200: *WARNING* to all 200 owners! Everyone should read

[smithandroper]

No problem, there is definitely something not right about this and it's a shame it can't be resolved without any hassle. Is there any way you could get a second opinion on it by taking it to another dealer ? For a stone to damage the pully it would have to be the size of a milk crate and they have been working on the belts so the repairing dealer should have some responsibility. It's a bit like if you paid for a service and a week later the oil filter dropped off and lost all the oil ! Who's fault would it be yours for driving it or the dealership that did the service and not fitted it correctly. If it's the dealer in question they would probably say you have driven over an asteroid and knocked it off !!!!!!

 

[Gez]

This is another option I'm considering, the engineer that I've asked to get involved with this is happy to go to the garage, but they told me that if he's not working for Renault, his opinion won't stand for much...

So they're going down a narrow route, so my other option is to take the car to another Renault dealer, not give them the full breakdown of the story, so they don't walk into this half hearted.

Fred from BTM has contacts and has spoken to 3-4 other Renault garages on my behalf and they have all said they there would have been a new engine in it by now. So I think another dealer to inspect the car will be a good route

 

[smithandroper]

It's the only way to get it sorted by Renault under warranty !

 

[Jonnyboi]

Go to your local advice beuro for free advice they will tell you what Action too take and what rights you have for a claim or court hearing ... There's only one route for this and that's take the b***erds to court

 

[-Eddie-]

This whole story is crazy from start to finish. Some or all of the blame falls to the technician who worked on the car originally. The evidence is stacked in your favour from what I've read on here.

I can see what they're saying, obviously if a stone has damaged it then it's not warranty as warranty doesn't cover external forces. However, very recently I've helped a customers get an 85% contribution from customer services for a stone damaging the radiator on their car. What I would say is, don't give up on customer services yet; they can only go by what the service advisors from the dealership tell them. I'd seek a second opinion, get the car recovered to another dealer. At least then you may have more faith in the workmanship. If customer services and warranty between them covered the costs, would you really want the current dealer to carry out the work?

 

[HarryH321]

Maybe get it trailered over to another dealer. In the current state it is, keep an account of the cost of transport. Then when they finally admit that it is
there fault, which they WILL. You can reclaim the cost of transport and have the car fixed at no cost to yourself.

 

[Gez]

I'm even contemplating phoning the AA again, and get them to transport the car? Seen as the car is technically still broken down and can't be fixed according to the garage?

 

[Steve Murr]

Afternoon Gez-

What a shocker- Im sorry to hear of all your troubles.

In my 6 years of selling Renaultsports I have learnt a lot about Renault garages - this applies for probably 95% of all the garages - never trust a single word out of the service managers mouth, they treat you like you are thick as 2 planks & you know nothing-

I was once asked by a service MANAGER on a call to book my V6 Clio in- when I gave the reg he asked me I was sure it was a Renault- FFS.


The problem you have here is 2 fold.

1- The garage you have the car at have a vested interest in this outcome as *IF* the new engine is as a result of poor historic workmanship then this will throw their own credibility into question, because they are a family run business im sure somewhere along the line they have to apply to Renault for the rights to have a RUK approved stamp & be a service centre. If this type of scenario jeopardizes that relashonship in a negative fashion then they will protect themselves- possibly to the point of lying-
That's the worst case scenario, the other being they are just blind stupid - with an incompetent tech. - Both examples are just as likely to be honest.

2- Because they are linked into RUK then Renault UK will listen to their diagnosis & relay to you accordingly - both with information & Cost. This wont change no matter how angry you get & how much 'noise' you create.

In terms of options, you need to get the car out of that garage & to a Renault dealership that will perform an independent diagnosis- preferably a dealer within a different group not linked-
So for example motorline , SMC etc etc.
You will need a FULL independent inspection & second opinion. - Take ALL the historic work & fact related to this to the second dealership to see what they report. In terms of 'good' dealerships well- that's a tough one-
I have heard good things about Brian Leighton- & maybe Smith & roper above can help? ^^

What you want is a dealer that wants to get to the truth rather than a vested interest to skew the facts.

Don't take it to Fred. - Fred is the guru- one of the best in the land- however if this ever went to court Fred will not be the person that can influence a judge more than Renault.
Renault > specialist everytime.
By all means seek advice from Fred- though. he is a top guy.

The secondary diagnosis will cost money- probably hundreds. you are talking perhaps 4-5 hours labour I guess. This is where you have to have patience & calmness to sway as much support from RUK- they may write off half the bill.
Obviously owing the car from new- NEW car cost. FRSH- all servicing at Renault, plus a history of enthusiast ownership should support that- maybe you will get 50/50.


What your looking for is a complete different diagnosis from the second opinion & A ROUTE CAUSE - hopefully pointing towards poor workmanship.

If that occurs then it will get sorted straight away.

The risk is with this

* the garage concludes the same route cause of failure- & you will have to put more money into a broken car.



The other route is buy a second hand engine of a smashed car & get it fitted. Cost is net high 1's.





