AA CAR INSPECTION - WHAT DO YOU GET FOR €199, NOTHING OF VALUE IN MY OPINION

niallcurranAA

I had not purchased a Diesel or Automatic car before and rather than go to my local mechanic I said I would pay for the experts to do a comprehensive inspection (‘Peace of Mind’ inspection as the AA refer to it on their website).

I ordered a Car Inspection from the AA in early Oct. Guy called me to give me a verbal report, as stated on their website - thereby assisting me in making a purchase of my secondhand car more quickly.

Normal stuff in the verbal report (and subsequent written report), all things I had observed myself and all of which I was happy to take as part of the purchase.

I purchased the car with cash. Got 25 miles down the road and got a transmission fault on the dashboard. Within another 30 miles the car went into crawl mode - leaving it unusable.
Called the AA to be told it was not their issue. They arranged for the car to be brought to a specialist of my choosing, using my AA membership mind - not for free !

The specialists cost was €1400 to replace 3 clutches in the gearbox and a torque converter. I asked the specialist how could this have been missed on the inspection. He said without using a diagnostic tool, the mechanic would not have spotted the issue. I asked if he had a diagnostic tool, would he have seen errors or some instance that would have raised concern. The answer was yes.

I decided to ask the AA if diagnostic tools were used in the instance of my inspection. The answer was no.

In this day and age (21st Century), I would have expected these tools to be used in every inspection as cars are more and more complex - especially as part of a ‘Peace of Mind’ inspection.

The AA have told me they are unwilling to pay for any repair. They are hiding behind their terms & conditions on this. To make matters worse, they added the line to their website stating they do not use diagnostic tools after me complaining that it was not obvious when I purchased. (We don’t connect diagnostic equipment to vehicles as part of our inspection.)
This situation leaves me feeling a fool for buying a service that was not clear. I am also very annoyed with the AA’s attitude towards me, they stated it was very rare for a situation like this to arise and my point to them was, then you should be able to help me out with the repair cost.

They have blankly refused on more than one occasion, instead offering me a refund. The refund is insulting and just makes me feel an even bigger fool - “You bought this service from us, it went wrong, we have our T&Cs and sure there’s your money back”.

€199 WAY TOO MUCH FOR WHAT IS OFFERED OR GUARANTEED

USE YOUR OWN MECHANIC FOR ‘PEACE OF MIND’ AS HE WILL MOST LIKELY OWN UP TO ANY MISTAKE AND HAVE YOUR BEST INTEREST AT HEART; NOT THE P&L OF A LARGE ORGANISATION

whippet

was it a private purchase or did you buy from a dealer?

I am sure their terms and conditions would have the a$$s covered alright .. i'm no mechanic but I wouldn't have thought that a slipping clutch would have shown up on a diagnostics .. but would have been instantly obvious when taking it for a test drive.

As an aside, I was selling my wife car a few years back and the buyer sent out an AA mechanic to the check. The mechanic didn’t even take it for a test drive but spent the guts an hour walking around the car, sitting in it and looking under it. When the buyer got back to me later that day he wanted €1000 off as the car was over due a timing belt change and according to the AA guy this is what it would cost to change.

I tried explaining to the buyer that the car had a timing chain and didn’t need to be changed …. But unfortunately the buyer trusted the man from the AA and pulled out of the sale as I wouldn’t take €1000 off the price.

niallcurranAA

Hi there

It was a private sales, thats why I was sure that the car was NCT'd, I got a Cartell report and I paid AA for the inspection.

I heard a very similar story about an AA mechanic also. It was an Astra and he said the gearbox was faulty but it wasn't and the guy selling it was a gearbox expert (actually the guy who fixed my car after this recent AA inspection)

I was more surprised that they don't arm their mechanics with acceptable 21st century tools to do an effective job, when charging such a high premium.

bucketybuck

niallcurranAA wrote: »

I had not purchased a Diesel or Automatic car before and rather than go to my local mechanic I said I would pay for the experts to do a comprehensive inspection (‘Peace of Mind’ inspection as the AA refer to it on their website).

