A tale of two garages.

humberklog

A few weeks ago I noticed a scraping noise coming from under the car. I assumed it to be pads/discs.

I took it to the nearest garage which happens to be a large nationwide and international chain on the Malahide Road. I've used them before with mixed results but thinking it was pads/discs I thought it'd be something even they could cope with.

I left it in and was later told it was a bearing set in on the axel rod that needed replacing. It was Friday, they'd order the part and would ring me the following week. It would cost e360. They tightened things up and said I was good for driving short journeys. Grand says I.
After no call back and a lot of chasing up and a lot of confusion the car eventually goes in the following Friday. During that week the car ran smooth. Later that day I get a call to say that they've dismantled the axel and everything looks fine with bearings etc. No need for replacement it was a misdiagnoses- come and get the car. No charge. Grand I say.
The garage had let the battery run down, they didn't have a power pack so eventually got it jump started (took them 45minutes to sort, this was at 6.30).


The grinding noise returned last week. I went to an independent local garage to me in Killester, one I've used before with great results. Dropped it over to them on Friday and explained the story. Mechanic took it for a spin with me in it and she thought it was pads/discs too and nothing to do with bearings. She popped it onto ramp and sure enough the pads were down to metal. She ordered pads but couldn't fit them until today. Which was grand. 70quid.

Just took the car to Kells and back and it's running brand new. I've it booked in for full service with them on Friday too for e220.


This isn't the 1st time I've had serious issues with the very large garages- both Atlas and First Stop have really messed me and the car around in the past.

Surely worn pads is basic stuff if you arrive with a rubbing sound?



*this is the abridged version of experience with first garage

Toyotafanboi

You often see garages like that recruiting for the job title "fitter" which would imply to me that the people working there fitting tyres/ brakes/ exhausts aren't qualified mechanics otherwise they would advertise looking for "mechanics". I wouldn't really be happy with and think it shouldn't be the case that unqualified people can work on cars in a professional capacity like that but it would answer how they couldn't diagnose so much as a puncture or a blown bulb. What kind of credible garage doesn't have a booster pack ffs?

CJhaughey

Not only the fact that they had no booster pack but the fact that the battery ran down while in their care indicates it was turned on while not running.
Batteries like to be fully charged at all times, if your battery runs down to the point that it can't start the car you need to use a charger to charge the battery back to a full state of charge. The alternator won't do it, in most cases it will only put a small amount of charge in to the battery.
You have to ask the question, why was it necessary to have the car switched on and not running while driveline components were being worked on?

tabby aspreme

[quote="CJhaughey;107730486".
You have to ask the question, why was it necessary to have the car switched on and not running while driveline components were being worked on?[/quote]

So the lads working there can listen to the radio

khaldrogo

I'd be more worried about someone putting new pads on to damaged discs tbh....

colm_mcm

Scraping could just have been the wear indicator.

humberklog

colm_mcm wrote: »

Scraping could just have been the wear indicator.

That's what 2nd mechanic said. Discs were fine.

power pants

Why didn’t you go to the 2nd garage in the first place ?

You said it yourself that the first you’ve had mixed results whereas the 2nd have always been excellent

humberklog

power pants wrote: »

Why didn’t you go to the 2nd garage in the first place ?

You said it yourself that the first you’ve had mixed results whereas the 2nd have always been excellent

Because I'm dopey. I'd promised myself to never use them again but...I thought (correctly) it was pads, simple job to spot and fix and the garage is 500m away so.
I was lazy and presumptuous.

power pants

humberklog wrote: »

Because I'm dopey. I'd promised myself to never use them again but...I thought (correctly) it was pads, simple job to spot and fix and the garage is 500m away so.
I was lazy and presumptuous.

Makes sense , would expect them to be able to carry out something simple right enough

kona

Id be getting a qualified mechanic to check the wheel bearing that was removed too.

Nate--IRL--

Which garage in Killester? I'm looking for a decent one locally.

Nate

humberklog

Nate--IRL-- wrote: »

Which garage in Killester? I'm looking for a decent one locally.

Nate

Stimpson, off Killester Ave.

n97 mini

kona wrote: »

Id be getting a qualified mechanic to check the wheel bearing that was removed too.

Not necessary to take it out to check it. They probably took the brake caliper off and rotated the wheel hub.

humberklog

Well it was a proper mechanic that eventually did the right job properly. In for a service Friday so I'll mention it to her.

humberklog

No point in new thread for this...my Da was taken to the cleaners by one of the big internationals, same name in my thread but different location. He's in his 80's and me and him prepped the car for its NCT. Tyres were grand and so was everything else. All it needed was a rear brake light. He got the yips and decided to bring it for a pre inspection and a light. 3 new tyres and whatever you're having yourself sir- €854 later....jayziz I was seeing red when he told me. Car passed NCT.

A week later- this week, the clutch was going. You could smell it and I took it for a spin. It's an '04 Yaris 83km on the clock. Clutch was bunched. I told him to hang on and I'd ring Stimpson on Monday to see if they'd space on the ramp. Car went in yesterday- they dropped him home (about 3km) and kept car overnight. This morning they called asking was he going to be at home. They dropped the car to his house-€320 all in.

