AA Zone

Mis diagnosis of fuel contamination

Mis diagnosis of fuel contamination

Original Post

Hi, yesterday I had an AA technician out to my car for an intermittent fault (this fault has happened about 4 times over the last 2 years). After explaining to him that I had filled my car up from an empty tank a couple of days ago and not being able to produce the specific receipt detailing the exact fuel type dispensed he diagnosed that the problem with my car was that I’d put petrol into my diesel car.

I, on his advice, booked in for a AA Fuel Assist technician to come out to flush my car of the contaminated fuel. After explaining to the AA Fuel Assist technician that I was 95% certain I had dispensed the correct fuel he said he would check it for me before he started. He didn’t detect that it was the correct fuel and started to flush the system on the fuel.

After flushing out £50 worth of fuel and charging £190 the car started okay (which wasn’t any different to previous occasions) and he was on his way. I then went back to the garage I had the fuel from and asked them to give me a duplicate receipt from the transaction ID on the Visa receipt I had. Guess, what… I was right, I had put diesel in my car.

When I pulled off the forecourt of the garage the car died on my again and I’ve now by-passed the AA and arranged for a pick-up truck to tow my car to my usual mechanic to have a check it over for me. I’m sure he will come back to say I’ve got a faulty fuel pump and injectors (I’m guessing here as I’m a web developer not a mechanic).

Anyway, the reason for the post is to ask how I go about getting my money back from your company once I have the necessary report on my car along with the evidence/receipt for the diesel I had. Also, how can something as basic a fuel type not be picked up once you have samples?

Stuart.