Advice Please re. Garage Work

[DaveT]

Hi all, a few days ago my wife was driving our VW Touran and it broke down - she couldn't change gear. She called the AA who said it was probably the clutch master cylinder and she was towed to our local garage which we have used in the passed without any problems. They called me yesterday to say they had fitted a new master cylinder but that had not cured the problem. They then wanted to take out the gearbox as they thought that was where the problem was. I had a call this morning saying that they had taken out the gearbox and discovered that the clutch needed replacing. The bill for this will be £800+, which includes the supply and fitting of a new master cylinder and taking out the gearbox and supply and fit of a new clutch. They say that this was a peculiar problem and the symptoms cleary showed a master cylinder at fault. However, I feel that i will have paid for work that was unecessary due to their lack of knowledge. If I'd taking it to a main dealer the clutch problem would have been recognised straight away. What do you think? Dave

[wilf]

Personally I think you are out of luck - they did their best, tried to save you money in the first place really. Main dealer price for a clutch is likely to be a multiple of what you are now being asked for.

Sometimes our cars just cost..............

[StagnJag]

Hi Dave,

Long time no see, how are you? )Mechanical maladies aside!)

I had a similar situation with my X-Type a couple of years ago. I had a vibration and sugested to the mechanic what I thought it was.(The 4wd transfer box.). They changed the prop shaft first, then had to change the transfer box. The two together cost me more than the car was worth. Mission creep kept adding to the bill to the point where, had I known in the first place I wouldn't have bothered!

We live and learn!

Rgds

Dave

[rare1]

phone trading standards your been ripped off or citz advice its free

[DaveT]

Hi Dave,

Long time no see, how are you? )Mechanical maladies aside!)

I had a similar situation with my X-Type a couple of years ago. I had a vibration and sugested to the mechanic what I thought it was.(The 4wd transfer box.). They changed the prop shaft first, then had to change the transfer box. The two together cost me more than the car was worth. Mission creep kept adding to the bill to the point where, had I known in the first place I wouldn't have bothered!

We live and learn!

Rgds

Dave

Hi Dave, well sounds like I should just accept it then. Happy to do that as long as I'm not being diddled. In answer to how I am - that's a well timed question! I was diagnosed with bowel cancer in January and have only just come out of hospital after surgery. I have a temporary Ileostomy (poo bag) which will be reversed once things heal up and the chemotherapy is finished. I'm seeing the oncolgist later this afternoon to plan what type of chemo, when , where etc. All a huge shock and frightening. But have to positive and laugh when I can. The bag certainly helps with that! My six year old son loves the noises it makes. I have already told Martyn this news and he was going to let you all know next week at the meet. So at the moment I'm just taking it easy. Frustrating cos I now have loads of time but I can't really do too much. I'm going to buy new carpets for the Stag and maybe in a few weeks I can look at fitting them. Dave

[StagnJag]

Blimey Dave, sorry to hear that.

I hope and pray the treatment is doing what it should and you are back on your feet soon.

Best Wishes Dave.

[RogerP]

Hi Dave

Sorry to hear your news I've had a bag for two years and no chance of a reversal they took 7 foot of my colon, but I wear it with pride it saved my life.......On a plus note at least you can stand at the bar having a drink talking to somebody and have a **** at the same time with nobody knowing, it's not all bad.

Rogerp

[Guest]

Diagnosing certain faults can be tricky and the "mission creep" thing will happen at a main dealer just as easily as at another garage I can assure you. If you used a garage you didn't know then it is a bit different to one you have used and, presumably, trust.

It sounds to me like they went about it fairly sensibly. Do you know if on a Touran, does the gearbox need to come out to change the clutch? If I were you I would whinge a bit and see if you can get some goodwill out of them in the labour charge.

Sirry to hear abiut the other issue.

[nib]

Hope things went well this afternoon DaveT.
Mark

[ChasR]

If the master cylinder was dying for a while it could have been two problems. I have seen this before on a Lupo (where the cable was to blame). Living with one problem can soon bring around another.

Was the Dual Mass Flywheel changed? They are also not cheap.

[davidhelencole]

Cheeky B...tards.........

Aren't you paying for professional advice and training as a part of the charge for labour ?.

Surely it's their mistake to mis diagnose a fault and as such they should pay for their mistake not you.

Try E mailing Honest John the guy who publishes lots of letters and enquiries such as this in the motoring section of the Saturday Telegraph.He'll put you straight.
He gives lots of good advice on a huge range of subjects.You might even get your E mail published !!.

Don't roll over and pay up.That's why we motorists in this country are an easy touch.

Regards

Dave

[DaveT]

Hi Dave

Sorry to hear your news I've had a bag for two years and no chance of a reversal they took 7 foot of my colon, but I wear it with pride it saved my life.......On a plus note at least you can stand at the bar having a drink talking to somebody and have a **** at the same time with nobody knowing, it's not all bad.

Rogerp

Hi Roger, wow 7ft is a lot - mine was a mere 12 inches! Good to hear you are getting on with yours ok and yes, it's a small price to pay if it saves your life. It's funny how many people have this "accessory" - you just wouldn't know.

[DaveT]

Update - I spoke to the tradings office who told me that I would need to speak to other garages to see if they believed this problem should have been recognised at the very start. If they did, then I would need to get this in writing and then write a letter to my garage explaining how I felt that they had not provided a service consistent with the Supply of Goods and Services Act 1982, i.e. with reasonable care and skill. Getting a supporting letter from other garages could prove difficult. It's all hassle that I'm not sure I can be bothered with given other stuff that's going on!

[RogerP]

Hi Roger, wow 7ft is a lot - mine was a mere 12 inches! Good to hear you are getting on with yours ok and yes, it's a small price to pay if it saves your life. It's funny how many people have this "accessory" - you just wouldn't know.

Hi Dave

Hope everything went ok this afternoon, as you say there are thousands of us out there and you wouldnt know, it doesnt restict you once you have got confidence, if you need to ask anything or need help and you cant get hold of the stoma nurse give me a ring number in front of mag (look under Lesley) Im fortunate to have given up work and play golf 6 times a week in the summer, only 3 this time of year so it shouldnt change your normal life, just watch what you eat and chew it well thats it.
Rogerp