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Hi,
I recently sent a mail to the forum administrators asking what they suggest would be the best way to let members know about a dodgy mechanic working in the Chertsey/Shepperton(Middlesex) area.
Below is the mail I sent to them, sorry it's a bit lengthy but it does show this character up for what he really is. For obvious reasons I've been asked not to include his name and that of his business in this post.
This mechanic really needs to be avoided so if anyone would like to know his name and that of his business then I'll be happy to mail details to you.
Hi,
I've been a member of the forum for a couple of years now.
Sorry for this fairly lengthy mail but I just want to bring to your attention a mechanic who runs a service/repair business in the Chertsey/Shepperton (Middlesex ) area. He's a self -professed specialist in 4 wheel drive vehicles, in particular the Hilux Surf and I really feel it's necessary to warn people about this character and how he conducts his business.
In September last year he had a County Court Judgement go against him as a result of a claim I'd taken out. I'd taken my Hilux Surf to him for a basic service/cam belt check etc - also during that initial visit I noticed at least 4 other Surfs either waiting to be picked- up or worked on.
He completed the service but I returned the vehicle within a couple of weeks due to low oil pressure and noise from the engine. He told me it would need a replacement turbocharger and that he would be able to get a reconditioned unit from a company called ITS Turbos, Leeds. He also told me this was a company he used regularly.
To cut a long story short it turned out that he never replaced the turbo ( the original Toyota unit ) but merely steamed cleaned the engine a little and then sprayed some laquer to make things look 'new'.
ITS Turbos confirmed to me in writing that they had never received an order from this mechanic for a reconditioned turbo for a Hilux Surf and that he was not a regular customer of theirs.They also confirmed that the faulty turbo (which was eventually returned to them) was in fact an original Toyota part in very bad condition and not one of their reconditioned units.
The mechanic took £996 for the turbo, inc. labour/vat and along with an invoice he also gave me an ITS Turbos Guarantee/Warranty. At the time I had no reason to believe he'd not done the work and shortly returned the vehicle to him because oil -pressure and noise problems were still present. He then suggested it was a problem with the oil-pump and recommended that he investigate this. He kept the vehicle for some time and after removing the front suspension and sump he informed me that it was indeed the oil pump that was the problem and that it had in fact 'disintegrated'. He also told me that the crankshaft needed to be reground.
I'm not a mechanic but the idea that an oil pump could disintegrate sounded wrong and at this point I told him to stop working on my vehicle and I arranged for a reputable engineering company to collect it and conduct their own investigations ---their written report states they found the oil pump to be in perfect working order and the crankshaft to be in good condition also and in no way in need of a re-grind. The turbo was not investigated at this time as we believed that a reconditioned unit from ITS Turbos had been fitted.
I drove the vehicle for a short time but due to considerable oil loss from the faulty turbo the engine suffered catastrophic bearing failure and extensive damage. The engine needed a re-build and this, along with other expenses incurred leaves me in the process of recovering damages and costs awarded by the Court of £5,500. ( Other than this my vehicle is now in great shape !)
Once again sorry for this lengthy mail but I hope it might save someone else having to deal with this clown. He's still trading from the same premesis in Chertsey, Middx. and I'm sure if he's done this to me he's capable of doing it,if not already,to others.
I recently sent a mail to the forum administrators asking what they suggest would be the best way to let members know about a dodgy mechanic working in the Chertsey/Shepperton(Middlesex) area.
Below is the mail I sent to them, sorry it's a bit lengthy but it does show this character up for what he really is. For obvious reasons I've been asked not to include his name and that of his business in this post.
This mechanic really needs to be avoided so if anyone would like to know his name and that of his business then I'll be happy to mail details to you.
Hi,
I've been a member of the forum for a couple of years now.
Sorry for this fairly lengthy mail but I just want to bring to your attention a mechanic who runs a service/repair business in the Chertsey/Shepperton (Middlesex ) area. He's a self -professed specialist in 4 wheel drive vehicles, in particular the Hilux Surf and I really feel it's necessary to warn people about this character and how he conducts his business.
In September last year he had a County Court Judgement go against him as a result of a claim I'd taken out. I'd taken my Hilux Surf to him for a basic service/cam belt check etc - also during that initial visit I noticed at least 4 other Surfs either waiting to be picked- up or worked on.
He completed the service but I returned the vehicle within a couple of weeks due to low oil pressure and noise from the engine. He told me it would need a replacement turbocharger and that he would be able to get a reconditioned unit from a company called ITS Turbos, Leeds. He also told me this was a company he used regularly.
To cut a long story short it turned out that he never replaced the turbo ( the original Toyota unit ) but merely steamed cleaned the engine a little and then sprayed some laquer to make things look 'new'.
ITS Turbos confirmed to me in writing that they had never received an order from this mechanic for a reconditioned turbo for a Hilux Surf and that he was not a regular customer of theirs.They also confirmed that the faulty turbo (which was eventually returned to them) was in fact an original Toyota part in very bad condition and not one of their reconditioned units.
The mechanic took £996 for the turbo, inc. labour/vat and along with an invoice he also gave me an ITS Turbos Guarantee/Warranty. At the time I had no reason to believe he'd not done the work and shortly returned the vehicle to him because oil -pressure and noise problems were still present. He then suggested it was a problem with the oil-pump and recommended that he investigate this. He kept the vehicle for some time and after removing the front suspension and sump he informed me that it was indeed the oil pump that was the problem and that it had in fact 'disintegrated'. He also told me that the crankshaft needed to be reground.
I'm not a mechanic but the idea that an oil pump could disintegrate sounded wrong and at this point I told him to stop working on my vehicle and I arranged for a reputable engineering company to collect it and conduct their own investigations ---their written report states they found the oil pump to be in perfect working order and the crankshaft to be in good condition also and in no way in need of a re-grind. The turbo was not investigated at this time as we believed that a reconditioned unit from ITS Turbos had been fitted.
I drove the vehicle for a short time but due to considerable oil loss from the faulty turbo the engine suffered catastrophic bearing failure and extensive damage. The engine needed a re-build and this, along with other expenses incurred leaves me in the process of recovering damages and costs awarded by the Court of £5,500. ( Other than this my vehicle is now in great shape !)
Once again sorry for this lengthy mail but I hope it might save someone else having to deal with this clown. He's still trading from the same premesis in Chertsey, Middx. and I'm sure if he's done this to me he's capable of doing it,if not already,to others.
bet he aint the only one, It's just a pity you have to loose so much money to these bas***ds before ya find out what there like
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