Car splutterin/stuttering after full service at Advance Pitstop

KizzyMonster

Here we go:

Car was working fine last week.
I dropped it to AdvancePitstop in Athlone on Friday for a full service.
Picked it up and drove to Dublin Friday evening and started noticing it stuttering, really badly, particularly in low gears, especially when starting off and when going slow in second etc.

On Tuesday, back in Athlone, I had a driving lesson and in reverse the whole car was shuddering back and forth it was stuttering so bad!
I brought it back to the garage Tuesday afternoon and they didn't know what was wrong but they switched the spark plugs to a different brand. This made a tiny bit of a difference but the splutter/stutter is still there.

I managed to pass my driving test this morning (Wednesday) but the examiner mentioned it. He said at first he thought I had dirty petrol but then he realised it was me not getting the clutch/acceleration right - I just agreed with him, but I know it was the car, not me, as I've been fine on the clutch up until last Friday.

Does anyone know what could be causing the stuttering after a service?
I'm dropping the car to the garage again on Friday but they seem to not know what's causing it, anyone have any ideas?

Now I'm actually worried that it was my fault, that I put the wrong petrol in at the pump or something... Would this cause splutters?

It's an 05 BMW 1 series if anyone is actually interested...

keithclancy

KizzyMonster wrote: »

I managed to pass my driving test this morning (Wednesday) but the examiner mentioned it. He said at first he thought I had dirty petrol but then he realised it was me not getting the clutch/acceleration right - I just agreed with him, but I know it was the car, not me, as I've been fine on the clutch up until last Friday.

He must have been having a good day.

Take it back to them to have a look, also check the oil level.

KizzyMonster

keithclancy wrote: »

He must have been having a good day. .

Yah defo, so surprised I passed!

BMJD

KizzyMonster wrote: »

Now I'm actually worried that it was my fault, that I put the wrong petrol in at the pump or something... Would this cause splutters?

Only if it's a diesel car...

As said, check the oil level, they may have overfilled it. If they did, find a competent garage next time.

aaakev

I can very easily diagnose the cause of this problem

KizzyMonster wrote: »

I dropped it to AdvancePitstop in Athlone on Friday for a full service.

What car is it by the way?

JoeySully

If they changed the spark plugs its possible they damaged the spark plug leads taking them off, i had this before and the garage pulled the lead out of the rubber cover. You might be just running on 3 cylinders

Stop clocking

I have a petrol lawn mower and I wouldn't let that crowd service it never mind letting them near a car .......

Atlantic Dawn

Is there any warning lights on the dash?

power pants

Adcance pitstop seem to be almost as bad as that other crowd Advance pitstop. Wonder if they are connected? Wouldnt be surprised tbh

Black_Knight

Advance pitstop are just awful. I cannot recommend anywhere else enough.

stefanovich

They wanted 75 euros each for a pair of droplinks. How much did they scam you out of? How are these people still in business?

EazyD

stefanovich wrote: »

They wanted 75 euros each for a pair of droplinks. How much did they scam you out of? How are these people still in business?

They are still in business because they prey on the unwary with their "deals" and door to door sales.

Black_Knight

EazyD wrote: »

They are still in business because they prey on the unwary with their "deals" and door to door sales.

They told me I needed 2 new hand brake cable, at €75 each. Rang my own mechanic who said €30-something each. When he got the car he said 1 cable is brand new, and the other is fine. Problem was the brake cylinders in the drum were perished to shít and doing nothing.

AP must not of even put the car up on the lift.

stimpson

I think the posters here are giving their opinions based on one or two bad experiences with Advance Pitstop and I don't think it's an accurate portrayal of the company and their staff.





In reality they are far, far worse.

Gazzmonkey

EazyD wrote: »

They are still in business because they prey on the unwary with their "deals" and door to door sales.

Yeah they came into our office late last year flaunting they're sh1te to us, I just turned them at the door.

JohnBoy26

Amazed at all the smart answers in here bashing a company for something that might not be their fault. Nobody even asked what kind of car the op has :eek: it could be a pure coincidence for all we know. Maybe if the op's car has a coil pack it could of the decided to kick the bucket at the wrong time, who knows.

Edit: I see someone has asked what kind of car is it. Still though nobody knows the answer to that yet.

EazyD

JohnBoy26 wrote: »

Amazed at all the smart answers in here bashing a company for something that might not be their fault. Nobody even asked what kind of car the op has :eek: it could be a pure coincidence for all we know. Maybe if the op's car has a coil pack it could of the decided to kick the bucket at the wrong time, who knows.

Edit: I see someone has asked what kind of car is it. Still though nobody knows the answer to that yet.

I would personally never use AP or any such, but I have plenty of family members, friends and other acquaintances who have in the past, let's just say the general feedback was anything but positive. Many here would hold the same belief.

Gazzmonkey

JohnBoy26 wrote: »

Amazed at all the smart answers in here bashing a company for something that might not be their fault. Nobody even asked what kind of car the op has :eek: it could be a pure coincidence for all we know. Maybe if the op's car has a coil pack it could of the decided to kick the bucket at the wrong time, who knows.

Edit: I see someone has asked what kind of car is it. Still though nobody knows the answer to that yet.

Why are you amazed? this is boards after all !!!

