H

My car is not very well, struggling at low speed but if you can get it up to 40 and it goes well enough, anyway took it into Halfords to put the diagnostic machine on it and they said it was plugs and somthing to do with co2. they quoted 274 pounds for the repair.

Had a phone call saying that when they were taking one of the plugs out and it shatterd all over the engine and to strip it down further it would cost another 500 pounds on top

of this making it around 800 pounds.

So told them the car is to old to spend all that money on it and they say that they want 279 pounds to release the car back to us

Can they do this ? Is it legal.

Many Thanks

CG

It would help if you could be a bit more specific about what has happened. I'm not sure how a spark plug can shatter and cause problems for the rest of the engine.

I can imagine how a spark plug can shear off leaving the stub stuck in the engine which then has to be drilled out. Is this what might have happened?

This seems to happen a lot with Halfords.

I've been messing around with cars and bikes all my life and never shattered a spark or glow plug even on ancient rusty motors.

Every time i hear of this problem i wish i could see pictures because a spark plug thread is made of metal and it's all one piece with the hexagonal nut that you grip to remove them.

I have come across stripped head gasket threads which can be repaired, but shattered plugs???

See if you can take a picture of this damage so we can at least advise on how to remove the plug if possible.

Id be asking for pictures. If they cant doa basic thing like remove a spark plug then id be questioning the whole contract on performance of the contact.

Co2 poblems, id be thinking of stuck valves etc

Another important thing is did they quote or Is it an estimate.

You have all of this in writing

Hi, It started on monday coughing and spluttering didn't want to go, engine management light was on... managed to get home some how, anyway took it down to Halfords for a diagnostic test and they said that it was ignition coil pack.

they replaced and put new plugs in, started it and it blew one of the plugs and some of the metal fell into the engine.

But they want £279 pounds off me before they will release the car back to me.

I just wondered what my rights are.

cg

Well you have to pay for the work they have done.

Ignition coil and new plugs you pay for.

They cover all other costs as they blew the spark plug.

But in reality I cant see what an ignition coil has to do with co2 levels.

I think they are asking for rainbow paint, chocolate tea pots and indercator fluid

Just read up on ignition coils.

Yes I can see why they would replace it.

Low oltage battery but spark plugs need high voltage. Leads to poor spark or no spark, bad combustion equals low power n stuttering at low speed.

So they blew one of their own plugs after successfully remove yours.

How is that your fault???

They have to remove bits and pieces from the engine, then fit another plug, then give you the car back.

These are really incompetent!

Blown spark plug falling to pieces into the engine?!?!

What plugs did they use?

Plastic ones from lego engine kit???

Knowing Halfords probably 13amp plugs

This seems to happen a lot with Halfords.

I've been messing around with cars and bikes all my life and never shattered a spark or glow plug even on ancient rusty motors.

Every time i hear of this problem i wish i could see pictures because a spark plug thread is made of metal and it's all one piece with the hexagonal nut that you grip to remove them.

I have come across stripped head gasket threads which can be repaired, but shattered plugs???

See if you can take a picture of this damage so we can at least advise on how to remove the plug if possible.

Does a Head Gasket have threads?

H

Well it has bolts holding the bugger on so I would presume

Hi, It started on monday coughing and spluttering didn't want to go, engine management light was on... managed to get home some how, anyway took it down to Halfords for a diagnostic test and they said that it was ignition coil pack.

 

they replaced and put new plugs in, started it and it blew one of the plugs and some of the metal fell into the engine.

 

But they want £279 pounds off me before they will release the car back to me.

 

I just wondered what my rights are.

 

cg

well if this is really what happened then your rights are to have the car completely repaired at their expense – plus to indemnify you for any additional losses such as fairs, car hire – anything which is being reasonably incurred while you are waiting for the vehicle to be repaired.

I had gathered from your original post that they had tried to loosen one of your old spark plugs which have been in the engine block so long that it had seized up – or maybe it had been over tightened to begin with.

According to your story, they removed your all plus successfully but then managed to damage a plug putting the new one in – or some other accident related to their own handling of the situation.

Frankly I'm astounded at what you are telling us about Halford's attitude to this. I suppose this is why I'm just a little bit sceptical about the whole story. I can't imagine them being so stupid as to try and make you pay for their own mistakes.

I think I would begin by sending then an SAR immediately. It is free and there will be a 30 day deadline for them to satisfy it. It may not produce anything useful – but send it off anyway. Why not?

Have you had a full report from them as to what has happened? Who is it who has explained the detail which you have recounted to us?

I've sent a message to a direct contact that I have in Halfords – and maybe that will accelerate matters one way or the other.

Well it has bolts holding the bugger on so I would presume

Now, now, no need for profanities. I was merely asking the question. (It doesn't of course but that's not what the post says).

H

Thank you for your replies.... I am going down to Halfords to see if it is driveable if not, will ring Green Flag to tow me home.

will post to let you know the outcome.

cg

By the way, although I have sent a message out to a Halford's contact, don't necessarily expect that something is going to happen. You should continue to take the action I suggested above.

Thank you for your replies.... I am going down to Halfords to see if it is driveable if not, will ring Green Flag to tow me home.

will post to let you know the outcome.

 

cg

I think you should leave the car there. It is more of a problem for them if it is in their face. I certainly think you should find out what is going on and get a written report

CG7

I've had a message back from my contact at Halfords. I wonder if you would be kind enough to send me an email on our admin email address with your contact details please. I think it will probably be helpful if you allowed them to talk to you directly. This contact is at a fairly high level and maybe we can find out what is really going on and sort things out.

Please email me

Well have got the car back, its running but still juddering, Halfords said that when they put it on to the diagnostic machine it threw up 2 faults ignition coil pack and 02 sensor, when replacing the IPC and plugs they noticed that one of the end electrode, ceramic leaving a hole in the end, used a camera to see if they could see it (advised engine strip down for missing bit and possible damage another 500 pounds, It does run with a rattle and lumpiness. 274 pounds but they gave me 50 pounds off.

I am 220 pounds down and still the same problem..Anyway thanks again for your advice.

cg

What about the original story that they fitted a new spark plug which then failed in some way and caused damage?

Does a Head Gasket have threads?

 

 

 

H

Well, unless you wanna fit the spark plugs to the exhaust, there will be a thread for each plug that needs to be screwed in so they can make a spark into the combustion chamber.

That's what I've always seen in all engines i worked on, maybe i have to update myself on new systems and stop messing about with old bangers.

Just noticed the gasket bit.

Of course i didn't mean the gasket, but the head itself

When they put it on the diagnostic machine it threw up 2 faults Ignition coil pack and 02 sensor.

when replacing the ICP and plugs they noticed that one of the plugs had lost its end, camera used to look for bits or damage no damage to piston.

New ICP fitted and plugs and it run ok for a few minutes and then the same thing again.

They have advised stripping the engine down for a cost of £505.plus the original bill of 274 pounds, although they discounted that by 50 pounds, and also a 02 sensor if the engine managment light doesn't fail to clear, at a cost of 150 pounds. In total 877 pounds.

So its back home and will probably end up scrapping it.

Thanks again,

cg