Car Broke down - Arnold Clark

motorguy

FiremanDave wrote: »

£49 for an air filter. :eek:

Arnold Clark - "Dont get done anywhere else"

:eek:

flashg67

Just to note, the brake fluid is a scheduled change every 2/3 years depending on model. Brake fluid is hygroscopic and absorbs water over time so becomes less effective. I guess it was either due, or they checked it as part of their 'free safety check' and is irrelevant to the other issues.

FiremanDave

flashg67 wrote: »

Just to note, the brake fluid is a scheduled change every 2/3 years depending on model. Brake fluid is hygroscopic and absorbs water over time so becomes less effective. I guess it was either due, or they checked it as part of their 'free safety check' and is irrelevant to the other issues.

They may not have done the brake fluid.

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..

colino

If I were you I'd sit down and write the bullet points you want resolved before having that conversation. Being overcharged for work that may or may not have been done is one thing, but a relatively newish car having two similar breakdowns isn't good, and even worse in my opinion is a wiring loom chafing itself away.
The lack of a courtesy car is standard AC service. The workshop manager can easily get an additional car from Hire Drive, but that would come out of his profit centre, not theres, so everyone is told they have no courtesy cars left.
AC didn't get to be Europes biggest indie by giving money away.

bod1467

Bear in mind that YOU have nothing to do with this ... unless and until your step-daughter advises AC that you will be handling communications for this issue going forward. If she doesn't do this then AC can quite legally ignore you.

PS - They're not known as Arnold Shark for nothing.

custardy

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.

As said, its a 'courtesy' car,not a go given right. If none are available,then what?

Standard diagnosis is plug a machine in,check the faults. If those are cleared and the car seems fine on testing. often nothing else is done. Do you think every car brought in has a full wiring loom check just incase?

sh0597

Wouldn't a 3 year old car have a warranty?

Car_54

motorguy wrote: »

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

But possibly not as inaccurate as the third-hand info we're getting.;)

agrinnall

Expired wrote: »

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.

There's no reason why they would speak to you on the phone, it's not your car and you are not their customer. I would suggest that you go with your step daughter to the garage and insist on seeing the service manager together.

jaydeeuk1

sh0597 wrote: »

Wouldn't a 3 year old car have a warranty?

Only if 36 months old or less, 3 years and one day you're on your own. Unless you've bought a kia, toyota etc.