Engine mounting failed - advise please? (UPDATE)

[vRStu]

If you weren't invoiced for new bolts then I think you have cause for concern.

[Hedge]

C'mon ladies, it's not helping the OP with his question. 

I agree. Lets see the facts when they come to light. 

[barlimow]

If you weren't invoiced for new bolts then I think you have cause for concern.

I wasn't invoiced for them. "Cause for concern" as in I'm stuffed then?! Or cause for concern in the quality of the work, and therefore it's their fault?

[vRStu]

Cause for concern as in the official repair manual suggests to replace the bolts, if yours weren't then they probably should have been.

[barlimow]

OK, just spoke to the service manager. He said categorically that they do not need to remove the engine mounting bolts during a cambelt change, as they can access the cambelt without doing this.

In case I had misunderstood, I confirmed this again at the end of the conversation, and again he repeated that they definitely do not remove them.

This seems to be contrary to what everyone else has said though.

He's going to get back to me when they have looked at the car.

Not sure where to go with this now. Whatever he now comes back with re the damage (and it could be huge), he's going to say it's absolutely nothing to do with the cambelt change.

[vRStu]

I don't have access to my workshop data at the moment but I can certainly check for you to see if removing the engine mount is the approved method, I'm pretty sure it's the generally accepted one.  If  they have someone that can do it without then I'd say he has the hands of a child.

In the interim I'd phone another dealer or two and ask if they need to remove the engine mount to access the belt.  No need to go into too much detail with them.

Are you able to get back to the car and inspect it before they do??

[Deako]

I can get the official cambelt change procedure for you if you like? Or if someone else has access to the VW tech processes they could post them.

It might take me a day or two to get them off a friend that works at VW.

[barlimow]

I don't have access to my workshop data at the moment but I can certainly check for you to see if removing the engine mount is the approved method, I'm pretty sure it's the generally accepted one.  If  they have someone that can do it without then I'd say he has the hands of a child.

In the interim I'd phone another dealer or two and ask if they need to remove the engine mount to access the belt.  No need to go into too much detail with them.

Are you able to get back to the car and inspect it before they do??

Would be useful if you could check, many thanks.

No, I can't get back to it I'm afraid. I work nowhere near the garage.

I can get the official cambelt change procedure for you if you like?

That would be very useful, thanks Deako.

[QD MBE]

Access to free official workshop manuals is on this very site.

 http://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,1797.0.html

[chowgar]

Interesting.. just googled it and strugglimng to find any instructions/advice that dont say remove the engine mount!!!

either way hope you get it sorted...

[Deako]

Access to free official workshop manuals is on this very site.

 http://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,1797.0.html

Most the links on that no longer work.

[barlimow]

UPDATE2:

They do change the bolts. No damage to the block apparantly. They will fit new mounts, cambelt kit (precautionary). Currently undergoing compression tests (??) to ascertain everything OK. They are picking up the tab.

Courtesy car on its way to my house now.

So far so good.

Thanks everyone for your helpful input, certainly made me feel more informed when I spoke to the dealership today.

[vRStu]

Some good news so far then.

[h4rdy]

UPDATE2:

They do change the bolts. No damage to the block apparantly. They will fit new mounts, cambelt kit (precautionary). Currently undergoing compression tests (??) to ascertain everything OK. They are picking up the tab.

Courtesy car on its way to my house now.

So far so good.

Thanks everyone for your helpful input, certainly made me feel more informed when I spoke to the dealership today.

Thats saying its our fault IMHO.

I am happy its been sorted I bet its a relief?

[barlimow]

Thats saying its our fault IMHO.

Though he didn't say those words, that was the essense of what he said (that they were either faulty, or not secured properly, but they were now so damaged they couldn't tell).

I am happy its been sorted I bet its a relief?

Too right! Big relief. Though (being the way I am) I may now have a nagging doubt that it HAS done some more damage that just hasn't come to light yet...