Interslice

Why not say where and who? It not as though you heard it of a lad down the pub that his mates da got fleeced.

khaldrogo

I don't understand. Are you trying to make a comparison between the prices for 2 totally different jobs?

humberklog wrote:

No point in new thread for this...my Da was taken to the cleaners by one of the big internationals, same name in my thread but different location. He's in his 80's and me and him prepped the car for its NCT. Tyres were grand and so was everything else. All it needed was a rear brake light. He got the yips and decided to bring it for a pre inspection and a light. 3 new tyres and whatever you're having yourself sir- €854 later....jayziz I was seeing red when he told me. Car passed NCT. A week later- this week, the clutch was going. You could smell it and I took it for a spin. It's an '04 Yaris 83km on the clock. Clutch was bunched. I told him to hang on and I'd ring Stimpson on Monday to see if they'd space on the ramp. Car went in yesterday- they dropped him home (about 3km) and kept car overnight. This morning they called asking was he going to be at home. They dropped the car to his house-€320 all in.

porsche boy

Simpson Motors are very good. I used to deal with them when their Da, Charlie was running it.

First Stop are good for tyres, beyond that I'd be wary. There was an in-house training course they did in conjunction with FAS but I dont know if they will do it. The truth is they don't pay enough to interest qualified mechanics & when you do try and point out unsafe or unacceptable practices they are not interested, just make the sale/push the product.

humberklog

khaldrogo wrote: »

I don't understand. Are you trying to make a comparison between the prices for 2 totally different jobs?

Nah, in my OP from a few weeks ago I pointed out that First Stop Coolock wanted to do unnecessary expensive work on my car and it was going to a proper trustworthy independent garage that saved me money and got the job that needed doing done.

Whilst my Da's problems were different I believe he was taken for a ride by First Stop Santry. He went on my recommendation to go to Stimpson for his clutch- they gave a good price and over and above excellent service.

JohnBoy26

humberklog wrote: »

No point in new thread for this...my Da was taken to the cleaners by one of the big internationals, same name in my thread but different location. He's in his 80's and me and him prepped the car for its NCT. Tyres were grand and so was everything else. All it needed was a rear brake light. He got the yips and decided to bring it for a pre inspection and a light. 3 new tyres and whatever you're having yourself sir- €854 later....jayziz I was seeing red when he told me. Car passed NCT.

A week later- this week, the clutch was going. You could smell it and I took it for a spin. It's an '04 Yaris 83km on the clock. Clutch was bunched. I told him to hang on and I'd ring Stimpson on Monday to see if they'd space on the ramp. Car went in yesterday- they dropped him home (about 3km) and kept car overnight. This morning they called asking was he going to be at home. They dropped the car to his house-€320 all in.

Clutches are cheap to buy for a yaris so €320 sounds about right. However with regards to the other garage it's impossible to know if that price was expensive or not without knowing what work has been carried out although tbh It does sound like a lot to get a yaris through an nct.

Im not so sure it's fair to accuse them of taking him to the cleaners though without knowing all the facts and the parts that were replaced. You'd think that they would of replaced 4 tyres if they were really going to be taking him to the cleaners. Them changing only 3 tyres suggests to me that there was a problem with the tyres rather than the garage replacing them for no reason.

There is also a big difference between a garage being expensive and a garage replacing parts for no reason.

A garage can charge whatever labour they want but it still could be an honest outfit.

humberklog

^^He went in to have a rear brake light fitted. His tyres were about 80% on all corners.

I didn't go through the receipt yet as I was too busy/frustrated/angry.

In my OP I explain how First Stop were going to do a totally unnecessary expensive job and completely missed the obvious problem of brake padson my car. I also in the past had similar experience with Atlas trying to diagnose a lot of utter nonsense, they even went the extra mile and spilled oil on the paintwork.

My father's car was fit for the NCT. I told him to get the light sorted and put it through. But he's getting old and confused and went against my advice. All 4 tyres were fine. And yes changing 3 is weird.

But my point is that there's some difference in using a reliable Indy mechanic and using one of the big multinational shops.

DaveyDave

I don't blame OP for giving the first garage a chance. Nothing wrong with going back just because the service hasn't been perfect. It's also handy if they're nearby, it's not unreasonable to expect a job to be done.

It sounds like they've let him down for the last time. I've had a similar experience with two of the biggest bike shops in Dublin. Their workshop wasn't doing a great job on my bikes and even gave me a stupid excuse when something wasn't serviced properly but I can see right through it. Despite that, other people have said they haven't had any issues with these shops.

Vote with your wallet as they say.

khaldrogo

humberklog wrote:

My father's car was fit for the NCT......

In your opinion?

khaldrogo

humberklog wrote:

But my point is that there's some difference in using a reliable Indy mechanic and using one of the big multinational shops.

Of course their is but there is also piece of mind with the large multinational knowing that they are not going anywhere anytime soon and they will cover warranty or fix their mistakes.

bucketybuck

khaldrogo wrote: »

Of course their is but there is also piece of mind with the large multinational knowing that they are not going anywhere anytime soon and they will cover warranty or fix their mistakes.

