Very long, sorry. Looking for views on where liability sits with repeated engine failures after a replacement.
A few details changed for anonymity, but the basic situation is accurate.
We bought a used 4x4 with around 90,000 miles on it. A few months later the original engine failed. It had a full service history and, while frustrating, we accepted that an engine can fail at that mileage.
We then paid a local garage a significant amount to supply and fit a remanufactured replacement engine.
About a year later that replacement engine failed, diagnosed as catastrophic crankshaft failure. The engine supplier accepted there was a problem but that at 13 months we were technically out of warranty. After a push, he crankshaft was replaced with a new one, the engine was repaired and refitted, and we paid the garage again for the installation work at cost only.
About 1,500 miles later, the crankshaft failed again. This time it failed catastrophically and the engine is now apparently beyond repair.
The engine supplier has said they assume something else on the vehicle may be causing the crankshaft failures, possibly vibration. They have offered another replacement engine at cost.
The garage has now suggested sending the torque converter away for independent testing. No vibration of any sort was detected prior to it failing, in fact it had been running brilliantly.
Our concern is that this could become an endless process of testing individual components one by one. If the torque converter is fine, does the flex plate go next, then mounts, transmission components, alignment, etc?
At this point, we feel that regardless of the precise mechanical cause, the service we paid for has failed. We paid a large amount for a replacement engine and installation, then paid again after the first crankshaft failure, and we are still left without a usable vehicle after only around 1,500 miles on the repaired engine.
There has never been any suggestion of misuse or operator error. The running-in requirements and oil change were followed.
Our view is that if the issue is a defective engine or crankshaft, that sits with the supplier/garage chain. If the issue is something external such as the torque converter, flex plate, alignment or installation, then surely the question becomes whether that should have been identified when the first crankshaft failed and the engine was repaired. In the garage's words, it isn't their responsibility, "they're just crap engines".
We are now considering drawing a line under further piecemeal testing and pursuing the garage for a refund through the County Court.
Interested in views from anyone with mechanical, garage trade or legal experience.
And if an external component did cause both crankshaft failures, would you expect the garage that supplied and fitted the replacement engine to have identified that after the first failure? Let alone the second, and then third?