Mechanic Screwed up Fuel Line during Routine Service

LcmdrNacho1983 on 13/05/2022 - 15:04

Long time lurker on Ozbargin and need some advice. My had a routine service at a new mechanic (second time) and all up as a major service with a few extras (new drive belt, oil and fluid change) was $1200 all up.

Come today about 2 days post service the car is leaking petrol from the bottom in two areas when we tried to start the car (and when the car is moved) Fuel leaking onto the garage and driveway and had to call both a tow truck and fire truck (asked by the tow driver) to help deal with the petrol spill.

It’s now back at the shop and I’m quite angry as driving around with a car leaking petrol sounds like a fire death trap for the family.

What options do I have? I’m going to insist on a full refund for the service - Is that enough? What would people recommend I do?

Automotive Mechanic

Comments

  • Jason Genova on 13/05/2022 - 15:10
    +13

    lol they wont give you a full refund

    they'd fix the fault for you and at best will give you a sincere (fake) apology

  • donga100 on 13/05/2022 - 15:11
    +1

    $1200 for a service?!

    • cmdrNacho1983 on 13/05/2022 - 15:17
      -1

      Major service was $800 - extras needed were $400

      Still expensive

      • Keplaffintech on 13/05/2022 - 15:25
        +2

        what was in the major service? how do you know it was the service that caused the leak? co-incidences do happen. If a fuel filter was changed that would be more suspect for example.

        • cmdrNacho1983 on 13/05/2022 - 15:31

          Good point - if they did change the fuel filter as part of the scheduled service and didn’t fit it back properly that could explain the issue.

  • oscargamer on 13/05/2022 - 15:13
    -1

    Good luck getting anything.
    Highly unlikely the service is responsible for the fuel leak.
    Post back once you find the reason for the leak.

  • Caped Baldy on 13/05/2022 - 15:54
    +3

    Probably fix it for free and provide a free car while it's repaired.

    Fighting this stuff can get messy. Best to move on (and leave a negative review) and find another mechanic.

  • Drakesy on 13/05/2022 - 16:00
    +1

    You're not going to get back the service price..
    The mechanic will rectify and should reimburse the additional tow cost/fire truck costs and provide a replacement car for the duration
    But thats about it.

  • pegaxs on 13/05/2022 - 16:05
    +4

    Is that enough?

    Oh, look, it's another "wHeReZ mUh CoMpEnSaTiOnZ" thread…

    What you do is, if it is the fault of the mechanic (and not just an unrelated coincidence), then ask the mechanic to pay for the tow truck and any associated costs from calling the fire truck and/or hire cars/transport. Get the mechanic to rectify the issue. Never go back there again and find another mechanic. (Dont forget: Ask Pam to leave an appropriate Google review.)

    *chirp* Simples!!

  • brad1-8tsi on 13/05/2022 - 16:07
    +6

    I'd get him to fix the fuel leak. That's the issue.

    Your claim to $1200 refund is without justification.

  • cmdrNacho1983 on 13/05/2022 - 16:17
    +4

    Update: Turns out a clip that holds the fuel line in place has cracked. Mechanic didn’t want to say for sure it happened when they replaced the fuel filter during the service but said it’s possible.

    They are replacing the clip (will take a couple of days unfortunately for the part) and giving me a refund in full as the car spent the day dripping petrol all over my property and want to compensate me for the time and hassle - they offered I didn’t ask.

    Thanks for all the polite and helpful comments.

    • MS Paint on 13/05/2022 - 16:55

      A broken clip caused a fuel leak?

      What car make / model?

    • Drakesy on 13/05/2022 - 16:58
      +6

      Geezus talk about going above and beyond.
      That mechanic deserves 5 stars for something that may've been out of their control.

      • cmdrNacho1983 on 13/05/2022 - 17:11
        +3

        Agree, I was genuinely surprised. I will give them a good and honest review for being awesome about the whole mess.

        • Kangal on 14/05/2022 - 02:17

          Which year / make / model is your car?

  • Hithere on 13/05/2022 - 16:19
    -1

    What would people recommend I do?

    Grow up and change mechanics if you're going to be losing sleep over it.

  • Euphemistic on 13/05/2022 - 17:21
    +3

    So you came here to rant and rave and see if it’s fair to demand a refund - and resolved the issue in your favour in less than an hour? Sounds legit.

    $1200 refund sounds like the mechanic is overly generous or perhaps they could see you were ‘one of those customers’. I wouldn’t expect my mechanic to refund that much, maybe $400 or so for tow truck costs and a bit of clean up. After all they did do a full major service as well.

    • pegaxs on 13/05/2022 - 18:51
      +1

      You know by now that you have to ask here first instead of seeing what the mechanic would say… We all know that in any resolution process, the first thing regarding a refund, the mechanic would have said "Did you ask OzBargain first, and what did they suggest?"

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