Mad with dealer

[GordonTarling]

Mad? I'm absolutely fuming! Since I bought my car (used) just over a year ago now, it has had vibration when braking hard. The dealer I bought it from had several goes at it, the last a couple of months ago when they reported that the rear discs were slightly warped and that this was probably what was causing the problem. They wouldn't change the discs under warranty, so I let it go until today when I decided to change the discs myself.

First job - loosen wheel bolts before jacking up fully - right hand rear wheel had 3 out of five bolts tight, one was finger tight and the last one was just nipped. Left hand rear wheel had one bolt MISSING, and two finger tight, leaving two tight bolts to hold the wheel on!

The wheels have not been taken off by me or anyone else to my knowledge since that visit to the dealer.

I have to check with the dealer that the rear wheels would have been removed at that last visit, but I can't see how else they would have been able to tell that the rear discs were warped unless they did remove the wheels.

Do dealers not have any safety checks regarding important safety items like this? I could well understand why the job of refitting the wheels would be given to the 'tea boy', but surely SOMEONE should be checking his work?

I'm going to register an official complaint with DC UK, but I feel that the safety issues involved warrant some more serious action - anyone have any ideas?

 

[Flash]

Does not surprise me at all - it is the "tea boy" that removes and refits teeh alloy wheels. My fatherv had all 4* 18" AMGs "spin marked" with the gun by the Stealer when they were removed by the "apprentice". Matter was escalted to DC and the Stealer had to eventually back down and supply 4* brand new AMG alloys and let us keep the originals fitted tot he car... Got a good result in the end but no quality checks are carried out by Stealer from experience. Even my brand new car was delivered without major PDI checks/adjustments not having being carried out...

 

[mark.t]

loose wheel nuts

its a good job you checked them, I always check mine every 3 months quick go round with the brace and bobs your uncle, I recommend everyone doing the same

 

[A-AvantGarde]

Definitely check the bolts regularly.

I once bought a VW Jetta GTI privately about 8 years ago. As soon as I got it home I went to check the bolts etc and found that the fron nearside only had 2 bolts fitted !!! Went down to the local dealer immediately in another car to get the extra bolts...

 

[GordonTarling]

I have long been totally amazed at the total lack of controls over safety in the car trade compared to those in the aircraft industry in which I work. The actions (or lack of) of motor mechanics are quite easily capable of killing people, yet they don't appear to be held responsible for their actions. By contrast, I can be held fully responsible in a court of law for all my work and it is entirely possible that I can end up in jail if I screw up - exactly as it should be.

Phoned DC-UK to log my complaint today, but (surprise, surprise) 'everyone is in a meeting'. I thought I was speaking to 'customer service' - obviously a mis-nomer.

 

[Bugblatter]

I think part of the problem is low wages. If you pay peanuts you get monkeys.

 

[glojo]

I have long been totally amazed at the total lack of controls over safety in the car trade compared to those in the aircraft industry in which I work.

You have raised a very valid point, but thinking about it, you might be complaining to the wrong 'person'

To make dealerships legally responsible you would need to pass a law. The only way this can be done is through parliament. How wonderful it would be to get an MP to take this on!!

As I have been typing I can recall incidents where pipes from fuel pumps have not been properly secured and the results have been disastrous.

Take care,
John

 

[GordonTarling]

John - I realise that it would take a change in the law to bring the motor trade more in line with other (more responsible?) industries. However, I feel that the ultimate responsibility still rests with the dealership - corporate resonsibility and all that stuff. It's up to the directors of the dealership to put adequate controls in place to ensure that mistakes/omissions like this cannot happen.

 

[Ashley]

To do with wheel bolts. The wheel once came off my wife’s car well travelling along the motorway. We called the AA as we didn’t have any bolts to but the spare on with. When he arrived he took a bolt from each wheel and we limped home with three bolts on each wheel. He also checked all the other bolts and he said in his opinion that the bolts where over tight. He set them all with a torque wrench to the figures from a book. Since then I’ve always insisted that my wheel bolts be put back on with a torque wrench (I stand over them). On a point to highlight good practice when I had some new tyres from ATS last month the lad went and got a toque wrench without me asking, I then said that it was unusually for tyre fitters to get a torque wrench he told me it was company policy always to use a toque wrench for the same reasons the AA man told me.

 

[glojo]

John - I realise that it would take a change in the law to bring the motor trade more in line with other (more responsible?) industries. However, I feel that the ultimate responsibility still rests with the dealership - corporate resonsibility and all that stuff. It's up to the directors of the dealership to put adequate controls in place to ensure that mistakes/omissions like this cannot happen.

Hi Gordon,
I agree with the excellent points you highlighted in your first post. I hope you do not think I was being in anyway critical, I merely feel that this problem is one that is seen all to often throughout the whole motoring workshop type industry, be it Rolls Royce or Skoda. To ask for workshops to be more responsible is in my view a non starter (I keep asking that they do not scuff their oily boots against my door seals )

The aero industry is so safe because of the enforced legislation (and no doubt the high professional standard of the employee's ). Your excellent message merely made me think of the only way I could see a similar high standard being applied to the motoring trade.

Take care,
John

 

[Sp!ke]

I have to say that from my experience with garages, it seems to be the norm to receive shoddy workmanship.

Here's a few things that immediately spring to mind that I have experienced over the years from various garages.

1 Failed to tighten rear wheel spindle on motorcycle, resulting in wheel jamming against swing arm at high speed.

2. Failing to lubricate rear spindle (different workshop) resulting in having to cut the swinging arm off with an angle grinder to remove wheel for a tyre change. (cost £350 for a new swingarm)

3. Jacked car up using floorpan - created a 6" bulge in the floor in passenger footwell.

4. Failed to crimp oil hoses to turbo unit properly - resulting in catastrofic failure of union which dumped 4L of oil over nsf wheel causing me to spin the car on braking and wreck the turbo.

5. Replaced coolent with water only - no antifreeze whatsoever which poissibly caused my head gasket failure.

6. Somehow manage to crack my rocker cover - and try and hide the damage with the use of araldite.

7. Numerous counts of damage to vehicles whilst in care of garage.

8. Several counts where I had been charged for work and/or parts that had not been replaced or serviced.

I have to say that nowadays I do all the work that I can on my vehicles safe in the knowledge that I will put the necessary care and attemntion into getting the job done right. I forsee a problem with my strategy looking forward however as cars get less and less home mechanic friendly as they rely more and more on electronics. I also understand that the government are looking at a bill that will make it ilegal to work on a vehicle unless you are qualified and have up to date certification to do so.

 

[rees_A]

I agree that some garages are a little slap dash in their work and do try to rip off motorists whenever possible.

I use a garage that is owned and run by a friend, that way I know the work will be done properly and I won't get ripped off. To date all work he has done has been of a very high standard and I have had none of the problems mentioned above.

I also think there should be changes in the rules governing the motor trade and their responsibilities to their customers but don't think it will ever happen as the people making the rules drive cars/are driven around in cars that are not owned by them so they don't give a stuff about how well they are serviced because thewy aren't picking up the bill!!!