Ask garage to do a small job, threads stripped, who pays?

[anonymous-user]

Sorry for the poor title... Couldn't fit in what I wanted!

This hasn't happened to me thankfully, but something that just happened to a friend recently set me thinking.

Say for example you ask a garage to do a fairly simple job such as change an exhaust manifold on your car, you agree a price and hours required etc, then you get a call from the garage saying that one or two seized bolts have snapped off and more work is required to extract damaged bolts, and the customer is told they have to pay for all the extra work as the garage say it's not their fault the bolts sheared off.

Should the customer pay for 'breakages' or damage caused during replacement of parts?

I guess the same could apply to things like threads in heads being stripped when removing spark plugs or glow plugs?

Any thoughts?

Thanks

[jt racing]

Well with exhausts, it fairly common that this happens so generally the customer would pay a little bit extra but not the full rate, where as if they strip the thread over tightening a spark plug then it's their fault in my eyes. ( although they'd prob cover it in thread lock and stick it back in and hope you never return).

[Willber]

I would expect the customer to pay for that. Have you ever tried to remove an exhaust manifold? Stubborn old things they are and I would expect some of the bolts/studs to need replacing and possible break. You can usually get away without breaking them by heating them up before removal but again I wouldn't be too annoyed if this did happen.

Depends on age of car etc also I guess but something like that I wouldn't grumble at paying extra. Besides it won't cost much to repair it I wouldnt have though? Couple of hours and a few helicoils.

[steveo3002]

id kinda expect the garage to say look the car is a few years old , theres a fair chance some studs may snap in which case its going to cost ££

pretty common that they break

[Slade Alive]

Workshops are less likely these days to have oxy / acetylene, the only good source of heat capable of this type of work. Without it you're struggling. Then we see the likes of Snap On selling stud removal tools which once upon a time were pretty much never heard of. Times change I guess. Once upon a time a good mechanic could gas weld, braze and solder. Back then though vehicles often required welding. Now if they do the mig welder is weapon of choice. Sadly most anyone can use a mig, if only to make the job look like pigeon st. But no one seems to care anymore if their old stter in need of a bit of welding ends up cosmetically challenged.

I know. Monday - and it wasn't a particularly good one!!!

[Herman Toothrot]

Last two garages I have used have both been great, the both took alot longer than quoted due to unforseen issues like the above but stuck to the original cost given. Its what makes a good garage I think, I'll use both again. Garage previous to these I used to use (won't again), both times the car went in the bill near doubled as "they had unforseen issues, snapped bolts etc".

The last garage I visited I told them what work I wanted done they said should be 3 hours, will cost £xxx. Job actually took 5 hours and the last hour had two mechanics working on it. They apologised to me for taking so much longer than expected and said "obviously we won't be billing you for that".

[wackojacko]

Had wheel bolts cross threaded and I've always had them re tapped etc free of charge as a bad word on my parts may cost them dearly, but it dpeends on situation if they Remove bolt or what ever and it is already damaged etc they should inform you and ask if you want to replace or proceed with an attempt to refit.

[RA500]

I'd expect the quote to have a little extra on to cover this happening.

I'm a plumber and quote by the job, not hours. If it takes me an hour/day longer then I don't charge more and if it takes me an hour /day less then I don't knock anything off as this covers me for the times that things take longer and everyone knows where they atand.

If the garage is used to this type of work then they should have explained what can happen and what it would do to the cost.


If it was me then I'd pay the bill this time and never go back.

[Rich_W]

RA500 said:

I'd expect the quote to have a little extra on to cover this happening.

I'm a plumber and quote by the job, not hours. If it takes me an hour/day longer then I don't charge more and if it takes me an hour /day less then I don't knock anything off as this covers me for the times that things take longer and everyone knows where they atand.

If the garage is used to this type of work then they should have explained what can happen and what it would do to the cost.


If it was me then I'd pay the bill this time and never go back.

But thats the difference between bog cleaners and highly skilled vehicle technicians We quote hours. You quote job. And I daresay your quote includes a little wiggle room. If the manufacturer (guideline) quotes 1.5 hours for a manifold. That's how long it took on a brand new car. So should I quote 4 hours just in case the studs are fked? No, because then you get threads on Ph saying "I was quoted £480+vat to change my manifold and my mate says it will only take an hour and a half" OR the customer declines the work and goes to a backstreet that then butcher the car and send it back with 3 snapped studs and a "FOADCB" message.

Can't win. IMO for an older car/one that I can see is fked! I over quote. Though not hours just half hour or so. Just in case. That "should" be reflected in the bill going up or down.