I am hoping someone can help me as I am a bit clueless when it comes to what's under the bonnet of my 2004 Audi A3 1.9TDi.
Recently the car started making a right racket, and having stopped the car and called the RAC I was towed to a garage who inspected the car. They have advised me that the teeth on the cam belt were nearly all gone and on further inspection they confirmed that whoever replaced the cambelt and water pump in 2013 have not replaced the engine mount correctly. The engine mount showed lots of wear and tear and according to the report from this garage, when the mount was replaced, the screws were crosshatched so were always loose. 2 of the 4 screws had come off completely and gone into the engine and the other two (cross hatched) were extremely loose. The upshot was a £680.00 bill and a suggestion to complain to the person who did the work in 2013. Also there could have been a nasty accident and if I'd driven much further the car would probably be a write off as would have needed a new engine!
Slightly awkward as the person that did the work is a friend. I have spoken to him and he seems to think it is not down to him/his garage. He said the bolts are plastic so they are likely to wear and tear (I am surprised that is the case?!) and that if the bolts were cross hatched then they would not have held in for so long. However when I asked him if that's the case, then why has this happened? He couldn't answer. I agreed I would send him a photo of the engine mount and then I would wait to hear from him.
I don't want to fall out with him over this, however I have one garage telling me one thing, and him telling me another and so it would be great to get someone else's opinion on this please. is it likely that an Audi would need another cambelt so soon? What else could cause this sort of problem? And who is telling the truth or am I just unlucky? Thanks so much if you can reply!
Recently the car started making a right racket, and having stopped the car and called the RAC I was towed to a garage who inspected the car. They have advised me that the teeth on the cam belt were nearly all gone and on further inspection they confirmed that whoever replaced the cambelt and water pump in 2013 have not replaced the engine mount correctly. The engine mount showed lots of wear and tear and according to the report from this garage, when the mount was replaced, the screws were crosshatched so were always loose. 2 of the 4 screws had come off completely and gone into the engine and the other two (cross hatched) were extremely loose. The upshot was a £680.00 bill and a suggestion to complain to the person who did the work in 2013. Also there could have been a nasty accident and if I'd driven much further the car would probably be a write off as would have needed a new engine!
Slightly awkward as the person that did the work is a friend. I have spoken to him and he seems to think it is not down to him/his garage. He said the bolts are plastic so they are likely to wear and tear (I am surprised that is the case?!) and that if the bolts were cross hatched then they would not have held in for so long. However when I asked him if that's the case, then why has this happened? He couldn't answer. I agreed I would send him a photo of the engine mount and then I would wait to hear from him.
I don't want to fall out with him over this, however I have one garage telling me one thing, and him telling me another and so it would be great to get someone else's opinion on this please. is it likely that an Audi would need another cambelt so soon? What else could cause this sort of problem? And who is telling the truth or am I just unlucky? Thanks so much if you can reply!
