Garage horror stories...
Discussion
Following on from the Mustang Cobra mechanic thread (www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=18640&f=23&h=0) I was wondering if anyone had any horror storires about the state of their car or quality of work after a trip to the dealer (mentioning no names of course !)
I once put my car in to have an immobiliser fitted. The next evening I was approaching a busy roundabout and touched the brakes..no effect..the car accelerated through the roundabout, luckily the only car on the roundabout passed in front of me. I stopped at the other side with the engine running at 4K and noticed that the immobiliser housing had fallen out from behind the dash, was dangling on its wires and had depressed the throttle half way. Quality huh?
I once put my car in to have an immobiliser fitted. The next evening I was approaching a busy roundabout and touched the brakes..no effect..the car accelerated through the roundabout, luckily the only car on the roundabout passed in front of me. I stopped at the other side with the engine running at 4K and noticed that the immobiliser housing had fallen out from behind the dash, was dangling on its wires and had depressed the throttle half way. Quality huh?
Popped one of my previous cars into a dealer to have the tracking and wheel balancing done.
Went back in the afternoon to pick it up... and protested they hadn't done it. Got the usual "of course we have" type line.. then pointed out that the wheels couidn't have been removed for two reasons;
1) They were still covered in brake dust and there were no finger prints on them
2) I had the locking wheel nut key in my pocket
Wrote to MD, but got the usual "mix up" bollox story.
Went back in the afternoon to pick it up... and protested they hadn't done it. Got the usual "of course we have" type line.. then pointed out that the wheels couidn't have been removed for two reasons;
1) They were still covered in brake dust and there were no finger prints on them
2) I had the locking wheel nut key in my pocket
Wrote to MD, but got the usual "mix up" bollox story.
A guy I used to work with took his Renault in for a service, and they told him it needed a new clutch. He asked if they were sure, and they told him yes, this one was on it's last legs. He told them he had had a new one fitted recently, and they said that this was the original one, and in need of replacement now. He told them that it was them who had charged him for it.
In the end he got the clutch replaced FOC and a free service (i think) and then proceeded to write the car off into a ditch a few weeks later.
This was the same garage who charged a mate with a diesel van for spark plugs, and also failed to notice the split CV gater on my car at the MOT, having told me a few weeks earlier that this was a MOT fail if I did not get it done.
In the end he got the clutch replaced FOC and a free service (i think) and then proceeded to write the car off into a ditch a few weeks later.
This was the same garage who charged a mate with a diesel van for spark plugs, and also failed to notice the split CV gater on my car at the MOT, having told me a few weeks earlier that this was a MOT fail if I did not get it done.
Put my 306 Cab into the dealer for the millionth time to have the knackered speakers sorted. They told me they'd changed them. But the problem was still there, so I took it to another dealer who confirmed that there was no evidence on the warranty system of any work being done so unless they'd had a generous moment and done it FOC they were lying bstrds.
The same dealer also "fixed" the wind noise from the roof by jamming the hood down so tight that it could no longer be opened at all. Muppets.
The same dealer also "fixed" the wind noise from the roof by jamming the hood down so tight that it could no longer be opened at all. Muppets.
I refer the honourable gentleman to an answer I gave previously...
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?f=23&h=&t=7261
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?f=23&h=&t=7261
Had my gearbox fixed about 4 months ago, so a recon was fitted. Got the car back and noticed they had not done up the strut that holds the rear of the gearbox in place, not connected a lot of electrics including the ice wires and there was an oil leak from the recon gearbox!
two months later it went again, got it down to them and they fixed it with another recon gearbox.
Picked the car up and noticed a water leak, and an oil leak!
They had snapped the water drain plug out of the rad and glued it on, and the oil leak was coming from a reverse detector plug. 
Ill do my own work in future.
two months later it went again, got it down to them and they fixed it with another recon gearbox.
Picked the car up and noticed a water leak, and an oil leak!
They had snapped the water drain plug out of the rad and glued it on, and the oil leak was coming from a reverse detector plug. Ill do my own work in future.
I had mine at 'a BMW specialist dealer' as it was leaking coolant. Solved simply by fitting a new water pump. Unfortunately on the drive home the water light came on and I stopped. I checked the water level and couldn't see any water in the system. Took it back and was assured it was just an air block and they would top it up . . . took four litres to remove the 'air block'.
Same garage forgot to replace the oil filler cap when I got an oil change before a track day. Off I drive only to see a plume of smoke bellowing behind me.
Same garage again told me about my clutch being 'on its way out' and that it would need replacing at the next service or sooner. So I drive a further 500 miles and then no clutch. Get it taken to the dealer and they say they clutch went weeks ago and that I have been driving using the clutch plate against the flywheel. If they had checked the clutch properly 3 weeks previously I may never had needed a new flywheel (and ancillaries) to go with the clutch that needed replacing anyway at a total cost of over £1k!
Same garage forgot to replace the oil filler cap when I got an oil change before a track day. Off I drive only to see a plume of smoke bellowing behind me.
