You don't need to be an 'investor' to invest in Singletrack: 6 days left: 95% of target - Find out more
I put petrol in my deisel. Fixed by my local (non-approved) garage, covered by insurance. On first road test by garage after repair, battery light on, then various warning lights showed randomly, power steering 'dipped out' breifly. Garage diagnosed alternator, not linked to misfueling, therefore I had to pay for new alternator. A week after getting the car back, same problems with first battery light, then other lights and power steering dipping out, on some journeys but not others. No starting issues. Car back to garage, could not recreate or diagnose, nothing more they can do without wanting paid. I contacted insurance looking for them to investigate and resolve under the original misfuelling claim on the basis that there were no issues before. They are unwliing to do this, saying that it is unlikely these issues are linked to the misfuelling, but if I pay for investigation to prove that the issue is linked to the misfuelling they will remburse. Cost of diganosis could be pricey, given intermittent nature. Already paid for alternator, which is looking like it wasn't needed. Miffed by this, car had no issues before, and from my point of view these are residual issues from the original misfuelling or subsequent repair work which should be investigated and resovled under the claim. Any thoughts or advice please.
If I've read it right, they have had it back, had a look and couldn't find anything. Having had a similar problem, I can see why you are suspicious. However, they have - apparently - tried to resolve it, so they tell you.
Ultimately, if you are saying they haven't fulfilled their part of the (insurance) contract, then you will have to prove it, especially if you end up running the dispute potentially to court. And either way, you need to get your car fixed, which will require a proper diagnostic check.
I fear that you may have to fork out for the check - which they have said they would reimburse? - to get it resolved. If it is down to them/their repairers, they will repay you, if it isn't, you would have had to pay to get it fixed anyway.
Might be worth asking around for other experiences with this car/engine though, may be a known issue on t'interweb?
Sounds like the garage has disturbed some wiring in fixing the fuel problem.possibly as simple as just the main posituve or negative lead to the battery, but probably not that simple.
Youre in a tough spot, did you choose the garage to fix tne fuel problem or was it chosen by the insurance co?
Sounds to me the garage are not the best, if I were you id be taking the car elsewhere, get them to identify the fault (will cost you money) then attempt to claim back cost from either the original garage or the ins co, depending on what the fault was. Good luck claiming cost back from garage though.
Car went to this garage because I didn't realise I had misfuelled, just rhought car was sick. Got insurance on board later once mis-fuel was diagnosed, but insurance company agreed to proceed with this garage.
Why should the insurer pay for a diagnostic to establish whether or not they may be liable for the work?
They've already offered to pay for it if the verdict shows that it is linked to the original claim, so what's the problem?
If they [i]did[/i] fork out for the diagnostic and it turned out to be something completely unrelated to the mis fuelling, I'd expect they'd be kicking your door down to get their money back anyway.
Fingers crossed it is related though.
how are you making the link to your putting the wrong juice in it to these symptoms? sounds like a coincidence to me, sorry. if it persists i'd just get rid if i were you.
Why should the insurer pay for a diagnostic to establish whether or not they may be liable for the work?
The problem is that the cost diagnosis looks like it could be pretty open ended.
They agreed to cover repairs due to the misfuelling. I'm still having problems after the repairs that weren't there before.
I don't see whay I should have to fork out for that diagnosis.
how are you making the link to your putting the wrong juice in it to these symptoms? sounds like a coincidence to me, sorry. if it persists i'd just get rid if i were you.
Before - no problems
First road test after misfuelling repair - problems
You'll need to come up with the link between what's going on in the car and an insured event.
Could be that you need to have a chat with the garage so that they understand this? If their position is that it is unlikely to be, or will be difficult to establish that the problems are linked to the mis fuelling, then i have sympathy for your position, but you've got little chance of convincing an insurer to pay for something that they "may or may not be" liable for.
Presumably you need this fixed anyway? Get the diagnostic work done and if there's no link between the problems and the mis fuelling then you're no worse off that you would have been anyway. If there is a link, great.
I didn't know you could claim for filling up with the wrong fuel, everyday's a school day 🙂
how are you making the link to your putting the wrong juice in it to these symptoms?
Exactly what I was thinking - I really can't see how mis-fueling can affect the electrics. All the garage would have done is drain the tank/lines, replace the fuel filter and flush with fresh diesel.
When the warning lights are on is the engine running OK?
Sounds like the replacement alternator is duff - they did actually replace it didn't they?
Whats the car ?
Id start by checking your aux belt for slippage , your tensioner works and isnt kicking under load - that all your pulleys are working right an none of them are clutched ( and not working right
Im suspecting a belt covered in petrol when the apprentice drained the fuel lines - depending on where your filter is.
First thing I'd be doing is going to a different garage.
I didn't know you could claim for [s]filling up with the wrong fuel[/s] your own stupidity, everyday's a school day
FTFY
Ok think I'm going to have to it investigated and hope it shows a link. I hear what you say about mis fuelling not being linked to electrics but I'm convinced something is going on that wasn't there before. Fuel on belt was suggested by Aa guy who my wife called on one of the warning light events. I'm told it was checked at the Garage. still don't understand why insurance won't see this through. Before, no symptoms, first drive after repairs, symptoms. Why is that not seen as. A link and why is it up to me to show the link?
I didn't know you could claim for [s]filling up with the wrong fuel[/s] your own stupidity, everyday's a school dayFTFY
Any different to leaving valuables on display and having them nicked? Taking a corner too fast and crashing? Spinning on black ice?
Basically any incident other than certain circumstances where someone drives into you, are down to driver stupidity.
A link and why is it up to me to show the link?
Because it's your car.
correlation ? causation
I love it when folk come on to threads where someone is in a bad situation and is looking nor help and the thing they can add is how stupid the person was to get in that situation. Tried to ignore but couldn't. I am where I am. If you've got nothing constructive to say to help or explain just move on and continue being perfect that would be appreciated
Appreciate some comments on here have been harsh and possibly uncalled for, but this is STW.
As most of the constructive comments have said, you will have to prove that the fault is due to the misfuelling to prove the insurers are responsible.
Alternatively, you will have to prove some negligence by the garage to prove they should be paying to fix it.
If you can't prove either of these, you pay for sorting it. That's how legal and contractual responsibility work. It just sucks when you end up out of pocket. (£300 of engine problems on my car after some crash repairs, but could not be linked to accident damage so had to pay myself. Plus the excess!)
feenster - MemberOk think I'm going to have to it investigated and hope it shows a link. I hear what you say about mis fuelling not being linked to electrics but I'm convinced something is going on that wasn't there before.
... Before, no symptoms, first drive after repairs, symptoms. Why is that not seen as. A link and why is it up to me to show the link?
Is that a good garage recommended? If not then you are taking your chances.
Obviously, if the symptoms were not there before then they might have accidentally disturbed something but would not admit to it. Or on the negative views they are trying it on to see if you are coming back to pay for more services/repairs.
As above, unfortunately you need to provide proof that the symptoms were not there before mis-fuelling. Very difficult to prove unless you have all the diagnostic kit yourself ...
The garages in UK are very secretive when it comes to services and repairs by enforcing the Health & Safety rules. It is not as if the car is going to explode etc ... very bureaucratic ... 🙄