Ask an expert

Key details are as below;
· Engine Check Light came on in the vehicle – car running fine, a little rough on start up
· Was taken to Garage A on May 11th
· Scan diagnosis showed the cam angle sensor needed replacing
· Work carried out, car taken for a test drive and discovered it would no longer hold idle below 1500 rpm – this was not communicated to us at this stage
· From there it was deemed that the timing chain also needed replacing – supposedly via scan diagnosis
· Once the work had been carried out, it was then divulged to us that the car would not hold idle. No mention of when this issue first occurred.
· The vehicle stayed with Garage A for the next 7 weeks while further diagnostics were carried out, including replacing all other sensors and a full wiring inspection carried out by an independent auto electrician working out of the same building as Garage A
· After 7 ½ weeks the vehicle was then handed back to us with the mechanics admitting defeat and charging us a total of $1865.13 for the work carried out.
· Vehicle was then sent via tow truck to Garage B for further assessment at our cost.
· Following further works and outside contact and assessment by Car Computers NZ Ltd it was discovered that the wires to the cam angle sensor which was first replaced by Garage A had been transposed which once corrected had the vehicle running perfectly once again. Total further cost $904.75
· All told this cost close to $2800 and 4 months without a car, subsequently we have had to purchase another vehicle rendering the original surplus to requirements.
· Garage A are refusing any liability and claim they have full faith in their team refuting any potential that this wiring issue was the cause of their malpractice, even going as far as to infer blame on Garage B for it. They have however offered to reimburse us $978 as a show of ‘good faith’.
· The owner of Garage A has refused our attempts to meet and discuss the matter, instead fobbing us off to the workshop foreman.
· Needless to say we are not satisfied with the offer and would like to know how we are best to proceed from here.

Hi there,
Wow that's a lot to go through!.
If communicating with the repairer A has not proven helpful. Then you may need to go to the disputes tribunal for mediation/ resolution.
Workshop A needs to know what they are checking and why. Not just replace everything and hope for the best. You would think that if the problem started as soon as the crank sensor was replaced, then that would be the first area you looked.