dealer ripping me off?

[andy-ch]

The battery warning light came on on my griff. When I brought the car to the dealership I told the mechanic that thanks to some helpful pistonheads members the cause would probably be a broken fuse link. And indeed it was. Much to my surprise the bill was 220 pounds. Does anybody else think I'm being ripped off? They did check the alternator and test the battery, but I think they should first have checked the fuse link, right?

[jodypress]

andy-ch said:

The battery warning light came on on my griff. When I brought the car to the dealership I told the mechanic that thanks to some helpful pistonheads members the cause would probably be a broken fuse link. And indeed it was. Much to my surprise the bill was 220 pounds. Does anybody else think I'm being ripped off? They did check the alternator and test the battery, but I think they should first have checked the fuse link, right?

hi andy,
i had that problem and the fuse was £12 and about 30mins labour, so was les than £50 all in.
if you aske dthem to check fuse and that was all that needed doing, then yes speak to them and query the bill.
they might have taken battery out to check etc.

good luck
jody

edited to say fuse £12 not £120

>> Edited by jodypress on Monday 28th July 18:28

[simon.b]

My Griff died and was low loaded into TMS who diagnosed the fuse link had failed and the battery had been completely drained. They revitalised it, replaced the link, valeted the car and charged me £80.

All thing considered expensive but good services (I also took a Tuscan out for a test drive when I went to pick her up again).

So yes, I think you’ve been had.

Sorry,

Simon.

[simon.b]

My Griff died and was low loaded into TMS who diagnosed the fuse link had failed and the battery had been completely drained. They revitalised it, replaced the link, valeted the car and charged me £80.

All thing considered expensive but good services (I also took a Tuscan out for a test drive when I went to pick her up again).

So yes, I think you’ve been had.

Sorry,

Simon.

[Leadfoot]

Fuse link costs appx 75p, so you can draw your own conclusions........

[andy-ch]

resolved...the bill was reduced to 60 pounds...but it still leaves a bitter aftertaste...thanks for the input!

[jodypress]

andy-ch said:

resolved...the bill was reduced to 60 pounds...but it still leaves a bitter aftertaste...thanks for the input!

well done andy, looks like PH has saved the day again.

[Pies]

andy-ch said:

resolved...the bill was reduced to 60 pounds...but it still leaves a bitter aftertaste...thanks for the input!

better a bitter aftertaste and £160 in your pocket

[david beer]

Mine went on the way to the pub one day, i had no choice but to carry on to Hendry cars as it was closer than home, they did it while i waited and charged me, nothing. Mind you i had just paid them for a service a week before.

[simpo one]

Information is power.... I'd have wanted to see a breakdown of the £220. But at least you got there it the end. Next time hopefully they'll take you seriously.

[RichB]

OK chaps I'll admit ignorance on this one, what's the fuse link Sounds like I ought to know? Rich...

[wintrading]

hello, i had the same problem.I live in the netherlands and i do all servicing and stuff myself. (my brother is ferrari dealer)It took me 30 min to find out what the problem was. The griffith has a fuse under the chassis on the right side under the engine(do not know the english word anymore) thing. This is very old fashioned certainly TVR way of doing things. It is a "melting fuse" in a black box. The way to find out is simple check if the generator is working. In my case it was but it did not charge the battery. So took electrical scheme and found out about the fuse. For TVR experts this should be a fairly known thing. Even $60 is too much. Not even 5 min work. Fuse cost absolutely nothing. Bye and greetings from Amsterdam.