I Need Help From Fellow Members

[Arthurgray50@blu]

I need some help from my fellow members, on a subject that must be dear to the motorist, amongst us, I had to call out the AA, at Xmas, as l broke down, and whilst he attempted to repair my car, which turned out to be spark plugs, they damaged my starter motor so badly, it had to be replaced at a cost of £85.00, they are denying that it was there fault and are refusing to pay for it, apart from complaining to the AA, who else can you complain too about the service and treatment - any advice

[Raistlin]

If you get nowhere with them you could always pursue it through the courts, although you have to ask yourself if it's worth all the hassle

[Vlad_Dracul]

You say they damaged the starter motor but can you elaborate..? How did this damage occur and what was the nature of the damage?

[tweetypie/8]

Originally Posted by Arthurgray50@blu

I need some help from my fellow members, on a subject that must be dear to the motorist, amongst us, I had to call out the AA, at Xmas, as l broke down, and whilst he attempted to repair my car, which turned out to be spark plugs, they damaged my starter motor so badly, it had to be replaced at a cost of £85.00, they are denying that it was there fault and are refusing to pay for it, apart from complaining to the AA, who else can you complain too about the service and treatment - any advice

sorry for your probs,but i have to ask how does working at the spark plugs affect the starter motor.

[videodj]

I used to be a mechanic and I find hard to believe that they would damage the starter motor, whilst trying to start a non working engine. Especially if it was a spark plug problem. The first thing you check when a car won't start, but turn's over is plug's, injection, ignition etc.

Most starter motors are at the back or side of the engine and particually easy to get, let alone damage.

What sort of car do you have, Arthur?

[Arthurgray50@blu]

Hi Videodj, As a former mechanic, you might know,l will explain the situation more to you, and then you will know what the problem is, my car was in perfect condition on Xmas Eve, no problems whatsoever, on Boxing day, l tried to start the car, it turned over, but would not start, then the battery became flat, called the AA, he took out his, battery charger machine, he must have turned the engine, somewhere in the region of about 10 times, still would not work, there was a start of a crackling noise coming from the engine, he then undone the housing for the fuel injectors, and started to adjust them, the crackling noise, was getting louder, and because he was the mechanic, l did not ask questions, he then went for the spark plugs, and then told me that the plugs were naff, and needed new ones, l told him that l would change them after xmas, (which was two days), he managed to start the car after 45 minutes, and still the crackling noise, and this was like it evertime l started the car, it was not making a noise, when moving, only when starting the engine, my mechanic looked at it, and told me it was the starter motor, and advised me that the motor, had been damaged, due to constant use by AA, as the motor is only used primarily to start the engine, and not for constant use - l trust that helps, the car is a Vauxhall Astra, the starter motor is on the right hand side of the engine, if you are looking into the engine from the front. Thank you

Arthur, were these the symptoms displayed when you tried to start your car?
when I turn the key it is as though my battery is flat, yet my headlights are very bright

Linky

[Chicken]

Originally Posted by Arthurgray50@blu

Hi Videodj, As a former mechanic, you might know,l will explain the situation more to you, and then you will know what the problem is, my car was in perfect condition on Xmas Eve, no problems whatsoever, on Boxing day, l tried to start the car, it turned over, but would not start, then the battery became flat,

And how many times did you attempt to start it before the battery went flat?

[shabbychic]

just a thought, as its easy to forget....

do you have house insurance? as a lot of them have legal protection, that should cover you for civil disputes.

if you havent already got the legal cover, it really is worth it (especially if you have neighbour disputes)

im not sure how much it is, but i know its not that much, mine for the year through the AA funnily enough, is only £65 for the year, ans thats with the legal cover

I would say the stater motor was most likely on its way out anyway and the extra wear and tear took it over . Im sure you turned the car over a number of times and im sure if your battery didnt go flat or you had a quick charger you would have turned it over some more. I think this is a case of swallow the loss dude