Why on earth would you pay the AA €199 to look at a car? Where on earth did anybody get the idea that the AA are the experts in anything?

former legend

niallcurranAA wrote: »

I purchased the car with cash. Got 25 miles down the road and got a transmission fault on the dashboard. Within another 30 miles the car went into crawl mode - leaving it unusable.

This bit jumped out at me straight away; did you test drive it??

Just looking at the T&C of their car inspections:

Our Car Inspections are prepared from visual and external checks only and are limited to the parts and/or items identified on the Car Inspection sheet. Inspections do not involve the dismantling or disturbing of any structure, assembly, component or internal mechanism.

I would agree that 200 quid is a lot to pay for that, but it seems you got the service you signed up for...

niallcurranAA

Yes I did, all seemed fine to me.

AA test drove it too, for 12 miles; no issues arose during test drive. They however did not connect it to a diagnostic kit - which from the specialist who repaired the gearbox says would have shown issues with the clutches in the gearbox.

niallcurranAA

Hi ya

My point with the AA is that they are offering a 'Peace of Mind' service which is not fit for purpose.

They are selling the service on the basis that "we are the experts and leave it to us"

For them to then indemnify themselves from all responsibility is unbelievable. I would not feel so strongly if it had been a month down the road - but it was less than 24 hours from AA Inspection to being the proud owner of an immobile car which would result in a further €1400 to repair !

With the use of clever definition 'Peace of Mind' in their marketing material, there are unsuspecting people who might buy a service which is not fit for purpose in my opinion. If they were to define what you actually get, it would read 'Visual inspection and test drive' - Don't think there would be as many sales of the service if it were defined like that on their website.

Anyway, I just want people to be aware of reading the small print when it comes to things like this.

You are covered for nothing when or if you have an issue after an AA Car Inspection - absolutely NOTHING.

bucketybuck

niallcurranAA wrote: »

They however did not connect it to a diagnostic kit - which from the specialist who repaired the gearbox says would have shown issues with the clutches in the gearbox.

Another person who thinks that the magic diagnostic kit reveals all. It doesn't, and depending on the fault I can easily see an internal gearbox fault not immediately throwing up a fault code. The whole bit about diagnostic tools is irrelevant to your situation.

niallcurranAA wrote: »

Hi ya

My point with the AA is that they are offering a 'Peace of Mind' service which is not fit for purpose.

They are selling the service on the basis that "we are the experts and leave it to us"

Seems like common marketing spiel to me, no different to any advertising. Everybody knows not to take such things at face value.

For them to then indemnify themselves from all responsibility is unbelievable.

Really? What exactly did you expect? If I paid a mechanic to check a car I would be expecting to be informed about any potential issues, but you seem to think the inspection also brings with it a warranty that will pay for future repairs. This is not reasonable.

You are covered for nothing when or if you have an issue after an AA Car Inspection - absolutely NOTHING.

Again, its a simple inspection, not an insurance policy or a warranty. What exactly do you think you should be covered for?

niallcurranAA

In reply to you statement - "Really? What exactly did you expect? If I paid a mechanic to check a car I would be expecting to be informed about any potential issues, but you seem to think the inspection also brings with it a warranty that will pay for future repairs. This is not reasonable."

That is all I was expecting to be informed of - "any potential issues"
I was not informed. I purchased and then had to fork out for a repair. If the car had been tested correctly, I would have been informed of the issue and I would not have purchased. I have an Automatic Gearbox specialist telling me that a diagnostic tool would have shown up an issue with clutches in the gearbox if it had been used.

As I said already, I am trying to inform others of the lack of detail in this service - something which I think you agreed with earlier "Why on earth would you pay the AA €199 to look at a car? Where on earth did anybody get the idea that the AA are the experts in anything?"

