Does this sound dodgy? Can I do anything?
Discussion
Right, as you may know, a garage 
have my car. They have been sorting my engine problems out after it decided to seize. However, before the engine seized I was having a problem getting the car into 3rd gear when pressing on. I have had a call from them today to tell me that the engine has been fitted but now I have NO 3rd gear at all. They now want another £1000 from me to fix it.
This problem only started after they fitted a quickshift kit. The car drove completely ok under normal circumstances before they got their hands on it. Is this a bit more than coincidence? Because my bill currently stands at over £4000 and I'm not f***ing happy at all.
Seeing as it worked before they got it, and they admit it was working when they first tried it, do they need to fix it for me? Help people, I could really do with saving that £1000.
have my car. They have been sorting my engine problems out after it decided to seize. However, before the engine seized I was having a problem getting the car into 3rd gear when pressing on. I have had a call from them today to tell me that the engine has been fitted but now I have NO 3rd gear at all. They now want another £1000 from me to fix it. This problem only started after they fitted a quickshift kit. The car drove completely ok under normal circumstances before they got their hands on it. Is this a bit more than coincidence? Because my bill currently stands at over £4000 and I'm not f***ing happy at all.
Seeing as it worked before they got it, and they admit it was working when they first tried it, do they need to fix it for me? Help people, I could really do with saving that £1000.
moleamol said: Paul, they said they think it's a weld that has failed. There was no crunching or anything, it just wouldn't go in at all. I thought it might have been just the linkage out. The quickshift they fitted.
Ask them what/where this weld is. Sounds a little suspicious to me. They also say they 'think'!! How can they quote a grand for this?
Is it a dealer or independent? How long ago was the quick shift fitted?
Quickshift fitted a few months ago, they are a supposed 'specialist'
ultimapaul said:Ask them what/where this weld is. Sounds a little suspicious to me. They also say they 'think'!! How can they quote a grand for this?
moleamol said: Paul, they said they think it's a weld that has failed. There was no crunching or anything, it just wouldn't go in at all. I thought it might have been just the linkage out. The quickshift they fitted.
Is it a dealer or independent? How long ago was the quick shift fitted?
funnily enough, their name is wa*kers 
The thing is, the engine has just been out and they couldn't see what was wrong they claim. The quote is for the engine out again to re-weld the weld.
moleamol said:Quickshift fitted a few months ago, they are a supposed 'specialist'
ultimapaul said:Ask them what/where this weld is. Sounds a little suspicious to me. They also say they 'think'!! How can they quote a grand for this?
moleamol said: Paul, they said they think it's a weld that has failed. There was no crunching or anything, it just wouldn't go in at all. I thought it might have been just the linkage out. The quickshift they fitted.
Is it a dealer or independent? How long ago was the quick shift fitted?
if it's the place I think it is near northallerton then I'd be inclined to believe them, they're well-known experts on integrales .. if they can get the engine out, gear prob fixed and back in again for 1k bite their hand off ... having done a clutch on one of these things I'd consider that a bargain ...
Well there we have it.. 
Try doing a GT4 clutch, thatll make you squeal, ive done clutch and gearbox work on these at home, including the engine and box out in one lump.
I cant see why itll cost a grand......
Ok Integrales are a bit tight, but so? I think theyve got F/A idea whats wrong, or maybe its something theyve done?
Id get a written report from these jokers before either parting with any cash or allowing anything else to be done on it.
If possible, get them to SHOW you the "broken" weld.
It may be possible to do it in situ if its external.
Very best of good luck on this one mate.
I cant see why itll cost a grand......
Ok Integrales are a bit tight, but so? I think theyve got F/A idea whats wrong, or maybe its something theyve done?
Id get a written report from these jokers before either parting with any cash or allowing anything else to be done on it.
If possible, get them to SHOW you the "broken" weld.
It may be possible to do it in situ if its external.
Very best of good luck on this one mate.
The way i see it - you've got two options...
1) As deltaf says, go to garage, get them to show you what it is. Then say, ok, whatever, but it will have to wait until next paycheck (or whatever) and drive the car away.
Get a second opinion.
If it comes out the same, go for the cheapest quote.
2) Get them to go ahead but on written gaurantee that the work will cost no more than that. Have been following the story of a fellow club member (not PH'er) who was quoted a cost for doing some work and 6 months later, the quality of work was crap and the bill 3x what was quoted, with no written record of the original sum involved. No communication to client in this time either so he was left wondering what was going on and had a nasty surprise on receiving bill!
