Dodgy dealership withheld info to recommend repairs

fivetide

Christyt wrote: »

£43.80 which i presume was cost of petrol for guy to drive it home and back...

I'd tackle them on this. What is it? What did they do? Why did they persist with something that you didn't need as it had passed the test etc...

The rest is much of a muchness really. You have a service done so that's ok and the test is the test I suppose. Injector cleaner might not have done much but they could have advised that as a service item.

If it is labour for the oil change you might be a bit stuck as they did do the diagnostic tests as you asked, even if nothing turned up so I think you'll need to pay.

I'd go with a talk to the manager and asking him how, after the car was found to have no faults were they suggestign fitting a new CAT to solve what appears to be a non-existent problem. It might well be the original test was done when the car wasn't hot enough.

Be polite but no harm in asking. If you still aren't happy make it clear, see what his reputation might be worth.

5t.

davidjwest

Why did they recommend you changed the CAT? They are taking the !!!!, but that's what main dealers do and what you pay for I tend to find.

That's why I avoid them, unless my car happens to be under warranty, they have to pay for those luxurious premises somehow!

Hintza

Christyt wrote: »

they should have told me the emissions were running fine.

But they weren't when you took it for an MOT. I've seen thousands spent trying to isolate a problem before now with a car going through various garages before it was solved and it was a £3 widget in the end.

scheming_gypsy

Christyt wrote: »

And my point is - scheming_gypsy- they should have told me the emissions were running fine. If they feel the CAT looks past it's prime anyway, they could have made that clear - but at no point did they put it like that. They said that was the first thing they would try with a view to solving the emissions problem. He didn't say it looked like it needed changing anyway.

i wasn't disputing that. I originally said that he may have recommended that it was changed for a different reason; but 'maninthestreet' decided to reply to something I hadn't said.

ROY47

£43.80 look like labour charge for oil/filter change + time for putting in fuel injector cleaner etc.

Christyt

Hi all - just to let you know I spoke to the manager about it who agreed it sounded odd. Asked me for copies of my docs and I sent a letter explaining exactly what happened and how whichever way you cut it, I didn't think I was correctly dealt with and would like a refund. He said it was an honest mistake (although the explanation wasn't particularly convincing or logical) and agreed to refund the whole bill as they value their reputation. I'm obviously pleased but have to at least give the manager credit for handling my complaint well. Might still think twice before going back there though.

rodenal

Its good that you got your money back, but please learn from this experience and do not take your car to Toyota in future. It's 8 years old and worth next to nothing -there's no justification for taking it somewhere you'll be charged £100 an hour. Toyotas use standard codes etc too so anywhere with a decent code reader and perhaps more importantly decent reputation can work on it for you.

poppasmurf_bewdley

One lesson from this is never put a car in for MOT with old/dirty oil. When emissions first became part of the MOT, my car failed (Ford Granada Ghia) and the tester told me to change the oil and filter which I did and it then sailed through the test.

Since then, I've always timed my oil changes to happen just before MOT time and never had a problem with emissions.

Christyt

Thanks for advice - I'm first to admit I know nada about car maintenance. Know a bit more now! Next challenge, find a decent code reader/mechanic. Thanks again all.