Has van passed MOT?

clare.williams

Hoping someone can help me. My van, which I need for work, went into garage 10 weeks ago and I have still not had it back. They keep claiming to know the problem and then after I ring saying it's not that it's something else. It was supposed to be finished with an MOT today but when I went to pick it up he said there is still smoke coming out of back and I may be stopped by police. So surely that means it failed MOT.
He now also wants £1750 rather than the £300 he originally quoted and had replaced things he only "fixed" 3 months ago, I feel like I am being taken advantage off as he still has not fixed the smoky exhaust it initially went in for. I have left van there and spoke to DVLA as van is not even worth £1000 to start with. Do I pay him part or all of the money or leave the van there as payment as DVLA said I can, thereby cutting my losses as it looks like I will either have to take van to another garage and start again or sell it as part exchange? Thanks not sure where I stand legally when paying for work that I did not ask for or authorised and yet the thing it was sent in for is still illegal! Thanks, feeling very confused and desperate for a vehicle for my business!

Norman_Castle

Have you asked the garage?. https://www.gov.uk/check-mot-status#before-you-start

spacey2012

Sounds like the EGR valve needs cleaning.

forgotmyname

DVLA? Why did you phone them? They wont know whats wrong with your van or whats legal.

You need to find out what they have done any why. Changing parts that are under warranty is their problem if they supplied and fitted them originally.

You need a breakdown of whats been done and how much. Obviously if you took it into them for a smokey exhaust and its still smokey then they have not done the job you gave them.
But if they have genuinely done work to try and sort it but those repairs failed then there will be some charger.

If they said its a turbo or engine fault and you agree to try the cheaper option of the turbo but makes no improvement then more repairs will be needed and paid for.

clare.williams

I did not authorise any work except for the initial one which was the smoke that has still not been solved. Everytime I rung he just said we have done this or that and the van is in pieces, it was like trial and error. I rang the DVLA to enquire where I stood with the van as the garage still have it and it's still illegal to drive. I am wondering if it is even fixable. They have so far changed the injectors ( which was initial £300 which it turned out not to be) the turbo, which it also is not and now he is saying it might be a new exhaust. He also MOTd it and changed the internal fan that he only replaced 3 months ago. I don't know much about cars but how can it have passed MOT if exhaust is smoking enough for police to pull you over, which is what one guy in garage said to me. DVLA told me to speak to VOSA, but am out of my depth to be honest.

goonarmy

So theyve had your van for ten weeks?

forgotmyname

See there.. You told them to fix the smoke so they changed the injectors, A reasonable assumption. Although i would have expected them to get them tested rather than just replace them.

Unless the exhaust is full of oil it wont be causing the smoke. Again easy to test. Unbolt the exhaust at the manifold and see if the smoke stops.

They sound like cowboys.

clare.williams

They have had it for ten weeks and when I went today having been told yesterday it was finished and passed MOT I was told there were still problems, I may be stopped by police for smoke and maybe I should pay for a new exhaust, but in meantime thats £1750.
I don't know what you mean by see there, I am happy to pay for a problem that was highlighted and resolved but not something that might be a problem and then isnt so we will try another five things whilst charging me for each one when the initial thing is still not resolved. Thank you to everyone for their answers.

barbiedoll

They've had your van for 10 weeks? They're doing you over, probably because you're a woman and you know nothing about cars....as you've probably told them at some point.

Can you get a big bloke to go to the garage with you? If they say that the van has passed the MOT, then you should ask for the MOT certificate. Get a full breakdown of the bill and question exactly what has been done. Tell them that you want receipts for the parts and you want the old parts to take away with you, otherwise you won't be paying a penny. If he's changed the turbo, that is probably where the money has gone but all this flannel about having a MOT but still being "illegal" or whatever sounds like a load of rubbish, they think that you'll just pay out whatever they charge, they're counting on your ignorance.

What make/model is your van exactly? Does it even have a turbo? (I know probably less than you about motors but I do know that not every car/van has a turbo!)

You could also contact Trading Standards, or at least, drop their name into the conversation with the mechanic

By the way, you should change your username, if that is your real name, you don't know who is reading this!

Retrogamer

What is the make / model of the van and what year?

As already mentioned going back what you said, they sound like cowboys.

You should speak to Trading standards instead of DVLA.

It shouldn't have passed an MOT if it's as smokey as you mention
http://www.motuk.co.uk/manual_740.htm

Sounds like the garage are pretending they don't know what's causing the issue and just making stuff up to charge you for it. Hence them allowing it to pass an MOT whilst still smoking. (Might be worth calling VOSA to let them aware of potential MOT bodging)

If you can turn up and ask to have a look at the van with someone know has some mechanical knowledge. It would be worth checking all the injectors and turbo to see if they are indeed new at all. It wouldn't be the first time i've known a garage to charge for things not fitted.

Norman_Castle

OP Contact Trading Standards and ask their advise. If possible retrieve, your van from this garage.