Cam Chain snapped on new van after 20 months / 114k miles

[WhiteVanMan5]

The timetable for evidence in the draft directions is related to the fast track and over the top for SMC

The way the discussion went was that a full one day hearing would be appropriate regardless of whether it remained in the small claims track or whether it was going to the Fast Track. Throughout the discussion it seemed like the judge was going with the fast track (and she left the option for it to be switched later in the process if that seemed necessary). In the end, it was clearly a very very close and difficult decision for her. I presume that given how close that decision was, she deemed it appropriate to go with that timetable (some amendments were made, but I neither took those in nor understood them - that will become clear I guess when I receive the update)

[WhiteVanMan5]

It is possible the first solicitor took advice on your second expert report, read about the Stellantis recall and decided their defence had little chance of success.
That may explain why the substitute solicitor agreed to continue the defence, unaware of the second report and recall.

That would be great if that were the case, and hopefully this second set of solicitors will come to the same conclusion.

I'm still chasing my tail a bit with Vauxhall. Went into a dealership today for some assistance. They couldn't help much, but the discussion did remind me that the engraved number on the camshaft casing can confirm that this engine is affected (according to l'Argus article - in French, but hopefully your browser will translate for you: https://www.largus.fr/actualite-auto...-11079390.html). I just double checked my casing and that does have the affected number, 9812647280. I've messaged Vauxhall again to try and get them to confirm (in writing) that a camshaft casing with this number on is the identifier for vehicles afflicted by this problem and to explain why no recall is showing on my van.

[WhiteVanMan5]

Hi, you have done the right thing for you, staying in the SMC, where costs directions cannot be made i.e. the defence cannot give you a bill of any type.
The very best of fortune with your case.

Thank you for your support which I very much appreciate.

[WhiteVanMan5]

If I were claiming on the Fast Track, my claim would be for in excess of £30,000. To keep it in the Small Claims Track, I artificially subdued it to below £10,000.

You (Frank1) stated earlier that my expert report fees were in excess of what was allowed in the Small Claims Track. If I resubmit my POC, can I also rephase my claim breakdown to keep everything within limits. My losses are there, it's just a question of which ones I claim and which ones I don't.

[Frank1]

Yes just state the expert report invoice number, the full amount and write limited to £750 in the small claims track. Include 750.00 in the cash column.
Don't waste too much time chasing Vauxhall. Other peeps on the Vauxhall owners forum are also saying their dealer is not aware of the recall to fit an upgraded cam chain and customers should wait for the DVLA.
If you are able to post bullet points for your court directions, forum readers will hopefully provide further advice.

[WhiteVanMan5]

Yes just state the expert report invoice number, the full amount and write limited to £750 in the small claims track. Include 750.00 in the cash column.
Don't waste too much time chasing Vauxhall. Other peeps on the Vauxhall owners forum are also saying their dealer is not aware of the recall to fit an upgraded cam chain and customers should wait for the DVLA.
If you are able to post bullet points for your court directions, forum readers will hopefully provide further advice.

I've been really busy Monday to Thursday this week and not had any time to deal with it. Plan to get on top of it Friday to Sunday - and yes, for sure, I will post here. I'm using AI a lot - I give it all of the relevant information and ask it to do it for me. I tell it what I don't like, or what is incorrect and get it to change it iteratively. It seems to be working relatively well.

I feel the clarity from Vauxhall was important for the judge. One place I stumbled in the hearing was trying to evidence that the engine in my vehicle was the exact engine impacted by this "latent manufacturing fault". There is zero doubt, but proving that to legal standards is tougher. The judge made clear to me that I had to do that.

[Frank1]

I watched the video from inside the van expecting to hear a loud rattling noise when the chain broke. It sounded liked you coughed

[Frank1]

If the engineer definitely measured the chain at 7mm then your van is one of the affected ones.
A Vauxhall combo owner whose van went into the dealer for the upgrade when he picked up the van got told recall work wasn't required, the van had been fitted with the 8mm chain when it was manufactured.

[WhiteVanMan5]

I watched the video from inside the van expecting to hear a loud rattling noise when the chain broke. It sounded liked you coughed

At the time it happened, I had absolutely no idea of the seriousness of it. It seemed so innocuous.
I don't know if you saw the telemetery on the bottom of the dashcam (white text on white background) that includes information such as speed. Not being driven fast/aggressively (never was). Van was overserviced (basically I did it every 12.5k miles instead of every 25k miles). It's strange the moment it chose to let go.

I'm not even certain any more which point it is that the chain snapped. Maybe the small click on 38 seconds, then the noise at 44 seconds might be me trying to get it in gear, not understanding why I had no power. Having said that, the speed only drops noticably after the noise on 44 seconds.

[WhiteVanMan5]

If the engineer definitely measured the chain at 7mm then your van is one of the affected ones.
A Vauxhall combo owner whose van went into the dealer for the upgrade when he picked up the van got told recall work wasn't required, the van had been fitted with the 8mm chain when it was manufactured.

No, when the engineer for the report measured the chain, he could find no part that was either 7mm or 8mm.
The engraved number on the camshaft casing seems conclusive to me - but it's not from the manufacturer.

[Frank1]

I'm no engineer but I would have thought 7 or 8mm is the thickness of the chain which can be measured using a micrometer

[WhiteVanMan5]

I'm no engineer but I would have thought 7 or 8mm is the thickness of the chain which can be measured using a micrometer

That's what the Vauxhall Engineer (from the Expert Report 2) thought, but he couldn't find anything to match those measurements. I asked the Vauxhall Dealership today, if I brought the chain in to them, if they could measure if it was 7mm or 8mm and they simply said no without elaborating.

[Frank1]

A mechanic posted a photo of the 7mm cam chain cover alongside the cover for the 8mm chain. The difference was the cover for the 8mm chain had a hump which the 7mm chain didn't have. If the cover for your van is flat without a hump, a sign that it had a 7mm chain

[Frank1]

Court the 7mm be the roller height, the distance between the 2 plates? Or the roller diameter?

[WhiteVanMan5]

Court the 7mm be the roller height, the distance between the 2 plates? Or the roller diameter?

I have no idea. You're well beyond the mechanical knowledge I've picked up on this there.

Here's a photo I took of the camshaft casing this afternoon. That number should be significant.