealer (part of a large multi franchise group). Suspecting problem is cambelt related car is recovered to the dealer. Dealer wants several hundred to take head off to identify internal problem and responsibility. So car is moved to local vw/audi independent specialist. On arrival at specialist both specialist and colleague are surprised at the removal of the front bumper and several other components given that no authorisation for work had been given. Specialist confirms that timing is correct and that belt is not stripped or damaged in anyway (still in situ on car) but inside of engine is trashed after meeting valves at speed! One new engine and over £2k later car is back on road.

Colleague is suspicious that a) fraying on belt clearly seen when recovered is no longer visible b) how could this unmarked timing belt have ridden out the destruction of the engine. He then embarks on a 12 month small claims court process that has ended (before court) with a £3k cheque from large dealer group. Process involved expert witness who could see no other cause for the damage than a timing belt malfunction, dealer claimed valve must have dropped in engine. He could also not understand how the belt could be in that condition but stopped at accusing them of swopping it before car recovered to specialist.

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