if a garage fixes my car and breaks down less than 2 hrs

K

karatemaserati

Member
Messages
493
...after I picked it up with the same electrical symptom I took it too them with, is it just tough tits or should i expect some recourse??

the invoice says..

"strip & check 12v feed & signal to starter, found no signal feed, traced wiring bk to front fuse box and Sam unit.
Plug connector found water ingress. cleaned up connector & refit unit. Tested all ok."

3hrs labour £234

merc c200 cdi w203

they didnt contact me to say what was wrong or go through my options on fixing either, they just said its fixed come and get it.
now.. not being an expert but i would have thought if the SAM had got wet its mot likely ****** and should have been changed??
 
CatmanV2

CatmanV2

Member
Messages
48,797
Well if it's exactly the same symptom I'd give it a damned good try. But there's the argument that says: We didn't fix it but this needed doing anyway, so we eliminated one possible cause....

C
 
K

karatemaserati

Member
Messages
493
yeah thats what they basically said.

..what i would have expected tho is a phone call saying "hi mr we've found the problem you can either a) clean up the conectors, chance it and on your head be it or b) change the module

but they didnt do that, lumped me with a) that hasn't worked, left me stranded 2 hrs later and now are expecting me to fork out for b)
 
CatmanV2

CatmanV2

Member
Messages
48,797
karatemaserati said:
yeah thats what they basically said.

..what i would have expected tho is a phone call saying "hi mr we've found the problem you can either a) clean up the conectors, chance it and on your head be it or b) change the module

but they didnt do that, lumped me with a) that hasn't worked, left me stranded 2 hrs later and now are expecting me to fork out for b)
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Yeah, which is a bit cheeky in some respects

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Koz

Koz

Member
Messages
495
karatemaserati said:
yeah thats what they basically said.

..what i would have expected tho is a phone call saying "hi mr we've found the problem you can either a) clean up the conectors, chance it and on your head be it or b) change the module

but they didnt do that, lumped me with a) that hasn't worked, left me stranded 2 hrs later and now are expecting me to fork out for b)
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Try paying via Credit Card next time. Then you can drag them into the equation. I normally do if things get ‘iffy’
 
CatmanV2

CatmanV2

Member
Messages
48,797
karatemaserati said:
how about debit?? or does it have to be credit
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No, needs to be credit. Section somethingorother of the consumer credit act makes the credit card company jointly liable. God knows why, but I suspect this (and the charges) are why so many car dealers don't take credit cards. Credit card companies have deep pockets and can afford very good lawyers.....

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K

karatemaserati

Member
Messages
493
ha
CatmanV2 said:
Credit card companies have deep pockets and can afford very good lawyers.....
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dont i know it.. when somone took a credit card out in my name, when i phoned the police they said no crime has been commited against me , they've stolen off the credit card company and its up to them if they want to pursue... the person who i had eveidence that it was and that i had pointed them too never even got his collar felt.
 
Koz

Koz

Member
Messages
495
karatemaserati said:
ha


dont i know it.. when somone took a credit card out in my name, when i phoned the police they said no crime has been commited against me , they've stolen off the credit card company and its up to them if they want to pursue... the person who i had eveidence that it was and that i had pointed them too never even got his collar felt.
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Surely they have stolen your identity/fraud. Can’t see the logic of the Police there. Apparently ID theft isn’t a crime. I stand corrected.
 
Strad

Strad

Member
Messages
245
karatemaserati said:
...after I picked it up with the same electrical symptom I took it too them with, is it just tough tits or should i expect some recourse??
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They should have called you and talked you through what they were doing but electrical faults are inherently difficult as most of the time the connection is there and so tests don’t show faults and the garage then has to wade through loads of possible problem areas which probably are fine when they try it. You have to assume that they are genuine and that in fairness to them, they did spend time (which comes at a cost) working on it as well as sorting the water ingress issue. Sounds like they were talking about the SAM connector plug being wet not the actual unit?

Equally, I would now expect them to look after you in round two. Their labour might not be free on the 2nd attempt but they certainly should recognise that you’ve already paid them good money to sort a problem and they haven’t……….
Good luck, hope it works out.
 
conaero

conaero

Forum Owner
Messages
34,632
It’s a tricky one.

A few years back I would have said go back and kick up a fuss.

Having now run a garage for a few years I’m going to say these things happen.

It appears they have been methodical and correctly approached the job, found issues and corrected them.

They would have then tested it and no issue would have been found so invoiced and returned.

I would simply contact them and politely ask them to take the car back. If you go in all guns blazing they will be less likely to help quickly and push it down the que.
 
zagatoes30

zagatoes30

Member
Messages
20,953
This is where your relationship with the garage comes in, when I have had similar issues with specialists I have built up a rapport with more often than not they say bring it back we will have another look and once diagnosed normally come up with a mutually acceptable solution.

Politeness will be your friend here, talk to them and see what they say there is likely to be a solution found through conversation
 
CatmanV2

CatmanV2

Member
Messages
48,797
zagatoes30 said:
This is where your relationship with the garage comes in
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Indeed. Had a new condenser fitted to the Continental early June at about £1500. A/C stopped working again last week. They came and picked it up Tuesday after hours. Left me a car, and delivered it back Wednesday pm.
No bill.

Granted they might have done a better job first time around but I was at least expecting some labour cost. It's a 2+ hour round trip so that's 4 hours of their time after hours. Plus time to vacuum it, leave it under vacuum to dry, and re-fill. And sending me photos of the vents at -7C immediately followed when I pointed out that I was more likely to need heating right now, a photo of the vents at 50C

They also deserve kudos for putting up with @MAF260 of this parish ;)

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M

MAF260

Member
Messages
7,662
CatmanV2 said:
Indeed. Had a new condenser fitted to the Continental early June at about £1500. A/C stopped working again last week. They came and picked it up Tuesday after hours. Left me a car, and delivered it back Wednesday pm.
No bill.

Granted they might have done a better job first time around but I was at least expecting some labour cost. It's a 2+ hour round trip so that's 4 hours of their time after hours. Plus time to vacuum it, leave it under vacuum to dry, and re-fill. And sending me photos of the vents at -7C immediately followed when I pointed out that I was more likely to need heating right now, a photo of the vents at 50C

They also deserve kudos for putting up with @MAF260 of this parish ;)

C
Click to expand...

Nob
 
K

karatemaserati

Member
Messages
493
so it went when i tried jumping it but only when i connected the negative to the block and not the terminal. took the earth off that goes to the chassis from the terminal, bit of emery and jobs a sausage!!
 
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