tsteve9999 456 Posted April 25, 2014 Report Share Posted April 25, 2014 My Citreon van conked 3 wweks ago and the guy who does my motors diagnosed it as the fuel pump solenoid, which he couldn't do himself as the transponder had to be taken off and recoded. The only specialist company he knew of were a few miles away so I arranged to have the van towed there, told them on the phone that I thought it was the solenoid and waited a phone call to say it was done. 3 days later I phoned to ask how things were going and was told by a guy that he had changed the solenoid and the van started perfectly, however none of the clocks were working and he had to see what was the trouble there, so I phoned the next day to be told that the ECU had blown, nothing at all was working, and had I tried to jump start it , which I hadn't. I was also told that the solenoid was probably working right and it was the ECU all along I was then told that the ECU had to be sent off to test which part had gone, and upon phoning yet again was told that the unit was made by Lucas and was only fitted to Berlingos for a 3 month run and couldn't be tested because noone had the diagnostic tools. To buy and fit a new one would cost more than the vans worth so he would look round for a second hand kit,though he wasn't hopeful and if he couldn't get one the motor was scrap. There's obviously a major row coming up, and his argument is that it came in as a non runner, I told him the solenoid had gone and Ive boosted it to wreck the ECU. My argument is that he is the specialist so he shouldn't have taken my word but checked the solenoid before renewing it, and I have my mechanics opinion it was the solenoid and the fact that the recovery guys watched me use the key fob to unlock it to prove the ECU was working as they loaded it on the lorry Do you think I'd have a chance in court, or would I be throwing good money after bad and they would take his word for what happened? It's not as if the vans a banger, it's a 56 plate that I bought 12 months ago and I can't afford to shell out for another just like that. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
charlie caller 3,654 Posted April 25, 2014 Report Share Posted April 25, 2014 (edited) Has any money changed hands yet? If it was me mate I would go and get my van back and take it from there, there will be a way to fix it, just go and get the damn thing back first.Sounds like he is trying to get himself a cheap/free Citroen van. Edited April 25, 2014 by charlie caller Quote Link to post Share on other sites
fireman 11,040 Posted April 25, 2014 Report Share Posted April 25, 2014 I know someone years ago who had a lot of hassle with a van that was sort of like this one,in that one thing was wrong but it turned into a right old do and they wouldn't give his van back until he payed a big bill for nothing.Old bill were called and all that b*ll*cks and he had to leave it there until he payed and the bill was lie this one more than the van was worth,well would you believe it but that old van burst into flames one night and as it was in their yard their insurance had to pay my mate for a new van 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
tsteve9999 456 Posted April 25, 2014 Author Report Share Posted April 25, 2014 On 25/04/2014 at 12:57, charlie caller said: Has any money changed hands yet? If it was me mate I would go and get my van back and take it from there, there will be a way to fix it, just go and get the damn thing back first.Sounds like he is trying to get himself a cheap/free Citroen van. No money has changed hands yet. I'm pretty sure that when they recoded the ECU they have fukced it up, and now they are trying to say that it was like it when it came in so I'm to blame. Trouble is that it went in as a non runner so it's my word against theirs. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
charlie caller 3,654 Posted April 25, 2014 Report Share Posted April 25, 2014 Ok well dont tell them you are coming, just go and get it towed back, take a couple of large mates with you, and dont stand any nonsense, it is your van mate, get it. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
irishnut 297 Posted April 25, 2014 Report Share Posted April 25, 2014 Don't be going and "stealing" your van back. Do the job the proper way. Contact a solicitor and get professional advice. Have your solicitor contact the recovery team and ask for the details that they took on your van. Even a damaged ecu can be checked to see what way the damage was caused. Possibly your recovery lorry driver may have jump started it to move it off his lorry. Meaning the company doing the work is 100% correct. Stealing or indeed burning out your own van could well land you in court and prison. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
delswal 3,819 Posted April 25, 2014 Report Share Posted April 25, 2014 Be aware before taking your vehicle back without paying the bill , the garage have the right to hold your vehicle until all debts are settled , this is called lien , you remove the vehicle without their consent and you could face charges yourself , go back to the garage with your original mechanic let him talk them about his findings , just incase they are trying it on , or like charlie said , try taking a few of ya pals for a chat Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Chid 6,647 Posted April 25, 2014 Report Share Posted April 25, 2014 Should of took it to a main dealers imo , only thing you can do if you autherised the work after they told you they thought the ecu was faulty is pay your bill and take the van away Quote Link to post Share on other sites
charlie caller 3,654 Posted April 25, 2014 Report Share Posted April 25, 2014 Pay the bill for what? They have not done anything except replace a selanoid, so ok you owe for that, but as for anything else! If a plumber comes to your house to mend a broken pipe, and dont fix it you dont pay him do you? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
tsteve9999 456 Posted April 25, 2014 Author Report Share Posted April 25, 2014 On 25/04/2014 at 15:06, irishnut said: Don't be going and "stealing" your van back. Do the job the proper way. Contact a solicitor and get professional advice. Have your solicitor contact the recovery team and ask for the details that they took on your van. Even a damaged ecu can be checked to see what way the damage was caused. Possibly your recovery lorry driver may have jump started it to move it off his lorry. Meaning the company doing the work is 100% correct. Stealing or indeed burning out your own van could well land you in court and prison. I agree, I can't be 100% sure the ECU wasn't the problem in the first place and if it was I'd suck it up and pay. The recovery guy turned it over at my house to try and start it to get it on his wagon so I'm sure he didn't do anything because the bettery wasn't flat. It just seems very odd that it happened when parts were being replaced that require recoding work to the ECu Getting the ECU checked sounds a good idea, if it's possible it would solve it once and for all. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
tsteve9999 456 Posted April 25, 2014 Author Report Share Posted April 25, 2014 On 25/04/2014 at 16:24, chid21 said: Should of took it to a main dealers imo , only thing you can do if you autherised the work after they told you they thought the ecu was faulty is pay your bill and take the van away This was the only firm my mechanic knew of with the diagnostics to do the job, they are pretty well known in the area and tout themselves as specialists. I'll pay the bill for taking the ECU off willingly, but if it is the case that they have done something to cause it to fail they should be responsible for the rest imo Quote Link to post Share on other sites
tsteve9999 456 Posted April 25, 2014 Author Report Share Posted April 25, 2014 On 25/04/2014 at 17:05, charlie caller said: Pay the bill for what? They have not done anything except replace a selanoid, so ok you owe for that, but as for anything else! If a plumber comes to your house to mend a broken pipe, and dont fix it you dont pay him do you? But they are now saying there was nothing wrong wth the solenoid, so my argument is why the fukc didn't they check it before replacing it? I was a gas engineer before I retired and if I changed a part on a boiler without testing it on just the say so of the houseowner and it turned out to be something else there would be no chance of getting the money from them, same applies here imo Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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