Car Broke down - Arnold Clark

Expired

Step daughters car broke down on 3rd Nov 2014 and the AA arrived to say the fuel was not getting through into engine and it was a specialist job and he delivered car to Arnold Clark, step daughter was told by Arnold Clark it was a TPI fault which was identified through engine management system via connected computer for diagnostics.

Bear in mind the car is a Seat Ibiza Ecomotiv 2011, and recently passed its MOT on Sept 2014, Arnold Clark decided to change the brake fluid and charged £36.83? Garage who passed MOT previously said brake fluid did not need changed?

They also carried out software update to erase said fault and stated it was rectified and was okay to drive, total cost £158.38.

Step Daughter asked for courtesy car whilst repairs being carried out as she looks after her disabled dad and has to take 8 year old daughter to school and back, she was told there were no courtesy cars until the end of the month.

Within a couple of days of receiving the car, it broke down again and on the 6th Nov 2014 and a different AA man came to the same conclusion that the car needed specialst work carried out as the diesel fuel was not being pumped into engine. Daughter and her dad went with AA this time to Arnold Clark with car to be told there were no courtesy cars available and car would need to be left with them overnight, she had explained that she had to take her disabled dad to the hospital that day and pick up daughter from school, they did get a member of staff to drop them off at home, but with no transport available in the meantime.

She got angry with Manager and stated that both AA mechanics said the car had the same issue and why was she being charged twice, why was there no courtesy car available, Arnold Clark stated on second visit that the wiring was worn near airbox and had to be repaired as the diagnostics came up with many faults caused by worn wiring, if thats the case why was this not identified on first visit? Why would there be worn wiring on a three year old car?

Car was originally purchased from Arnold Clark three years ago.

She was charged £147.17 on second visit.

I am thinking of complaining to trading standards.

I think my step daughter was ripped off.

FiremanDave

What was the brake fluid last changed?

If less than two years ago why did she agree to it being changed?

If she didn't agree why did she pay?

You'll need to get evidence of the faults, AA said it needed specialist work are AC a Seat dealer?

motorguy

Expired wrote: »

Step daughters car broke down on 3rd Nov 2014 and the AA arrived to say the fuel was not getting through into engine and it was a specialist job and he delivered car to Arnold Clark, step daughter was told by Arnold Clark it was a TPI fault which was identified through engine management system via connected computer for diagnostics.

Bear in mind the car is a Seat Ibiza Ecomotiv 2011, and recently passed its MOT on Sept 2014, Arnold Clark decided to change the brake fluid and charged £36.83? Garage who passed MOT previously said brake fluid did not need changed?

They also carried out software update to erase said fault and stated it was rectified and was okay to drive, total cost £158.38.

Step Daughter asked for courtesy car whilst repairs being carried out as she looks after her disabled dad and has to take 8 year old daughter to school and back, she was told there were no courtesy cars until the end of the month.

Within a couple of days of receiving the car, it broke down again and on the 6th Nov 2014 and a different AA man came to the same conclusion that the car needed specialst work carried out as the diesel fuel was not being pumped into engine. Daughter and her dad went with AA this time to Arnold Clark with car to be told there were no courtesy cars available and car would need to be left with them overnight, she had explained that she had to take her disabled dad to the hospital that day and pick up daughter from school, they did get a member of staff to drop them off at home, but with no transport available in the meantime.

She got angry with Manager and stated that both AA mechanics said the car had the same issue and why was she being charged twice, why was there no courtesy car available, Arnold Clark stated on second visit that the wiring was worn near airbox and had to be repaired as the diagnostics came up with many faults caused by worn wiring, if thats the case why was this not identified on first visit? Why would there be worn wiring on a three year old car?

Car was originally purchased from Arnold Clark three years ago.

She was charged £147.17 on second visit.

I am thinking of complaining to trading standards.

I think my step daughter was ripped off.

A garage isnt obliged to provide a courtesy car, no matter what the extenuating circumstances may be. If they dont have one, they dont have one.

Are you saying that Arnold Clark did the brake fluid change as part of this fault resolution or as part of the MOT work?

If the former, i'd be querying its relevence.

It may well be that it takes two attempts to fix a fault. There may have been several faults on the car causing this.

Ask for a breakdown of what was done the first time, and why, and what was done the second time, and why, and also get them to explain the relevance of the brake fluid change if it was part of the fault fix.

Cant see trading standards being interested.

Expired

The car passed MOT on Sept 2014, brakes were fine and garage stated that the brake fluid was okay and reservior was topped up.

Garage who passed mot stated that if the brake fluid needed changed he would have mentioned to step daughter.

Why did arnold clark change brake fluid? Arnold Clark did not mention the brake fluid change to her, she did not know until she received invoice, daughter knows nothing about cars, but she did complain if there were so many faults due to worn wiring, that should have been picked up on first visit, she contacted AA legal team who stated it would be hard to prove both breakdowns were same fault as it was of the opinion of both AA mechanics.

There is still the issue of worn wiring on a three year old car?

If it produced so many faults why was it not picked up on first visit sing diagnostics machine?

Expired

the car had broken down, as part of the diagnostics and repair work, i dont see the relevance of changing brake fluid.

One important point, worn wiring on a three year old car?

Expired

local garage carried out MOT, not Arnold Clark.

motorguy

Expired wrote: »

The car passed MOT on Sept 2014, brakes were fine and garage stated that the brake fluid was okay and reservior was topped up.

Garage who passed mot stated that if the brake fluid needed changed he would have mentioned to step daughter.

Why did arnold clark change brake fluid? Arnold Clark did not mention the brake fluid change to her, she did not know until she received invoice, daughter knows nothing about cars, but she did complain if there were so many faults due to worn wiring, that should have been picked up on first visit, she contacted AA legal team who stated it would be hard to prove both breakdowns were same fault as it was of the opinion of both AA mechanics.

There is still the issue of worn wiring on a three year old car?

If it produced so many faults why was it not picked up on first visit sing diagnostics machine?

You need to be asking Arnold Clarke's service manager about the brake fluid change, not us on here. It seems odd, but there may be a reason.

Likewise, if you are sceptical about the work that was done, you need to be getting the service manager to step through with you what was done and why.

Finally, two AA men coming out and looking at the car without connecting it to the proper equipment does not consitute an "expert opinion", so you need to be talking to Arnold Clarke about what was done and why.

Expired

update: step daughter tells me now that Arnold Clark asked over the phone if it was alright to change air filter at a cost of £49, the brake fluid change may be an error on report or a mistake, have asked step daughter to contact Arnold Clark on Monday to get confirmation to ask if it was brake fluid or air filter change..

motorguy

Expired wrote: »

update: step daughter tells me now that Arnold Clark asked over the phone if it was alright to change air filter at a cost of £49, the brake fluid change may be an error on report or a mistake, have asked step daughter to contact Arnold Clark on Monday to get confirmation to ask if it was brake fluid or air filter change..

I would strongly recommend you call them yourself. You are getting second hand information at the moment which may be wildly inaccurate.

Expired

I will contact them on monday to get a full breakdown of all repairs and why and any other issues.

Thanks all for your advice.

FiremanDave

Expired wrote: »

update: step daughter tells me now that Arnold Clark asked over the phone if it was alright to change air filter at a cost of £49, the brake fluid change may be an error on report or a mistake, have asked step daughter to contact Arnold Clark on Monday to get confirmation to ask if it was brake fluid or air filter change..

£49 for an air filter. :eek: