I've been completely ripped and conned. Any advice?

[ShaneM]

Alright, so it's been interesting. I left the car into the garage and (as politely as I could manage) demanded they investigate why it was done that way and to fix it. They tried to tell me that I'd need to pay to correct the issue because that casing was the sump and they had never removed it to do the head gasket. I can only assume they thought I was thick and knew precisely nothing about my car. That was the final straw for me so I had a chat with my boss. What proceeded will hopefully be a lesson for them.

Our company runs a fleet of cars and vans used as service vehicles and company cars, and this garage services nearly all of them. A company wide email has ensured that they have lost a considerable amount of business and a very direct conversation with our legal team had them go to work on my car. They stripped the front of the engine (again) and replaced the faulty gasket. It might have taken them over 2 weeks to do the head gasket but with a solicitor on the phone they had it done by lunchtime, and for free.

I hated having to deal with them like that but in this case I don't think I had any other choice. I'm still not 100% with the work they've done either. The car feels like it's lost power in the low to mid ranges and the engine is idling much higher than previously. Possibly a timing issue, I'm not sure.

 

[Ianmc]

I assume that this garage is a SME rather than part of a larger group. If this is how they look after a private customer, goodness knows how they deal with fleet vehicles. Presumably, they are cheap to draw custom.

 

[Redline]

Sad it doesn't seem right even after they have 'fixed' it, but nice to have a commercial baseball bat to use as leverage.

I'd still get the RAC/AA out to do a report on it in case you need that for future reference.

 

[ShaneM]

I assume that this garage is a SME rather than part of a larger group. If this is how they look after a private customer, goodness knows how they deal with fleet vehicles. Presumably, they are cheap to draw custom.

Sad it doesn't seem right even after they have 'fixed' it, but nice to have a commercial baseball bat to use as leverage.

I'd still get the RAC/AA out to do a report on it in case you need that for future reference.

I've already checked and their website says they don't do inspections on cars over 15 years old.

 

[Redline]

I've already checked and their website says they don't do inspections on cars over 15 years old.

Hopefully then someone can help and advise how to get an car technical assessment on an older car done.

 

[Mazza]

https://www.themotorombudsman.org/

This may help.

 

[colb]

Glad you got it sorted, sounds like they are economical with the truth, if they didn't remove the lower casing how come they plastered it in gasket goo? I suspect they loosened it off for whatever reason disturbing the gasket in the process then daubed the blue goo over the joint when they had a leak after fastening it back together. Absolute awful workmanship, if I was your boss I would be looking elsewhere for company car servicing in the future. As they replaced the head gasket did they also have the head skimmed to ensure it was flat and not warped, a compression check by someone else would be advisable to put your mind at rest.

 

[ShaneM]

Glad you got it sorted, sounds like they are economical with the truth, if they didn't remove the lower casing how come they plastered it in gasket goo? I suspect they loosened it off for whatever reason disturbing the gasket in the process then daubed the blue goo over the joint when they had a leak after fastening it back together. Absolute awful workmanship, if I was your boss I would be looking elsewhere for company car servicing in the future. As they replaced the head gasket did they also have the head skimmed to ensure it was flat and not warped, a compression check by someone else would be advisable to put your mind at rest.

At present there is a company wide ban on using their services and I know for a fact they had that casing off because after a week of delays I went down there to inspect the progress they'd made.

As for the head skim I can be fairly sure they did that since I requested all the receipts for parts and services.

 

[DavidM]

Alright, so it's been interesting. I left the car into the garage and (as politely as I could manage) demanded they investigate why it was done that way and to fix it. They tried to tell me that I'd need to pay to correct the issue because that casing was the sump and they had never removed it to do the head gasket. I can only assume they thought I was thick and knew precisely nothing about my car. That was the final straw for me so I had a chat with my boss. What proceeded will hopefully be a lesson for them.

Our company runs a fleet of cars and vans used as service vehicles and company cars, and this garage services nearly all of them. A company wide email has ensured that they have lost a considerable amount of business and a very direct conversation with our legal team had them go to work on my car. They stripped the front of the engine (again) and replaced the faulty gasket. It might have taken them over 2 weeks to do the head gasket but with a solicitor on the phone they had it done by lunchtime, and for free.

I hated having to deal with them like that but in this case I don't think I had any other choice. I'm still not 100% with the work they've done either. The car feels like it's lost power in the low to mid ranges and the engine is idling much higher than previously. Possibly a timing issue, I'm not sure.

Great news you got the problem resolved @ShaneM - albeit for a few fine tuning issues!!

Sometimes one has to take the gun out of its holster and wiggle it around a few times to get one’s attention!!!

 

[Althulas]

Fortunate that you were in a position to have some leverage over the company. You could take it back and get them to correct the problem, but I would shy to let those cowboys near it again. I would get it check all the hoses to see if fitted securely and for splits. Also take the cover off to check that the wiring to spark plug coils have any terminals loose before considering taking it back or to a repatable garage at least the second option can check there ‘workmanship ‘