[Misc] Garage ‘fixing’ my car.

[PoG]

Also an unrelated knocking from under the car developed at the same time. They replaced an anti roll-bar link to fix the latter.

Out of interest how much did they charge you for that?

 

[Don Parasol]

Off the top of my head I think it was a couple of hundred quid, most of which I guess was labour.

 

[upthealbion1970]

Could be unrelated but as another poster has said sometimes when 1 thing fails on an older car there can seem to be a domino effect with part after part wearing out.

I’m still amazed that on the whole the motor trade is unregulated unless it’s MOTs.

I also know for a fact that at least half of the garages in and around Brighton aren’t vary good judging by the amount of parts they return after poor diagnosis (or guessnostics as we have named them).

FWIW my department has sold over £15m in parts to the trade in the last 3 years.

Main dealer stealers should be better, some are but many fall way short in terms of quality of diagnosis and actual work done.

An honest reliable garage/mechanic is hard to find.

 

[PoG]

Off the top of my head I think it was a couple of hundred quid, most of which I guess was labour.

Just for the anti roll bar link?

 

[el punal]

Good morning, I thought the wisdom of NSC might be able to give some good advice on this issue...

Last Wednesday, my car decided to break down on the way home from a night shift in Bournemouth, had a massive coolant leak ( the aa finally recovered me, then their van broke down, so had to wait for a second van.
Anyway..

After after 4 days in the garage I got my car back. ( this was Saturday ) when I got my car, there was a note on the window screen to say ‘sorry I hit you car’...rubbish luck right?

On Sunday evening my engine management light came on...fantastic. Took the car to same garage Monday, as I’ve never had issues with this place when ever I have used them. Turns out to be a problem with the egr valve, needed a part replacing.

I finally got my car back yesterday...after driving about 10 miles, my clutch went. I’ve never had any issues with the clutch prior to this, so alarm bells are ringing.

I’m aware this could be coincidence, and I don’t want to start pointing the finger. The garage did tell me that it looked like some poor work had been done previously on the clutch when it was replaced before ( before I got it ) and they done some work to correct this.

It could just be I’ve got some bloody shit luck and the cars a piece of crap. ( highly likely )
But how would you approach this conversation with the garage this morning?

Sorry for the long post....

Thanks

Ask everyone involved to buy you a yearly bus pass. Secondly, to save a bit more money, do NOT renew your season ticket for St.Mary’s, on health grounds it would save you a lot of stress and less strain on the vocal chords from all the booing that you boys made into an art form last season.

 

[Don Parasol]

Just for the anti roll bar link?

Yes, unfortunately. I don't have the receipt in front of me so I can't be totally sure of the exact amount. I was told in advance that as soon as they had the sub-frame off it would incur a min. £100 to start investigating. It's why I haven't been back to a main dealer for since I had the car - only made an exception as the engine problems have been more serious / software related.

All the other investigative work into the engine / turbo / suspension has not been charged as they haven't found anything to fix.

 

[Bwian]

I think you can put this down to shit luck, the egr valve and the clutch are in no way connected.
Unless the garage have been seriously ragging it around and deliberately worn your clutch out, I think it’s pretty much a shitty coincidence.

Agree with this. I'm in the trade and car owners like the OP are often referred to as 'sinchues'...'Since you repaired my headlight the air conditioning isn't working properly', or 'since you replaced my brake discs and pads my clutch has started slipping'. I hear similar all the time.

Not insulting the OP by the way...

Quite often drivers are warned about problems but they either ignore or don't hear the warning (s). A few weeks later their car dies on them...

 

[Bowers-sfc]

Agree with this. I'm in the trade and car owners like the OP are often referred to as 'sinchues'...'Since you repaired my headlight the air conditioning isn't working properly', or 'since you replaced my brake discs and pads my clutch has started slipping'. I hear similar all the time.

Not insulting the OP by the way...

Quite often drivers are warned about problems but they either ignore or don't hear the warning (s). A few weeks later their car dies on them...

When you’re looking at a hefty repair bill, you’ll clutch at the smallest of straws. No pun intended. Turns out it’s just shit luck anyway, thanks for the posts people.

Hydraulic clutch slave cylinder has gone. Oil has basically contaminated the clutch.... think it migh rip to the Astra

 

[Arthritic Toe]

Did your car get towed back as this could have a detrimental effect on your clutch .

How? It might knacker the tow-er's clutch but not the tow-ee's...

 

[surlyseagull]

How? It might knacker the tow-er's clutch but not the tow-ee's...

In some instances it can .

 

[Bevendean Hillbilly]

Could be unrelated but as another poster has said sometimes when 1 thing fails on an older car there can seem to be a domino effect with part after part wearing out.

I’m still amazed that on the whole the motor trade is unregulated unless it’s MOTs.

I also know for a fact that at least half of the garages in and around Brighton aren’t vary good judging by the amount of parts they return after poor diagnosis (or guessnostics as we have named them).

FWIW my department has sold over £15m in parts to the trade in the last 3 years.

Main dealer stealers should be better, some are but many fall way short in terms of quality of diagnosis and actual work done.

An honest reliable garage/mechanic is hard to find.

This may be the best user reply on NSC this semester.

I know many grease monkeys in the southeast and...the good, honest ones, can be counted on the fingers of one finger. Supply and demand I guess.

 

[DarrenFreemansPerm]

Just for the anti roll bar link?

That’s some expensive labour!!

 

[Hugo Rune]

About a month ago the turbo on my car went. A couple of days later the wife's car blew up due to water pump. Write off. Well and a half with no car. Bad luck.

That’s incredibly unlucky mate! Did you get your turbo replaced, if so, how much was it? Mine’s about to blow it’s beans.

 

[Birdie Boy]

That’s incredibly unlucky mate! Did you get your turbo replaced, if so, how much was it? Mine’s about to blow it’s beans.

Turbo was for a vw touran and cost £450 but I got the money for the scrapped car taken off the bill, probably about £100. It was done through a mate though, so may have been discounted as I was expecting around a grand and that is what my mate originally guessed at.

 

[Winker]

If your 'garage' is a Kwik Fit, then don't go back there, ever.....

 

[Hugo Rune]

Turbo was for a vw touran and cost £450 but I got the money for the scrapped car taken off the bill, probably about £100. It was done through a mate though, so may have been discounted as I was expecting around a grand and that is what my mate originally guessed at.

Thanks for info!

I was thinking a grand too so I guess I need to find some folks in the trade.

Cheers

 

[Shropshire Seagull]

In some instances it can .

If the vehicle being towed is in neutral, the clutch will be engaged but idle - that can't harm ...
Please explain the circumstances ....

 

[Freddie Goodwin.]

Some of you may recall how my Son's car broke down on the M6 after the Man Utd Cup tie. That was at the end of March and the garage has just returned the car, apparently 'fixed' on the 1st of June with a hefty bill to boot. Think we will be looking into this further.