Car taken to garage and now not working

[shocker-z]

Hi All,

Not been on here for ages, but my mate has a bit of a problem or dilemma should I say?..

My work mate has his engine warning light on, so had had a reader and saw it was in relation to a cylinder problem.

He took it to a garage to be looked at as they said they can get a better and more detailed diagnosis of the problem.

when he phoned after a couple of days they haven't looked at it. Then eventually a week later they've "looked at it" but saying it doesn't start at all.

Now they're say that it didn't start on the day he took it there, even though he drove it there and had had the light on for a little while before (so not an immediate problem of total engine failure).

They're saying that it's an electrical fault now and telling him to take the car away, after some arguing with them they're saying they wont charge him for them looking at it, but he's still left with a car that wont start!?

Any ideas on what to do?

Regards
Liam

[varsas]

Had something similar.

Took an old landy in to get the sump gasket replaced (it's a pig to do by yourself!) a couple of days later got a phone call to say that the engine was making a horrible noise and I should come get it. Turned out a valve collet had escaped into the cylinder.

You just have to accept it really, you either trust the garage, in which case you know they haven't done the damage (o if they did would admit/pay for it) or you don't trust them, in which case what where you doing taking it there?

[shocker-z]

Yeah good points, just feel sorry for him that someone can look at diagnosing a car and give it you back worse and you're expected to pickup the cost of any further issues they've caused..

But I know what you mean, if they've caused and issue through incompetence in the first place then very unlikely to do a good job even if they could fix their own mistakes..

Liam