Why o why

[oldoaktree]

The general public reading this thread will be happy to hear how our subsidies are being used.

I don't get any subsidies

 

[manhill]

Years ago I was suspicious my new car periodic service wasn't being done right so I employed the James Bond trick sticking hair across brake, engine, gearbox, transmission, distributor etc with typing correction fluid.
Went to pick it up, paid the bill and checked the work. Hair still stuck there so asked the manager in reception (in front of other customers) how they managed to do the service without removing the plugs.Took him out to the car and went over every seal i'd put on. Profuse apologies, 'we'll do it properly and give you a loan car in the meantime'. Have never put a car to a main dealer for work since then.

 

[ollie989898]

The old folk were talked into buying a Volvo. They asked format to be serviced up to date before buying it. This was agreed by the dealer.

Within a month of owning it they were told it needed a major service at about £1500.

Sharks.

A major service does not cost that much. What the heck was wrong with it?

 

[Johnnyboxer]

Johnny...........Honda do make a pickup, in fact the second re-incarnation came about not too long ago.......Honda Ridgeline.

Thanks............Didn't know, looks funky

https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/auto/2017-honda-ridgeline/preview/

 

[Renaultman]

Mum had it in Sept, she's 82 and has a little Ford Fiesta 1.2 Petrol which is 10 years old and she's had from new, it's only covered 35000 miles

She always books it into the local Ford dealer in town, for it's annual service and MOT, albeit a few weeks early

Never been a problem, until this year

Mid morning they call her and say it's failed the MOT on a couple of points, rear trailing arm bushes and brakes (non specific though)

However the 20 something 'Service Receptionist' girl reeled off a load of items that needed doing, like cambelt/brake fluid flush/clutch fluid flush/new front discs and pads, because they were fudgeing 50% worn(meaning they were 50% good), a leak from the clutch master cylinder (inside the bell housing, for fudgeing sake), plus the MOT items etc (brake issue was slightly corroded front flexi pipes)

So she enquires how much?

Oh, just £1900 madam.................fudeing hell, the cars only worth £2-£2500

She calls me in a state

I spoke to the garage and told them to stop any work immediately and i'm on my way over, when the girl asks..................NOW

I gets there and she produces the list, I said if you're doing the brake flexi hoses and clutch master cylinder why are charging another £60 + £60 for a clutch and brake fluid change?
Surely you're into those hydraulic circuits anyhow, as part of the repair and the fluid will be changed?

Dunno, sir...............computer says what we have to do??

Fudgeing Hell

I had a look at the car up in the air and fluid from clutch was very old and probably spilt from a previous change and not fresh and leaking, but ye gods they were going to take the engine and gearbox out, before cleaning off to monitor any fresh fluid leaks

I told them to take it off the ramp and went in and paid for the MOT fail, plus the oil and filter change service

The dumb blond receptionist said, oh no you can't take it home, it's failed the MOT and has to be repaired here

On yer bike, I said and give me the keys

I drove it to the village garage, we use and they have been going for 60 years - they had a look after the weekend and did the 2 MOT jobs - which they wouldn't have failed for the front flexi brake hoses, topped up the aircon, cleaned off the clutch fluid and checked it wasn't leaking, it wasn't................all for £280

No new front brakes needed

No engine out, for a clutch master cylinder leak

Cambelt replacement optional, but they wouldn't bother at 35k miles

Fudgeing main dealers

Not just main dealers though, out local non main dealer VAG specialist was looking after our Passat SWMBO liked them because we get free screen wash. Bills were horrendous finally capped with the usual. 'You need new brake pads' Why? I asked Passats have wear indicators on and no lights yet. Took it out and started using another VW specialist it was 2 years and 20 odd thousand miles before it finally needed pads, and they were a fraction of the original quoted price.

 

[Courier]

I would think that fewer than 30% of "first" services get properly completed - probably less - a modern new vehicle is unlikely to suffer from service schedule related problems at under 80,000 miles and dealers know this.

 

[ollie989898]

I would think that fewer than 30% of "first" services get properly completed - probably less - a modern new vehicle is unlikely to suffer from service schedule related problems at under 80,000 miles and dealers know this.

Don't bet on it, forums are filled with stories about stuff going badly wrong way before 100,000 miles!!

You would think that with modern engineering, computer aided design and manufacture, and modern materials science low level stuff shouldn't go bad but crickey they do.

 

[Courier]

Don't bet on it, forums are filled with stories about stuff going badly wrong way before 100,000 miles!!

