Timing Belt Rip-off?

First off, try and make sure the belt was actually replaced at

78,000--receipt maybe. It is unlikely that they would take the covers off during any sort of service, let alone a basic one. But they do need to know if the belt has been changed before they do an emissions test, as the engine is revved to the max at least three times and could be up to six times. If it breaks during the test and they haven't checked with the owner that the belt has been changed then they will have to stand the cost of repairs. Saying the belt was showing signs of wear is a bit naughty as it is unlikely they would have removed the covers to check. Recourse? Get proof it has been changed recently and see what they say!

Get them to show you the belt they remove before paying?

18 months earlier!

I had a belt replaced at just 25k on an AX (petrol), it had noticable cracks - though that was the original 8 year old belt.

Cost me 60 quid including new gates belt.

£400 seems a lot. WW Brentford quoted me around £250 for a 405 turbo belt change in August. Peugeot Launceston quoted £110. Both fixed prices. (That's London Labour charges for you!). I too had it done by an engineering form for £60 including a Gates belt - said to be the best?

I think it's 78,000 or five years, btw, maybe accounting for the cracks mentioned on another post. You could have wear, I suppose, if the belt was not correctly tensioned.

Trouble with timing belts is that you are always scared the worst will happen, and people take advantage of it. I'd want to be shown the wear. And at that price I'd want to pay a different expert to make a judgement. That said, WW are big Peugeot dealers and I can't see them slinging the lead for no reason.

I had the timing belt and water pump changed on my 406HDI at H J Phillips for just over £200

I had the timing belt & water pump changed on my 98 406 V6 and cost £893 OUCH!!!!!!!!

FWD Transverse V6 innit ;)

You want to complain! I got stung for £700 by one of these - 'timing belt/MOT' scams by the garage in Crowle. It also got a new exhaust which it needed, a timing belt it may have needed but disks it didn't need. AND when I got the car back they'd left the tank return pipe disconnected altogether, (for me to sort out) leaving it pissing diesel onto the floor and sucking air back into the system when stood.

They have to make a living though ;-)

jim.

Warwick Wright may be big but that doesn't stop them from ripping people off. I know, I've dealt with them over 3 of their branches in London. Shoddy workmanship, poor knowledge and plain bullsh*t from everyone of them. The last time I used them, before I sold my Pug, they tried to claim it had taken them over 3 months to get a simple clutch pedal part for me because my 306 had a part in it that was not even listed and somehow exclusive to my particular car!

Maybe the original servicer didnt actually change the belt - trust no-one. I know of Sooooo many people who have been telling how good their mechanic/dealer/garage bod is to all and sundry, had others take their cars there etc, yet when ive looked at their cars ive found oils not changed, air filter not changed - clearly not the full service done. And who benefits from a belt failure due to none-changing? Thats it, the friendly recommended mechanic again. Trust no-one, get a manual, some tools and do it yourself.

J

that's a good point. was it done at 78k? get them to show you the old belt or at least the new one if it just a matter of moving the cover to inspect and maybe infuture don't part with your cash so quickly! £400 is excessive. my pug dealer charges £260 inc vat. Every time i go for MOT they ask about the timing belt. I think you'll have to consider it a lesson learned.

£400 ??????? the 106 timing belt takes 2 hours to replace, (Autodata book time) the belt is approx £20 (depending if they replaced the tensioner at the same time) so i guess your garage must be charging about £180 per hour ????? if i were you i would storm back in there and ask them to explain the labour rate and justify this extortionate bill. this is indeed a complete rip off even if the belt was genuinly due for replacement, which it clearly wasnt. take this further, not just for your own satisfaction, but to prevent garages like these giving all us honest garages a bad name. steve, Oxford.

Thanks to all that replied - I have already managed to swallow my initial annoyance and put it down to experience. Usually, I've done more homework and so avoid being quite so unprepared, but as I said it was all last minute.

Obviously, it could have been the previous service that was at fault - even if they replaced it, it may have been with a worn belt or one left incorrectly tensioned - and as such there's not much I can do except:

a/ make sure I know the state of my engine well enough to spot potentially unnecessary work.

b/ get it done well before I need it so that I have the time to take it for a second opinion in the event of a high estimate.

Charlie

Nice one charlie, you can always ask on here if you need advice before or whatever.

J

Lets take this a step at a time -

1...... The MOT guy has to cover his back, if the belt breaks there would be a lot of damage. (and a possible an arss kicking) 2...... Its up to you to maintain your vehicle (including knowing when the belt was last changed) 3...... £400 is armed robbery for a belt change (you have a point here) 4...... Belts should last about 50-70 thou on these diesels 5...... If you have proof the belt had only done 8,000 miles take this up with the garage above 6...... average labour should be £50/60 + vat depending on area 7...... A mechanic probably wouldn't be able to tell the wear on a belt till it was in his hand - read 1 again 8...... Before you go further again its up to you to know your car - no good crying over spilt milk

Bill

Yeah Yeah - they'd have time for this - get real

Bill

And of course, "item 9...... The previous owner may have a bill for belt replacement but did the garage actually do it". It would not be the first garage to charge for work not done.

And of course you could have done like I - just authorised the MOT tester to 'just do it' and run the test......

My Golf Diesel cambelt never snapped.

Artie

Good point - suppose its always worth getting the belt done by somebody who you can trust - who can we trust?

Bill