Jump to content
SAU Community

Timing Belt Replacement And Repair Opinions Wanted!

yye-33w
 Share

Recommended Posts

yye-33w Enthusiast

yye-33w

Posted
Posted

Hi , can anyone put their opinions here,

I had a 2nd hand engine put in about 12th feb 2007 it came from SA from a front cut and had 42000kms on it. I paid about $2800 all up for it including a stock new clutch plate. and engine installed

Basically when i got the car back i got in the car with my mechaninc and went for a drive to make sure it didnt break down, and guess what it broke down! My mechanic said it was a fuel pump. then eventually he bypassed the relay of the pump with my amp cable to get the car back to his shop. He didnt charge me for his time for this but i was charged $50 for his auto elec to fix the relay problem...??? i was furious!

Then about 2-3 weeks after i got my car back the timing belt was making a rubbing sound at low revs, My mechanic said it was about to break anytime i was like oh so you'll pay for that? hes like oh yer i forgot to tell you about that , i was trying to save you on costs and didnt ask you whether you wanted to replace the belt to get a 6 month warranty or just leave it. i was lfurious again! he goes sorry how about i do the belt replacement now for $100 and the cost of the part... i was like ok... and was furious cos i had little money. waited till May 30th, yesterday and the belt still hadtn snapped and i took it in to get the belt done.

then mechanic rings me up and says he has broken the top tank of my radiator as he was trying to get at the belt etc.

I was like ok... you will pay for all of that will you mate? he says no ill do it for the cost of the top tank, i was like ok....

I then got advise from 3 sources including fair trading NSW and 2 mechanics

Then today i asked my mechaninc "would you had to f touched my radiator at all if you had done the timing belt replacement at the time of the engine being put it?" (out of the car) he couldnt answer my question and kept rambling on about how brittle the top tank was and it would have snapped anyway in time. im like thats fair enough mate but it would have been on my head then not yours.

I WANT TO KNOW WHAT ANYONE HAS TO SAY ABOUT THIS

I WANT THE $50 FROM THE BREAKDOWN BACK from auto elec

I WANT THE COST OF THE TOP TANK REPLACED aswell

DOES ANYONE THINK THIS IS UNREASONABLE

WRRR Rising Star

WRRR

Posted
Posted

Depends what scope you and the mechanic agreed to.

If you asked for supply and install of a second hand engine normally you wouldn't have warrantee on the engine unless previous agreed. His liability is to get it in to a suitable standard and get it running.

If you didn't ask for the timing belt to be done - bad luck.

As for the breakdown if it wasn't directly related to anything the mechanic had done and seeing it was a fuel pump (I'd bet he hadn't touched) probably bad luck. Not very good support service though so vote with your feet next time.

Radiator damage - I'd argue that one, unless he told you that it may break due to age and he would take no responsibility. If he was just heavy handed bit different.

yye-33w Enthusiast

yye-33w

Posted
  • Author
Posted
Depends what scope you and the mechanic agreed to.

If you asked for supply and install of a second hand engine normally you wouldn't have warrantee on the engine unless previous agreed. His liability is to get it in to a suitable standard and get it running.

If you didn't ask for the timing belt to be done - bad luck.

As for the breakdown if it wasn't directly related to anything the mechanic had done and seeing it was a fuel pump (I'd bet he hadn't touched) probably bad luck. Not very good support service though so vote with your feet next time.

Radiator damage - I'd argue that one, unless he told you that it may break due to age and he would take no responsibility. If he was just heavy handed bit different.

fair enought thanks for that dude, but we agreed on 6 months warranty. does this have to be in writing? also he said to me to get the warranty of the engine the radiator had to be flushed and coolant replaced so why didnt he tell me about the other vital important thing to get the warranty? or does this have to be in writing?

jake33 Experienced

jake33

Posted
Posted

sorry to hear that mate, if he broke it, he should fix it.

