Major engine failure while garage road testing

[Iain_S4]

What is the legal position if a car suffers major engine failure when being road tested by a garage? Is it a case of you have to try and prove the garage was liable?

Car was in being serviced and MOT'd. Required new brakes so was taken for a road test, during which one of the valves broke resulting in major damage to the engine such that a replacement is needed.

Car was a Civic type R and was being driven by the young apprentice at the time.

[Greengoblin]

Car was a Civic type R and was being driven by the young apprentice at the time.

So what you're saying is, it was probably being thrashed to within an inch if its life at the time.

[Iain_S4]

only 1 person knows for sure.....

[lushman]

Hi, Thats unfortunate. Obviously you will have to prove the garage was at fault and that the engine was mechanically sound before it went in for the brakes. How about getting an independant to check the engine over and see if he can give you some weight to your claim, but I wouldn't let it lie. I would imagine the end outcome will be the garage as a goodwill gesture will accept partial blame putting the majority to wear and tear.
Good luck

Paul

[dazzer]

well how old is the car and how many miles on the clock? How many times have you used the garage?

[tartan_rob]

I would stand firm on this, they have insurance for this kind of thing. Ask for the car back in the condition you gave it to them.

[derdle]

Honda stand by the fact that the VVT system on their cars has a very low failure rate - so I wonder if the berk was bouncing it off the rev limiter when the engine was cold? The paperwork should show the mileage when you took the car in so you can see how many miles he drove the car by the time it failed. 1 mile...not warm enough, 20 miles taking the p*ss. Butr an indy examiner via RAC/AA cover or similar may help. You don't mention how old the car is, whether under warranty etc.

Paul

[tartan_rob]

Do these cars have logging that could be dipped into?>