G UK wrote:Well, things have taken a turn for the worse today as they have now refused to do anything about it by blaming the car so I may be without a turbo for quite a while as this drags out.
They are now saying the thrust bearing has disintigrated and this could only be caused by not enough oil or overboost, whilst completly refusing to believe that it could be the bearing itself or even the fitting!! I have answered every question and checked and double checked everything that they have come up with regarding how the car could have caused it to fail but their only response is "well it has to be loss of oil pressure or overboost".
When I pushed them about it they got a bit sharp and pointed out my warrenty is void as they fitted the bigger compressor, when I then mentioned statutory rights they started once again saying the warrenty was void and how it is impossible to check the oil pressure to the turbo without a "special adaptor" that fits the oil feed pipe! How the hell is that the only way when the oil feed comes directly from the main oil gallery where the pressure is measured and then passes through a standard pipe with no blockages!?!
Oh and to add insult to injury I was informed that if it had been repairable they would have just repaired it with a note to check the oil feed but as it will need replacing they are not going to do anything
I am currently writing a letter of complaint to them about this now, if anybody wants to proof read it let me know.
Graham, I've read a few pages back just to confirm my memory and the guys who did the head gasket did indeed note that the turbo spindle had excessive play, which tallys with the 'whine' you'd noticed. In other words: the evidence of a fault adds up.
I'd be writing a letter to Turbo Developments and make it obvious that I was Cc: ing it to your local Trading Standards. Send both letters Recorded Delivery. RD is a legal instrument in the UK in that it must be returned after 7 days if not signed for or collected. Though Dapinky will doubtless be along with chapter & verse, essentially your rights within the UK are:
For goods, there is the Sale of Goods Act 1979 (as amended). For services, there is the Supply of Goods and Services Act 1982 (as amended). For both goods and services, there is the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008, which create a general duty on retailers not to trade unfairly. Basically the rule of 'fit for purpose' applies. This is a very variable yardstick. Suppose you buy a disposable lighter -- if it fails after 3 weeks then it may well meet: 'fit for purpose'. Now suppose you pay 10K for a car and the engine blows up after 15,000 miles. The car may be 3 years old and out of warranty but (assuming you can prove it has been serviced) was not 'fit for purpose'. A turbo ought to do thousands of miles.
A turbo which fails within some small number of miles was not 'fit for purpose' T'Bird or not. Document what you have from the guys that did the head gasket and whatever else you've got in terms of mileages and dates. Your next step should be to write Trading Standards a letter & Cc: TD -- bet that will soften their cough.
I'm aware you've had problems with Blackie recently, but take heart Graham, Roz said to me on the Serpentine Run when we were following you; 'That is one well cool car'.
I'll give you a call tomorrow.