New mechanic!

take it to an experienced skyline workshop. hear all sorts of stories about family mechanics, firends mechanics, uncles best mates mechanic ect.. not really know what there doing. since i have extreamly little knowledge about skylines, i wouldnt take it anywhere else but a workshop that had extensive experience on these cars.

kralster Veteran

kralster

Posted
Posted

Yeah find a decent mechanic and stick with him.

I live in victor and work in adelaide about 80km away. But i still get my car serviced by the same guy in victor. It's a hell of an inconvience not having a car to get to work in, but i know i can trust him.

That doesn't really help you. But props to my mechanic!!

yye-33w Enthusiast

yye-33w

Posted
  • Author
Posted

yer i def am gonna not go to him in the future hey like its just him and a 3rd year apprentice. i only went back there cos he said he would do the timing belt for $100 as he stuffed up and didnt tell me about replacing it to get the warranty etc at time of engine replacement

Turbo technics are definately getting my money from now on even thought hey r a bit more expensive they are more pro and no apprentices work there.

i think i am gonna only get the $150 i paid for the top radiator tank.

anyon else think that?

someone else must know more....

yye-33w Enthusiast

yye-33w

Posted
  • Author
Posted

bump, anyone else wanna comment on this unproffesional? Dept Fair trading think i have a case for this to be investigated so anyone else?

BTW i have been truthful and honest in my tellings. I am an honest person and expect honest upfront Expertise when i take my car to a mechanic, especially this one as i have seen heaps of import cars there. Unfortuanlely i had to go back to him to get my timing belt done cheap and then he broke my radiator when this coudl have been prevented by giving me the option of replacing my timing belt at time of conversion back in Feb this year.

I will get my money for that radiator if its the last thing i do!!

Catch yas later

Al Grand Master

Al

Posted
Posted

CNBF reading everyones post, but here is my opinion.

To replace the engine you do not need to touch the fuel pump or it's relay, so put that down to a bad co-incidance and wear the $50.

But breaking the top tank off your radiator, as he is working on it, is bullshit and his neglegence. That should be covered by the w/shop.

Having said that, you also have to take into account that these cars are fast approaching 15yrs old, shit like this will occur and if you can't afford to fix it, them sell the car ASAP :D .

PS: Forgeting to tell/ask you about such an important item is just poor mechanics, time to find a new w/shop.

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share
Go to topic listing


  • Similar Content

  • Latest Posts

    • JC71
      new 1.5 LSD issues/concerns

      By JC71 · Posted

      sold listed as a Tomei LSD 1.5 Way For 1998+ Nissan Skyline ER34 25GT RB25DE w/Open R200 https://www.ebay.com/itm/174006114594?campid=5338967980&mkevt=1&mkcid=1&toolid=10050&customid=&mkrid=711-53200-19255-0&loc_physical_ms=108689&loc_interest_ms=&campid=5338967980&mkevt=1&mkcid=1&toolid=10050&customid=71883f2ccc571356e0a757bc7adfdde2&mkrid=710-53481-19255-0&loc_physical_ms=108689&loc_interest_ms= it went in like butter all gears, alignment, back lash etc, rotation and clearances correct, and if rolling all rotates smooth and free when coasting down road , clutch in or out over 10 mph smooth... its the binding, clunking and jerking from a stop that is most concerning, also seems like its going to tear the tires off in 10 miles of normal road driving. 
    • Kinkstaah
      new 1.5 LSD issues/concerns

      By Kinkstaah · Posted

      What 1.5 way? There's no such thing really as a 1.5 way, just different ways of explaining 2 ways with different ramp rates. HOWEVER. In any driving in a straight line your 1.5 or 2 or 1.7 way should have no clunking at all. With the clutch fully depressed the diff should be silent (unless it's welded but I'm assuming it's not). Something aint right here.
    • JC71
      new 1.5 LSD issues/concerns

