Vauxhall Vivaro problems

Jenalladene

Has anyone any advice please? A light appeared on the dashboard so my partner drove it straight to a garage who changed the fuel filter. He drove it up the road and the light came back on so he took it straight back. 3 days later the garage still cannot find the problem after replacing several parts and now the van won't start. They tow it to a Vauxhall dealer without our knowledge and informed us that they still couldn't find the problem but a new management system is required because the other one has blown. The Vauxhall mechanic said that he had never seen a wiring loom in such a mess. Wires had been cut and bundled back together and the main 2 wires which should never be touched had been cut which had probably blown the system with too much voltage from the bundled wires touching. The problem we had would have been a £200 to £300 job but now the garage wants to charge us £1400 for their work and a further £2200 for Vauxhall's work. We don't have this sort of money and my partner is self employed so no work no money. They have had the van now for 4 weeks come Monday and it is still not ready, probably Wednesday they say. Does anyone have any advice about how we can tackle this problem. We don't think we should pay the garage who has caused all these problems but they won't give us back the van without payment.

cootuk

What is the history of the van, and how long have you had it?
What work did the original garage invoice?

patman99

I would argue that as the original garage took the vehicle to the main dealer without first agreeing this with you first, then you should not be liable for the main dealer costs.

Jenalladene

Thanks for your reply Cootuk. My partner bought the van about 4 months ago from someone he knows through work. It's a 57 plate and has been well maintained and serviced. The garage has replaced a solenoid, some computer chips and the electronic pedal all in vain to get the van to start.

What is the history of the van, and how long have you had it?
What work did the original garage invoice?

Jenalladene

Thanks for your reply and I totally agree patman99. I need to know where we stand legally. We also need to get the van back. My partner has agreed this morning to pay them some money and pay the rest when we can. Wish we had taken it to the main dealer in the first place but we thought they would be too expensive.

I would argue that as the original garage took the vehicle to the main dealer without first agreeing this with you first, then you should not be liable for the main dealer costs.

Nodding_Donkey

So are you saying the first garage did all the damage to the wiring loom?

cootuk

It's pretty normal for a mechanic to take a vehicle to a main dealer for things where the main dealer computers could delve deeper into a problem. I would expect a minimal (<£100) charge to cover a diagnostic check.
I would expect them to stop at the point where major work like wiring looms are required, and get your permission to proceed.


The question has to be - who cut the wiring?
Has the work done by the garage originally disturbed the bad wiring, or did they cut the looms? Until you find out who cut the wires, then you can't blame the first garage. Though you could ask them to return the vehicle in the original condition considering you didn't approve the work.