Car Failed After Service - Suggestions Please

opinions4u

1) I left my car with a main dealer for MOT and service.

2) I drove 20 local miles in it in the following two days.

3) On the third day I took it on the motorway and as soon as I got over 40mph it lost power. The car would still move at slower speeds but was unable to get to motorway speeds.

4) The RAC man said "they've fitted the wrong spark plugs" and towed me back to the dealer. In other words, an independent expert is telling me that there is negligence on the part of the dealer.

5) The dealer has so far refused to admit liability, but says that the warranty should cover it and has provided a smaller courtesy car.

6) A week on, they have failed to remove one of the spark plugs and have had to send the car to a third party.

7) I have a long journey to make in a week or so, and don't think that the courtesy car provided is suitable.

I have so far handed them a letter confirming that I hold them liable, don't anticipate and costs being passed to myself and highlighting the importance of having my car available for my long journey.

Any suggestions on the reasonability of requesting a larger courtesy car?

If I was dealing with a bank, I'd be pushing them hard for compensation. Should I be doing the same here, and if so what's the best way to go about it?

Cheers.

johnnyroper

opinions4u wrote: »

1) I left my car with a main dealer for MOT and service.

2) I drove 20 local miles in it in the following two days.

3) On the third day I took it on the motorway and as soon as I got over 40mph it lost power. The car would still move at slower speeds but was unable to get to motorway speeds.

4) The RAC man said "they've fitted the wrong spark plugs" and towed me back to the dealer. In other words, an independent expert is telling me that there is negligence on the part of the dealer.

5) The dealer has so far refused to admit liability, but says that the warranty should cover it and has provided a smaller courtesy car.

6) A week on, they have failed to remove one of the spark plugs and have had to send the car to a third party.

7) I have a long journey to make in a week or so, and don't think that the courtesy car provided is suitable.

I have so far handed them a letter confirming that I hold them liable, don't anticipate and costs being passed to myself and highlighting the importance of having my car available for my long journey.

Any suggestions on the reasonability of requesting a larger courtesy car?

If I was dealing with a bank, I'd be pushing them hard for compensation. Should I be doing the same here, and if so what's the best way to go about it?

Cheers.

first off do not be under the impression the RAC man is an expert they are definately nothing of the sort.
i would doubt it is spark plugs,as you say car under warranty so why all the talk of liability? just let them repair it or take it to another dealer.

custardy

what car/engine is it?
how many miles and what service was it?
as said,i wouldnt really attribute it to the spark plugs
what are the dealer saying it is?

cyclonebri1

It seems very strange that the garage cannot get out a plug they only fitted a couple of weeks ago, almost sounds cross threaded or longer than the 1 it rplaced so now stuck in carbon.

I would put the AA mans diagnosis above that of any dealer. They have to be capable working on hteir own and on any variety of car, unlike the monkeys at larger garages that simply do as the foreman tells them, but not allways well

I would explain the need for an equivalent sized car to the dealer, they have time to arrange something, and if you explain that it could avoid the claim for compensation the ball is in their court. Can't see that you can do much more for now. :beer:

BLT_2

My doubts were aroused when your referred to the RAC man as an expert :-) If I wanted a man who could tow a car to a garage I would call the RAC, if I wanted a diagnosis on my car I would call a garage.

skiddlydiddly

You don't seem to have mmuch faith in breakdown services.Personally I'd say you have to be at last as able a mechanic to do that job as work in a garage, if not more.They're on their own and work in higher pressure situations in all weather at any time of the day or night.

withabix

What car is it and what have they given you as a courtesy car?

How long is the journey that this car is not suitable for?

opinions4u

Thanks for the comments so far. I'm not one with a mechanical mind, so I'm wide open to thought on this one!

johnnyroper wrote: »

i would doubt it is spark plugs

Even though they are unable to remove one that they had fitted 3 days earlier?

as you say car under warranty so why all the talk of liability?

I have been severely inconvenienced by what I believe to be their error. Surely they have a liability over and above repairing it. As a fairly placid kind of guy, all I really want is my car fixed and returned. But things are dragging on.

BLT wrote: »

My doubts were aroused when your referred to the RAC man as an expert :-)

Well, it's fair to say I don't know he's an expert. He did, however, identify that the car shouldn't be driven any further which appears to be backed up by the dealer's slow approach to things.

custardy wrote: »

what car/engine is it?

Ford Focus 1800 petrol.

how many miles and what service was it?

37,000. 3 yr major service.

as said,i wouldnt really attribute it to the spark plugs

Even though they can't remove one that they installed 3 days earlier?

what are the dealer saying it is?

They are keeping their cards close to their chest. But have confirmed an inability to get the spark plug out.

withabix wrote: »

What car is it and what have they given you as a courtesy car?

Focus v Fiesta.

How long is the journey that this car is not suitable for?

Just over 400 miles with a family of 4.

custardy

unfortunatly until you get a breakdown of the full fault(s) issues then its tricky to advise
however if its a cross threaded spark plug then you need to confirm whats been done to address this once the works completed
eg its no good finding out at next service its a botch repair and trying to attribute blame3
what is the dealer saying is the issue that caused the running problems?

opinions4u

custardy wrote: »

unfortunatly until you get a breakdown of the full fault(s) issues then its tricky to advise
however if its a cross threaded spark plug then you need to confirm whats been done to address this once the works completed
eg its no good finding out at next service its a botch repair and trying to attribute blame3

I've asked for a full written and technical report.

what is the dealer saying is the issue that caused the running problems?

They are giving nothing away at the moment.

opinions4u

custardy wrote: »

unfortunatly until you get a breakdown of the full fault(s) issues then its tricky to advise
however if its a cross threaded spark plug then you need to confirm whats been done to address this once the works completed
eg its no good finding out at next service its a botch repair and trying to attribute blame3

I've asked for a full written and technical report.

what is the dealer saying is the issue that caused the running problems?

They are giving nothing away at the moment.