Dealership diagnostic charges

michboo

Hello Everyone,

I really some good advise. Last week our car wouldn't start, the battery had run down, so we charged this and replaced it. Unfortunately it stll won't start and we've been told that it looks like a problem with the car computer system.....

So the engine won't start because of the immobiliser in the computer system.... Well I know nothing about cars, so we went with it. We had the car towed to the vauxhall dealership on Friday. Well today (Tuesday) they have finally looked at the car and run some diagnostic tests, however they haven't found the problem, but this already cost us £87 and they are going to complete some more tests tomorrow for another £87 per hour...

Sorry for the long post, but I have two questions:

Firstly, it seems very expensive to me to be paying this just for diagnostics, without even fixing the flipping thing. Does this seem right to everyone?

If not, what can I do about it? as we can't afford to have it towed elsewhere

If we need to get the car computer fixed or replaced, does anyone know how much this might cost?

The car is a Vauxhall Corsa, 1.6 petrol engine, 2007

I really appreciate your help

Thanks

scotsbob

michboo wrote: »

Sorry for the long post, but I have two questions:

Firstly, it seems very expensive to me to be paying this just for diagnostics, without even fixing the flipping thing. Does this seem right to everyone?

If not, what can I do about it? as we can't afford to have it towed elsewhere

If we need to get the car computer fixed or replaced, does anyone know how much this might cost?

I really appreciate your help

Thanks

The answer to your first question is yes, that is approx. what main dealers charge for diagnostic testing.

To have your second question answered you would have to say what model of car it is.

SunReader

For some new cars it is only main dealers that have access to the factory diagnostic kit and updates, older cars you may be better finding a decent mobile auto electrician or local independent garage.

Some ECU have to be coded with the keys, modern cars are a pain in the butt when the electrickery goes wrong.

Don't let the dealer start fitting bits on an 'is it that, is it this approach - gets horribly expensive fast, even when they can't fix it.

Model and year would be helpful, pistonheads or honest john forums have some good tech info, I'm sure you aren't the first to get a flat battery.

spacey2012

A mechanic would have been better.
main dealers are often plug and go technicians and they just keep fitting new parts until it will start.
Anything outside this and they are often stumped.
If it is a diesel, it will may need fuel filter input disconnecting, a hand primer pump put in line and pumped whilst someone cranks the engine, then taken out of line and put after the filter and repeat and it should start.

captainawsome

spacey2012 wrote: »

A mechanic would have been better.
main dealers are often plug and go technicians and they just keep fitting new parts until it will start.
Anything outside this and they are often stumped.
If it is a diesel, it will may need fuel filter input disconnecting, a hand primer pump put in line and pumped whilst someone cranks the engine, then taken out of line and put after the filter and repeat and it should start.

Seriously? Where do you get your info from. What a load of rubbish.

EdGasket

Must be French if a flat battery kills it.

Mr_Kris

Haha... I'm a french car specialist and I recognise your username off one of the forums...

aggypanthus

Our car was in 2 garages and neither could find the fault, the first one didnt charge, the second spent a day on it, he said he would have to charge for an hr, but he didnt get back to us with a bill. 3rd attack was autoelectrics- £70 per hr. bill was almost £500 for dignosing and drying out the board. No new parts involved.

SunReader

spacey2012 wrote: »

A mechanic would have been better.
main dealers are often plug and go technicians and they just keep fitting new parts until it will start.
Anything outside this and they are often stumped.

True, not all problems come up as fault codes on a scan.

force_ten

EdGasket wrote: »

Must be French if a flat battery kills it.

why would you take a French car to a vauxhall dealership?

Sooler

michboo wrote: »

Firstly, it seems very expensive to me to be paying this just for diagnostics, without even fixing the flipping thing.

but they have indentified and illiminated a multitued of things that aren't causing the problem.

"Results? Why, man, I have gotten lots of results! If I find 10,000 ways something won't work, I haven't failed. I am not discouraged, because every wrong attempt discarded is often a step forward...." THOMAS EDISON