i did indeed 'look in the engine bay' but i only inspected the job itself, along with the 2 other spots, under the car, near the tranny tunnel (not rail) and the third near the boot seal above the left tail light. i didnt check over the engine as i should have, i just looked at the job and thats it. i should have used the words 'i didnt check the engine itself before i drove it home' deffo my bad.

And why would you check inside the carbies if the car was only in to get some rust cut out and metal welded in? I'm sure its something most people wouldn't even think to do before driving it home.

When I got my Skyline back from the panel beaters after fixing some damage from someone running a red light and hitting me, I didn't examine the engine at all. I just trusted that they had done their job correctly, and replaced all the damaged parts, and I haven't had a problem with it since. It all looked fine. I wasn't going to start pulling air cleaners apart to check for metal dust. It not something that you would expect to have to do.

If you take you car for service, do you check the oil and water before driving it home? do you open up the air cleaner to see if they put a new one in there? do you open the timing belt cover to make sure its a new belt?

If you get new tyres, do you whip out an air pressure gauge and measure the air pressure? take a torque wrench to the wheel nuts?

Who do you trust these days?

They sound dodgey though. They should have covered the engine to prevent that sort of thing happening. If you have an angle grinder shooting sparks at those foam ramflo air filters, I reckon it wouldn't take long to burn a hole through them

I don't think it costs much to start a small claims case against them. If not for the engine problems, as that would be hard to prove with no photo evidence, then for the dent they put in you car.

If you cant be bothered with legal action, or filing a complaint with whatever association they are a member of, or a government department (consumer affairs or whatever), then a campaign of negative publicity should be your revenge. Just tell everyone who asks about your car how they ruined your engine.

I had to file a complaint with consumer affairs once, against a car dealer to get the rear shocks replaced on a car I had just bought, after they refused to do so, and stopped answering my phone calls. The shocks were the mega expensive height adjustable ones for a mazda/laser tx3/323 turbo that cost about $700 each I think.

They replaced them - they had no choice after they were ordered to.

mr Camouflage, what did 'file(ing) a complaint with consumer affairs' involve? i would realy like to get revenge on these a-holes, after they refused to fix the dent or even acknowladage the enigne problems. and where do i go to 'start a small claims case'? these guys pride themselves on reputation, and the owner regaurds himself as a reputable fella, if i can get the ball rolling against them, i think i will at least be able to get them to fix the dent. thanks heaps for the help.

Fuzz

So what's the shop going to do about it?

nothing, unless i can force them into doing somthing via leagal action. hopefully after Mr Camouflage posts i will understand a little more of what im required to do in my situation.

hey doubt anyone reads this thread anymore, but i just thought id report back. i did the timing, changed the points, new spark plugs and leads the car seems to be running ok. so looks like i got a bit carried away in my anger. the dent in the front left quater still remains, and will stay there untill i do a automotive spray course. cheers

Fuzz

Im glad to hear that things were only minor. I would hate to see anyone learn such a lesson. BTW I took mine to a panel beater and everything worked out nicely. Took 1.5 yrs though.

Im glad to hear that things were only minor. I would hate to see anyone learn such a lesson. BTW I took mine to a panel beater and everything worked out nicely. Took 1.5 yrs though.

Bpilati, please take note of the time frame on this job. I'll be speaking to you soon.