Page 3 | RAC complaint

popcornfrenzy · 2022-09-08T09:23:12+00:00

My car was making an awful rattle noise when I was driving and as I'm a qualified mechanic I knew that the timing chain had either stretched or had jumped a tooth and was causing my car to run rough. So I'm a member of the RAC and called them. I'd already contacted the garage that I use and told them the timing chain needed to be looked at. All fine, the RAC patrol man rocked up after nearly 4 hours (!) and checked my engine oil - great! It's one of the first things you do however my car was parked on an incline which gave the wrong oil reading, he has misdiagnosed my car and said it was low oil. He started my car and has catastrophically damaged the engine, anyone who is a qualified mechanic knows you do not start a car that has a timing chain issue! So now the RAC are absolutely refusing to take responsibility for trashing my engine, the RAC man has lied on his report. I've been left with no car and a quote of nearly £1.5k for his fuck up. I need my car for work and as a single parent am absolutely fucked with no car. I've had to cancel a trip to Lapland (luckily kids had no idea we were going) to pay for my bloody car. I've been paying monthly for this holiday for 18 months. I've lost £450 deposit but getting the rest refunded. I have a report from the garage that it was not an issue with low oil but the timing chain had indeed slipped and him starting the car caused the damage. Where do I stand with taking this further legally? Thank you in advance for anyone that reads this through as I'm at the end of my tether.

Original poster

popcornfrenzy · 10/09/2022 22:18

EssentialGarage · 10/09/2022 22:10

I don't believe this you are talking about timing chain when you mean timing belt.

Please google Suzuki K10B engine - you'll find a splash lubricated chain

OP posts:

SianNotAMan · 10/09/2022 22:18

popcornfrenzy · 10/09/2022 22:16

@SianNotAMan ok we're taking about a 3 cylinder engine that idles about 950rpm - I literally drive at a snails pace that 100 metres. I have been a mechanic for over 20 years and can strip and rebuild engines with my eyes closed. 100 metres with a chain that's just jumped would not cause catastrophic damage. If I'd been going at 70mph for 100 metres yes it would.

Stop digging. You do not pull away at idle, and if the timing chain skip would not cause any damage then that also applies to when it was re-started.

You haven’t got a hope in hell of having any court believe this cock-and-bull story.

LadyShmuck · 10/09/2022 22:19

The fact that you've said it was a timing chain that has a change interval of 60k makes me doubt your credentials as a qualified mechanic. A chain is a non maintenance item, ie there is no suggested replacement interval. A timing belt on the other hand would require a change at a specified age or mileage. If it's a belt, it would usually just snap and give you some catastrophic engine damage. If it's a chain you might get a warning rattle first and the chances are it's stretched due to poor maintenance (not changing the oil or using incorrect oil) I'd probably get your story straight on what's fitted to the car before you go in all guns blazing. Depending on the car age and type you should be able to get a diagnostic reading to show the time the engine failed and obviously that would be in your favour if it's after the RAC technician attended.

Original poster

popcornfrenzy · 10/09/2022 22:20

@SianNotAMan we'll see however I'm prepared to fight this all the way. You seem quite put out by this - are you the RAC man in question?

OP posts:

Wisteriaroundthedoor · 10/09/2022 22:21

Op what you’re saying makes no sense. You starting the car with it slipped and driving it caused no issues , even though you could hear it, but him starting it wrecked it.

I think you’re going to really struggle to get anywhere with your argument. It reads like you just want to try to get them to pay for it.

Wisteriaroundthedoor · 10/09/2022 22:21

popcornfrenzy · 10/09/2022 22:20

@SianNotAMan we'll see however I'm prepared to fight this all the way. You seem quite put out by this - are you the RAC man in question?

What a silly comment.

Seemslikeaniceday · 10/09/2022 22:23

OP, I bet you get this patronising crap all the time. It was clear from your first post you knew what you were talking about and needed advice on how to make a claim against the RAC.

You have had some good advice on how to deal with this, consider not engaging further with the doubters.

Good luck

Original poster

popcornfrenzy · 10/09/2022 22:23

LadyShmuck · 10/09/2022 22:19

The fact that you've said it was a timing chain that has a change interval of 60k makes me doubt your credentials as a qualified mechanic. A chain is a non maintenance item, ie there is no suggested replacement interval. A timing belt on the other hand would require a change at a specified age or mileage. If it's a belt, it would usually just snap and give you some catastrophic engine damage. If it's a chain you might get a warning rattle first and the chances are it's stretched due to poor maintenance (not changing the oil or using incorrect oil) I'd probably get your story straight on what's fitted to the car before you go in all guns blazing. Depending on the car age and type you should be able to get a diagnostic reading to show the time the engine failed and obviously that would be in your favour if it's after the RAC technician attended.

