Halfords Car Servicing

nicola150

Hi

I've recently taken my 09 plate car in for a Major service at Halfords 3 months after its MOT (which was done in a different garage)

They have come back with a list of problems

Broken water pump
Car empty on coolant (Possibly a leak but we wont know until they fill it up and we take it back to them in a few days)
Whole new set of wheel bolts needed (Apparently my wheel nut key didnt work and they need to replace them all and give me a new key - £55extra)
Brake pads 1.5mm below manufacturers standards. (£240 extra)

Has anyone got any advice about Halfords, after having shelled out £230 already for the major service and wheel alignment should i just pay this extra £300 or is it worth getting a second opinion?

Are the trustworthy as a garage? They's told me that i have to sin a disclaimer to pick my car up stating that i recognize that it is a danger to on the road.

Many Thanks

Nicola

fivetide

nicola150 wrote: »

Broken water pump
Car empty on coolant (Possibly a leak but we wont know until they fill it up and we take it back to them in a few days)

Are they sure? Surely the car would have been running hot before it? You would have noticed this. Very strange if the car went in problem free...

Whole new set of wheel bolts needed (Apparently my wheel nut key didnt work and they need to replace them all and give me a new key - £55extra)

Sounds like guff. Why would the car have the wrong key? Ask to see it. If you bought the car new/from a dealer ask them to cover the cost, should have had the right one with it. How long have you had the car? Have the wheels been off before?

Brake pads 1.5mm below manufacturers standards. (£240 extra)

First if the pads were low you would have had an advisory on the MOT. Unless you've been driving about with your foot on the brake since MOT time this also sounds like guff. Expensive guff too at that price.

Manufacturers recommendation means nothing. Are they legal? that's the question. If the answer is yes tell them a polite no.

Has anyone got any advice about Halfords, after having shelled out £230 already for the major service and wheel alignment should i just pay this extra £300 or is it worth getting a second opinion?

Are the trustworthy as a garage? They's told me that i have to sin a disclaimer to pick my car up stating that i recognize that it is a danger to on the road.

Many Thanks

Nicola

I would be taking my car away simply for those scary tactics. Why are you taking the car to Halfords anyway? Surely if you aren't taking it to a main dealer for a major service you would be taking it to a decent specialist independent garage not a place that is essentially, motoring's Henry's Cat, knowing a little bit about everything but nothing about any one particular thing.

nicola150

Thanks fivetide,

the car seemed fine before taking it in and didnt seem to be overheating.

Also we have had the wheels of before and its worked fine, we bought the car in 2010.

I took it to Halfords as i needed a full service and i found Halfords via quidco, they were offering 20% off full and major service plus 5% cashback. I bought into the brand i suppose, thought that a big company like that should be pretty trustworthy so decided to use their garage network too.

Feeling a bit silly now

Thanks again for your reply

Nicola

CLAPTON

took a car to halfords once with the heater not working; they charged £20 to look at the problem

they diagnosed a head gasket failure : about £4-500

this seemed very unlikelyso I took it to a local repair place; they diagnosed a blocked heater exchange and put a hose on it for 20 minutes and charged me £35

I complained to Halfords and they returned my £20

I haven't used them again.

fivetide

nicola150 wrote: »

Thanks fivetide,

the car seemed fine before taking it in and didnt seem to be overheating.

Also we have had the wheels of before and its worked fine, we bought the car in 2010.

I took it to Halfords as i needed a full service and i found Halfords via quidco, they were offering 20% off full and major service plus 5% cashback. I bought into the brand i suppose, thought that a big company like that should be pretty trustworthy so decided to use their garage network too.

Feeling a bit silly now

Thanks again for your reply

Nicola

Wouldn't feel silly. The offer is there to do exactly what it has done and get you in the door.

The brake pads might want looking at sooner rather than later but in order to make the 20% back they need to charge you for a lot of work, that's all I'm saying (the old addage of you don't get something for nothing applies)

What type of car is it? (model/engine size/fuel). Should be someone on here who will be able to give you a realistic price for the brakes to get done if they actually need to be.

Regarding the coolant, you only have their word now. It would be very strange if it was fine when it went in though. Get them to show you what the issue is and prepare to get a quote elsewhere.

Likewise the locking nut. If it has been used before and been fine, what have they done to it? They might have broken it with an airgun or something and be trying to get you to pay. Ask to see it!

As for trusting the brand, they are a national one so it is understandable. Don't feel silly but I would advise finding a good, recommended local specialist who knows more about problems with your particular car than simply plugging in a laptop.

Good luck!

lawstudent

nicola150 wrote: »

Hi

I've recently taken my 09 plate car in for a Major service at Halfords 3 months after its MOT (which was done in a different garage)

They have come back with a list of problems

Broken water pump
Car empty on coolant (Possibly a leak but we wont know until they fill it up and we take it back to them in a few days)
Whole new set of wheel bolts needed (Apparently my wheel nut key didnt work and they need to replace them all and give me a new key - £55extra)
Brake pads 1.5mm below manufacturers standards. (£240 extra)

Has anyone got any advice about Halfords, after having shelled out £230 already for the major service and wheel alignment should i just pay this extra £300 or is it worth getting a second opinion?

Are the trustworthy as a garage? They's told me that i have to sin a disclaimer to pick my car up stating that i recognize that it is a danger to on the road.

Many Thanks

Nicola

Its funny you should say that I went to the Halfords centre and they tried to fiddle me with the locking wheel nuts. They said the key wasn't there and I would need to pay about £100 plus vat for them to drill them off then another £15 plus vat for new locking wheel nuts. After reluctantly letting me into the viewing area I miraculously found the key right next to the jack in the boot. They then (and this is the best bit) tried to get me to pay £298 per tyre (that is £300 per tyre!!) for two replacements. I laughed out of the showroom and got new ones down the road for £52 each. I think its something to do with the fact I was using Tesco reward vouchers for my service and they were under pressure to take cash as well.

Needless to say I won't be going back.

forgotmyname

Brake pads 1.5mm below the limit? That would have to be on the metal with no brake pad left. 1.5mm may last a year depending on your car/driving style and distance you travel.

Empty coolant? I presume you never check this yourself, Even though its a weekly check?
Ever check the oil and tyres? Brake fluid?

Wheelnut key didnt work? Ever had a tyre replaced or a service before?
Maybe they broke it?

Ahhh the dangerous car form. Dont you love that

Run a mile and find a proper garage.

bartelbe

I wouldn't trust them as far as I could throw them. Easy way to check, have a look in the expansion tank and see how much collant is left.

£240 for brake pads, absolute joke, and wheel nuts dont wear out. They are trying it on.

baz657

It's rare for any car to need both front and rear pads at exactly the same time. I'm guessing they're quoting for both but even so that's at least £100 over the going rate for a good independent garage (but probably not far off dealer prices).

Yorkie1

I think it depends on the garage.

I have had my car serviced by what is now a Halfords, but the manager has been there fore 20+ years and I trust him, and the rest of the staff who also have been there for years, implicitly.

I've never had any things like described by other posters.

Westmead_Fan

what car is it because everyone is jumping the gun with regards to the brake price, all we know it could be special brake pads (unlucky i know).

without knowing a bit more details you can't get good advice on regards to the prices.