That is part of the argument the garage is putting. That they feel the entire tranz is cooked and the seal is just a symptom.
gunna-1,
Jan 7, 1:20am
If the trans is cooked the oil usually smells abit off.
lakeview3,
Jan 7, 1:25am
then it should be taken to a trans specialist to determine if this is the case or not. Either way some sort of compromise by involved parties is going to have to be happen.
mechnificent,
Jan 7, 1:25am
But the assessor saw the vehicle before it came apart. Seals don't fail that fast. A failing seal starts off with a small leak. When we put a motor in, we start it and check for leaks, oil and water, then we drive a short way, and stop and have another look. Not just get in and drive far enough to loose all the fluid. We push the convertor back, it slides on the shafts and can't move or chew the seal. It's how it's meant to be done. They must have pulled it out, or let it fall out.
Tell them to ask if they inspected it for water leaks when they started it. and then ask them well how come you didn't see the fluid pissing out ?
gunna-1,
Jan 7, 1:27am
Is #1 hinting at the possibility of a mechanic takeing it for a flogging?.
mechnificent,
Jan 7, 1:28am
Tell them to go to the place and ask the questions, with a witness there to hear the answers. Don't phone.
3tomany,
Jan 7, 1:28am
A 20 year old car i would tell the garage to keep it then.
franc123,
Jan 7, 1:29am
They need to be able to prove that. They are already making a questionable argument that the leak was a pre existing condition, if the MBI assessor has already stated there was no leaks from their inspection for the engine damage claim their case is even thinner. A leak from anywhere that is that significant WOULD have been spotted. It's just an unfortunate situation, it is always a risk that a converter seal could let go if it's old enough and worn enough during a remove and refit. This is one of the primary reasons I dont like MBI work, in my view the insurers should be paying, this further issue is clearly related to the original work/claim, whether the policy has expired in that time is not relevant in my view. The customer should be demanding its fixed without delay and the insurer and garage should bang their heads together re who pays afterwards, they are not liable for further costs.
lakeview3,
Jan 7, 1:30am
or someone took it off and forgot to put it back on? (the seal that is)
mechnificent,
Jan 7, 1:36am
The garage should have third party.
mechnificent,
Jan 7, 1:36am
No need to touch the seal Lake.
mechnificent,
Jan 7, 1:36am
Bottom line. they should have checked for leaks.
mrfxit,
Jan 7, 2:46am
"massive oil leak (which was found to be transmission oil ) and the vehicle lost all drive. "
Thoughts for the afternoon ? ? ?
#1: Have you ever seen a torque converter seal damaged by wear or "general" abuse, leak that badly?
#2: if it was a "massive leak" bad enough to drain the auto on a test drive, How was it that the car was in a (apparently) perfectly drivable condition before the engine died.
#3: If the car had arrived at the workshop with signs of a previous "massive oil leak", why was it not mentioned by the inspecting mechanic & the insurance inspector (or the towing / transport company) they hate massive oil leaks on the trailer decks & tow gear. #4 : Could be torque converter tube seal (unlikely for previous massive oil leak & that it was somehow was missed on inspection). #5: could be a transmission oil line (previously damaged / damaged in transport/ damaged by mechanic but why wasn't it noticed during the new engine test - would have left a big oil puddle under the car).
franc123,
Jan 7, 3:12am
The fault has developed as a result of the trans removal and connection to the new engine, there's no doubt about that.
mechnificent,
Jan 7, 3:31am
And they weren't checking for water leaks or they would have seen a massive fluid leak before it all leaked out. Even if there was a bit of rust on the convertor's snout, which is the only justifiable reason for there to be a leak I can think of, it should have been a small leak and they should still have spotted it. Big or small they should have spotted it.
Whatever caused it, it should have been spotted as a matter of standard, accepted, industry wide practice. And that is the practice required. That is mechanic's and garages expected level of care and proficiency.
You are responsible and you check for leaks and don't let them get to that stage.
You can bet that if the customer had driven away and the car dribbled a bit of water on the driveway for some reason a week later, a small water leak from a hose, and the customer had decided oh to hell with it I'll take it in to show them next week, and had then cooked it, the garage would have been whinging that the customer should have known better.
kazbanz,
Jan 7, 4:06am
It seems that's the crux of the matter -except we have three people all saying that its between the other two people. mechanic saying effectively its between owner and MBI but they want paying Owner saying "im the victim here and you two need to sort it out" MBI refusing to pay due to job not complete properly.
mechnificent,
Jan 7, 4:12am
The mech's at fault. His job to fix the car for the customer and then sort out who pays.
franc123,
Jan 7, 4:44am
And the owner is right. Its seems simple enough to me, the car owner currently has an unusable vehicle that is a result of a condition that's developed post repair with a component that has been worked on/disturbed during the course of the work. it's not a pre existing condition or something they're directly responsible for.
saxman99,
Jan 7, 4:49am
If it was my car I’d probably suck up the loss, tell everybody to get knotted and go buy another car at a reputable yard like Millars or something.
mechnificent,
Jan 7, 5:02am
Lol.
Mechanics are required to follow the usual industry practices. If they don't they don't have a leg to stand on, as they say. He should have checked for leaks.
Sue the bastard if he won't fix it. He can do it cheap.
differentthings,
Jan 7, 7:40am
I'm just saying what needs to happen, how it is done is up to the parties involved 1/ if the mechanic pulls out the trans to find the problem he will hide what he did wrong and blame something else 2/ if the insurer refuses to pay for the work done then they accept the car is not economy to repair and should pay the owner out 3/ far go or a lawyer will soon sort out the problem
kazbanz,
Jan 7, 8:22am
ATM nobody is budging. Im trying to figure out a way to help push someone into relenting. I can see it from everybodys POV Trady hasn't been paid insurers job hasn't been done right.--keep ion mind the assessor is ex a grade mechanic. owner want car fixed.--head bang
mechnificent,
Jan 7, 8:46am
Take someone along and ask if he checked for water leaks before the drive, or during the drive,.and then, why he didn't notice the fluid leak. Have a witness.
mechnificent,
Jan 7, 8:48am
If he drove it knowing it had a fluid leak he's to blame for the damage now.
mechnificent,
Jan 7, 8:49am
If he drove it without checking it, he's to blame now.
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