      By JC71 · Posted

      Clutch is a spec brand, new clutch system,( PP, flywheel, friction disc, etc. pull type) installed 100 miles ago, with no problems.
    • JC71
      new 1.5 LSD issues/concerns

      By JC71 · Posted

      looking for some help and maybe some insight on others experience with a new LSD. R34 GT ran and drove beautifully, but always alot of grip loss due to the open R200 rear end, so I just installed a new 1.5 LSD way into the stock open R200 for a ER34. Simple. Everything seemed right. I test drove for the first time this weekend. as I started to back out the garage the first time slowly with tires straight it sounded and felt like I had a loose or half disconnected drive shaft...that was clucking around loose and shaking entire vehicle, and making it feel like the trans clutch was spontaneously slipping then grabbing very roughly while just letting out pedal slowly. I backed it out went to pull forward with the same noise, shake and slip grab feeling with hesitation, I turned the tires to back out more and then pulled ahead some same thing but worst because of added wheel resistance (which that I expected) puzzled … pulling it back in checking everything over and finding nothing wrong, I tried it the next day. same thing, couldn’t believe how it shook everything again making a terrible noise and making it feel like the trans clutch was slipping and grabbing, but I got it out of garage into the driveway, got it straight, drove forward and then reveres a few times in a straight line everything shaking , causing what felt like clutch slip and grab every time, sounded like right behind front driver tire and I could feel it in the floor board with my feet,... worst right when beginning to let clutch pedal out to engage slightly, shuttering and sounding terrible along the way…I managed to slowly get down the road, babying it the whole way, once I was rolling (out of 1st) seemed to be better and between shifts, then clutch felt closer to normal…not slip/ grab etc., but back down to any stop, straight road or turning, same thing. Made no difference if all tires were straight or if I was turning. All other gauge read out correct. with in 2 miles as planned I reached the empty parking lot and performed the break in procedure that came with lsd, essentially to drive in a figure 8 a bunch.  Did this, binding chattering, and shaking the car the whole way. I drove it back home seemed somewhat normal once I was in straight line and past 10 mph or so, and I know it will “bind” on corners and cause some tires squeal when turning especially from a stop, but when I begin to move it still causes what feels like the trans clutch to slip and jerk badly as well as shaking the entire car, and sounds terrible, that I didn’t expect. I used the fluid they supplied with LSD kit and did the breaking, planning to change fluid as they suggest after breaking, but wondering will it get smoother or less aggressive with use? maybe a 1.5 is just too aggressive for normal road driving?   I have a LSD that I put in my 71 cuda when I restored it, with amazing smooth , quite yet effective results. Different style LSD but that ones a joy to drive. maybe expecting too much from this R200?
    • Matt Z
      SAU NSW - Archies Flame Grille Meet & Cruise to Kurnell

      By Matt Z · Posted

      Join SAU NSW for a flame-grilled feed & flame-spitting cruise! Sunday 17th August 2025 3:30PM Meeting Archies Flame Grille Sylvania Waters 4:45PM Cruise Departure 5:15PM Arrival at Cape Solander Kurnell Meet Location: Archies Flame Grille Final Destination: Cape Solander Kurnell *Disclaimer* There will be a lead and follow car so no one should get lost. If you would like to attend or bring others along please put your name down and a +1 as numbers will be needed prior! This is NOT a race and we will all be adhering to all road rules. If this is what you want please come to one of our many track days. This is an official SAU:NSW event and will be run under a CAMS permit. One of the things that really sets our club apart is our commitment to being true enthusiasts. When on normal roads we strive to maintain good relations with the authorities as well as the public in general. When attending one of Skylines Australia NSW events please try to: • Be aware of surrounding environment and act accordingly. • Drive courteously on the state’s roads as a true enthusiast should. • Understand how important it is to maintain the good name of SAU NSW and thus, treat others accordingly. • Any misbehavior will not be tolerated and you will be asked to leave.
×
×
  • Create New...