Same garage again told me about my clutch being 'on its way out' and that it would need replacing at the next service or sooner. So I drive a further 500 miles and then no clutch. Get it taken to the dealer and they say they clutch went weeks ago and that I have been driving using the clutch plate against the flywheel. If they had checked the clutch properly 3 weeks previously I may never had needed a new flywheel (and ancillaries) to go with the clutch that needed replacing anyway at a total cost of over £1k!
My worst experience was whilst buying a Golf VR6 from a VW dealer , in surrey, they had the car back 4 times to fix minor issues such as heated seats not working, nearly bald tyres, perished bump stops which were all highlighted on the 100 odd point check but they didn't fix ( quality service that then) Each time the car came back it was either not fix or the car was damaged ( scratched bonnet, boot etc). The last time it came back the car had no jacking points left , they had crushed the side sills whilst raising the car on a 2 post lift!, ( major structural damage) after some dispute with their General Manager he offered a run refund - gladly taken. They did return the car to me, without telling me they had done the damage aswell!!!!!
Only the threat of BBC Watchdog involvement made them move on this I think!
>> Edited by SMB on Thursday 3rd October 11:35
Only the threat of BBC Watchdog involvement made them move on this I think!
>> Edited by SMB on Thursday 3rd October 11:35
Owned a vauxhall Astra turbo Deisel Van (bought it new), after about 11 months and 10k miles I noticed that it was using a lot of oil and took it back to the dealer and expressed my concern. Left it with them for most of the day and went to pick it up late in the afternoon, Service Manager told me that they couldn't find anything wrong with it, had changed the oil and filter etc, r4oad tested it and said that it must be the way that i drive it - cheeky B@stard. I know i've got a reputation for having a bit of a heavy right foot but I certainly never thrashed it.
I argued the point with the Service Manager (warranty was nearly up) and he tagged the dipstick noting the milage and told me not to put any oil in it but to keep a check on the level and take it back after 1,000mls.
I drove from the garage to my office - about 2 miles and gave the vehicle to one of my staff to go out on a job in. 30 minutes later I received a phone call from him saying that he was on the M23 and had run out of oil!!!!! W.T.F???
I drove up the motorway to meet him and found the entire underneath of the vehicle coated in oil and oil sprayed all down the o/s paintwork - I thought the sump had gone.
Called out Vauxhall Assistance, and a very nice man from the A.A. arrived and had a quick look and told me that the oil filter was missing.
WHAT THE F@CK?
Towed back to the vauxhall dealers (left strategically parked across their workshop doors) until the following morning when a full scale riot ensued.......
I argued the point with the Service Manager (warranty was nearly up) and he tagged the dipstick noting the milage and told me not to put any oil in it but to keep a check on the level and take it back after 1,000mls.
I drove from the garage to my office - about 2 miles and gave the vehicle to one of my staff to go out on a job in. 30 minutes later I received a phone call from him saying that he was on the M23 and had run out of oil!!!!! W.T.F???
I drove up the motorway to meet him and found the entire underneath of the vehicle coated in oil and oil sprayed all down the o/s paintwork - I thought the sump had gone.
Called out Vauxhall Assistance, and a very nice man from the A.A. arrived and had a quick look and told me that the oil filter was missing.
WHAT THE F@CK?
Towed back to the vauxhall dealers (left strategically parked across their workshop doors) until the following morning when a full scale riot ensued.......
My story's nowhere near as bad but still 
ing annoying non-the less.
Bought my current motor about a month ago now. On the test drive I noticed, amongst a few other minor points, that the tracking was off and that the car was pulling to the left. As you'd expect I informed the salesman and explained that there would be no sale without resolution to all noted problems.
Picked the car up a few days later, after being assured that all necessary work had been done. No sooner do I take it approximately a mile down the road than I notice the tracking is still way off and a new rattling sound has appeared from the exhaust.
The rattle turned out to be nothing more than a loose heat shield, so no problem there. Phoned the garage re the tracking and was told that rather than taking it back to them they had an agreement with another garage to do all their tracking/tires etc at the moment due to being very busy.
Took car to second garage to discover that no work could possibly have been done to the tracking as the track rods were ceased solid. Rang the original garage to be told by some muppet that it must have occurred as a result of my driving it a whole mile!! Needless to say that the air turned blue
ing annoying non-the less. Bought my current motor about a month ago now. On the test drive I noticed, amongst a few other minor points, that the tracking was off and that the car was pulling to the left. As you'd expect I informed the salesman and explained that there would be no sale without resolution to all noted problems.
Picked the car up a few days later, after being assured that all necessary work had been done. No sooner do I take it approximately a mile down the road than I notice the tracking is still way off and a new rattling sound has appeared from the exhaust.
The rattle turned out to be nothing more than a loose heat shield, so no problem there. Phoned the garage re the tracking and was told that rather than taking it back to them they had an agreement with another garage to do all their tracking/tires etc at the moment due to being very busy.
