Should I challenge this garage...

[mattkgti]

Just had my 2005 MK5 GTI in for a minor service as well as air con service, going to pick it up in 30 minutes.

They said on the phone part of the air con unit cracked when they were servicing it (I know it hasn't been serviced in who knows how long, if ever)

Should I challenge them because it cracked when they were working on it?


 

[f00glee]

Hmm tricky one. If I were you i'd ask the mechanic to show me exactly which part craked and how it happened. Then move the conversation on to what needs to be done to rectify it.

If clearly thier fault, push harder for them to rectify. However if it looks like a part which could have failed at any soon due to condition, play your cards right and you may end up with a contribution from them for a repair which you may have needed to do soon anyway.

Thats how i'd go about it anyway 

Was your air conditioning system working before you took it in?

[mattkgti]

Hmm tricky one. If I were you i'd ask the mechanic to show me exactly which part craked and how it happened. Then move the conversation on to what needs to be done to rectify it.

If clearly thier fault, push harder for them to rectify. However if it looks like a part which could have failed at any soon due to condition, play your cards right and you may end up with a contribution from them for a repair which you may have needed to do soon anyway.

Thats how i'd go about it anyway 

Was your air conditioning system working before you took it in?

That's a great shout I'll try that thanks! 

It was working really poorly to be honest for example cold was like room temperature lol.


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[f00glee]

No Problem, let us know how you get on!

[mattkgti]

Right... I'm back home and thought I'd give a little update

I took your advice and spoke directly with the mechanic, asking him which part cracked and how that happened.

Turns out it was poorly communicated to me in the first instance by the receptionist, so the mechanic said that he went to put fresh refrigerant gas into the system and it came straight back out i.e. there was an existing leak/crack in the compressor therefore he was unable to carry out the air con service

Not that I can confirm as I don't know for sure, but maybe this would stack up with it working so consistently bad since I've owned the car (just over a year)

At least I know exactly what the issue is now and how to sort it! 

He also found a few other bits that need doing 

• Both rear shocks are slightly leaking oil
• N/S/L Strut has a slight oil leak
• Both front lower arm rear bushes split and cracked
  
• N/S/F Drop link dust cover split
• Advise on front brake disc's being slightly lipped on the inner edge
• Advise on front brake pad's being approx 3mm of friction material
• Advise on rear brake disc's being corroded and slightly lipped on the inner edge
• Recommend brake fluid change due to having moisture content of 4% or more

Quite a list considering I thought the car felt fine, particularly the brakes and pretty confident I had a brake fluid change 6 months ago in my major service.  The mechanic did say though that none of the above is urgent and just needs looking at some point in the near future..

[Dan_FR]

Where did you have this carried out? Please don't say Kwik Fit ot a similar franchise? If so then i would probably discount al of that list as they have strong pressure on meeting sales targets, not to mention the financial incentive of a bonus!

Unfortunately you can't prove the A/C issue either way, but it sounds like the 'garage' are trying to pull your pants down!

[f00glee]

Having heard all of that, I'd be straight off to another independent to pay half hours labour for someone to put the car up on the ramp for inspection. I wouldn't tell the second garage too much about this list and just see how much of it is spotted. Id get the garage to leave the car on the ramp and tell me of any issues at which point I'd then mention the list from the first place, perhaps to get them to have a closer look, making sure they hadn't missed anything.

As for the air con. Literally just had my compressor replaced for £500 - to give you an idea of price. This was at a garage with labour rates of £50ph and the part was around £300.

Having had my car for only a few months I've been meaning to go and get someone to have a good look round the underside. Must get that booked in!


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[mattkgti]

Where did you have this carried out? Please don't say Kwik Fit ot a similar franchise? If so then i would probably discount al of that list as they have strong pressure on meeting sales targets, not to mention the financial incentive of a bonus!

Unfortunately you can't prove the A/C issue either way, but it sounds like the 'garage' are trying to pull your pants down!

I thought something smelt a bit off to be honest, I've not had anything else looked into yet because I haven't had the time, but I agree mate! 

Just for reference its Formula 1 Autocentres in Oxford.  It's hard to know who to trust these days... I took my car to VW in Didcot to have my cambelt changed about a year ago and asked them to have a look over the car as its soon after I had just got it and they shared a list of things that needed doing which was ridiculously long and amounted to about £900! 

Then I took my car to this Formula 1 in Oxford straight after for a second opinion as they were recommended to me and have good reviews online. They said it was a load of rubbish and only one thing needed doing from the list (just a CV boot).  Have also had my tyres done with them since and they've been great to me thus far so thought I could trust them

I've also been to an indy VW specialist for a full major service about 6 months ago and they were okay but their customer service wasn't that great and now they don't work on Saturdays... 

Agh! 

Just want to find a decent garage around Oxfordshire that I can trust and that will work on my car on a Saturday otherwise would have to take time off work, thats the thing

 

[mattkgti]

Having heard all of that, I'd be straight off to another independent to pay half hours labour for someone to put the car up on the ramp for inspection. I wouldn't tell the second garage too much about this list and just see how much of it is spotted. Id get the garage to leave the car on the ramp and tell me of any issues at which point I'd then mention the list from the first place, perhaps to get them to have a closer look, making sure they hadn't missed anything.

As for the air con. Literally just had my compressor replaced for £500 - to give you an idea of price. This was at a garage with labour rates of £50ph and the part was around £300.

Having had my car for only a few months I've been meaning to go and get someone to have a good look round the underside. Must get that booked in!


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Completely agree with you, I'm on it 

Just need to find somewhere decent looking first, but a really good shout about telling them the list after they inspect it and explain to me what they find first

Sh*t the bed thats a lot of money!  Really wasn't expecting it to be that much... but thanks for the heads up

I'd like to use the excuse that summer is just ending but its just as important for when it gets cold to de-mist the windscreen isn't it