Did my mechanic screw me.....need advice.
03-21-2008, 11:22 PM
#1
Burning Brakes
Thread Starter
Did my mechanic screw me.....need advice.
I just got my 944 (79k) timing belt re-tensioned at ImagineAuto today. Fantastic shop and Karl was great. I did get a bit of strange news. It seems my belt roller/balance shaft rollers are original and need to be replaced soon. I just had a new pump/timing belt done 2k miles ago! $1200 at a professional import shop.
The car had the pump/TB replaced 15k before I bought it but was done in 1992. Initially I was going to just replace the rubber (rot) as the car had been in storage for a long time but the mechanic said the WP was bad so I went ahead and had him do the entire thing.
WHY would he not replace the rollers? Is he contractually obligated to install what he chose to ignore...I paid for the entire thing to be replaced? Do I have a legal angle if this turns ugly?
How should I handle this......I'm pretty angry as those could have caused failure. If I had taken back to him for the tightening I would never had known. 10k later...blown.
Thanks,
BO
The car had the pump/TB replaced 15k before I bought it but was done in 1992. Initially I was going to just replace the rubber (rot) as the car had been in storage for a long time but the mechanic said the WP was bad so I went ahead and had him do the entire thing.
WHY would he not replace the rollers? Is he contractually obligated to install what he chose to ignore...I paid for the entire thing to be replaced? Do I have a legal angle if this turns ugly?
How should I handle this......I'm pretty angry as those could have caused failure. If I had taken back to him for the tightening I would never had known. 10k later...blown.
Thanks,
BO
03-21-2008, 11:32 PM
#3
Race Car
You have to read the work order to see what he charged you. If the rollers were listed and charged to you, then he is contractually obligated. For $1200, I would imagine the rollers were replaced.
03-21-2008, 11:37 PM
#4
Burning Brakes
Thread Starter
Arent the rollers part of the entire replacement process? If I buy a kit....arent they included?
03-21-2008, 11:39 PM
#5
Race Car
Did you buy a kit and give it to him to install it? I think most shop would replace the rollers and charge you for the parts. However, some shops won't replace them.
03-21-2008, 11:49 PM
#7
Rennlist Member
It's hard to tell for sure if the rollers are all still OE as the replacement ones also have the OE part numbers on them. They may have been changed, they may not have. Find your invoice, and even if it says they did, and you suspect they did not, all the shop will do is tell you to bring it in, and they will take a look at them and see. Then depending on credibility, they will insist that they did (if it's on the work order) and you will be left with the decision to believe them or not. Color, amount of dirt etc on them does not mean that they are all still OE as I have seen new parts tarnish quickly in my 12 years of wrenching for a living. Find your reciept, or call the shop for a copy, and post what you find.
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03-21-2008, 11:58 PM
#9
Rennlist Member
The PO of my car paid to have all the rollers and seals replaced 10,000 miles ago, at least the the paperwork stated this. When we replaced the waterpump recently everything was original! It must happen all the time.
03-22-2008, 12:01 AM
#10
Burning Brakes
Thread Starter
It's hard to tell for sure if the rollers are all still OE as the replacement ones also have the OE part numbers on them. They may have been changed, they may not have. Find your invoice, and even if it says they did, and you suspect they did not, all the shop will do is tell you to bring it in, and they will take a look at them and see. Then depending on credibility, they will insist that they did (if it's on the work order) and you will be left with the decision to believe them or not. Color, amount of dirt etc on them does not mean that they are all still OE as I have seen new parts tarnish quickly in my 12 years of wrenching for a living. Find your reciept, or call the shop for a copy, and post what you find.
I did check online and the replacement kit includes all rollers.
03-22-2008, 12:19 AM
#12
Rennlist Member
Regardless, there is not much you can do now I hate to say. You could make them redo it, if they even would. And who's to say they'd do thier best on it....
03-22-2008, 12:36 AM
#13
Rennlist Member
well sometimes a shop is doing a job and not looking for other potential failures necessarily. A failing belt to one shop may pass as exceptable to another. I would say replace them and dont go back to the previous shop.
BTW- learning how to work on them yourself would save you alot of money. I could do my belts and rollers for $145.
BTW- learning how to work on them yourself would save you alot of money. I could do my belts and rollers for $145.
03-22-2008, 01:12 AM
#14
Official Rennlist
Borat Impersonator
Rennlist Member
Borat Impersonator
Rennlist Member
like others have said, check your receipt, the part numbers/decriptions should be on there.
where did you have it done?? If you need a reputable, honest shop I can recommend a few.
where did you have it done?? If you need a reputable, honest shop I can recommend a few.
03-22-2008, 01:30 AM
#15
Burning Brakes
Thread Starter
Thats the catch...he replaced the wp/tb in my E-series also. I supplied the kit then but when I initially took the 944 in...it was to just replace the old belt. Once it was apart, I had no choice but to have them supply the parts. The guy is not an a-hole so hopefully this has a happy ending. Could be an honest mistake. He guarantees his work on the receipt as long as they supply the parts.