I really hope you get it sorted- If I can help in any way let me know-

Steve

 

[Gez]

[MENTION=814]Steve Murr[/MENTION]Thank you so much for that reply, there's plenty within your post that has massive help to me. Thank you I will keep you posted as this progresses

 

[HarryH321]

I'm even contemplating phoning the AA again, and get them to transport the car? Seen as the car is technically still broken down and can't be fixed according to the garage?

Not sure what the AA's policy is on it, RAC won't do anything if you've been working on the car - or at least what i've been told. If you could which dealer would you take it too? Know there's one in Aberdare or you could go across the bridge to City Motors in Bristol, whom are very good from the experience I had with them.

 

[Pav]

im really sorry to hear this..have not been through the whole thread but read some of it..i cant see why u should pay so much anyway...for that price u could get a second hand one tuned up...i just hope that u manage to get them to cover the cost and hopefully u dont have any further issues with ur baby..its quite outrageous from renault though..especially with 2 more years under warranty...really gutted for ya and very dissapointed with the renault attitude

 

[Mentalpen]

[MENTION=4323]Gez[/MENTION] just because I don't recall the info.

How much is your bill as it stands and what did you agree too?

As in you agreed to have it diagnosed. At which point they should have seen the "stone" damage and stoped there "if" that is the cause and "not covered under warranty" and unless then asked for permission to carry on? If you said no then anything else they have done is at their expense as it's unauthorised.

I would ask ruk that you want it to go to or see if anyone knows someone at another dealers who will go and look at it FOC to see what they think and say if it IS a warranty claim you will give them the car to fix as you have lost trust in this one.

At 5k it would be cheaper to rent a trailer etc and get it upto foxspeed to do and save you shed loads.

 

[Gez]

There's no bill been sent to myself yet. This is the cost to repair the car from here on. So it's on stand still until something is agreed.

They diagnosed it to be "an external influence" pretty much on the first day of them inspecting it, by just taking an arch lining off and taking the remainder of the belt off...

To which I said is a completely stupid diagnosing and I refuse to accept that as an excuse. To which they then said they'll cover the full costs for the full strip down, to give a 100% proper diagnosis, and then see where it goes.

I wrote a letter saying that I am happy to go ahead for the diagnosis as Renault have agreed to cover the full amount until a diagnosing is found, but I have no intentions of paying any money for this damage as there is no exact cause for the damage, and what my beliefs are.

After the diagnosis/full strip down etc, i was told it will be only then they'll have a firm stand on where this will be going; warranty/good will/ my expense.

To which they proceeded to strip it down the car and still, even after finding no true findings of any stone or anything, it's then they've turned around and still stuck with the excuse that a stone has done it...

so nothing has been found, they've simply just covered the costs of stripping it down, and still gone with the stone, and not even presented me with a theory behind it.

 

[kash]

What a nightmare! I hope it gets sorted soon

 

[chris1888-197]

This is appalling service from renault!! Cant believe the excuse they are using!!! I am a mechanic bud and its seems to me that the air con pump has seized and shredded/snapped the altenator belt and thats were the failure has come from. Causal part seized pump and thats what you had the early problems with. They in my view should be covering this. 172/182 had this problem that if the belt snapped it worked its way into the timing belt cover and result was bent valves!!! No wonder some manufacturers get a bad name treating customers this way. Hope you get it sorted no expense to you.

 

[chris1888-197]

This is appalling service from renault!! Cant believe the excuse they are using!!! I am a mechanic bud and its seems to me that the air con pump has seized and shredded/snapped the altenator belt and thats were the failure has come from. Causal part seized pump and thats what you had the early problems with. They in my view should be covering this. 172/182 had this problem that if the belt snapped it worked its way into the timing belt cover and result was bent valves!!! No wonder some manufacturers get a bad name treating customers this way. Hope you get it sorted no expense to you.

Just realised there was alot more to this thread after I commented. I would def find out if that air con pump is seized, they must be worrying the fact they said its crank pulley and obviously its air con pulley.

 

[Gorms]

[MENTION=4323]Gez[/MENTION] Sorry to hear about the car. That is a pretty crazy chain of events that has led to destruction of your engine. My A/C on my 200 made a horrible noise and never blew cold from the day i got it. Never got it fixed as it spent too much time in the bodyshop. I really don't know what to suggest, the fact they have stripped it down leaves very little for an independent inspector to look into. I would still go for an engineers report as they will clearly be able to see if the pulley is in an area that can even be hit by a stone. Just keep pestering them, RUK customer service is by far the worst i have ever had to deal with. Good luck and i hope you get it sorted.

 

[Gez]

Cheers for the input buddy

just a shame 9/10 dealings with Renault are dire! I can see why they depreciate so quickly. Just a quick look of faults people have had rectified while in warranty is off putting to go near most Renaults

 

[smithandroper]

I will have a look but it will be about dinner.

 

[Gez]

No rush buddy!

youve been a great help, so I'd never rush you.