Am I being stitched up...?

[LeedsMatt]

Recent battery change on my 5 year old VW Golf at well known tyre/exhaust type garage chain
On restarting the car at the garage my ABS/brake warning lights came on
Subsequent VW dealer diagnostic check showed an electrical failure of the ABS ECU/pump
Cost me over £1000 to get fixed !!!
Battery change garage say 'unfortunate coincidence'
My gut feeling says 'dodgy battery change'
Any clever people out there who can suggest a possible mechanism to link the battery change to the ABS electrical failure (or was it just bad luck and my kids will have to miss out on Christmas pressies this year...?)

[chimtvr]

sadly i would say unfortunate coincidence i had a mk111 golf the other day with ecu/pump and 2 wheel sensors all died at the same time i found it hard to believe but it really was all three things at the same time

[EmmaP]

For what it's worth, I'm very sceptical about big name companies. I got well and truly stitched up by a big name company. I knew that they were probably lying, but they made it sound as though my life was at risk if they diidn't carry out the work.

I always use independent garages now. I had a brake warning light problem in my Volvo and the guys did a full check and found nothing at fault and only charged me for the MOT.

[IOLAIRE]

LeedsMatt said:

Recent battery change on my 5 year old VW Golf at well known tyre/exhaust type garage chain On restarting the car at the garage my ABS/brake warning lights came on Subsequent VW dealer diagnostic check showed an electrical failure of the ABS ECU/pump Cost me over £1000 to get fixed !!! Battery change garage say 'unfortunate coincidence' My gut feeling says 'dodgy battery change' Any clever people out there who can suggest a possible mechanism to link the battery change to the ABS electrical failure (or was it just bad luck and my kids will have to miss out on Christmas pressies this year...?)

Matt, who the hell charged you a grand for an ECU?
That's utterly outrageous! There are plenty of importers who stock these, and they're often original equipment.
Some of these franchises are absolute rogues, always try and find a reputable independent.
A surge or spike could take out the ECU, and it's possible to get this if they fitted a battery that had been lying for a while and then used a booster to start the car first time; your problem is proving it.