Thanks, I needed a good laugh.

khaldrogo

bucketybuck wrote:

Thanks, I needed a good laugh.

Not sure what part of that factual, 1st hand working knowledge piece of information is funny.....

humberklog

khaldrogo wrote: »

In your opinion?

Should have been clearer...it was fit to go into the NCT. Whether it would pass it is another thing to be decided by them.

V8 Interceptor

humberklog wrote: »

Mechanic took it for a spin with me in it and she thought it was pads/discs.

Typo?

Emmersonn

V8 Interceptor wrote: »

Typo?

Typical sexist remark . There are female mechanics now. I think you should get out more :P

humberklog

V8 Interceptor wrote: »

Typo?

Nope, meant She.

Family business.

StereoSound

Emmersonn wrote: »

Typical sexist remark . There are female mechanics now. I think you should get out more :P

Never seen a female mechanic in my life.

enricoh

StereoSound wrote: »

Never seen a female mechanic in my life.

Never see Kylie back in the day on neighbours?

Alun

StereoSound wrote: »

Never seen a female mechanic in my life.

There's one working at my local Nissan main dealer.

MrCostington

Alun wrote: »

There's one working at my local Nissan main dealer.

And at least 2 F1 teams have them. Plus many more in engineering/aero.

MrCostington

enricoh wrote: »

Never see Kylie back in the day on neighbours?

He should be so lucky, lucky lucky lucky

V8 Interceptor

Emmersonn wrote: »

Typical sexist remark . There are female mechanics now. I think you should get out more :P

Never seen one. To be fair to her she did a far better job than the clowns he brought it to first.

V8 Interceptor

enricoh wrote: »

Never see Kylie back in the day on neighbours?

MrCostington wrote: »

And at least 2 F1 teams have them. Plus many more in engineering/aero.

On Telly. Never seen one in real life.

I wonder what they look like?

Emmersonn

V8 Interceptor wrote: »

On Telly. Never seen one in real life.

I wonder what they look like?

Along these lines

humberklog

So I got to have a look through the ol' lad's receipt...





He went in for a rear brake light...check!

All four tyres were fine, at least 80%. I had driven the car recently and the car was driving straight and no knocking. The only thing I noticed was the clutch being a bit iffy.

khaldrogo

humberklog wrote:

All four tyres were fine, at least 80%. I had driven the car recently and the car was driving straight and no knocking. The only thing I noticed was the clutch being a bit iffy.

So when you checked the brake lines and shocks and antiroll links how did they look?

humberklog

khaldrogo wrote: »

So when you checked the brake lines and shocks and antiroll links how did they look?

I don't you'll be surprised to hear I didn't.

khaldrogo

humberklog wrote:

I don't you'll be surprised to hear I didn't.

Nope. Not surprised. So you slate a company(I have nothing to do with) for doing work that wasn't needed in your opinion after you and your elderly father checked it over(not really). Not sure you are being fair tbh. That said I know the manager of that depot and he is a good sales man so who knows!

humberklog

All four tyres were fine. That much I do know.

And when I put that onto my experience in my OP I am more than a bit suspicious.

n97 mini

All that work was done in an hour. That's amazing!

humberklog

n97 mini wrote: »

All that work was done in an hour. That's amazing!

Dunno how long it took.

Funny thing though is I've just had a text alert from First Stop and they've a sale on tyres with 10% off and I need two front ones. Sound.

khaldrogo

humberklog wrote:

All four tyres were fine. That much I do know.

What was the date mark on them?

bucketybuck

humberklog wrote: »

All four tyres were fine. That much I do know.

And when I put that onto my experience in my OP I am more than a bit suspicious.

Don't worry about the shill trying to poke holes in the facts of what happened, its pretty obvious to all that once again one of those mickey mouse garages has taken advantage of another customer.

khaldrogo

bucketybuck wrote:

Don't worry about the shill trying to poke holes in the facts of what happened, its pretty obvious to all that once again one of those mickey mouse garages has taken advantage of another customer.

Lol

humberklog

khaldrogo wrote: »

What was the date mark on them?

All 4 went on brand new November '16. First Stop told him they needed changing because of wear- not date.

They changed 3 of the 4.

khaldrogo

humberklog wrote:

All 4 went on brand new November '16. First Stop told him they needed changing because of wear- not date.

Ok so, 1of 2 things went on here. Either you are wrong about the 80% left on the tyres or they robbed an old man. Considering your check over of the car that you deemed good to go through a test despite not checking the brake lines or shocks, I think they had considerably less than 80% on them.

Let's just get the facts together here for a minute.

You, an unqualified person checked over a vehicle poorly for an NCT and despite not checking about 80% of the car decide it's in tip top condition.
Your father goes in for a bulb (and you weren't so don't know what was or wasn't said) and 100% tells them it's going for test. They offer a free inspection and do an 80% better check of the car than you and find some faults.
Imagine that! The bastids!!!

Those anti roll bar drop links are a given on any Yaris. The shocks are oil filled so most likely were leaking. You redo tracking after shock replacement.

Next time just put it through the test.