Timing Belt Rip-off?

In a desperate last minute rush, I took my 86,000 mile 106 Diesel
along to Warwick Wright City in London for a basic service and MOT. I
later got a call saying that the timing belt was showing wear and
should be replaced. The guy added the horror scenario of the belt
being in danger of breaking during the emissions test when the
accelerator was floored.

Now I took this to be a typical sales pitch ploy, but with the car
having that mileage I thought it not unreasonable that the timing belt
would need replacing, and although £400 was a whopping sum I knew I
was paying for exrotionate hourly rates and from what I've heard 3
hours+ for the work was not completely excessive. So, wishing to just
get the work out of the way I reluctantly agreed.

The problem was I hadn't taken the time to read through the service
book before handing the car over, and so I only spotted afterwards
that the timing belt is listed as having been replaced (while owned by
the previous owner) at 78,000 miles less than 18 months earlier!

A timing belt wearing out in 8,000 miles without obvious mechanical
problems elsewhere? Have I just been conned out of my cash? Would a
mechanic spot the level of cam belt wear during a barebones service?

And if it is as I fear, what recourse have I got now?

Charlie

 

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?

 

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
--
Cheers

Peter

Remove the INVALID to reply

 

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.

 

I think you'll have to consider it a lesson learned.

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.

 

8...... Before you go further again its up to you to know your car - no

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