This is a bit of a long story so best to make a cuppa first lol, Right I bought a Vectra 2.2 Sri from a used car garage in August 08, 51 plate fsh immaculate condition, I also took the extra 1 year warranty for piece of mind, every thing was great until a mate told me about the timing chain problem, so after reading it across the internet and found my engine number fell within the faulty oil jet category, I talked to VX which told me my car wasn’t affected and had no rework or recall notices, I wasn’t happy with that so I contacted my local VX dealer which told me to bring it in so they could inspect the chain, but they did tell me they couldn’t tell me if it had the defective parts on unless they striped the engine down.
When I picked the car back up they told me the chain was fine and well lubricated passed its health check with 1 advisory that was the spare wheel, fantastic.
About ten days later got a rattle in the engine my dad told me it was either the tappets or the chain, took it back to VX dealer and they phoned me an hour later to tell me is the timing chain and would cost me £530 to replace it. After a blasting match with them telling them it was suspicious that it has been fine for 7 yrs till they got there hands on it 10 days ago lol, but that didn’t make any difference, they told me the 1st mechanic didn’t look at the chain he just listened to it.
Anyway I have a warranty that covers a timing chain fantastic lol, contacted the warranty and they told my because the timing chain never snapped they wont cover it and put it down to ware and tear. Anyway I give VX the go ahead to replace the chain on the understanding they would give me the old parts back and a statement on the damage so I can deal with the warranty company separate.
Collected the car a few days later on Saturday asked for the report but the person from servicing and the mechanic had already left and will leave a message to contact me on Monday, but as far as the notes on the car it was the tensioner that had failed. And after all this it looks like the old parts are the faulty ones that VX said were not on my car, and still leaving messages for some one to contact me from VX dealer been over a week now.
Just looking for some advice on what to do next, my head is battered and I don’t know enough about the engine to argue with VX, could the tensioner be tampered with by the garage without opening the engine? Anyone got any experience with warranties or VX over the defective parts?