I think the AA should take more care in providing a service of this type and not hide behind terms & conditions when things go wrong. At the same time I want others to know what they are not buying with an AA Car Inspection - they are not buying 'Peace of Mind' - Go to your local mechanic.

bucketybuck

You stated a number of times that you expected the AA to contribute to the repair cost, so I was replying with that in mind. If you just wish to inform other drivers then I have no issue with that, I do wish that people would inform themselves more regarding important issues such as buying car.

niallcurranAA

I agree wholeheartedly and I thought I was doing the best for my purchase by going to the AA, instead of using my trusted local mechanic who just smirked at me when I told him what had happened.

More fool me and so I want let others know that the AA Car Inspection is not worth the money.

As far as paying for my repair - being in the service business myself I would have approached this issue differently. The amount of damage that an incident like this can cause is significant whereas a happy customer is so much more beneficial.

Anyway, they have made their position clear and as per their terms and conditions I don't have a legal leg to stand on so please guys - USE YOUR LOCAL MECHANIC IN EVERY INSTANCE, DON'T GET <SNIP> LIKE ME !

Cabaal

OP you appear to have belief that diagnostic kits show all, they don't.

An example, had car troubles lately and diagnostic kit wasn't showing anything despite power steering failing one morning,
Believed it to be power related but diagnostics on the battery also showed no fault, however next morning on a cold start the battery was dead so it was replaced.

All ok now.

Diagnostic kits are not all knowing, there is no guarantee that a kit would definitely have shown a fault.

Reati

In fairness to the OP a diagnostics check, whether or not it would have shown anything in this case, seems like a no brainer thing to be doing on these kind of "peace of mind" checks. The OBD should be one of the first places to look for issues. I find it crazy it's not part of the process. For 200 euro I'd expect that at a minimum, my local place does it for 55.

bucketybuck

Reati wrote: »

In fairness to the OP a diagnostics check, whether or not it would have shown anything in this case, seems like a no brainer thing to be doing on these kind of "peace of mind" checks. The OBD should be one of the first places to look for issues. I find it crazy it's not part of the process. For 200 euro I'd expect that at a minimum, my local place does it for 55.

What exactly do you think an OBD reader is going to tell you when there isn't already a warning light on the dash?

If there is a warning light then sure, use a diag computer to investigate the faut. But if there are no faults displayed then connecting a diag computer is pretty much a waste of time.

If I am doing a safety inspection tomorrow and there are no warnings on the dash then I am not going to waste my time connecting the diag, and we have the full dealer equipment not the cheap code readers the AA will have.

I wish people actually knew what the diagnostic computers do, they are not some magic wand that reveals all problems.

Reati

bucketybuck wrote: »

If I am doing a safety inspection tomorrow and there are no warnings on the dash then I am not going to waste my time connecting the diag, and we have the full dealer equipment not the cheap code readers the AA will have.

The op didn't pay for a safety check, they paid for a full car check. They paid 200 for a full car check to ensure a car they wished to buy was up to scratch. Just because the dash isn't light doesn't mean there isn't an underlying problem. I've had intermittent problems which showed on the dash one minute then disappeared for a week only to return. The diag check showed the earlier faults and led to a fix even though the dash wasn't lit when I left it into the garage.

bucketybuck wrote: »

I wish people actually knew what the diagnostic computers do, they are not some magic wand that reveals all problems.

I wish people wouldn't be so arrogant. Don't make the assumption I don't know anything about cars or OBDs. I never claimed its some magic wand, it's simply something that a full car check service offered as peace of mind to those buying should include to exclude any intermintent issues that may lurking below. My garage do a diag check as part of the service. If they can waste those precious 15mins to do that, I'm sure the AA can.

Yamanoto

bucketybuck wrote: »

What exactly do you think an OBD reader is going to tell you when there isn't already a warning light on the dash?

If there is a warning light then sure, use a diag computer to investigate the faut. But if there are no faults displayed then connecting a diag computer is pretty much a waste of time.

What if a seller deliberately cancels the CEL?