You would think that with modern engineering, computer aided design and manufacture, and modern materials science low level stuff shouldn't go bad but crickey they do.

Plenty going wrong but how many of those problems would have been created by lack of following the service schedule ?

It's sticking rigidly to the routine servicing that contributes towards 300,000 trouble free mechanical miles [emoji6]

 

[Honest john]

Madam it's unsafe to let you drive this car home it needs XYZ doing.

I say bring the Forking car home.

They must be doing millions of customers over.

 

[Elpresidente]

After reading this thread can anyone categorically say what the score is with getting a vehicle serviced at a local garage while it is still within warranty. I'm not very happy with my experiences with local Isuzu dealer and would rather take it to one of my local independent garages which do work to a high standard and are completely trustworthy.

 

[yellowbelly]

After reading this thread can anyone categorically say what the score is with getting a vehicle serviced at a local garage while it is still within warranty. I'm not very happy with my experiences with local Isuzu dealer and would rather take it to one of my local independent garages which do work to a high standard and are completely trustworthy.

Post #38 above...
Since we bought an Isuzu with a 5yr warranty I've still let our local mechanic service it (for a fraction of the cost of where it came from) but have supplied him with the genuine filters (stupid price) "just in case". The main dealer is happy for us to do that as long as he stamps the service record.

 

[DeeGee]

When you look at all those suited people wandering around car main dealers showrooms carrying their bits of paper to nowhere; staring at computer screens and making endless cups of coffee; it soon becomes clear why the labour charges for the 'technicians' that actually do anything are so extortionate.

Hence what is little else but a basic oil and filter change that could be probably be done for about twenty quid can soon escalate up to three figures by the time the 'technician' has 'checked levels' and measured tyre tread depths, and you have then paid well in excess of the GDP of many Latin American countries for a gallon of oil and a disposable cloth to wipe the dipstick.

 

[Roger Perry]

$29-95 for engine oil and filter change..........this is gas engine in pickup or auto.

 

[ollie989898]

$29-95 for engine oil and filter change..........this is gas engine in pickup or auto.

A muppet can do that. A service is way more than just that I am afraid. We also have the small matter of an MOT test here, which covers a lot more besides a smog test.

It amuses me no end that my cousin's car runs on petrol that is inferior to that which I put in my lawnmower, and his car can nearly be condemned for failing a smog test, yet it is AOK for him to drive around and then plough over a pedestrian because his brakes have failed or a steering joint seizes at an inopportune moment and pitches him into an oncoming 18 wheeler.

 

[ollie989898]

Plenty going wrong but how many of those problems would have been created by lack of following the service schedule ?

It's sticking rigidly to the routine servicing that contributes towards 300,000 trouble free mechanical miles [emoji6]

Who is to say?

There are numerous cases of things going awry, that you think a manufacturer would know about and specify was inspected/cleaner/replaced at each service.

The classic was Audi swirl flap linkages. A monkey could surely take the engine cover off and examine these, probably less than £10 for some pieces of metal/plastic, little wiggle to see if any play. If there is, quick swop, 20 mins of labour maximum, but nope. Leave it. Then wonder why your brand has a shocking history of reliability.....

 

[Courier]

As I suggested - these niggles are probably not in the service schedules anyway. But surprisingly enough become recognised by " local non-franchised motor engineers " once a model has reached 5 years old or so and the non standard fixes have been thought up.

I still maintain that buying a car for the equivalent of its 1st years depreciation will get you half the useful life of that car and the regular maintenance costs at an intelligent local " motor engineer" who has the reasonably up to date diagnostic equipment will provide a cost effective motoring solution.

If you simply MUST have the latest brand new vehicle then you are asking to get your leg lifted, but by buying that vehicle in the first place you are demonstrating to a main dealer that you understand what you are letting yourself in for [emoji15]

 

[Roger Perry]

No test here, emissions test in cities only, VW/Audi failed.

 

[nick...]

Anyone had their vehicle filmed and had said film of service emailed to you.i had this when I had my first service on my car.why is this done and what is the point.
Nick...

 

[Courier]

Can only be because they think that customers believe that they are untrustworthy [emoji12]

 

[M-J-G]

The general public reading this thread will be happy to hear how our subsidies are being used.

As a friend of mine said when he was accused of being extravagant for buying a new Q5 or some such thing,
"I have over 5 million tied up in assets and I work about 4 thousand hours a year for less than minimum wage, and you're going to grudge me a new car for the few days a year that I'm not working".