Just been under the bonnet of my car, and I think I might know why it's been running oddly recently.
My air flow meter is touching the fanbelt casing, and the electrical clip has worn a dent into it. I thought it was further over before, so I gave it a nudge, and it moved far too much for my liking. So I took a hold of it and LIFTED IT STRAIGHT OFF THE WING!
When the monkeys who did my head gasket change took my engine apart last year, they took the air filter, air flow meter and custom bracket off the wing. When they put it back together, they forgot to bolt it back on. So, for the last 6 months the only thing holding my air filter and air flow meter on is the rubber pipe and electrical connection! The bracket's rubbed the paintwork off the wing it's been loose for so long!
Why do I do it? I've got a perfectly good garage I go to, so why do I end up taking it elsewhere sometimes? EVERY TIME i've taken it anywhere else something bad has happened to it. Does anyone actually give a f**k? Or is that expecting too much?
Does any garage care?
nope, my VW dealership always pick the most expensive way of doing nething. Yes that'll be £300 for a new rev counter please, £150 for a new distribtor. Ah fook it. I'm not even sure if it is that that's wrong! Argh, ruddy con artists, and because they are `dealerships` they can get away with it. Min you it's probably like that everywhere.
I have to admit that I do try to just about everything myself. It seems a bit daft to me to spend silly money at main dealers when the car isn't actually worth that much (to an insurance company anyway).
I've found that smaller garages and specialists tend to offer a better service, but only if you're totally clear about what you want done...
I use Ian Brown's Garage in Dunfermline for most work and Star Performance in Thornton for more VAG specific things...
Yes, there are garages that couldn't give a damn. Falkland Performance are a shining example of a place that will fleace you for a wedge of cash, but not actually deliver on the promise... I can say this having given up persuing that particular garage through the Trading Standards.
Nuff said.
G
I've found that smaller garages and specialists tend to offer a better service, but only if you're totally clear about what you want done...
I use Ian Brown's Garage in Dunfermline for most work and Star Performance in Thornton for more VAG specific things...
Yes, there are garages that couldn't give a damn. Falkland Performance are a shining example of a place that will fleace you for a wedge of cash, but not actually deliver on the promise... I can say this having given up persuing that particular garage through the Trading Standards.
Nuff said.
G
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Tahrey1043
- Bling Bling Diamond Member
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Mum took her car in to a garage after finding it making an odd burning plastic smell after running for more than 10 minutes (they said over the phone, come in, we'll check it out under warranty). Then it's found to only be a plastic bag. They try to charge her for removing it (before actually doing the work) AND for finding the thing.
Christ... it took the guy, what, 30 seconds to bend down and peep underneath.. And if she had actually let him remove it (settled for just letting it burn off), that couldnt have been another minute or so. The kind of operation, the equivalent of which, would come under free-of-charge courteous customer service at the shop I work in... Some people have no soul.
As for blunders, I have to give props to the monkeys who I went to for my first service. Changed the plugs, car started running like a dog, took it back two days later and they kept me waiting 2 hours while they changed them again (HOW long to change some sparks?). Still didnt fix it. Turned out later on (like after a month of deterioating performance) that not only were the ignition leads both old AND crap, but somehow the contacts were all oily and dirty... some guy not bothering to keep the essential bits clean there or engage brain for alternative solutions. Tossers. They tried to tell me that they'd originally installed the wrong type of plugs, too! (HOW?! Sounds like a terminal fob-off). But at least it came free of charge... this time (discounting the original servicing cost).
Christ... it took the guy, what, 30 seconds to bend down and peep underneath.. And if she had actually let him remove it (settled for just letting it burn off), that couldnt have been another minute or so. The kind of operation, the equivalent of which, would come under free-of-charge courteous customer service at the shop I work in... Some people have no soul.
As for blunders, I have to give props to the monkeys who I went to for my first service. Changed the plugs, car started running like a dog, took it back two days later and they kept me waiting 2 hours while they changed them again (HOW long to change some sparks?). Still didnt fix it. Turned out later on (like after a month of deterioating performance) that not only were the ignition leads both old AND crap, but somehow the contacts were all oily and dirty... some guy not bothering to keep the essential bits clean there or engage brain for alternative solutions. Tossers. They tried to tell me that they'd originally installed the wrong type of plugs, too! (HOW?! Sounds like a terminal fob-off). But at least it came free of charge... this time (discounting the original servicing cost).