If they are not sure what the prob is, how can they be so sure of the cost - unless that is to pull engine and gearbox to find out. Then presumably you'll have to pay repair on top of that. Who charges £1000 to remove an engine and gearbox - based on standard specialist rates of between £25 and £40 per hour, thats over 20 hours!!!
My instinct would be to walk and get a second opinion. I do value the opinion of a good specialist, but not enough to be taken for a fool. Its always good to spread your money around....
>> Edited by Buffalo on Friday 28th March 00:54
1) As deltaf says, go to garage, get them to show you what it is. Then say, ok, whatever, but it will have to wait until next paycheck (or whatever) and drive the car away.
Get a second opinion.
If it comes out the same, go for the cheapest quote.
2) Get them to go ahead but on written gaurantee that the work will cost no more than that. Have been following the story of a fellow club member (not PH'er) who was quoted a cost for doing some work and 6 months later, the quality of work was crap and the bill 3x what was quoted, with no written record of the original sum involved. No communication to client in this time either so he was left wondering what was going on and had a nasty surprise on receiving bill!
If they are not sure what the prob is, how can they be so sure of the cost - unless that is to pull engine and gearbox to find out. Then presumably you'll have to pay repair on top of that. Who charges £1000 to remove an engine and gearbox - based on standard specialist rates of between £25 and £40 per hour, thats over 20 hours!!!
My instinct would be to walk and get a second opinion. I do value the opinion of a good specialist, but not enough to be taken for a fool. Its always good to spread your money around....
>> Edited by Buffalo on Friday 28th March 00:54
Right, an update. Having posted the same message on an Integrale owners forum I have come to the following conclusion: They are well and truly trying to 
me over. A chap had the same problem, it seems well known with Integrales, it's a 'friction weld' and cost him £150 to get fixed including labour. Gonna go and pick my car up tomorrow without 3rd gear, take it to where he got it done and tell them to off. I really hope the owner chap isn't there because although I'd like a word with him I might find it quite hard not beating the living out of him.
Joospeed, it is the place in Northallerton, well know integrale specialist to the layperson, Integrale devil to the owners forum. Mention their name on there and you get shouted at, I did
me over. A chap had the same problem, it seems well known with Integrales, it's a 'friction weld' and cost him £150 to get fixed including labour. Gonna go and pick my car up tomorrow without 3rd gear, take it to where he got it done and tell them to off. I really hope the owner chap isn't there because although I'd like a word with him I might find it quite hard not beating the living out of him. Joospeed, it is the place in Northallerton, well know integrale specialist to the layperson, Integrale devil to the owners forum. Mention their name on there and you get shouted at, I did
Interestingly, a few years ago fancied a 'grale. Often went to that place in Yorks to look. They always seemed knowledgeable but BLOODY expensive second hand. Anyway went for TVR reliability (via BMW E30) in the end. Actually think I saw a car I put on an offer on yesterday up in Newcastle. RH drive "F" reg, belonged to a mate. Still seems reasonably tidy 5 years on.
Rekindled old ideas.......
Rekindled old ideas.......
Wow, this sucks. The shame of it is, once you let them under your hood you don't have a clue what they've really done in there. I'll relay a story:
I took the old Dodge in for transmission repair, despite having had a rebuild not a year prior. Didn't go to the same shop, because I was 60 miles away and had to be towed, but went to the same franchise.
They told me 2000 bucks (US) to rebuild it again, because it was destroyed. I called the original shop...they said it sounded like a sensor went bad is all, and they never should have dropped the tranny without calling him.
After several rounds of "who do I believe?" I got the new shop to put the tranny in a box and ship the car to the old shop. Well, they showed me all these destroyed parts from the tranny and tried to convince me to let them do the work so I wouldn't "get screwed again."
Turns out, the tranny parts they put in that box were from another car! Not another Dodge mind you, but a whole other make and model. The original shop was disgusted, they fixed it for free for me, and reported the other shop to the franchise.
Watch yourself...and good luck!
I took the old Dodge in for transmission repair, despite having had a rebuild not a year prior. Didn't go to the same shop, because I was 60 miles away and had to be towed, but went to the same franchise.
They told me 2000 bucks (US) to rebuild it again, because it was destroyed. I called the original shop...they said it sounded like a sensor went bad is all, and they never should have dropped the tranny without calling him.
After several rounds of "who do I believe?" I got the new shop to put the tranny in a box and ship the car to the old shop. Well, they showed me all these destroyed parts from the tranny and tried to convince me to let them do the work so I wouldn't "get screwed again."
Turns out, the tranny parts they put in that box were from another car! Not another Dodge mind you, but a whole other make and model. The original shop was disgusted, they fixed it for free for me, and reported the other shop to the franchise.
Watch yourself...and good luck!
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