timing belt overcharge??

It depends under which circumstance it stopped working. Did it just not start one morning? Did it make any nasty noises? Does it sound normal when you're trying to start it?

If the belt has broken and the engine was running then it could well cost that much, or if the timing's slipped a lot and it's caused damage...

Si

Thanks for your quick reply!

I drove to a supermarket, popped in for a sarnie, ten mins later my car wouldn't start!

I did try to turn the key in the ignition a few times to see if it was just being temperamental. There were no nasty noises prior to this happening; to be honest i just presumed that my battery had gone flat.

I also wanted to know if it was an obvious thing to check when a car wont start as it took a matter of 2 days to locate the problem,

Mungo "Two Sheds" Toadfoot wrote:

Did the engine turn over? If so, I'd not have thought of a flat battery.

If it didn't turn at all (like a flat battery would do) then I'd wonder whether it really was the timing belt (unless something had broken and jammed?)?

Just guessing here.

Suzy wrote:

Thanks David, the engine did not even try to start it was more of an odd whirring noise.

I am prepared to accept that it is the timing chain but feel that 550 is a lot of money and it has taken a very long time. Do you think so?

David Hearn wrote:

That would qualify as a nasty noise - it usually means the timing belt, not chain, has expired.

It's a very easy thing to check and it shouldn't have taken two days.

I suggest getting a second opinion before forking out a lot of money to the first garage. I appreciate it might be difficult to get the car moved now but it might just need a new belt and then compression checking to see if any damage has been done.

Ask the garage exactly what damage they think has been done, and how they arrived as this conclusion.

Si

Thanks for your advise, i feel it may be a little too late now as parts have been ordered, its so difficult when you dont know much about cars and just have to trust people.

I think i will just have to swallow it this time but next time i wont be so naive.

Mungo "Two Sheds" Toadfoot wrote:

I have a cosra 2001 16 valve,

thanks

by now the belt should have been replaced as normal maintenance. (has it?)

when the belt breaks there is a lot of damage caused. 550 does not sound out of the way at all.

the whirring noise would instantly say broken belt to any mechanic.

A few days would be the time frame in a not too busy garage.

mrcheerful

I have a cosra 2001 16 valve,

thanks

It depends on which garage you took it to. You need to ask for the old parts back again and ask for a fully itemised bill. There are set times garages have to work to for specific jobs. They use those times as a guideline when making a warranty claim for example. If it is one of the fast part replacement type garages you are being conned, go and remove the car and pay them only for diagnosing the fault. If it is the main dealer I would be more inclined to trust them - even though my local vauxhall dealer had a number of complaints with trading standards and had action taken against them. Some garages will rip you off as they are forced to because of unrealistic sales targets. I sat in one fast replacement type establishment and listened to a string of women being ripped off. All of which were quiety told to go elsewhere. Once they saw a child seat they lied and told the owners the brakes were faulty without even looking! One even had a heroin addict selling stolen gear to the staff. All part of an operation to catch the garages out. The same cars were taken to different garages and the things they suddenly had wrong were amazing. Next time, join a recovery service. Tesco (via green flag) provides cover cheaper than the AA and RAC, so for around £39 a year you can cover the car. Then £59 and £79. Well worth the money. Good luck.

I have a cosra 2001 16 valve,

thanks

You haven't mentioned if it was main dealer?

Plus if it wouldn't start there would of been a recover charge, minimum is usually £60.00

And you mention parts?

Plus they may of had the car over two days, but your vehicle wouldn't of been the only one in the garage at the time, so in fairness I'd say 2 and a half days at a main agent, before commencing work isn't too bad, especially at this time of year.

It also sounds like their changing more than a belt, I'd expect new tensioners and perhaps a seized water pump, which would of caused the belt to stretch in the first place.

I'd agree and say £550.00 is expensive, but ask as to how they arrive at that figure.

Regards

Nigel

two and a half days isn't bad for a busy garage to look at a non scheduled problem, I work for a pretty busy garage and we work to look at a recovery/breakdown within 48 hours which I think is pretty reasonable.

I think she is thinking maybe that she is being charged for 2 and half days to diagnose the fault.

Whereas to diagnose a snapped belt would be only 5 mins. The problem then being to diagnose the cause of the fault (if any) and any knockon effects (like bent valves).

Did she authorise the go ahead to buy parts and procede ??

just wanted to say thanks for all the advice. It wasnt a main dealer actually , but i called the garage, asked exactly what the prob was, then called the main dealers and other garages and asked them to quote also. The figures were all fairly similar. It was more about peace of mind then the money as it isnt a great feeling when you have no idea what someoe is talking about and therefore whether it is honest.

Thanks again