Diagnostics will obviously tell you there's a fault present, even if it's not showing on the dash.

keithclancy

Yamanoto wrote: »

What if a seller deliberately cancels the CEL?

Diagnostics will obviously tell you there's a fault present, even if it's not showing on the dash.

Not necessarily, you can clear faults and they won't come up again for a while.

bucketybuck

Yamanoto wrote: »

What if a seller deliberately cancels the CEL?

Diagnostics will obviously tell you there's a fault present, even if it's not showing on the dash.

No, when we clear an active fault we are clearing the fault completely, including stored/inactive faults. They will be stored in the vecu, but there are extra levels of difficulty in getting that record and a non-dealer diag won't be able to get it at all.

bucketybuck

Reati wrote: »

The op didn't pay for a safety check, they paid for a full car check. They paid 200 for a full car check to ensure a car they wished to buy was up to scratch. Just because the dash isn't light doesn't mean there isn't an underlying problem. I've had intermittent problems which showed on the dash one minute then disappeared for a week only to return. The diag check showed the earlier faults and led to a fix even though the dash wasn't lit when I left it into the garage.



I wish people wouldn't be so arrogant. Don't make the assumption I don't know anything about cars or OBDs. I never claimed its some magic wand, it's simply something that a full car check service offered as peace of mind to those buying should include to exclude any intermintent issues that may lurking below. My garage do a diag check as part of the service. If they can waste those precious 15mins to do that, I'm sure the AA can.

You have missed the point of my post.

Connecting a diag to a car with no active faults is like a doctor putting his stethoscope to the chest of a healthy person. Its not telling the doctor anything because there is nothing to hear. But hey, if you want to pay your garage to connect their computer every time then more power to you. Its a placebo, but its your money.

Reati

bucketybuck wrote: »

You have missed the point of my post.

Connecting a diag to a car with no active faults is like a doctor putting his stethoscope to the chest of a healthy person. Its not telling the doctor anything because there is nothing to hear. But hey, if you want to pay your garage to connect their computer every time then more power to you. Its a placebo, but its your money.

I didn't miss your point but I think your unwilling to listen to another view on it.

Anyway, your analogy is heavy flawed. The human body doesn't hold a record of faults in a stored memory like a car does. let me get back to my example. So a car has a fault that and shows on the dash. The fault is intermittent, so the dash stops lighting when it's not happening. There is now an inactive recent fault stored in the OBD system related to a part that may be on the way out. It sounds like you are saying that because there is no light on the dashboard when you look at the car, you wouldn't bother doing a diag and any inactive recent fault or series of faults in memory are useless and would not lead you to further investigate why they are triggering (if you did happen to do a diag check).

Further more getting back to the topic at hand becuse nothing is showing on the dash at the time of the second hand car check service being offered by AA, you believe it doesn't warrant the time checking the OBDs would take as part of the check to ensure the car is up to scratch.

slimjimmc

OK, I think we're done here.
Please feel free to resume the discussion what a diagnostic check can or can't do over in Motors.

slimjimmc

Thread re-opened at request of OP. Please discuss the consumer issue only.

Idbatterim

I have just come across this thread, a proper inspection involves the diagnostic a ramp, road test and of course the visual inspection, that to me is a proper inspection. In terms of the diagnostic, what if error bulbs have been removed the dash? As Reati has said, how long would it actually take to just run a diagnostic?

TheDoc

Have to say feel sympathy with the OP here.

Considering how many dealers run the "ah its grand" when it comes to engine warning lights on second hand sales, the least I'd expect from a €200 inspection would be for a systems diagnostics in the event something IS there to be flagged.

Fair enough if you go up with someone who just "knows" cars, or something like that. But if your employing a company to carry out an inspection for you, and they miss something that comes up on system diagnostics, I'd be pretty livid as well. It's not like I've paid €200 for a mate to kick a tyre, I'm expecting some professionalism.

I'd say unfortunately lesson learned and thanks for sharing so hopefully others arn't left stung.