Defo a chain - you only have to ope the oil filler cap and you can see the bloody thing

OP posts:

AutumnIsUponUs · 10/09/2022 22:25

popcornfrenzy · 10/09/2022 22:20

@SianNotAMan we'll see however I'm prepared to fight this all the way. You seem quite put out by this - are you the RAC man in question?

😂😂 <. This is my husbands reaction to your posts. @SianNotAMan 👏👏👏. Spot on! At least someone has some technical knowledge on this thread

Original poster

popcornfrenzy · 10/09/2022 22:26

Seemslikeaniceday · 10/09/2022 22:23

OP, I bet you get this patronising crap all the time. It was clear from your first post you knew what you were talking about and needed advice on how to make a claim against the RAC.

You have had some good advice on how to deal with this, consider not engaging further with the doubters.

Good luck

Honestly, you wouldn't believe how many men have mansplaned stuff to me over the years. Even tried to sell me stuff I don't need like brake pads/discs. I was an army mechanic for many years then got out and worked on many other vehicles. To say I don't even know the difference between belt and chain is really quite insulting.

OP posts:

Seemslikeaniceday · 10/09/2022 22:28

I do believe you.

AutumnIsUponUs · 10/09/2022 22:29

Seemslikeaniceday · 10/09/2022 22:23

OP, I bet you get this patronising crap all the time. It was clear from your first post you knew what you were talking about and needed advice on how to make a claim against the RAC.

You have had some good advice on how to deal with this, consider not engaging further with the doubters.

Good luck

I haven’t seen anyone on this thread aren’t patronising, they have clearly explained the technicalities, however the OP continues to argue, not one thing has been mentioned in the OP about mansplaining until another poster mentioned it.

OP you haven’t a leg to stand on. You drove the car, you wrecked the engine, now you’re trying to get compensation any way you can.

OP we’re you REME by by chance?

SianNotAMan · 10/09/2022 22:31

popcornfrenzy · 10/09/2022 22:20

@SianNotAMan we'll see however I'm prepared to fight this all the way. You seem quite put out by this - are you the RAC man in question?

No, I just despair at someone supposedly trained as a mechanic coming up with such a stream of ignorance about how engines work.

Your suggestion that you pull away at idle in a little three-cylinder engine is possibly the biggest piss-take. We’ve only one three-cylinder car, a GR Yaris, and even in that you give it a couple of thousand RPM to pull off.

Hell, even our 5 litre supercharged RR Sport needs a couple of thousand and that’s putting out about 700bhp and 1,000 ft-lb.

Original poster

popcornfrenzy · 10/09/2022 22:33

@SianNotAMan I didn't say I pulled away at idle - as soon as I heard the rattle after I'd pulled away I slowed right down to a snails pace. Why are you finding this so hard to believe? I'm not looking for compensation I just want them to fix what they broke! What sort of mechanic checks an oil level on a bloody incline? It's quite steep and the car was parked nose first! Of course the oil level is going to be low.

OP posts:

SianNotAMan · 10/09/2022 22:38

popcornfrenzy · 10/09/2022 22:33

@SianNotAMan I didn't say I pulled away at idle - as soon as I heard the rattle after I'd pulled away I slowed right down to a snails pace. Why are you finding this so hard to believe? I'm not looking for compensation I just want them to fix what they broke! What sort of mechanic checks an oil level on a bloody incline? It's quite steep and the car was parked nose first! Of course the oil level is going to be low.

Then why did you mention idle to counter the numbers I gave you based on 2,000rpm?

Come on, don’t be ridiculous here, the damage was done immediately the chain skipped, on the first revolution of the engine. That happened within the first 0.03 seconds.

You also lied about the service schedule calling for a chain change at 60,000 miles.

I’m out.

Wisteriaroundthedoor · 11/09/2022 07:51

Op can you explain why you had to call a second patrol? This indicates the first left and didn’t call one. If what you say is correct then the car wouldn’t even have started and the first would have called a tow. So it’s hard to understand what occurred there.

also when you made the original call did you inform them it was the chain? You need to say what the issue is. What did you say. They will have a recording.

Original poster

popcornfrenzy · 11/09/2022 13:00

Wisteriaroundthedoor · 11/09/2022 07:51

Op can you explain why you had to call a second patrol? This indicates the first left and didn’t call one. If what you say is correct then the car wouldn’t even have started and the first would have called a tow. So it’s hard to understand what occurred there.

also when you made the original call did you inform them it was the chain? You need to say what the issue is. What did you say. They will have a recording.

The first man said put some oil in the car and it'll be ok and left! The car wasn't ok at all so I called the second man - who was quite angry at his colleague for not listening to me. I said to them on the phone that I believe the timing chain has slipped or jumped hence the message from them saying...

'Hello from the RAC. Based on what you've told us, you may need a repair at a garage. Find out what happens next: rac.co.uk/info/localfix'

OP posts: