Cam Belt 1997 90 300 TDI (snapped)

Can you give me some expert advice I had my cam belt changed by a local garage 1 month ago it has since snapped and is back with them. They are saying the only damage is the push rods as it snapped at low revs. Is there likely to be more damage that needs fixing (pulling wool over my eyes) or are they telling the truth. The reason it snapped is they failed to fit the washer on the crank pulley so it slowly got worn down then snapped. Thanks for any adivce, theya re also tryingt to charge me 20 hours labour for a clutch and cam belt change !!!!!

Yes, it's just likely to be push rods.

20 hours seems to be a bit much. With all the proper kit, I reckon I could do the cam belt in 4hrs and the clutch in 8.

get written quotes from other garages for Labour only on Cambelt and Clutch then take it to show them. They are likely to add hours on to try and cover themselves for downtime fixing something that is ultimately there fault.

G

20 hours is surely taking the ****!! Agree get quotes for the labour from other garages.

Thanks for all your advice just had garage on phone again and they are now telling me there was a recall on 1998 300 TDI for a cam belt mod and mine had not had this fitted is this true was there a recall on late 300 TDI I know there was a pronblem with the early ones ?

my 300tdi never had the mod and the belt snapped

The original crank pully was a 2 piece pulley. You had the main pulley with a fat spacing washer that sat behind it.

The modification was to mould the pulley and washer into 1 piece. If your garage fitted the full cambelt kit as I would expect them to do it is there fault for failing to fit the modified pulley.

My guess however is that they fitted the modified pulley AND the washer. This threw your belt out of line and caused it to snap. It is a common mistake. made by garages that don't know what they are doing.

If it's just pushrods that are bent It should take 3-4 hours to rectify. If the garage are saying 20 hours they are definately having you on.
If they ask you to pay a penny towards it then go to trading standards. They did the work (or not). They are to blame.

Can't see why you should have to pay anything!

Indeed, why are you even thinking of paying them any money? A garage did some work on your car, screwed it up, admitted it was their fault (astonishing) and now want to charge you for fixing it?

If it were me, I'd be getting them to pay for an LR franchise to do the work.