Hi all

2007 car bought in 2019 with 37,000 motorway miles ( 3000 a year used for fortnightly drive from London to Oxford)... mint condition!!

Thinking this car might be a keeper, I am changing the oil every 8,000 and really trying to look after it. However, couldn’t see any evidence of a timing belt change and although the miles are low the age isn’t, so I went to APB Independent LR specialists for that, plus a suspension bush.

They had it a week (they said it was complicated but wouldn’t explain why?), and did the timing belts (and a new oil pump) for a surprisingly high £1800. Oil pump and seal both LR genuine parts.

Exactly a week later, on the 22nd Dec, I started up on my drive, and hopped out to get something from the boot. As I came back to the drivers door, a massive and rapidly spreading puddle of oil. Literally pouring from the sump cover.

Turned off, and got it recovered to APB. They said they were unable to do anything until after the new year so finally got it looked at yesterday. Apparantly the crankshaft oil seal (genuine) has “popped out”. Wasn’t a dodgy seal and it was fine when they put it in.....?!?!

So, new seal in and that’s that. I’m now £4000 worse off ( they wouldn’t refund any of their original £1800, and now my my £350 hire fiesta over Xmas, the recovery costs or the fact I now need my drive resurfacing ).

Has anyone else had a new oil seal “pop out” after a oil pump / belt change?

Does anyone have a view on what I should do about being out of pocket?

Advice, comments, thoughts welcome!!

If you are happy to construct a letter threatening the garage under the 'Consumer Rights Act 2015', and follow it through to the county court then this is what you need to do.

Failing that for about £100 get a solicitor to write the letter for you.

Basically any damage resulting from poor workmanship is covered, as is hire car costs and repairs to your drive. If the part was faulty then it is up to the garage to seek compensation, your contract was with them to effect the original repairs, and these should have been carried out to a satisfactory standard.

They have no way out. 2010 3.6 TDV8 HSE (Gone)
2011 Discovery 4 Commercial SDV6 (Gone)
1980 OBLIC 4.0ltr Range Rover (went a long time ago)

The crankshaft oil seal will readily pop out, or at best leak badly, if it isn't installed properly. Properly means that it must sit absolutely squarely in the oil pump (difficult without special tools or extensive experience) and the proper depth (again difficult without the proper tool or experience).

A lot more here https://www.disco3.co.uk/forum/crankshaft-...85773.html 07MY RRS TDV6
Arctic Frost
Aspen Interior

Yes I had a new oil seal “pop out” after a oil pump / belt change. In summary my 4x4 'indi' garage had changed their supplier. 2 days after the oil & belt change the whole contents leaked out. I called the garage and they were brilliant. They said I was the 2nd customer to have called them about this. They collected my car and did everything necessary to make good the work including giving me the equipment to clean the driveway. They also recalled the other vehicles they had recently serviced whether or not they had issues. Barrie.
2017-Jan 2024: 2005 RRS 2.7TDV6. Best car I ever had - until now!
Current: 2018 Ford Ranger Wildtrak 3.2

/\/\ That’s a good garage!! 2019 5.0 SC SVA (Current)
2012 5.0 SC AB. Sadly written off by a campervan
23 plate Focus ST (Current)
1942 VEP Ford GPW Jeep (Willys) (Current)
1943 Whites M16 Halftrack (Current)
16 plate Eurofighter Typhoon, 2 x Eurojet engines with 20,000lbs thrust each. 1380mph