The unthinkable just happend

The coroner will require an autopsy. Only then will we know the cause of death.

 

FBB you are correct that people are quick to judge.

Let the facts do the talking, until then there's no point in speculating, nobody wins and it does nobody any good.

 

Any update on what the mechanics had to say?

 

My guess: Rear bearing failure on the driven shaft for the cam belt system. Not that I've ever experienced that.

 

Bummmer. Bet that was ugggly.

My guess? The water pump failed. The mechanics suggested it should have been replaced during the engine out service and it wasn't to save money. Now what? <gulp>

Just a guess.

 

Actually, now that you mention it, why not have the OP list exactly what was done during this major service.

 

Happened on my 308 1K miles after a major service. Fortunately, the belt didn't jump off, it just made a diesel engine sound prior to failure.

 

as written many times, the most of belts related disasters are just after a belt change. Of course that's a human mistake, like incomplete tensioners change, wrong belt tension, wrong components, incomplete tighten and so on.

At my mechanic shop often arrive disasters from half Europe and my mechanic let me see several of them during years. Disasters that you couldn't even believe: the last one was a 400 engine that didn't turn at all even if it was just rebuilt...

I'm lucky as I live close to Modena and here Ferrari specialists are really specialists and (crossing my fingers) usually don't do so big disasters.

Good luck and ask him to fix his mistake

ciao

Edit

I would like to add this: I'm very sad to hear that such a disaster happened, above all because you took care of your loved car and spent a lot of money to do a proper maitenance (a belt change in the 348 is very expensive). This is exactly what you wouldn't ever hear

 

any update on contacting your mechanic?

 

Ugly doesn't even begin to describe it.

Mine was 1500 miles after a major.

 

Could it be that after a belt service/major, new belt tensioners get fitted that put more tension on the belt than the old tensioners did, making the belt run tighter, putting more strain on the old waterpump, causing the pumps bearing to fail and take out the new belt? - Just a thought!

 

Ugh. What caused it?

 

I would actually not take it back to the same mechanic, but to another to perform the investigation neutrally. And pay specifically for the review and report, not the repair yet.

If you go back to the first guy he is incentivized to try and cover up what he finds and show that it was just random bad luck.

 

Valid point but the warranty of the work comes from the one who did it. You can't buy a Chevy and then ask Ford to warranty it

 

That is always the issue unfortunately. You run that risk taking it back to the original workshop who did the work.

But..........I also think it's best to take it back to the original workshop to allow them the opportunity to fix their mistake.

If it was their mistake of course. Hopefully time will tell what happened here.

I think I made mention of the owner being there when the engine is finally removed so he can see first hand what the mechanics see when they remove those timing belt covers so there is no chance of a cover up.

If I didn't mention that in my first post, I apologize but that is what I would try for if it were me.

Tell them to call you when they are just dropping the engine out so you can be there to see them drop the engine, then remove the covers for the first time. I am sure something obvious will be seen once the covers are off.

 

This does nothing but set up an adversarial relationship. There's no reason to believe the "new guy" is any more skilled or competent than the first and is incentivized to make it look as bad as possible. In lieu of a contract to the contrary there's no reason for the first guy to pay another to fix it. There isn't that kind of profit in this business.

It's gonna be a big pain in someone's ass to fix but in the scheme of things not really that serious. Most likely a few valves (probably 4-6), a few gaskets and a timing belt were affected. Beyond that it depends on what caused the belt to come off.

Assuming the first guy is reputable, let him make it right. Mistakes happen as do faulty parts.

 

I'm sure the mechanic that did it is pulling his hair out. Us that work on cars for a living take it very serious, plus were pig headed to see how we messed up

Difference between pros and weekend warriors

 

I wouldn't have Mechanic #2 fix it, but to do the investigation and report to me what he perceived happened.

Then back to Mechanic #1. This assumes, of course, that Mechanic #1 didn't immediately offer to make things right. Which, by the points from OP saying Mechanic #1 is unresponsive, would make me do what I'm outlining.

 

+1

There is no reason at this point in time to assume the original mechanic would not step up and do the right thing here.
Bringing in another mechanic at this time would only create animosity between both parties.

Give the original mechanic a chance to 'make it right'.

 

how can mechanic # 2 determine the cause of a belt failure with out actually pulling the motor? what can he see by just looking at the motor while its still in the car?

 

I don't know, I'm not a mechanic!

But I sue people for negligence all day, and to the extent there is an analogy: if a doctor makes a serious mistake, like a surgical error, then upon return to that doctor there is a drastically higher chance of a second negative outcome if he tries to surgically repair his own mistake.

That said, people tend to almost never sue for malpractice if they feel that the doctor admitted he was wrong and genuinely tried his best to fix the situation. It's the doctors who rebuff the patient, deny mistakes, have bad bedside manner or just ignore a dissatisfied patient that end up getting sued. So from the doctor's point of view, he has an incentive to offer the repair at no cost. While if the patient is concerned with the best statistical outcome, rather than financial, he would be better off switching surgeons.

That said, our local dealer has the best service team, and as Xenu noted, would jump to action.

 

So, Ryan - If you order a steak medium and it comes out well - do you leave the restaurant and go to another or do you give them a chance to make it right?

People make mistakes - they deserve the chance to make it right. I said that at the start of this thread and I'm sticking to it

 

Great to hear he has made contact with you.

Stay positive for a good outcome and please keep us informed as to what happens Ralph.

 

But the proper analogy is that you ask repeatedly for their attention to give you a fixed steak and were ignored.

As a business owner myself, I always, always try and give other businesses a chance at fixing their own mistakes. But if I am coming back with an emergency and get ignored or brushed off, I will deal with it as I outlined above.