Camshaft snapped

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kildair

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Feb 22, 2007
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Help please. I put a thread a few weeks ago about my 1997 E200. I blew my headgasket and took it to a local garage. 2 days after picking it up, the engine just completely died on me on the motorway. I had noticed that when I picked up the car the engine seemed to have a higher pitch and did mention it to the mechanic who said it would settle.

Anyway when I returned the car to the garage, they found that one of the camshafts had snapped. They claim it has nothing to do with the work that they carried out but I find this odd.

Any ideas about cracked camshafts.

Thanks:confused::confused:
 
Timing chain tensioners have been mentioned before in relation to cams breaking.

Here's one thread
 
The most likely cause is incorrect installation of the timing chain tensioner. It must be stripped before reinstalling in the correct sequence. Failure to carry out this proceedure correctly will result in over tight chain, and camshaft end snapping off.
 
Yes yes I know but hear me out guys. They say that there are 2 camshafts and that it the one with the tensioner is fine and that the other one had snapped. I have now idea hence the plea for help
 
The chain runs round and drives both cams. I feel they are squirming here...
 
what they showed me was like a cogwheel that the chain ran over and this seemed to drive just the one camshaft. Does anyone have any photos that I can confront them with. i know they arefobbing me off but it is quite intimidating when the whole lot of them seem to give that 'you telling me that we caused this' look
 
Although the tensioner is one side the force will be equally distributed across both cams, so which ever is the weakest will snap.

I'm wondering does WIS have a specific instruction/warning about correctly installing the tensioner, if so could someone e-mail a screen print to kildair? Of course nothing to stop the garage saying "of course we did it like that".
 
stevesey said:
Of course nothing to stop the garage saying "of course we did it like that".
Click to expand...

Which is why it whined like a whiney thing..:rolleyes: ;)

He just needs to say it sounded like it was whining after they finished their work. This was a fundamental change.
 
Dieselman said:
Which is why it whined like a whiney thing..:rolleyes: ;)

He just needs to say it sounded like it was whining after they finished their work. This was a fundamental change.
Click to expand...
True - I'd forgotten about the whiney thing.
 
Speak to Trading Standards about it.
 
The one thing that they were right about was the whining noise would settle down !!!!!

One thing with Mercs....if it needs major engine attention, take it to a good independent specialist with Mercedes experience, or else this is the result.
 
If they are fobbing you off like this then you will get nowhere with them and they have proved themselves incapable of doing the job properly anyway.
So my suggestion is that you are better off having the car repaired elsewhere and what you need to do is to recover the cost of having that done from this garage.
I would remove the car from their premises first then I would have an independent assessment completed by another (pref MB) mechanic and get an estimate for the repair and cost that is now needed. Also get written evidence that the current damage has most likely been caused by the previous repair not being carried out correctly.

Send a recorded dleivery letter setting out the facts to the garage and that you hold them responsible for the damage to your engine. Include a copy of the assessment. Ask them to confirm that they will pay £xx to have the engine repaired. Give them five days to reply - if no reply then tell them that you will issue proceedings in the small claims court - then just do it.
Check the above out with trading standards - they are very very helpful can not recommend them enough - they will even help you draft the letter.
 
When the car was fixed initially, I claimed from AA Breakdown Repair Cover which is like an insurance. This covers parts and labour up to £475. The repair was about £1000, so I paid half and told the garage that the remainder would be paid once the money is reclaimed off the AA.

So…I need to pay the garage the remaining £475. They will not let me have the car until I have done so but to be honest, I do not see why I should pay them that after they wrecked my car. Add to that it would another £1000 to fix the car.

So any advice?

What I will never do again is go to anyone but a MB expert for major work ever ever again
 
kildair said:
When the car was fixed initially, I claimed from AA Breakdown Repair Cover which is like an insurance. This covers parts and labour up to £475. The repair was about £1000, so I paid half and told the garage that the remainder would be paid once the money is reclaimed off the AA.

So…I need to pay the garage the remaining £475. They will not let me have the car until I have done so but to be honest, I do not see why I should pay them that after they wrecked my car. Add to that it would another £1000 to fix the car.

So any advice?

What I will never do again is go to anyone but a MB expert for major work ever ever again
Click to expand...
Hang on I'm confused about the time line now.

Was original (head gasket) repair covered by the AA Breakdown Insurance? In your original post you said you had the car back for two days? But now you are saying they have it? Or is that you took in back to the garage, but they are hanging on to it until you pay for the first repair.

If the AA are involved in paying for the first repair (or part of) - I'd try going to them and explaining the situation. They may be able to help. Does the garage have any AA spanner award/grading?
 
Have you let the AA know about the problems? Have they paid their £525 to the garage yet? You are in a real tricky situation here and I strongly recommend that you contact Trading Standards - I have used them a couple of times for advice and I am very impressed.
Between you and the AA you have paid £1000 to have a repair that is unsatisfactory; the garage is not admitting liability so your next step has to be to prove that they were negiligent in undertaking the repair. To prove that you will need more than postings from an internet web site - you will need an independent assessment and report in writing. It does not need to be volumes of paper but does need to be independent and from a recognised "expert" - either a qualified mechanic (prefer MB specialist) or AA. (I would go for the former).
Then you will need to present that to the garage with a request for them to pay the bill to put things right - in writing. then you will need to follow the process that the Trading stds should recommend to you; including probably issuing a summons - at that point you will find them wanting to negaoitate a settlement with you - not the other way around - because they will know that they are going to lose the case and be forced to pay all costs.
I can not see any other option - other than handing over £475 to get a wrecked car back and paying another bill yourself.
How irritating.
 
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