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From: Robert D. on 26 May 2010 15:18
Hello,

A month ago we bought a six year old Mazda in a private sale that has
had the clutch replaced by an independent garage beginning of March
this year. The mechanic did not fit the speedo drive correctly, and as
a result gearbox oil has leaked out. The previous owner and myself did
not notice this through driving the vehicle. I took the car for an oil
change, and as they had noticed the issue, they checked it out.

Not to be dettered, I tried another independent garage, to be 100%
sure that the speedo drive had been replaced incorrectly, and this was
the only possible cause of the gearbox basically soon to start
failing. The second garage confirmed the initial diagnosis: during the
fitting of the new clutch by the previous owner a few months ago, the
speedo drive was incorrectly refitted, with the gearbox likely to fail
very soon, with the garages surprised the car was still driving fine.
A look underneath and it was obvious that even with refilling the
gearbox with oil, it was just coming out again upon gear change during
drive.

The garage who fitted the clutch (Alfa-Romeo garage, incidentally)
have said they only warranty work for 3000 miles or 3 months.

My question is: as they incorrectly fitted the new clutch, as
confirmed by 2 independent garages who know the work would not be
carried out by them even before they found the problem, are the
original fitting garage liable in any way for some/all costs? The fact
they messed up so badly fitting the new clutch meant that nobody would
be any the wiser that there was a gearbox issue unless the gearbox was
partially dismantled in some respect. As I am the new owner of the
car, I wondered if that affected any work that had been done by the
previous garage. The clutch is consumable, so if it had gone again, I
would bite my teeth and pay for a new one, but as the garage fitted
the clutch badly originally, I can't help but strongly feel they are
liable in some respect for bad workmanship. I mean, fitting a speedo
drive incorrectly is pretty difficult!

Many thanks for any responses.
From: Michael Hubert Kenyon on 26 May 2010 15:34
Robert D. wrote:

>
> Many thanks for any responses.

You are stuffed mate. The deal on fitting the clutch was between the
previous owner and the fitter. It is nothing to do with you.

From: Adrian on 26 May 2010 15:40
"Robert D." <robertdale(a)guerillamail.org> gurgled happily, sounding much
like they were saying:

> I mean, fitting a speedo drive incorrectly is pretty difficult!

So's not noticing oil drips on the ground under the car.
From: Robert D. on 26 May 2010 16:33
On May 26, 8:40 pm, Adrian <toomany2...(a)gmail.com> wrote:
> "Robert D." <robertd...(a)guerillamail.org> gurgled happily, sounding much
> like they were saying:
>
> > I mean, fitting a speedo drive incorrectly is pretty difficult!
>
> So's not noticing oil drips on the ground under the car.

It's garaged overnight. No oil drips at all in the month we have had
it, previous owner has mentioned none either. Previous owner is
actually of a good standing, and was surprised at the issue.

In retrospect I should have pretended to be the previous owner, as
they're hardly going to ask for ID.

I will part exchange the car this weekend I suppose, as quotes for a
breakers gearbox, likely not even reconditioned, are in the £250 to
£300 region.

Thanks,
From: Adrian on 26 May 2010 16:35
"Robert D." <robertdale(a)guerillamail.org> gurgled happily, sounding much
like they were saying:

>> > I mean, fitting a speedo drive incorrectly is pretty difficult!

>> So's not noticing oil drips on the ground under the car.

> It's garaged overnight.

Even easier, then.

> No oil drips at all in the month we have had it, previous owner has
> mentioned none either.

Sounds unlikely, if the gearbox has run dry of oil in a few short months.

B'sides, I can see a speedo drive being slightly awkward to refit back in
the old cable days, but not these days when it's just an electrical
sensor. It wouldn't even be removed from the 'box to replace the clutch -
merely the electrical plug unplugged.

> I will part exchange the car this weekend I suppose

Full disclosure of the problem, I hope?
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