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

[Tom Mullane]

Hmmm.  That is a good point.  Tough situation: you want the car disassembled
at/by Audi to assure that they are held accountable, but you also need an
independent third party there to give an unbiased opinion as the engine is
disassembled.  Left alone, Audi might do whatever possible to avoid getting
stuck with the bill.

Tom
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "MLP" <mlped at qwest.net>
To: "'Tom Mullane'" <tmullane at snet.net>; <mcancellier at adelphia.net>
Cc: <s-car-list at audifans.com>
Sent: Monday, March 08, 2004 11:34 PM
Subject: RE: [s-cars] Help! Timing Belt Gone-Now What?


> 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
>
>
>