I didn't turn them at the door because of something I read online...

I turned them at the door because of something they said, so I knew I was dealing with a muppet.

stefanovich

EazyD wrote: »

I would personally never use AP or any such, but I have plenty of family members, friends and other acquaintances who have in the past, let's just say the general feedback was anything but positive. Many here would hold the same belief.

I had just jump started another car and had leads on the back seat when I brought it to them for a service. Weird enough, they told me my battery needed replacing. I said I'd leave it. Same day I stopped to answer a phone call with the engine off but lights/fans still on. Car wouldn't start after!

Big coincidence!

stimpson

JohnBoy26 wrote: »

Amazed at all the smart answers in here bashing a company for something that might not be their fault. Nobody even asked what kind of car the op has :eek: it could be a pure coincidence for all we know. Maybe if the op's car has a coil pack it could of the decided to kick the bucket at the wrong time, who knows.

Edit: I see someone has asked what kind of car is it. Still though nobody knows the answer to that yet.

A quick scan of the thread titles on page 1 of this search should tell youall you need to know: http://www.boards.ie/search/submit/?query=Advance Pitstop&forum=47

I had dealings with one of their managers after one of their staff broke trim on my car and was pursued into the car park and pretty much told me to **** off.

Paul.k.b.90

As said have the oil, spark plugs and the leads checked but for the love of god never bring any car to advance pitstop for any sort of work.. I wouldnt let them put air in my tyres..

My father had a run in with them not long ago in blanch where they never changed the air or oil filters. Granted they did change the oil but then didnt but on the sump plug in properly and a few hours later my dads car came to a grind hault with the engine needing alot of work..

Black_Knight

Paul.k.b.90 wrote: »

As said have the oil, spark plugs and the leads checked but for the love of god never bring any car to advance pitstop for any sort of work.. I wouldnt let them put air in my tyres..

My father had a run in with them not long ago in blanch where they never changed the air or oil filters. Granted they did change the oil but then didnt but on the sump plug in properly and a few hours later my dads car came to a grind hault with the engine needing alot of work..

Righty-tighty, lefty-losey. This is beyond AP "mechanics"

JohnBoy26

stimpson wrote: »

A quick scan of the thread titles on page 1 of this search should tell youall you need to know: http://www.boards.ie/search/submit/?query=Advance Pitstop&forum=47

I had dealings with one of their managers after one of their staff broke trim on my car and was pursued into the car park and pretty much told me to **** off.

Just to clear things up my post wasn't in defense of advance pitstop. It's just without knowing the make of car it's hard to draw any conclusion as to what might be wrong with it, or who, if anyone, is at fault.

KizzyMonster

It's an 05 BMW 1 series if anyone is actually interested...

stefanovich

KizzyMonster wrote: »

It's an 05 BMW 1 series if anyone is actually interested...

No, we just want to complain.

Foxhole Norman

KizzyMonster wrote: »

It's an 05 BMW 1 series if anyone is actually interested...

Check your coils, well known to go on BMW's, could be a coincidence but they could've damaged them. You can check them yourself in about 10 mins.

celica00

Not sure if it was mentioned yet.
I had a similar problem after a service and in the end it was faulty spark plugs (they had cracks and 3 (!!!!) out of 4 didnt even fire.
So would recommend to check the plugs and wires

stimpson

If you're in Ashtown, I'm not a million miles away and I have a cheapo code reader. Should be able to see if she's firing on all cylinders.

biko

Tbh, just ring the local branch and explain. They should at least read any codes for free.

Red Kev

JohnBoy26 wrote: »

Amazed at all the smart answers in here bashing a company for something that might not be their fault. .

We're just bashing them on previous personal experience. My ex gave them a car for a service (against my advice) as it was some kind of special offer in her company. They left the air filter out altogether and never changed the oil filter with the oil. Other cars in her office had similar issues, they were pricey enough too IIRC.

I personally wouldn't trust them with servicing this:

slimjimmc

Foxhole Norman wrote: »

Check your coils, well known to go on BMW's, could be a coincidence but they could've damaged them. You can check them yourself in about 10 mins.

I can't quite see how a pencil coil can be damaged, they're pretty tough yokes.
A failed coil is a likely culprit and they tend to fail with little advance warning.

Other things to check include a loose/damaged wiring plug or they forgot to screw the little end cap onto the plug (if needed). However as the plugs were changed a second time I doubt that's the case. Sometimes a little die-electric (silicon) grease on the plug contact is recommended to exclude moisture but I doubt moisture would cause a problem so soon.

PS: check they haven't dislodged a pipe.

Black_Knight

Red Kev wrote: »

We're just bashing them on previous personal experience. My ex gave them a car for a service (against my advice) as it was some kind of special offer in her company. They left the air filter out altogether and never changed the oil filter with the oil. Other cars in her office had similar issues, they were pricey enough too IIRC.

I personally wouldn't trust them with servicing this:

Advanced pitstop wrote:

Needs brake pads, front and rear.

Greenmachine

Glad I am not the only one who has had a bad experience with Advance Pitstop.

Paul.k.b.90

Black_Knight wrote: »

Could do with new disks also..water pump could do with a change but ur timing belt should be fine.

God damn advance pitstop