Potential problem with AA work

*manda*

We broke down over Easter while on our way to a weekend break in Cornwall. AA came out, diagnosis was the coil was faulty- so he replaced this, and the plugs(?) and it seemed fine after. Cost about £120.

Over the past few weeks it has become quite juddery/lumpy, a friend who is a mechanic thinks its the coil. He has only had a quick look so far and tightened a plug that was loose hoping it may just be that but the maintenance light is still on, and it's no better really. OH is thinking about just buying a new coil and replacing it. Where do we stand with the AA on this as I'm suspicious it would be a faulty part and surely there should be a year warranty or something?

Any advice gratefully received. Please excuse any ignorance about cars, I know nothing and don't drive, but I know when I feel I've been "ripped off"

TradePro

*manda* wrote: »

Please excuse any ignorance about cars, I know nothing and don't drive, but I know when I feel I've been "ripped off"

You haven't old us what type of car, how old, how many miles, anything. £120 won't always turn an old one into a brand new one...

In any case, it was a relatively small price to pay to ensure you could enjoy your holiday.

Muscle750

What car is it most modern cars have individual coil packs one for each plug unlike the old days of distributor cap rotor arm and points set

*manda*

TradePro wrote: »

In any case, it was a relatively small price to pay to ensure you could enjoy your holiday.

With respect, I never said it wasn't.....besides, it is more than £120 when you factor in the amount you pay for membership etc but that's not the point.

I do also realise cars break down, and i wasn't expecting it to be "like new" and we have been having other work done which I would fully expect, and happily would pay a mechanic to do.

What I am wondering is whether it is normal for a part/job to fail so quickly. If I bought a kettle or pair of shoes I'd expect them to last a reasonable time. This has "failed" within 3 months and I'm wondering whether I am likely to have some recourse through the AA- whether their work is covered by some form of warranty as it sounds to me like it could be a faulty part. I would have expected something like a years warranty??

It is a Ford Mondeo 02 if it makes any difference. Apparently it is a common fault - AA man plugged in the computer and diagnosed the problem straight away and thankfully being a relatively straight forward job it meant being able to continue with our journey 2 hours later.

Weird_Nev

I believe those cars have a separate coil for each cylinder - 4 in total. It could be another coil failing, or a completely different problem - things like failed timing sensors or throttle position sensors can give the faults you describe.

AA can only offer a "get you home" fix, in many cases. They don't hold spares for every car and you can't expect a roadside repair to be perfect.

Get your car to a good independent garage and get them to run diagnostics to identify the fault. If it does turn out to be whatever the AA did, you can persue them for assistance with the costs.

Oh, and ditch the AA cover. You can get better cover cheaper. See the tips on this site re breakdown cover.

mattyprice4004

I reckon it's another coil, and it'll feel exactly the same no matter which one fails.

A bit quick to jump to 'ripped off' despite admitting you have zero mechanical knowledge.

Strider590

To be far with the giant corporation, their job is only to get your car going again.
If there's a fault that's causing your car to eat through coil packs or spark plugs, then unless that fault stopped the car working at the roadside, they won't have fixed it.

Faults could be the engine overheating, or something causing higher than normal electrical resistance, like a bad earth/ground connection to the engine block.
It seems bonkers that the coil packs are on top of the engine, because one thing they hate most is heat.

TradePro

mattyprice4004 wrote: »

A bit quick to jump to 'ripped off' despite admitting you have zero mechanical knowledge.

This was exactly the reason for my response.

*manda*

Hey I'm only after advice- not judgement, this site is meant to be friendly remember, and I'm only going on information we have been given by a mechanic independent of the AA.......anyway

Obviously if its not the fault of the AA then it's not a problem we'll get the work done, but my query was more related to whether the part would have a warranty if it was felt to be at fault. As the general consensus of opinion is that it is unlikely to specifically be a faulty part then we will just go ahead with the work. Fingers crossed it sorts it out and nothing else goes wrong!

Weird_Nev

I agree - but seeing as2.0 Mondeos have 4 coil packs, it could be hard to even identify if the one the AA fitted is the one that failed this time around!

TradePro

*manda* wrote: »

this site is meant to be friendly

*manda* wrote: »

I know nothing and don't drive, but I know when I feel I've been "ripped off"

It is, sure, but sometimes attitude can make you appear 'unfriendly'.