[s-cars] Help! Timing Belt Gone-Now What?

[MLP]

Tom, I agree with most everything you've said EXCEPT the "... I would get
someone to get that head off..."  

In my opinion, if it looks or sounds like the dealership is going to deny
they have any responsibility for this, you don't want to touch anything
without a dealers representative present (unless they refuse to do anything
at all, even look at the car.)  If responsibility for the failure is going
to be an issue, you'll want to document what's found and seen as the
disassembly takes place.  

You may also want to ascertain who it was who did the original timing belt
install - maybe that person should NOT be the one to do the head removal.

If the dealer refuses to take any responsibility, I'd suggest you see if you
can at least agree on an independent mechanic or shop in the area to do, and
document the post mortem.   

I wouldn't want to give the dealer any opening to argue that "someone" &
it'll be the guy who takes the head off if that's done by someone other than
the dealers employee, "overlooked" or "changed" or "altered" something that
makes for an excuse why they should not be responsible for the car.

IME, some dealers "not or problem or responsibility" attitude seems to grow
proportionately with the age of the vehicle.  I.e., if you're a recent
customer, or a long time customer that's always had the car serviced at the
dealership, you may get one kind of reception.  OTOH, if you've become one
of these list reprobates, who shops every job for the cheapest parts, best
deal etc. and denigrates the dealerships "Well the book says it's a 10 hour
job .... $1,250..." driving an "old" beater car, pan handling for a free
meal or cup of coffee in the fancy new "Customer Waiting Lounge" etc., etc.
the reception might be quite different.

Mike P


> -----Original Message-----
> From: Tom Mullane [mailto:tmullane at snet.net] 
 
> Mike's issue sounds a bit more severe than the CT problem.  

Snip....

> Mike, if I were you, I would get someone to get that head off 
> and see what you have.  ...... snips

> Tom