Dealer declines responsibility for Discovery Sport stretched timing chain rejection claim.

A stretched Discovery timing chain can lead to a noisy engine, misfire, restricted performance and potentially engine failure.

Ingenium 2.0L Jaguar Land Rover cars seem susceptible to timing chain stretch, but that can be caused by poor servicing and reduced lubrication, whether due to Dpf related issues, oil dilution or blocked oil ways.

Car dealers and car finance lenders have evolved to obtain ‘expert’ reports to prove timing chain failure is due to wear and tear rather than a manufacturing fault, which was the basis in this case for Big Motoring World denying liability.

The relevant facts

Ms A bought the Discovery from Big Motoring World for around £17,000 which included a 3-month warranty. Around 3 months later the Discovery experienced restricted performance, abnormal engine noise and transmission performance issues.

The dealer instructed an independent vehicle inspection services company to provide an inspection report, which confirmed a timing chain rattle, indicative of stretched timing chain.

The report went on to say that issues like this are common with the 2.0L Ingenium engine.

It was also mentioned that the DPF had suffered blockage and eventual cracking of the monolith, due to excessive pressure.

Big Motoring World relied on the report that the problem with the Discovery was not a problem at all but commensurate with the age and mileage of the vehicle.

Our Instructions

Dissatisfied with the decision of Warranties 2000 and the dealer, Ms A instructed Stormcatcher to get her money back. We advised an oil sample analysis be obtained, which it was, from Millers Oil, revealing the poor condition of the oil.

The oil soot level was critical, indicating significant reduction in the lubrication properties of the oil, leading to wear of the engine parts as indicated by the iron content.

We wrote to Big Motoring World explaining that the report did not reflect the engineering of the Discovery 2.0L Ingenium engine and the circumstantial evidence of a PDI (pre delivery inspection) document which mentioned the engine was slightly noisy.

Conclusion

Although the car had about 80000 miles on the clock, the analysis of the evidence confirmed the car was not in the best of health. The oil was in poor condition despite it having been changed before sale, leading to the conclusion the stretched timing chain was a symptom of an underlying engine problem.

It was agreed that Ms A would receive a full refund with the amount which would have been deducted for mileage set off against her costs.

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