Labour charges without actually fixing the issue

ruanaidh

Hi,

A week ago my car broke down at the side of the road and I was towed to the nearest dealer/garage. A diagnostic was done and the garage stated that a new crankshaft sensor and a new timing belt kit was needed. I told them to go ahead and repair the car. I was billed €770 for parts, labour and diagnostic.

I went down to pick up the car but the engine management light came on. The garage then thought the PCM was faulty. After further investigations they said that the EGR valve was the problem instead. They quoted me €200 for a new EGR valve and €300 for labour.

I decided to source the part myself and get if fixed elsewhere as they are being too expensive. However the garage has now changed their original invoice from €770 to €1000, stating that they spent a further 6 hours of diagnostics before diagnosing that the EGR valve was the problem.

As they haven't fixed the original problem and the car still isn't roadworthy I feel I'm being extorted. I've yet to call down to pick up the car. Any thoughts on what I should to do here?

andyseadog

if they mis-diagnosed the problem, they should foot the bill, and i would fight that to the bitter end.

its not your fault, you left it with professionals and expected them to know what they were doing.

DublinDilbert

I would guess they are a main dealer cause an Indy wouldn't treat people like this. If they are a main dealer I would send a letter to the importer who awards the franchises.

They are clearly incompetent. I would not be paying them the full amount, they'd be lucky to even get half of the original from me.

I would name and shame them here too.

EPM

No naming and shaming.

slimjimmc

What mileage is on the engine and was it due a timing belt change? The reason I ask is they could claim they only advised you it was due for a change and you instructed them to proceed. I presume they gave you a quotation before you gave the go ahead for this.

I'd be surprised if they claimed that replacing the timing belt would solve your problem unless they said it snapped or slipped a cog (and this normally results in severe engine damage). So unless they made such a claim I think you could only expect to be compensated the relatively small cost of diagnosing and replacing the crankshaft sensor.

andyseadog

DublinDilbert wrote: »

I would guess they are a main dealer cause an Indy wouldn't treat people like this. If they are a main dealer I would send a letter to the importer who awards the franchises.

theres nothing to be achieved trying to go straight over their heads like a smarty pants just yet.

i'd speak to the service manager, and if i got no joy there, then i'd speak to the manager of the dealership. only if i got no satisfaction from him (which i would, because as you suggest, he wont want you contacting the franchise) would i take it further.

ruanaidh

The garage is a family run business. The guy who gave me the quote is the service manager and he's the son of the owner of the dealership. It's unlikely I'll get any satisfaction by going over his head.

The car has only 53K on the clock. The garage stated that the timing belt was off by a tooth and as the crankshaft sensor was faulty it could have lead to the timing belt having to be replaced.

CiniO

What make and model is it?

ruanaidh

2005 MK6 Ford Fiesta TDCI