Garage can't fix my car - do I still pay up?

ahfh1

hewhoisnotintheknow wrote: »

Ahh theres the problem, bad design

I've changed lots of stalks before, most cars you can do it be turning the wheel to the correct position and then use the steering adjustment to get the column into the correct place to remove the stalk

I would get a second opinion though

Yes, I've read on other forums that the stalks are a recurring problem.

Just went to the garage to see if they managed to fix it....the answer is no! They're going to spend 1 more day on it, and if no joy then I'm going to have to go to the official VW dealer for them to sort out

Anihilator

Why would they buy the part before seeing if they could fit it :S

I would make sure its just them and it isnt a case of no one but the dealer will touch it. Its unlikely but in some cases the risk involved is too much without dealer knowledge so they wont touch it.

What is a cheap repair could quickly turn into a massive job out of their pocket.

Premier_2

Anihilator wrote: »

Why would they buy the part before seeing if they could fit it :S....

Normally when you go into a garage they quote a customer a repair price based on anticipated labour time to fix the repair (there's even books on this for each job) and the cost of the part.
One would hope the person doing this is aware of the abilities of whoever is going to actually do the work, if not themself

As soon as the customer accepts the quote, the garage will order up the part to ensure it is available for when the customer expects the car to be repaired.

It's often only when the technician picks up the job card that he discovers he hasn't got a clue, or sometimes the correct tools, to actually fix it. In this case it seems even the technician didn't even realise until he started work, based on the fact he opened up the packaging of the part.

And then the person who booked the job in gets it in the neck from the owner/boss.

atrixblue.-MFR-.

They knew it was a VW golf i assume the mk 4 yes! i have accessed the stalk without removing the stearing wheel just removed the cover from behind turning the wheel to access the screws. unvlip stalk from housing undo wires and replace in revers what so hard about that this garage is not to be trusted then i take it incompitent to carry out a 30 min job. and yes for security the battery is disconected but the actuator for the bag is under the seat connnected to the seatbelt clip its more likely to go off if you tugged to hard on the belt when you clip it in that tampering with the wheel.

harveybobbles

We replace lots of stalks on Golfs and Tourans 2005 onwards. It's always the ones with cruise control which fux up the stalk.

ahfh1

atrixblue.-MFR-. wrote: »

They knew it was a VW golf i assume the mk 4 yes! i have accessed the stalk without removing the stearing wheel just removed the cover from behind turning the wheel to access the screws. unvlip stalk from housing undo wires and replace in revers what so hard about that this garage is not to be trusted then i take it incompitent to carry out a 30 min job. and yes for security the battery is disconected but the actuator for the bag is under the seat connnected to the seatbelt clip its more likely to go off if you tugged to hard on the belt when you clip it in that tampering with the wheel.

Yes, it's a Mk iv. Yeah, I'm not going to trust this garage again. They've had it for 4 days now and only just been sorted.....although now the airbag light stays on all the time now. I'm going to take it back on Monday to see if they can sort out the airbag light. Hopefully it won't screw up the airbag, because if I have an accident and it doesn't go off.....:eek:

kevin0410

what a joke of a garage!!!

on my 2001 Audi A3 (very much the same as mk4 golf, identical indicator stalk) i fitted cruise control by myself, which includes changing the indicator stalk and removing airbag and steering wheel. I'm not even a mechanic !!!!!!:rotfl:

atrixblue.-MFR-.

golf mk4 have these problems,wishbones, indicator stalks,airmass meter (air flow meter as comonly known and when it goes down get them to replace it with the original bosch ones not aftermarket ones) and the darn airbag fault, cause: slideing of the seat forward and backwards more common on the 3dr,cure: under the seat youll find the airbag sensor wire unplug and plug back in (no airbag wont deploy as its only deployed when the seatbelt is tugged really hard when its plugged in to actuate the canister under the seat) if you dont feel confident take to a garage not the one previously though they sound like monkeys. cant fit indicator stalk ineed. when fitting the stalk they should of disconnected the battery as not to bring up any faults with electrics in the car. these golfs are so tied into the ecu its unreal warning light for wash fluid warning light for this that and the other. oh another problem is the radio's facia lcd screen,the blue backlight stays on untill the car goes into econemy mode and then the car turns off all the electrics to save battery power. have fun.

also did you know that some garages wont be able to access some golf mk4 ecu's with the VW fault code software. as some mk4 golfs more common on 1.8 gti turbo 2ltr gti have audi A3 ecu's and have to access them with audi software.!!

missile

!!!!!!, four days to change an indicator stalk and job is botched! How much did you end up paying them? Did you get a quote from a franchised dealer?

Seems that is the risk you take when using a back street garage?

ahfh1

Update: I've paid half the money (£15) they quoted, and the remaining £15 to be paid after they've sorted the airbag light.

atrixblue.-MFR-. I'll have a look at the cable later on today to see if I can unplug it and plug it back in again.