The little Saxo just went in for some repairs and Ive just had a rather panicked phone call from the better half, this is the result:
(http://www.wayland-designs.co.uk/RandomImages/26012009.jpg)
Now I know sod all really about cars but its bloody obvious theyve f**ked something up royally. I dont suppose anyone more car-savvy than I can hazard a guess as to exactly what has been done wrong or (more likely) what hasnt been connected properly?
Ive already called the garage and they are staying open until the car gets delivered. Its a bloody good job this only happened in a 30 zone, I dont want to think about what would have happened if shed been on the dual carriageway at the time.
what did it go in for?
looks like someone at the garage is in the sh*t
looks like the bottom ball joint on the wishbone has come lose. From that pic it looks like the prop shaft is still attached at least.
Went in for a replacement drive shaft.
Quote from: Chris HWent in for a replacement drive shaft.
In that case it sounds like someone forgot to tighten the wishbone balljoint up. If we had a pic on the inside of the wheel arch we could be more sure.
They are definatly at fault then, SUE THEM!
The manager is dealing with it and there are five mechanics crawling all over it making a big list of parts to be replaced. Apparently there was transmission fluid all over the place as well.
To be honest Im just glad this didnt happen literally two minutes earlier on the dual carriageway. Now to make bloody sure the garage put a major effort into fixing it and Im going to make sure the car gets the bloody five star treatment and at least a full six month warranty from them in case they miss anything. If they even start to hint its not their fault then Ill be straight in to speak to a solicitor.
no win no fee lawyer.
How will you feel if you read in the paper a months time the same happened to someone else, but tehy was going 70 on a motorway?
Cowboys souldnt be in business.
Quote from: Eggtasticono win no fee lawyer.
How will you feel if you read in the paper a months time the same happened to someone else, but tehy was going 70 on a motorway?
Cowboys souldnt be in business.
Exactly what I was thinking, Ill sort this out once weve heard back from them.
Another picture. Apparently there are more detailed ones on her mates phone, Ill get her to send them to me, for posterity if nothing else.
(http://www.wayland-designs.co.uk/RandomImages/260120091.jpg)
Quote from: Chris HAnother picture. Apparently there are more detailed ones on her mates phone, Ill get her to send them to me, for posterity if nothing else.
(Image removed from quote.)
sh*t, with that pic that actually looks like the driveshaft dropped out! :\
if theres gearbox oil out then the drive shaft has come out of the gearbox. I think I can see the counterweight on it there hanging down
balljoint prob wasnt put back on properly as above
You can actually call Trading Standards, they will put you in touch with a specialist who will come around and inspect it, he works probably for some vehicle testing organisation, i had the same situation when i bought a car a few years ago, when i was at ATS getting the problem fixed they discovered a slit down the middle of the car, bodged together with tacky welding.
Quote from: BaconYou can actually call Trading Standards, they will put you in touch with a specialist who will come around and inspect it, he works probably for some vehicle testing organisation, i had the same situation when i bought a car a few years ago, when i was at ATS getting the problem fixed they discovered a slit down the middle of the car, bodged together with tacky welding.
When we get the car back Ill consider that. Its actually had quite a few things go wrong on it from silly daft stuff (rear lights corroded and rusted and full of water) and wipers being so loose they come flying off through to major things like the drive shaft and the exhaust being so corroded it actually fell of on the motorway on the way back from Scotland once. Its still under the 6 month warranty (runs out in March) and allegedly it was given a full service before we picked it up but Im beginning to think thats a load of old cobblers, theres no way so much should go wrong in 3,500 miles unless were just incredibly unlucky.
Glad it wasnt on the motorway. Id definately contact trading standards and if they are an MOT garage then get VOSA or the Ministry of Transport (or whoever it is) to check them out and send a warning to them.
I dont know what you could sue for, apart from lost earnings and stress. As I could imagine if my wheel did that Id atleast be wanting a new pair of trousers, seats etc
Quote from: mr_rollGlad it wasnt on the motorway. Id definately contact trading standards and if they are an MOT garage then get VOSA or the Ministry of Transport (or whoever it is) to check them out and send a warning to them.
I dont know what you could sue for, apart from lost earnings and stress. As I could imagine if my wheel did that Id atleast be wanting a new pair of trousers, seats etc
Im not actually arsed about money or suing, just a way of ensuring that whoever is responsible is properly punished, as Egg says the last thing anyone wants to see is the same thing from the same garage happening a few months later on the motorway and causing a major accident.
This is what happens with the decline of proper mechanics and their replacement with fitters
Quote from: MarkThis is what happens with the decline of proper mechanics and their replacement with fitters
Ive proper seen my arse with our local garage, took the audi for a new nearside front wheel bearing cos I didnt have time, 1.5hours @ £90ph! and it was f**king college muppet on £6.50ph that fitted it. Could have took a day off work to do it myself at those prices.
Quote from: MarkThis is what happens with the decline of proper mechanics and their replacement with fitters
This. One of the local garages quoted a mate £1000 for a head gasket job on his Freelander. He had it done, but they had to wait a couple of days for the guy who was "Qualified" to do it to come in, because he only works there 2 days a week! Its a fecking head gasket, its not exactly rocket science!
Quote from: DEViANCEQuote from: MarkThis is what happens with the decline of proper mechanics and their replacement with fitters
Ive proper seen my arse with our local garage, took the audi for a new nearside front wheel bearing cos I didnt have time, 1.5hours @ £90ph! and it was f**king college muppet on £6.50ph that fitted it. Could have took a day off work to do it myself at those prices.
That rate would make me sick if I went to pick it up after. Glad to say the guy who does mine and my brothers major engine work charges £25p/h and is very fast, efficent and is very fair.
Well, the fitter responsible has been put on an unpaid suspension while they investigate further, and our little car had the attention of some proper mechanics (i.e not fitters) until midnight the last two nights. Everything has been taken apart and stripped and pretty much everything related to the accident either replaced or refurbished. Everything even remotely connected to the accident has a 12 month warranty on it and theyve thrown in a free full service and MOT plus any repairs that need carrying out when its due in October. All of the repairs were also verified by an external mechanic not attached to the garage and Ive got that all in writing.
All in all Im happy with how it panned out. The manager was quite visibly upset by the whole affair to be honest and most importantly the person who made the mistake is getting a pretty severe thrashing and will not make the same mistake again.
Sounds like theyve done everything they could to make it right which is nice to see.
Quote from: DEViANCESounds like theyve done everything they could to make it right which is nice to see.
Yep, there was no question about it which impressed me. I was pretty much prepared to go in all guns blazing demanding this and that and expecting them to be useless but from the word go they admitted full responsibility and Ive not had to ask for anything, everything Id planned to demand (in a suitably authoritative tone) was offered straight to me.
thats pretty good, theres not many garages like that anymore !
Excellent result, Im happy to see its panned out okay without needing any escalation on your part.
Quote from: MarkThis is what happens with the decline of proper mechanics and their replacement with fitters
My job title is "fitter", but I did a years skills building, and two years on the job training as part of an apprenticeship before I was even considered qualified enough to be trained on my current post.
The person who carried out that "repair" wasnt even a fitter, it was a monkey. We all make mistakes, but if someone that unqualified was doing the work, they ought to have their work inspected.
Quote from: knightythats pretty good, theres not many garages like that anymore !
tiss true!