Hi. Looking for some advice regarding a reconditioned engine which has failed. We have a Citroen C4 grand Picasso which in February 2016 had engine failure due to carbon build up in the oil system. On taking it to a garage we were quoted £4000 for the work as it required a replacement engine, turbo, injectors ect, On collecting the car it turned out the original injectors had been refitted to the new engine however the garage still attempted to charge us £4000. I argued it out and they then reduced the charge accordingly. I was given a warranty from the garage of 12 months or 12000 miles as long as the engine had a service by them at 1000 miles which it did. At 9 months after fitment and 11231 miles it began to make a strange noise as if there was no oil circulating. As the original garage had tried to rip me off with the injectors cost previously I had lost trust in them and felt if I returned the car direct to them they would wangle their way out of a repair under the warranty and blame it on something else. I therefore asked another qualified mechanic just to have listen to the engine at his garage, not to take any tools to it or do ant work, just listen to the noise and give his opinion. He listened to it and stated there was definatley a serious problem and it needed to be returned to the garage where the warranty was held. I had the vehicle recovered to the garage and when I spoke to the owner he said it would have to be returned to the garage who did the work, some 120 miles away. at this point I was now being told the garage who I had presumed had done the work and who I had paid over £3600 to had not actually done any of the work and had outsourced it without consulting me. I told the owner it was his responsibility to sort it as I had paid him he towed it the 120 miles back to the place that had done the work, a very scruffy, unorganised back street garage whom I would have never considered taking my vehicle to if I had the chioice. I looked at the warranty paperwork I had been given and on close inspection the original garage had actually put his business card over the companys stamp and photocopied it to give to me thus hiding the fact it had been done elsewhere. When the garage who had done the work looked at it they immediately came back to me and said because I had taken it to another garage first that the warranty was invalid. I explained they had done no work on it but they refused to take liability. The guy who had towed the vehicle from the garage then sent me an invoice for £360 charge to tow the vehicle and stated as it was out of warranty I had to pay for recovery. They would not release the vehicle until we had paid this money but I needed to get my car fixed so had no choice. We paid the £360 and had the vehicle recovered by someone else back to near where we live. An engine specialist has now removed and stripped the engine and found there has been several oil leaks on the reconditioned engine which has caused oil starvation to the crankshaft. Although when the noise started we checked the oil level and it was at half and no oil warning lights on. Obviously it has not been built properly if it has so many leaks but I am now faced with a £2500 bill to replace the engine again. where do I stand with the garage? are they within their right to have some other garage do the work without my permission and then cover up their details on the warranty with their own?? no work was done by the first garage I took it to for a verbal opinion so can this justify making my warranty invalid?? Thanks

I had a problem with my Renault Clio which turned out to be a faulty brake calliper. I purchased a reconditioned calliper from UNI-PART which was around £150 and was fitted by a friend who is a retired mechanic. This was 4 weeks ago. The car started showing signs of brake problems again after 3 weeks, which I noticed as the brakes set on fire after only travelling 1 mile. Luckily I didn't have my children in the car and just happened to stop at a shop when I noticed the fire. as my friend was ill I took the car to a local garage who stripped the brakes down and found my reconditioned calliper is again faulty and had caused the brakes to be sticking on hence the fire. The garage contacted UNI-PART who advised as the calliper had been paid for with cash I would have to pay another £150 for another calliper and they would send my faulty one away for testing which they would refund if they deemed it faulty. I cannot afford another £150 and do not think they will admit to the fault, plus once they have the part I have no proof at all. Please help as I don't know what I can do. I was under the impression the part would be covered by a warranty and if there was a problem with it they would give me another. Plus there's the added safety concern that if I hadn't stopped at the shop would the fire have spread and the whole car caught fire???? I haven't spoken with them myself as the office is now closed but I wanted an understanding of where I am legally before I contact them. Any advice will be greatly appreciated.