dazde

Hi guys, Sorry I should have clarified .... It is my wife's car (I have the joy of owning a people carrier), but we call everything ours LOL It's a '99 (originally on a T plate) IS200 (the base version, not sport or SE) Done about 85,000 We've owned it for about 7 years, at which point it had full history, but since then either I'e done the servicing, or my friend who's a mechanic, so no history, which I know won't do me any favours. Cheers, Darren

Thanks Saraj

Which ombudsmen would I take this up with ? Appreciate any links etc. Thanks, Darren

Thanks for all the good replies guys. As it was not my wife's fault, her insurance company (a very large automobile one !), advised her to go through a separate company that deal with 3rd partly claims. It is this other company that have investigated so far, and their conclusion is that it's just down to poor maintenance on our part (as the oil level was low so they say). My wife spoke to her insurance company today (the large automobile one), and they have said the same thing, and that the legal cover will not be applicable in this case. I've also spoken to the bodyshop, who are very dismissive of it all, and say it's nothing to do with them. The whole thing sucks, but I'm not sure where to turn as all 3 companies I'm dealing with, are saying it's case closed. To take it up independently with a separate report and solicitor, is likely to cost me a fortune, with no guarantee I'll get anywhere. Cheers, Darren

Thanks. The garage are refusing to accept any liability, and the insurance company now appeared to have closed the case as they believe it is in no way accident related. I'm still fighting the case, but it doesn't look hopeful - If I had a good solicitor I may stand a chance, but I don't want to risk running up a large legal bill, so I'm planning ahead and thinking I'll have to repair myself. Not sure I know what you mean ? - I realise there's a good chance the crank will need grinding, in which case I'll need oversize shells. Do you know where I can source the shells ? Thanks, Darren

The vehicle was hit whilst parked, and not too hard either, as it was reversed into. I can't honestly see how it could be accident related, and the independent engineer that took a look can't either. My problem is if I get another company to strip it and write a report, it will still be up for debate (unless the find something conclusive), and I'll have a fairly hefty bill with still no repair, which due to the age of the car, I don't want to spend a fortune on it. I haven't signed for it so that's good, but our insurance tell us the legal cover we have will not apply as it's not accident related. :-(

Hi, IS200 '99 T plate After getting my car back from the bodyshop with the bigends gone, it looks like I'll be doing the work myself. Not something I'm thrilled about doing, as I tend not to work on cars much these days, but I figured I may aswell do it myself if I don't need to lift the engine (as I don't have an engine hoist any more, and raising it will probably need a load disconnecting). Once I remove the splash guard underneath, can I remove the sump without lifting the engine ? Also are big end shells easily sourced for these ? Cheers, Darren

Looking for opinions/suggestions here ... My wife's car was recently damaged - parked up while she was at work, and someone reversed into it. Fortunately, the person left a note on the car, and where my wife works, so it was all going nicely through their insurance. On Fri last week, they called me to say the car was now finished, and that they noticed the oil light was on. I asked them if they meant just for a few seconds after starting, or permanently (as the car goes through a start up sequence with the lights). They said they didn't know as they only moved it briefly. They also said they checked the oil level and it was OK. Monday they called my wife to say they would be delivering it back, and they agreed they would call her, so she could be home. No phone call, and when my wife gets home, the car's on the drive (unlocked), with the keys through the letterbox. Monday night I went to move the car, and the noise from the engine is terrible, and the oil light's staying on. To me it sounded like the big end bearings, but to be sure I called a friend who's a mechanic, and he confirmed that's what it sounded like. When the bodyshop collected the car originally, they took it on the back of a lorry, and I'm assuming it was delivered back that way. I've looked underneath to see if the sump had been knocked at all, but all looks fine. The accident itself, was at slow speed I believe (although we were not there due to it being parked), but only damaged the wing, bumper and headlight An engineer has now looked at the vehicle, and the only thing that stands out is that the oil on the dipstick looks fresh. He questioned this with the bodyshop again, and this time they said it was very low so they topped it up. The insurance now say this was down to poor maintenance on our part, but I feel a bit cheated as it left our house OK to go to the bodyshop, and came back wrecked (engine wise). I had checked the oil level about a month ago and this never used oil, nor was there any sign of a leak. On top of that, I believe there's an oil level warning light (separate to the oil pressure), so I'm finding it hard to believe that it was that low in the first place but now I'm stuck :-( Cheers, Darren