Shoddy Workman ship?? advice?

[mr&mrsevo]

Help please! all advice is welcome!!

Ive got an evo 8 only 18k miles runs sweet as a nut....

It was showing signs of needing a new clutch so we took it too a man with a good reputation as an evo specialist. We dropped the car off and just a few things (not important) gave me a feel that things were not right.... When he contacted me it turned out that he had left the clutch change to his mate who shares a garage with him, as he was away,

After speaking I to his "mate" he advised me that he had had trouble getting the saft and center diff out, not sure of all the details but they say that "some thing" has broken up and welded its self up to the center diff & shaft....

Now to me this is all sounding a bit weired as i drove the car in with NO faults to my knowledge... and now I have no other choice but to buy either a new gear box and or center diff!!!! if the diff had "welded its self to the gear box... would the car have still driven as well as it did?"

Please leave any opinions or advice you have about this, as im not sure what to do... may be this has happend to you? or is this a common fault on Evo 8's???? also Im being offered a second hand diff... should we settle for this?

my feeling is that HE has done the damage while changing the clutch and we are paying for it!

Many Thanks

[fingers]

Hi, sorry to hear about your troubles.

If something in the drivetrain, either in the gear box, transfer unit or diff had broken and then generated enough heat to weld itself to something else, then no it wouldn't have thought it would drive as sweet as a nut. I would seek advise from a Mitsubushi before you decide anything, if you can take them and show them the broken/damaged parts. If the Mitsie garage says you would have noticed this fault if you drove with it, I would then notify the guy doing the work and then if needed, seek legal advise.

[giraffe82]

The way I see it is that the car went in needing a new clutch, it should have came out of the garage exactly as it went in but with a new clutch, the problem has developed while in the hands of the mechanic and so the liability is his.

[HDi fun]

I'm inclined to agree. The only comment I'd like to add is that 18k is very low mileage to be replacing a clutch.

Is it possible that the fault that's been reported has accelerated the clutch wear? In which case it is a warranty issue.

You could always approach the mechanic and ask this. The answer does not affect your right to take proceedings against him.

[fingers]

The trouble is, thats not strictly true. If you put your car in for work, and worn/broken parts fail due to dissasembly and the garage "find" another fault, it is down to you. regardless if the car was driving ok before or not. If you are in doubt that the parts were faulty before dissasembly, you need to get them inspected by a neutral PROFESSIONAL (important that bit ) body who can possibly confirm your suspicion's, and who is prepared to put their findings on paper for you. Then you can argue your case, otherwise its your car, your problem. And if you sign a bit of paper agreeing to the work, the garage can withhold the vehicle if you change your mind and decide you don't want to pay.

Sorry

[HDi fun]

I know, and that's the unfortunate part of this is that trying to establish the causes and order of events is likely to be next to impossible.

Having thought further, surely if the mechanic who did the work advised you of the situation you would have had the opportunity to have it inspected first.

Sadly it's all 'time off the road' and is a trick used by third party warrnty underwrtiers, too.

eg. the gearbox is covered under second user warranty but they'll only pay to effect a repair if you fork out two grand for a professional inspection and diagnosis.

In your case the car was new so Mitsi should be prepared to assist you, even if only to protect their good reputation. Maybe approach Mitsubishi first and see if they're prepared perhaps to inspect the car and offer their opinion. It might help you 'gain agreement' from the mechanic who you feel caused the problem.

Good luck.

[mr&mrsevo]

many thanks for all your thoughts,.. all of the above comments have crossed my mind and the thing is I think Ive probably not a leg to stand on ...ie: the damage is already done now and will need to be repaired reguardless, and all these "independent opinions" will probably end up costing me more than just paying for the new parts in the first place... Ive just got this niggeling feeling Im being "shafted" (pardon the pun) haha

Many thanks every one!

[blacklineninja]

I'd have a look in the yellow pages first and ring a couple of independent motor engineers and ask them to quote you how much it would be for them to go and inspect your car prior to any work going ahead.

We may get preferential rates working in the industry as a fleet management company but still we only pay an independent engineer £50 + VAT a pop. Could be the best £50.00 you'll spend this year, maybe.

[mr&mrsevo]

yeah good idea, do you think it has to be a miti engeneer? or just an ordinary mechanic????

[waynne]

Sorry to come in so late on this one. I really sympathise with your problem. I too have had similar issues with a garage and suspected that they had been hacking around in the car to test drive it after the work they had done. This is something that is really hard to prove. I agree that the mileage is rather low for a clutch change but the car may indeed have had a hard life and I suppose this could indicate a pre-existing problem.

On the subject of a new or second hand diff - betterment may come into it. You are getting a part that is newer than the old one so could be asked to pay a contribution but the car has done so few miles I don't think a garage could insist on a second hand one from a higher mileage car and I think there is an arguement against a betterment contribution.

You have every right to be hacked off with the garage but try to keep them onside. They should (if they care about their reputation) bend over backwards to keep you happy. Ask them to keep the parts they take off for inspection - this often deters over optimistic diagnoses.

Tell them that you only just got the car and need an engineers report to help you make a warantee claim - its better than going in there and saying I think you are all a bunch of liars and cheats I want a second opinion.

[mr&mrsevo]

Thanks for you reply, it is really helpful... i see what you mean about keeping them onside, we have had the same thoughts our selfs,,... Im even a little worried about taking another engeneer up there .. its like saying I dont quite beleive you!!!

my other concern is.... is the car EVER gona drive the same again? is it always going to go wrong?
for instance he says that "some thing" has gone wrong to cause the welding....but he cant see what.... so isnt this just gona happen again???

[HDi fun]

The Evo is quite a specialised car so you probably need a specialist. Having said that, the Japanese have a habit of taking tried and tested technology and refining it to the point that it's far far better than anything radical that the French offer. So you might find a good quality indy will be able to help. Beware the 'doin this for years' type who still swears by Castrol GTX and hasn't heard of EFi.

[pgarner]

whats efi ??

prob best idea to take the parts to mitsi themselves. just tell (ask nicely) the garage for the parts to see if mitsi can find the problem that way your likly to get some informed feedback.
if its welded on them something must have been rubbing it takes alot of heat to weld metal. so i personally think you would have felt something and if youve ever smelt the air when theres welding going on it goes right for your throat

[mr&mrsevo]

just to update you all! i have befriended a really nice guy at mitsi who has given up all of his own time today and is going to really help us out!!

we havent got enough evidence to do much about it but he says in his opinion some one has rushed put the gearbox back on, taken it for a test drive and forgotten to put the oil in the box .. but by the time he got back the damage was already done!! plus he said there is no way you could have driven it like that and NOT felt it in the drive, it would have affected the 4 wheel drive and the tyres would have screeched every thime we went round the corner.

our very nice new friend is going to help us pic up the car on a trailer and take it too mitsi on a wkend to give it a once over to make sure the work is up to scratch before we drive it!!!!

[waynne]

Well done there. Good luck and hope you get back on the road soon

You'll have to post up some pics in the gallery.