Well, the answer to that is no, would have done the same as you did. if the mod tensioner failed, it would not result in more damage.This shows clearly the difference in attitudes between someone who has spent thier life on the shop floor with an un-limitless supply of parts and money all thier life, and someone who has been at the sharp end of "having to make do with what you get put in front of you
One...if your doing something as a favour, you get NO WARRANTY WHATSOEVER. This point is clear to both parties, there are also no comebacks. Written order for the work, yes if you worked in longbridge and half the time was spent on strike, a written order meant you actually had to do something
Aftermarker suppliers dont want to know about warranty either, i fitted a VAP oil pump to a dexta engine, it had a faulty non relief valve that meant the oil pressures were high enough to blow the sealing rings out of the filter. I sent it back, said it was a dud, didnt get a refund. I refitted the old pump and just took it as a lesson that VAP parts are in general, shite.
Very often, you have to do things "not by the book" in this trade. I had a customer turn up at 5pm on a bank holiday, desperate for a belt for thier straw chopper, rain was forecast for the monday. I didnt have a belt to fit, there wasnt any suppliers open, and a new belt couldnt be obtained until the tuesday.
However, i did have a belt what fitted, but was 6" too long. So, the belt tensioner was cut, a spacer welded into it to increase its range, and the longer belt was fitted, the customer was up and running by 7pm that night.
I take it you would have sent the customer off with "i havent got a belt, il sort one out on tuesday".........
This what happened to the garage I worked for. Customer buys a used TD5 disco, the oil pump drive falls off and takes the engine out.We obtain a low hours engine from a redundant transmission test bed, fit it with a new oil pump, and fit to vehicle, it runs very well indeed, better then the original.Customer collects vehicle and is happy. Three days later customer returns, saying the engine is no good, and he wants a genuine LR replacement unit.We get an independent assessment, which confirms the engine is fine, so we refuse his demand. Customer goes to court, and wins his case, we were instructed to comply with his demand, and provide a loan vehicle during the repair . Costs were awarded against us as well.
We also had a well used 300tdi which had a head gasket failure, that had a rebore, new head etc, and was fine. Customer refused to accept the repair, demanding a new, not even a LR exchange engine. Went to court, won his case.