Car waiting for repair over a year

[ParaBeagle]

Hello,

At the end of my tether and in need of some advice.

I took a car in for a major engine repair at the end of 2020 and the garage I took it to has yet to complete the works.

Some more detail, I had originally arranged to take it in to the garage for a smaller problem, but shortly after making that arrangement the engine failed completely. The garage agreed that I could drop it off before the agreed upon date (via recovery truck), and they would now investigate the new problem.
It took 4 months and many visits to the garage with me attempting to move things along for them to start diagnose the issue. When they did it turned out it would require the engine to be removed and sent to a specialist to be reconditioned. I did not initially agree to a completion date for any work, simply asking that it be done in time for me to use the vehicle by summer. Which was agreed too.
It was roughly the beginning of July that I was informed that the engine had finally been sent to the specialist who completed their work by the end of July. It was then the end of August before the garage collected the engine.
Since then very little progress, the garage have begun to rebuild the engine, however work is sporadic at best and they refuse to give any completion timeline.
Whenever I visit to get an update, they repeatedly state that they are too busy to complete the work, despite having known the extent of the job for many months now.
Beside the fact that I need to somehow get them to agree to completion, I am concerned about the state of the vehicle having now been sat for a year. Things such as interior mold, depreciation, rust, seized brakes, perished tyres etc.
I am looking for any advice and suggestions about how to suitably conclude this saga.

Thanks in advance.

[des8]

A tale of woe from which we all learn that if engaging the services of a third party get a written contract.

However the garage involved do seem to have taken longer than would seem right, but it is difficult to be sure of the actual agreement as it will all boil down to "he said, I said"

Your legal rights are encapsulated in the Consumer Rights Act 2015 Chapter 4 (https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga...pter/4/enacted).
Having had a read of that, it might be worth going back to the garage and having a friendly chat.
You will be able to point out they have taken overlong to complete the rebuild and must be doing work that was booked in long after yours. It will be an implied term of the contract that the work would be completed within a reasonable period, altho' reasonable will depend on the circumstances of each contract.

If that doesn't produce action you might have to write and tell them to get their finger out or you will take court action.
Good luck

PS wondering what vehicle?

[ParaBeagle]

Thanks for the response Des,
I'll have a good read of that now.

You're absolutely correct about getting a contract. In my 20 years of owning and taking cars to garages I can't say that is something I've ever done though. It's something we just for granted, that if we take a car in for repair we might at some point get it back

I've sent the garage an email this morning asking for a completion date, if they fail to provide one I think I'll contact the Motor Ombudsman. The garage has signed up with them so hopefully they can help find a resolution. If not, then court will no doubt be the way to go.

As for what vehicle, like many, many others during summer last year I bought a camper van, a Transporter T5. There's always people telling you what a mistake you made when you buy a particular make and model of car / van etc. Seems this time they were right!

[des8]

Well it certainly, IMO, should not take that long to rebuild that engine.
I was thinking perhaps a vintage vehicle with parts having to be made especially.
A few years back I had a 1948 AC engine rebuilt ( solid white metal bearings no shells, and included turning 12 valves as none available off shelf) and it was back in the car in about 7 weeks so no way should it take a year.

Good luck, and come back to this thread if you need more support

[DE DOGS]

Encountered a similar problem. OK, Purchased replacement car, (our Car write off) Go look at another car, late at night (Mistake no one, never buy a car at night, or in the rain, or when the engine has already been warmed up. should know better, but desperate for a replacement car, I drive the car for a short time timing gear kaput, no point messing with repair, I source a second-hand engine, old engine out second-hand engine fitted, the time has taken all together, five days. In your case, the rebuilding of your engine with a competent mechanic a couple of days, to refit the engine and have it running ONE DAY. Trust me I have overhauled so many engines more than I care to mention Commercial and Cars, As you have guessed it's push it in the corner when we have time and no work on it's a case of just having a go at that car. I once had that experience with a Commercial Insurance claim, that Garage also pushed it in the corner, when I went there and had words with the manager that lorry was repaired very quickly.