Garage Has Lied To Me...next Step??

[happy09]

Hi i'm new to this and will be posting 2 threads.

First of all My husband took his mercedes vaneo to a MB specialist with a suspected oil leak.It has had various jobs done and they claimed the leak was sorted.The car was also making a creaking noise when turning which then turned to a squeaking noise.My husband asked if the tyres were right in which the mechanic had to look it up to see and discovered they weren't we could only afford the 2 front tyres at the time to be done which he said was fine.

Meanwhile the leak continued,we would fill it up then within 24 hrs the dipstick would show it was dry as a bone!!Since we last took the car in they said the gearbox would need replacing as it was leaking red oil then they would be able to really find where the oil leak was this would cost £1500-£2000.We went and got a 2nd opinion as we couldn't afford this and the mechanic found the leak within a few hours which wasn't the gear box(so does not need changing)there was no red oil.The leak was from the engine which he was gobsmacked a garage hasn't been able to find this since we first took it in in the summer!!Furthur to this he was disgusted to find that our tyres are illegal and can't believe that a garage let a family drive away in this condition.The tyres are so bad there is no gap between the axle and the tyre which has worn all the padding away.He said if anything had got caught in the tyres it would have caused the car to flip, resulting in a bad accident.We are now getting the work done by him which will cost a few £100 if that!!!Not £1500-£2000 like the garage quoted.

Would appreciate any advice THANKS!!

[Conniff]

You need to get the present garage to write their findings, opinions and suggestions on letterheaded paper and present it to the MB garage and ask for a refund of all you have paid in supposedly curing this leak.

 

You don't make it clear who recommended the tyres that were fitted, but you should get MB recommended tyre literature and take that to the boss of whoever recommended/fitted them.

 

If it's not too late, get some pictures of the interferance of the tyres with the axle, (although not sure what you mean there).

Edited October 20, 2009 by Conniff

[heliosuk]

Is this a 2.7 diesel and the leak was the oil pressure switch?

[j66]

Furthur to this he was disgusted to find that our tyres are illegal and can't believe that a garage let a family drive away in this condition.The tyres are so bad there is no gap between the axle and the tyre which has worn all the padding away.He said if anything had got caught in the tyres it would have caused the car to flip, resulting in a bad accident.

Would appreciate any advice THANKS!!

 

The driver is responsible for ensuring that the tyres are legal, having a garage check them once does not absolve you of this responsibility.

 

I am very surprised/shocked that the thought of endangering other motorists seemingly hasn't ocurred.

 

For all we know the specialist may have said that all 4 tyres were shot, customer says we can only afford 2.

 

Oil leaks can be hard to track down, they may have given the worst case, rear main seal gone or gearbox input seal gone - both are labour intensive to replace. Possibly the specialist spent time cleaning the oil away from the engine, which made it very much easier for the second garage to spot the leak.