Mechanical advise please...
Discussion
A couple of weeks ago I took my car in for its annual service and MOT with a local vaux dealer, I'd booked it in a couple of weeks before and I needed to get it done that weekend as I was going back to uni the next day.
Anyway when I arrived at the garage they told me their MOT bay was out of order so they wouldn't be able to do it, I kicked up a bit of a fuss as they hadn't even bothered to try and contact me. Eventually after some ringing round they found a local garage who had a spare MOT slot and told me to take it over there. I pointed out it was booked in for a service as well so they rushed it into the service bay and then took it over to the other garage for the MOT.
I got it back a couple of hours later and apart from a pollen filter all was fine, apparently. It went through the MOT fine as well with only one advisory that one of the tyres was nearly on the limit. This seemed a bit odd as the year before there were two or three advisories.
Two weeks later and I noticed the cars making a constant knocking noise when I accelerate, it got louder over the next couple of days so I took it into kwik fit yesterday and it turns out the passenger side bottom wish bone arm is shot as well as the lower engine mount. They also pointed out that someone had recently caked all the brake lines in copper slip grease, they said this was pointless and if anything would only cause muck to stick to all the brake lines and corrode over time. They quoted £280 for both lower wishbone arms, the engine mount and cleaning all the copper slip off, which after calling round a few local garages didn't seem too bad at all so I booked it in for this morning.
Now here's the dilemma, it just seems strange that both the engine mount and wishbone didn't show up in the MOT a couple of weeks ago, I can't help but think that maybe because vaux were in a rush they might have only had a quick look round the car and then issued the certificate. The brake line thing seems a bit odd as well but I don't really know how much of an issue that is? Do you reckon its worth taking it up with the vaux dealer? I feel inclined to just because they messed me about before, but maybe I'm reading into this too much, what do you guys think?
Anyway when I arrived at the garage they told me their MOT bay was out of order so they wouldn't be able to do it, I kicked up a bit of a fuss as they hadn't even bothered to try and contact me. Eventually after some ringing round they found a local garage who had a spare MOT slot and told me to take it over there. I pointed out it was booked in for a service as well so they rushed it into the service bay and then took it over to the other garage for the MOT.
I got it back a couple of hours later and apart from a pollen filter all was fine, apparently. It went through the MOT fine as well with only one advisory that one of the tyres was nearly on the limit. This seemed a bit odd as the year before there were two or three advisories.
Two weeks later and I noticed the cars making a constant knocking noise when I accelerate, it got louder over the next couple of days so I took it into kwik fit yesterday and it turns out the passenger side bottom wish bone arm is shot as well as the lower engine mount. They also pointed out that someone had recently caked all the brake lines in copper slip grease, they said this was pointless and if anything would only cause muck to stick to all the brake lines and corrode over time. They quoted £280 for both lower wishbone arms, the engine mount and cleaning all the copper slip off, which after calling round a few local garages didn't seem too bad at all so I booked it in for this morning.
Now here's the dilemma, it just seems strange that both the engine mount and wishbone didn't show up in the MOT a couple of weeks ago, I can't help but think that maybe because vaux were in a rush they might have only had a quick look round the car and then issued the certificate. The brake line thing seems a bit odd as well but I don't really know how much of an issue that is? Do you reckon its worth taking it up with the vaux dealer? I feel inclined to just because they messed me about before, but maybe I'm reading into this too much, what do you guys think?
Advisories from the previous year were a rust lip on the front discs, I had them replaced along with a new set of pads and a leaky front shock. The shock I haven't changed but was expecting to have to when it went in for its MOT this time. I did wonder if it'd led to the worn wishbone but checking the old MOT it was the other side.
I just seems strange that the MOT didn't show up a faulty wishbone and engine mount...
Considering getting the garage to put the wishbone to one side and taking it to the vaux dealers. The copper slip is still a bit strange, wondering if vaux had a bulletin about corroding brake lines and reckoned that'd be a good bodged solution?
I just seems strange that the MOT didn't show up a faulty wishbone and engine mount...
Considering getting the garage to put the wishbone to one side and taking it to the vaux dealers. The copper slip is still a bit strange, wondering if vaux had a bulletin about corroding brake lines and reckoned that'd be a good bodged solution?
Edited by Accelebrate on Tuesday 22 April 11:37
Accelebrate said:
Advisories from the previous year were a rust lip on the front discs, I had them replaced along with a new set of pads and a leaky front shock. The shock I haven't changed but was expecting to have to when it went in for its MOT this time. I did wonder if it'd led to the worn wishbone but checking the old MOT it was the other side.
I just seems strange that the MOT didn't show up a faulty wishbone and engine mount...
Considering getting the garage to put the wishbone to one side and taking it to the vaux dealers. The copper slip is still a bit strange, wondering if vaux had a bulletin about corroding brake lines and reckoned that'd be a good bodged solution?
Maybe the knackered shock wore out the wishbone, if you had fixed it when advised to then the wishbone may have been ok, theres lots of "ifs and buts", but if you really feel that aggrieved then complain. I just seems strange that the MOT didn't show up a faulty wishbone and engine mount...
Considering getting the garage to put the wishbone to one side and taking it to the vaux dealers. The copper slip is still a bit strange, wondering if vaux had a bulletin about corroding brake lines and reckoned that'd be a good bodged solution?
Edited by Accelebrate on Tuesday 22 April 11:37
A knackered wishbone is unlikely to cause a constant knocking, it would usually clunk over bumps or when you come on and off the throttle. A constant knocking is more likely a CV on it's way out.
Anyway, I wouldn't trust Kwik Fit to screw a valve cap on, let alone give an accurate and honest assessment of required repairs.
Anyway, I wouldn't trust Kwik Fit to screw a valve cap on, let alone give an accurate and honest assessment of required repairs.
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