Dealership service screwup and want me to pay for it!

McDarnit

Hello all.
I put my car in for a service today at a dealership, they then called me to let me know that the sump plug fits loosely and that the threads are stripped and it'll be £250 plus to replace the sump!

I suggested tapping new threads but say they are unable to do that and offer the sump replacement only, so my car is dead at the dealership as a result of their poor technicians.

The service rep on the phone asked if anyone else had carried out work on the car (guess he's looking to pass the buck) but i replied only your dealership has ever carried out servicing, to this he replied "it's wear and tear, these things happen". I'd expect the highly trained audi professionals to not screw up a simple oil change!

The car is 7 years old and this is the fifth time the sump plug has been out (i have all the service receipts) and the last time it was out was at the same dealership so i assume it was their previous service technician that crossthreaded the plug in and decided not to use his integrity and report it!
I am rather miffed that they expect me to pay for this (they offered to only charge for 1 hour of labour on top of a new sump cost) has anyone had similar experiences of a dealership screwing up and expecting the customer to pay?

I will be contesting the payment when i go to collect the car armed with my service receipts as evidence, do you think my case will hold as they guy seemed very stubborn over the phone but i'm sure i can be more stubborn!

Should the dealership replace my sump for free seeing as they messed it up either this time or the previous time it was serviced?

Pew_Pew_Pew_Lasers!

They don't need to replace the sump, they can simply retap the hole with a larger bolt, or install a helicoil.

Although I'm surprised that they remove the oil that way, instead of from the top of the engine as most places do now (easier and less hassle).

atrixblue.-MFR-.

thinks same as pew pew, they would be able to helicoil the sump plug hole and put a larger plug in its place i would make a complaint to the manager and take the service book with you! just to prove that only they have serviced the car.

goldspanners

i don't see why they can't run a tap through the hole and tidy up the threads? this happened to me a few years back, guy before me had threaded the sump plug hole and oil was leaking from it. remove plug, tap hole with the right threaded tap flush some oil through engine to wash out any swarf from tap and run a small magnet indie plug hole just incase of any more. fitted plug with new copper washer and that was that.

if this isn't possible it sound like they have made a right mess of your sump.

if it turns out they won't repair at thier cost i would be getting the car out of there and heading somewhere else if i could. or i would be tempted to do it in thier carpark and accidentilly spill a whole sump load of old oil over the service managers car.

vaio

Atrix, one of the advantages of helicoil is that in a case like this you end up with the same size thread so normal sump plug can be used

vaio

I’d be surprised if a main dealer would helicoil a sump plug in case it failed later, don’t forget they are generally parts changers rather than engineers

OP, it does seem unreasonable it needs replacing after only being removed 5 times and, as you have a full service history with the same garage, I’d expect them to change it for free. Good luck with it

McDarnit

You all make valid points, I did suggest a retapping to the service rep (I'm an aircraft techie so know a bit about mechanics) but he said they only do replacements.
I agree vaio - 5 times out and in is too few occassions to constitute wear and tear.
Threads can only be stripped when something is fitted so leaves 2 scenarios:
1, Mechanic crossthreaded it after this current oil drain and decided to report it.
2, Mechanic crossthreaded it last time but once it's in left it as it's good for a trip!
Which ever is the case, it's still their fault and I shall be letting them know so and backing it up with my service receipts!

atrixblue.-MFR-.

vaio wrote: »

Atrix, one of the advantages of helicoil is that in a case like this you end up with the same size thread so normal sump plug can be used

unless the plug is stripped of threads itself or the wrong thread type helicoil fitted in wich case a new plug would be needed no garentee that a helicoil would suit the original plug have had this in rare cases.

roddydogs

atrixblue.-mfr-. wrote: »

unless the plug is stripped of threads itself or the wrong thread type helicoil fitted in wich case a new plug would be needed no garentee that a helicoil would suit the original plug have had this in rare cases.

????eh?............

Hintza

McDarnit wrote: »

Threads can only be stripped when something is fitted so leaves 2 scenarios:
1, Mechanic crossthreaded it after this current oil drain and decided to report it.
2, Mechanic crossthreaded it last time but once it's in left it as it's good for a trip!

3 Overtightened and stripped thread?

This is probably of no relevance whatsoever but here goes:-

I have banned the family having any VAG cars mainly because they ride too low for the farm track and the sump takes a battering. I know of one Golf that has had three new sumps due to bottom being ripped out. But from what OP says the garage does not suggest damage to sump.

steveo3002

just the mentality of garages these days , wont attmept to repair anything ..its not cant helicoil it , its we cant /dont know how

bloody well isnt wear and tear is it ...ham fisted mechanic your paying near £100 ph for