Took car to second garage to discover that no work could possibly have been done to the tracking as the track rods were ceased solid. Rang the original garage to be told by some muppet that it must have occurred as a result of my driving it a whole mile!! Needless to say that the air turned blue
Once had an Astra LXi estate. I upgraded the wheels, then went for the uprated suspension... Koni Adustable shocks. After fitting, the car kept bottoming out. Went back. They said it was probably due to the springs not matching the new shocks (I was young, and didn't know any better) so in went a set of Eibach springs. The situation was better but not totally sorted... A Few weeks later there was a bang followed by a rattle from the back end. I stopped and looked under the car, to find one of the shocks dragging on the floor, attached to what was left of the mounting point which had until recently been part of the rear axle. Tied it on with a bit of rope (!!) and limped to the local dealer (not responsible for the suspension upgrade) They found that the shocks had been fitted upside down with an arrow saying "UP" pointing at the floor. As a result of this the shock was not fuctioning properly, and the constant bottoming out had eventually fractured the mount for the shock.
Went back to the suspension boys who eventually conceded the point and fitted different shocks, this time the right way up!
Went back to the suspension boys who eventually conceded the point and fitted different shocks, this time the right way up!
Bought a car in March from a main dealer who was supposed to service it, fit new front tyres and fix a few other things as a condition of sale.
Went to pick it up and although the book had been stamped, the car hadn't been serviced. New tyres were the wrong speed rating.
Fortunately the type of car meant these things didn't matter too much. Griffith 500, so not like it was a perfomance car or anything
Went to pick it up and although the book had been stamped, the car hadn't been serviced. New tyres were the wrong speed rating.
Fortunately the type of car meant these things didn't matter too much. Griffith 500, so not like it was a perfomance car or anything
Had a numpty shunt me very hard from behind in the above posted Astra Van, i wanted to take it to Vauxhall to have it repaired (thought it could be a write off)
My insurance co in their infinate wisdom said that I had to take it to their 'approved repairer'. I duly obliged.
2 weeks later they phoned me to say that it was ready for collection and off I went to pick it up - 'The tax is out of date' I was informed by their reception manager. I already knew (run out whilst they had it in for repair along with the M.O.T.)
Took it from the bodyshop to Vauxhall for M.O.T, only to have a horrified technician phone me up to tell me that it had failed - KINKED & BUCKLED FUEL LINES AND BRAKE PIPES.
Phoned the bodyshop and they said 'no problem, drop it off to us and we will sort it out'
OK, Its just failed its MOT because its a potential Death Trap and they want me to drop it off to them
Vauxhall fixed it abd billed the bodyshop, i phoned the Insurance Co ranting and raving, they said they would look into it The bodyshop is still their approved repairer
My insurance co in their infinate wisdom said that I had to take it to their 'approved repairer'. I duly obliged.
2 weeks later they phoned me to say that it was ready for collection and off I went to pick it up - 'The tax is out of date' I was informed by their reception manager. I already knew (run out whilst they had it in for repair along with the M.O.T.)
Took it from the bodyshop to Vauxhall for M.O.T, only to have a horrified technician phone me up to tell me that it had failed - KINKED & BUCKLED FUEL LINES AND BRAKE PIPES.
Phoned the bodyshop and they said 'no problem, drop it off to us and we will sort it out'
OK, Its just failed its MOT because its a potential Death Trap and they want me to drop it off to them
Vauxhall fixed it abd billed the bodyshop, i phoned the Insurance Co ranting and raving, they said they would look into it
The bodyshop is still their approved repairerSome years ago a friend of mine took his year old 928GT to a local branch of a well known tyre company
for a pair of rear tyres. Despite it being booked in they asked that he leave the car with them as they were busy, and would call his office when it was ready.
Half an hour later they phoned and asked that he come down as they had a slight problem. When he got there he discovered that the slight problem involved his car embedded most of the way through the wall of the building at the end of the road. The 17yr old apprentice thought it would be good to see how fast it would go before he had to brake for the end of the road. Sadly he seemed to forget to brake and the police reckoned he hit the wall around 80 mph. My friend was distinctly unhappy, but was remaining fairly calm under the circumstances. The following week the invoice for the tyres arrived in his office.
With some months of car hire and a replacement 928 it cost the tyre company's insurers nearly £80k.
for a pair of rear tyres. Despite it being booked in they asked that he leave the car with them as they were busy, and would call his office when it was ready.
Half an hour later they phoned and asked that he come down as they had a slight problem. When he got there he discovered that the slight problem involved his car embedded most of the way through the wall of the building at the end of the road. The 17yr old apprentice thought it would be good to see how fast it would go before he had to brake for the end of the road. Sadly he seemed to forget to brake and the police reckoned he hit the wall around 80 mph. My friend was distinctly unhappy, but was remaining fairly calm under the circumstances. The following week the invoice for the tyres arrived in his office.
With some months of car hire and a replacement 928 it cost the tyre company's insurers nearly £80k.
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