New Throttle Body £346 - Is this right?

farfromhome

I hope this is in the right spot, otherwise please move. My problem:

I bought a new Ford Fiesta Finesse 53 Reg in January 2004 and have always had it serviced and Mot done by the local Ford dealer I bought it from. There have been a number of issues with the car right from the date I collected it and with hindsight I should have rejected it at that time, but there have been no problems for the last 4 years or so, except in August last year the engine light would not go out when I started the car. The dealer told me the engine needed re-calibrating and it has been ok since then.

I took the car in yesterday for the MOT and annual service. Mileage now 45,334. I had 2 non-urgent repairs done, total cost just under £200. When I went to start the car in their car park after paying, the car shuddered but then started ok; I started reversing but then the engine, battery and oil lights came on and the car lost power.

2 mechanics looked at it, tried various things for 15 mins and then took it back in the workshop and told me that the diagnostic tool showed it needed a new throttle body at a cost of £346! Apparently this goes back to the re-calibrating in August and "it is just one of those things" and "a total coincidence that it happened yesterday after the service".

I was shattered to say the least, especially as they then refused to let me have a courtesy car (I live nowhere near a bus or train stop) as I didn't have my driving licence with me and it would cost £15 a day plus petrol! No-one prepared to give me a lift home either - distance about 4 miles! It was 6.30 pm by that time and they usually close at 6 pm. How is that for loyalty?

I had to agree the repairs as I need the car but now wonder if this seems ok to one of you experts please?

I would like to complain but wonder if I have a case?

In addition, although the car passed the MOT, I was advised to have the windscreen replaced as a chip repair done in December has spread and I now understand that a windscreen replacement counts as a claim?!

Any replies and advice gratefully received!

fred7777

farfromhome wrote: »

In addition, although the car passed the MOT, I was advised to have the windscreen replaced as a chip repair done in December has spread and I now understand that a windscreen replacement counts as a claim?!

Depends on the insurer. Most don't count it but I believe Swift cover do.

As far as your other problems go I don't believe in "coincidence" after my last car lost power after a service and on closer inspection found they had taken off a clip securing the throttle cable!

fivetide

Who did the chip repair? I think some guarantee it....

Also, I wouldn't be takign a 53 reg car to a main dealer. You are paying top whack and recieving poor service. I'd be tempted to write to the dealer principle and tell them where to go and why. As you say, great way to treat a loyal customer.

As for the cost... I have no idea but I wouldn't be surprised if it couldn't be done for half the price elsewhere or if a bit of proper mechanic work might have got the car going rather than having to plug it in and find out what's up.

Throttle bodies get dirty and can gum up so a good clean can help. Might even have been a dodgy sensor but typical stealer, goes for the expensive option first.

If it turns out not to be that I'd be amazed if they even bothered to offer a refund.

5t.

farfromhome

Thank you to Fred and fivetide. Yes, I now agree I should have found another garage but having had a couple of bad experiences over the years, I thought I better stick with this main dealer - never again.

I will give them a ring about the clip and a good clean and see what they say.

Chip repair was done by AutoGlass and they did say it was at the extreme limits for a repair. My insurer is MoreThan; I will give them a ring when I get the car back.

fivetide

I'd call AutoGlass. Guaranteed for as long as you own the car...

http://www.autoglass.co.uk/Our-quality-guarantee.193.0.html

So extreme limits or not they should stand by it.

Definately write to the dealer though. You never know, for the price of a stamp (or speak in person when you collect the car) you might get some money off.

5t.

farfromhome

Thanks Fivetide. I will take your advice re Autoglass and also write to the dealer and perhaps copy in Ford Dagenham.

I did ring the dealer this morning with your & Fred's suggestions. Apparently clip was checked last night and the service person would speak to the mechanic re a good clean & ring me back. Still waiting!

Notmyrealname

farfromhome wrote: »

Mileage now 45,334.

Thats most of the cause of the problem. Its not even done 6000 miles per year so its either lots of short journeys or long ones with long periods being stood - neither are good for a car.

"a total coincidence that it happened yesterday after the service".

I'm afraid they're right as they were also right not to give you a courtesy car without you proving that you had a driving licence. Their insurance company require a copy - its not just them being awkward.

It was 6.30 pm by that time and they usually close at 6 pm. How is that for loyalty?

Quite good. You had two mechanics looking at it AT NO COST and they kept trying to sort it long after closing time. Quite ungrateful aren't you?

I would like to complain but wonder if I have a case?

Complain about what - the fact you weren't billed the £300 odd in August or the fact they stayed after they should have gone home diagnosing your car for free?

TrickyWicky

I'd say its about normal for a throttle body yes. I got a quote for my renault last year and that was quoted at a similar price. I was stumped but gave it some thought and then just greased up the control mechanism. after cleaning off all the rust etc - good as new.

Try hunting around the breakers websites and see if you can find a second hand one.

Strider590

£346 is probably right (at dealership/stealership prices), the dealership mechanics won't clean a part (which is all that may be needed), because it risks failure and !!!!ing off the customer further down the line.... "WHY DIDNT YOU REPLACE THIS PART???!!! IM GOING TO SUE YOU!!!!".

If you really have to get it replaced, I recommend Ebay or the local scrappy (not doo).

farfromhome

Hi Notmyrealname, I do mainly short journeys with one long one once a week, but I did wonder about that and therefore put the mileage.

Re the courtesy car: They have known me for 8 years since I bought the car from them, I have had a courtesy car from them in the past during the various repairs without them asking for a licence.

No, I don't think I am ungrateful. They have had a lot of business out of me with this car and they have even admitted that I seem to have an unlucky car. I actually turned up at 5pm to collect the car but as usual the invoice had not been done (although I had rung them an hour before to confirm). I then found a note on the MOT certificate which I did not understand and had to wait for a mechanic to come out. When after that I found I could not start the car, I had to wait again for the mechanic to come back out and he then had to call another mechanic. When they both found they could not start the car they said they needed to take the car back in to put on the diagnostic tool - which was actually well before 6 pm.

Don't agree that, if you take in a car running perfectly well, and it then doesn't start a few hours later after a service, you should expect them to look at it free of charge to establish the cause? Especially when they know that you intend to buy your next car from them? I had been looking at their new models.

Yes, I would have preferred to pay £346 in August to fix a problem properly instead of being told the engine needed recalibrating at £51. They brought up the recalibrating last night and made a connection between that and the throttle body - not me. I have wasted £51.

farfromhome

Thank you TrickyWicky & Strider - I cannot see a thank you button below your posts!

Unfortunately I need the car, rather stumped without it because of where I live and having to get to work quite early, and I don't have the time at the moment to look at scrapyards etc and would still need to find someone to fix it. But I am grateful for your suggestions and next time I will do that.