Breakdown! Advice Required

[Mickman]

Hello all

I recently set off with my wife and youngest child on a 2,500km road trip to the Flinders Ranges, Oodnadatta Track and Coober Pedy. Before leaving I asked my mechanic to check over the vehicle and, in particularly, to look at the oil leaks. One was a leak from the transfer case (I checked the level and it was only slightly down) and a leak around the sump. He order a kit for the transfer box but we decided to do the job after I returned. The oil around the sump was from the oil filter housing so, being a relatively simple job, he replaced it. I took the car for a drive for a couple hundred km to check it out before departure and the next morning noticed a couple drops of oil on the ground and around the filter. I took it back to him and voiced my concern and , after putting up on the hoist and having a very brief look, he decided everything was fine and it was just a little excess oil around the top of the filter.

We left the following day and after four days and 1000km travelled we pulled up at Lake Eyre. I jumped out the car to take a photo and as I turned back to the car (still running on the turbo timer) I noticed a pool of oil and oil still gushing out. I immediately stopped the car, waited five minutes and checked the level. Maybe a drip still on the very bottom of the stick. I added my spare 1 litre of oil and this took is to about 1/3rd up the stick. Called the RAA, they came the following day at noon and towed me to Coober Pedy. Tow was around $5,000 including my Jayco van but the RAA picked up $4000 for this and put me up for a few nights.

The Coober Pedy mechanic called me at noon the following day and informed me that there were a couple of oil line nuts loose and this is what caused the problem. He tightened, added around 2 litres of oil and everything was fine. The car drove home beautifully with no further trouble.

My mechanic was quick to tell me over the satellite phone that if he was at fault he was more than happy to put things right. I am about $1350 out of pocket including the Coober Pedy mechanic charge and the tow. I would be grateful for any advice on how to approach this with my mechanic and to what extend to you think he should be assisting me.

Thanks.

[simonmelb]

It sounds fairly straightforward and looks like you have a good communications with you mechanic.

So I would try abd get a simple statement or email from the Cooper pedy mechanic to pass onto your mechanic.

Have a chat with your mechanic over the phone or face to face and all should be good I suspect.

Glad you had a good end to the trip😊.

[Mickman]

Thanks Simon

It's tough living in a small country town and dealing with issues like this when they arise. I have a report from the CP mechanic and he also sent me a video when he discovered the fault.

[filcar]

Your mechanic is probably a small business and may be very reluctant to pony up with cash, but maybe you can work out something for 10 or 15 hours free labour going into the future.