Interim Service

Bisoy

I took my car for interim service at Kwik-fit today and has received calls that there are some serious problems that they found on my car. After having passed its MOT last 15/07/08 I thought I won't be experiencing any unexpected bills. Anyway I knew that MOT is different and wouldn't look at the state of the engine.

They said that my front brakes need changing and that the catalytic converter has been corroded. The bill will costs me around £370 something.

We are driving down to London this weekend and I could not bear the thought of our car encountering problems in the motorway hence I've decided to have the repairs done. Our car is 5 years old and we have not encountered any mechanical problems so far thankfully but I'm unsure now if I could get away without having the repairs done.

harveybobbles

The problem is the first ten words of your post...
Ignore and drive to london and have a good trip!

oldagetraveller

harveybobbles wrote: »

The problem is the first ten words of your post...
Ignore and drive to london and have a good trip!

Sums it up nicely.
If you haven't already given them the go ahead just ask them to carry out the basic service and maybe put in writing what they have "found".
On no account let them not allow you to drive the car away "because it's unsafe" there have been other posts about this and Kwikfit!
I'd also contact the place where your MOT was carried out and even show them the written "defects" for their comments.
However, if Kwikfit are correct then I'd also be quizzing the MOT place as to why your car passed.
It's sometimes more convenient/economical to have MOT done with service - not Kwikfit though- use somewhere you trust and know.
I had a car MOTd years ago at a local bus depot (that's all they did on cars), it passed but the two front tyres received an advisory. I drove staight afterwards to Kwikfit for two new tyres. One of their "fitters" came into the waiting room and took me out to show both front dampers were leaking. He'd sprayed both with WD40 to simulate leaks, I could smell the damn stuff. Strange, I told him it has been MOTd 30 minutes previously and was fine. He went quite embarrasingly red in the face before I got into the car and went elsewhere for the tyres!

Hintza

Brakes might need changing the MOT will not pick up the wear on them and the could still be working fine. If the Cat was an issue then trhe MOT station would/should have picked up on it.

If it was me I might consider getting the brakes done but certainly not the Cat.

When last were the brakes done?

Inactive

harveybobbles wrote: »

The problem is the first ten words of your post...
Ignore and drive to london and have a good trip!

100% agree, ignore what Kwik Fit told you, they should be renamed Kwik Buck...avoid like the plague.

steveo3002

thing is all cars more than a few weeks old do have corosion on the brakes and exhaust...but its probably fine and theyre trying to scam you

the mot place would have made an advisory if they were borderline

they depend on non car enthusiasts being scared when the mention poorly brakes and just saying yes go ahead

markelock

con artists. if they have already done it, ask for the parts.

con artists.

debred86

I would think if there was anything wrong with your brakes it wouldnt have passed its mot.take it to another garage, explain the situation and ask them to take a look, i'm not 100% sure but i think Nationwide autocentre do free brake checks. You dont want to risk it if your going on a long drive.

sturll

I am surprised anyone even goes to Kwik sh*t these days.

Absolute con masters.

Bisoy

Thanks guys for all you replies. In the end I've decided for the repairs to be done. New front brakes and new catalytic converter. They have offered if I want the old parts but I said no as I don't see any benefit in taking it home with me but now I knew why.

I just don't want to gamble if it was a genuine problem and not having it fixed then I'm putting my family at risk driving a long distance this weekend 800 miles return.

There was no advisory when my car passed it's MOT 2 weeks ago from one of the recommended MOT shops on this forum. I knew I could have get away without it having done. As I see it, prevention is always better than the cure and has been a trouble free motoring on this car. I've always have my car serviced every year.

But I've noticed something when I got back my car that when I press the brake pedal it doesn't have a good bite or won't stop immediately, it does seem to fade a little. I took it back this afternoon and they said that it's all fine and should be expected for new brakes and should settle down in the next couple of miles. Is this normal? I'm no expert on cars hence I seek for some advice.

Thunderbird_2

Bisoy wrote: »

Is this normal?.

Yes, it is.