Timing belt slip up?

Question

I drive a 97 VW Polo and i got the timing belt replaced.He put in the whole kit and a water pump. There was a screeching high pitched noise from the engine that he said might wear out after a day or two. The car didn't make it to the 2nd day as it broke the day after it's replacement. The mechanic tells me that a stone flew up into the timing belt while i was driving it, and either ripped or moved the timing belt, resulting in the belt snapping. He expects me to pay for the fixing of my car. Is it possible for a stone/pebble from the road, to get into where the timing belt is and do such damage?

Answer 1

Assuming you live in the UK...

Sounds as if the guy did a poor job and is expecting you to pay for him to try again. There should not have been any squealing after the new belt/water pump had been fitted.

Contact your local Trading Standards dept or Citizens Advice Bureau for advice.

Answer 2

It is possible for a stone to come in contact with the belt and cause it to snap; but only if the belt cover has not been fitted correctly, this happened with my brother in law.

When I was in the motor trade one of our mechanics was working on a diesel Transit and dropped the bypass hose clip, but he didn't look for it. It turned out it was lodged on the water pump and fell in to the belt with the engine running, and snapped the belt.

What I'm saying is that if a belt fails in two days someone has done something wrong.

I will say you should not have accepted the car back with any unusual noises.

Live and learn

Answer 3

Dude the garage if taking you for a ride! It is next to impossible for a stone to fly up in between the timing belt and pulleys.

By the sound of things the belt was either the wrong belt or the tensioner was incorrectly fitted. A timing belt will over its service life stretch about 5mm, however the waring signs should have been there when the mechanic fitted it the belt.

Take no non-sense from him as he needs to fix the problem at his cost.

Ja.

Answer 4

There should have be no noise.

If the noise was there when you picked the car up then how can he blame it on a stone.

The cambelt is covered by plastic covers around in so it is virtually impossible to get a stone in there.

He has clearly done something wrong and it is his job to provide you with a courtesy car and to fix yours.

If he does not then ask for his public liability insurance details and get them to pay for it

You should keep a note of all the things this liar is telling you because if you need to take it further you will have proof of what he is saying and that he is changing his story.

If you need a car tell him to supply you one or you will get a hire car and he or his insurance will have to reimburse you.

Good luck

Answer 5

how can a stone fly up? it has a cover over the timing belt to protect it.he probably got the belt too tight. what kind of mechanic was he? i changed several timing belts and i never had that trouble.if the belt is too tight, it will get hot and break. if you can prove he did,nt fix it right, you don,t owe him a penny.

Answer 6

What a load of ****** My bet would be a incorrectly fitted tensioner or idler pulley. If you are in the local auto club get them to look at it. It should be pretty obvious when you look at the belt

Answer 7

Hi

NO not if the belt cover was on it...

especially if it was making noise right after he replaced it .. he did some thing wrong when he replaced it the first time.. He should have fixed it when it first started making noise..  I'd check with the BBB and the attorney general.  I'm sure there is some kind of consumer protection law that well help you

good luck

Tim

Answer 8

timing belts don't screech because they are toothed and how on earth did a stone get anywhere near the timing belt? is that possible? i thot the timing belt had a cover over it. the water pump belt/alternator etc is probably the one screeching and simply needing tightened. to me it sounds as if your "mechanic" is taking shortcuts to make money. and why did he change the water pump. they should last forever?

Answer 9

NO the timing belt in cased in behind hard plastic covers you cannot see the belt unless the covers are removed the noise you heard when you picked up the car is the timing belt it was the wrong tension on it

Answer 10

Call Cumsumer Direct, they should be able to advise you

http://www.consumerdirect.gov.uk/

08454 040506

Answer 11

He is a liar,he did not put the belt on right.

Answer 12

No, it's his fault. The belt is covered with plastic pieces all around. He did not adjust the timing belt correctly, that is why it was squealing. He put it on too tight.

Answer 13

I wonder if you are the person who posted yesterday about a timing belt in a Polo. I seem to remember answering a question where the mechanic said a new belt would stretch.

I have never heard of such a thing, nor do I believe it to be possible.

Clearly the mechanic is not willing to correct his mistake.

I would suggest you take action in the Small Claims Court, this will cost you only a few pounds to file a case and I would think you will undoubtedly win.

I appreciate that this does not solve your immediate problem as you will be without a car but you certainly don't want to have this same mechanic do any further work on it.

Answer 14

Your "mechanic" is a) no mechanic, and b) a liar. There should be no screeching noise to "wear out" and, as you asked before, it is unnecessary to run a timing belt in.  Basically he's made a mess of the job.  I also think you'll find there's a cover over the belt, there usually is anyway, so no danger of a pebble being picked up.

Whatever, from what you say he's a bodger.

Answer 15

NOT NO BUT h**l NO I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THAT HAPPENING AND I WAS AN ASST MNGR FOR A AUTO SHOP SO IVE SEEN WIERD STUFF BUT THERE SHOULD BE A COVER OVER ITS CALLED A TIMING BELT COVER .....HENCE THE NAME WHAT HAPPENED IS THAT HE PROBABLY OVER TIGHTEN IT CAUSING STRAIN ON THE NEW BELT CAUSING IT TO SNAP....NOW THATS MORE BELIEVEABLE .....LOL JUST MY OPINION GOOD LUCK

Answer 16

Another neglectfull and liar mechanic too get your money back or back job your car again

Answer 17

YOU WANT YOUR MONEY BACK SO YOU CAN GO TO ANOTHER GARAGE.TELL HIM YOU WILL SEE A SOLICITOR IF YOU DO NOT GET SATISFACTION IT SHOULD SWAY HIM.GOOD LUCK AND KEEP AWAY FROM THE COWBOYS.