Timing and valve cover gasket were recomended by dealership to be replaced, I had not expereinced any issues or noticed any leakage, but the km's are nearing 200k so it was plausible. The control arms also did need to be replaced so I booked for a 2 day job. Received a call on day 2 that the starter was dead. They tried to turn over and nothing but clicks. I thought it was a bit sudden and odd, but things can happen. Starter replaced. Car taken by tech for a drive. All was good.
Picked car up and immediatly noticed a residual gas fume smell before even starting the car to drive off the lot. Thought it was just burn off. Noted that the battery had never been disconected. Drove home with the window half open. Car drove nice and smooth though with no indication that anything was wrong. In fact, there was a noticeable increase in its pep and power responce even driving through slow rush hour traffic. A couple days later drove to work and same thing. Smell was nauseously unbearable and more noticeable with heater on. Was alerted by another person in the parking lot that my car smelt heavily of gas. No dashboard indicators appeared.
Brought car to dealership. Told that attending tech believed there was a crack in the fuel pump and that it needed to be replaced. Quoted a repair cost, which I was told was fully mine as issue was unrelated to previouse repair job. Came on this forum for additional opinions and wisdom. Senior tech came back later to say it could be a fuel line, which is being replaced right now, but is more of a trouble shooting thing. Car is still at shop.
Not particularly happy with this of this sequence of events, nor the explainations that are being given. I know something is amiss here. I drove it off the lot brand new and have never had major mechanical issues with it and always maitained its upkeep on time.
Ideas and wisdom to share?
