Garage service complaint

lucy85

Hi all

Can someone give me some advice about what to do in my situation.

It's about garage service I am not happy about. Before our holiday (travelling to Poland by car) we left our car at the garage so they could do the checks on it. We wanted to make sure we won't break in the middle on Germany The car was checked, we received a report and everything was marked as Green. (You could have green, amber or red). There were no indications that something needed to be replaced soon or if the car needed to be fixed.

We travelled to Poland safely and we didn't really use the car much as there was no need for it. During one of our trips the trasmission light went on that the service is required. We took the car to the dealer and we needed to replace the oil in transmission. The mechanic said that oil was burnt and that he had never seen anything like that. During the standard checks perfomered by the garage in Poland, they took our attention to the suspension which was absolutely damaged. They showed us parts that were completely worn out and only God helped us from accident. We spend about £1300.00 to repair everything (other issues were discovered as well)

I am absolutely dissappointed with the service I received here and it's not possible that car could go so wrong in three weeks time. For that reason I think that the first garage didn't check the car properly.

What I can do? I would like a refund of costs (only for suspension and oil - about £700, as other issues weren't checked by them so they were not at their fault)

Apologise for not a specific car wording I am not a driver

steve-L

It depends what type of service you asked and paid for.
Was this a garage or a "chain" (Kwik-Rip-Euro-Tyre type)

Did they say they checked the transmission fluid?

The problem is these "services" are often offered with specific items to be checked.

forgotmyname

If your suspension was that badly damaged i think you would have noticed on a drive that far.

Mechanic had never seen burnt oil in an auto gearbox? Did he have a guide dog with him? Or did he only work on brand new cars?

The fact you got there safely with no issues makes me think you may have been taken advantage of.

lucy85

They checked Transmission Fluid and said it's okay and no need to change it. The control light inidicated issues I suppose, so the issue was fixed (fluid replaced). No problems after changing the fluid. I would do it in UK, if someone would even suggest to change it, but no suggestion was made.

My husband said that he felt something was wrong during the drive, but he thought that everything was fine with it as it was checked before.

Plus we got all susspension parts with us, mechanic showed them to us before starting the repair. So we could see the damage and it wasn't only mechanic imagination.

By burnt fluid I meant that the mechanic has never seen fluid burnt to that point.

atrixblue.-MFR-.

bioling of point of most ATF or MTF fluids are around 312-350oC depending on fluid used and its quality and addative, if you fluid boiled to that point you have issues with the box or a fitted oil cooler in some ATF boxes.

driving thousends of miles, suspension parts that previously look ok can deteriorate in no time, so a 101 point check may not have brought issues up for your car at that time but 2000 miles later makes a huge difference and the outcome change.

rs65

lucy85 wrote: »

I am absolutely dissappointed with the service I received here and it's not possible that car could go so wrong in three weeks time. For that reason I think that the first garage didn't check the car properly.

If the first garage had found these faults then you would've paid for them before you left. You haven't suffered a loss, unless repair costs were higher in Poland.

mattyprice4004

'only God helped us from accident'
come on. If it was that bad you would have felt something amiss, you'd barely be able to keep it in a straight line!

Plus, God is more of an engine whizz so I'm told. Suspension isn't his thing.

salubrious

What kind of damage was done to the suspension, and which parts did you have replaced?

What car is it too?

Westmead_Fan

was it a main dealer who pre checked your vehicle before your long trip???
i have not known many garages that would just be happy to get paid on a checker over on a vehicle knowing they have spotted something that they know they will fix.

your trip was not a 100 miles or so it was a long haul to poland items can wear in that time, did you hit any pot holes to damage suspension???

lucy85

Thanks for the replies.

My husband will go to the dealer today - it was Mitshubishi dealer not Volvo, however nothing dodgy

We needed to replace the whole suspension, but it wasn't just one part. If my translation is correct (sorry ), we needed to replace/do:
tie rod, wheel allignment, balance levers, damping bushes, something with stablization on front and back and much more.

Road to Poland is simple, we only use the motorways, so it wouldn't be damaged on the straight road and it would not be felt on straight road as well. In my opinion it is not possible that suspension would be damaged so badly after 1000 miles on straight road. As I said, we got all parts that needed to be replaced as a proof that repair was reqiured.

My problem is that first garage told us that everything is fine with the car and we will safely go to Poland and back and no repairs are needed. We always use this garage as they normally say if something needs fixing this day or month after or whenever.

As I said before, we weren't using car much in Poland as there was no need.

colino

Your reason for going to the Polish garage was in answer to a transmission light flagging up a fault. As this is presumably an autobox, the original checking garage wouldn't have checked it - many need specific temp settings, to check, others would have you believe you need manufacturer equipment to check and refill. In any case, it is a sealed system and it doesn't drop its level, when the fluid would froth and potentially overheat, unless you have a leak. Did the Polish garage also find and fix the leak? Given the sight of that open wallet, no wonder they also found a whole raft of other work that they persuaded you that was essential.
Polish garage or chancer down the road, really doesn't make much difference.