Garage failed to fix fault with car. What are my rights?

gazfocus

Now, I know some of you saw this coming but please bear with me...

I recently took my 1999 BMW 520i to the garage to have a problem where the ASC light was flashing at 70+ mph diagnosed. The garage phoned me and said 'we need to replace a speed sensor and it will cost you £x for diagnostics, parts and labour'. I gave them the go ahead to do the work believing this would fix the problem.

When I picked the car up last night, the mechanic said that the wheels still need balancing so I have that booked in for Saturday morning, but if what they had done didn't fix the problem, it could be a bearing but they've replaced the cheaper of the two possibilities.

Now, on my way to work, at 70MPH, you guessed it, the ASC light started to flash.

Before I phone the garage to complain, I want an idea of my rights. I did a quick google and according to trading standards, as I asked the garage to diagnose the fault and they haven't correctly fixed it, they are required to do further work at no cost to me. Is this correct?

I don't want to go in all heavy handed but I have just paid them a lot of money to fix this problem and I can't afford anymore.

Spicy_McHaggis

So they found an old fault code in the ecu and changed a sensor.

You were told but said this was a garage you trusted. All along you have said the wheels need to be balanced. Has anyone checked so far that they are not buckled?

gazfocus

Spicy_McHaggis wrote: »

So they found an old fault code in the ecu and changed a sensor.

You were told but said this was a garage you trusted. All along you have said the wheels need to be balanced. Has anyone checked so far that they are not buckled?

Yes, I said all along that the wheels needed to be balanced and was told on here that the problem I was having wasn't anything to do with the wheels needing balancing. They have confirmed that the wheels aren't buckled as I asked this when they rang up with the 'diagnosis'.

I did trust the garage, and how they deal with this will determine whether or not I continue to trust them. They have always been spot on in the past.

martinthebandit

Its a 16 year old banger, get the wheels balanced and stick a bit of gaffer tape over the light, jobs a good 'un.


Oh and should you be really driving a banger at over 70?

gazfocus

martinthebandit wrote: »

Its a 16 year old banger, get the wheels balanced and stick a bit of gaffer tape over the light, jobs a good 'un.


Oh and should you be really driving a banger at over 70?

Not helpful at all.

Spicy_McHaggis

What have you read so far?

If the part they fit is faulty or not correctly fitted you will have a come back on that part. But if they've fitted the cheapest part to start trouble shooting and it requires another £1000 worth of work then you won't get that done for free.

For the sake of checking I'd be looking at the wheels.

I see why the mechanic sold it now.

gazfocus

Spicy_McHaggis wrote: »

What have you read so far?

If the part they fit is faulty or not correctly fitted you will have a come back on that part. But if they've fitted the cheapest part to start trouble shooting and it requires another £1000 worth of work then you won't get that done for free.

For the sake of checking I'd be looking at the wheels.

I see why the mechanic sold it now.

According to trading standards

"If a fault is not correctly diagnosed or is not properly repaired, you are entitled to ask the garage to carry out further repairs at no cost to you."

The issue I have is that they have obviously (as you correctly said) just looked at the ECU found an error code and gone replacing a part that probably didn't need replacing. Surely they should be held accountable for that?

Spicy_McHaggis

gazfocus wrote: »

According to trading standards

"If a fault is not correctly diagnosed or is not properly repaired, you are entitled to ask the garage to carry out further repairs at no cost to you."

The issue I have is that they have obviously (as you correctly said) just looked at the ECU found an error code and gone replacing a part that probably didn't need replacing. Surely they should be held accountable for that?

Entitled to ask or entitled for it to be done?

There's a subtle difference.

Spicy_McHaggis

I'd be calling the garage to test the water out, no need to go in all guns blazing. Just tell them the problems still there and see what they say.

gazfocus

Thanks Spicy. It does go on to say that if they refuse, I am entitlted to go elsewhere and recoup my costs, and sets out the process to do so.

However, I have just spoken to the garage and told them. They are adamant that the speed sensor needed replacing as they said they tested the signals before replacing it, so I'm waiting for them to phone me with a cost for replacing the bearing as they said that's the only other thing it could be, although it's going to have to wait as I'm all out of funds.

Spicy_McHaggis

gazfocus wrote: »

Thanks Spicy. It does go on to say that if they refuse, I am entitlted to go elsewhere and recoup my costs, and sets out the process to do so.

However, I have just spoken to the garage and told them. They are adamant that the speed sensor needed replacing as they said they tested the signals before replacing it, so I'm waiting for them to phone me with a cost for replacing the bearing as they said that's the only other thing it could be, although it's going to have to wait as I'm all out of funds.

So basically you want a free fix.

I'd pop it back to them and put it on the ramp and check the wheels aren't buckled. To stop the next chain of disappointment.
You save up and change the bearing, still an issue with wheel wobble so you balance the wheels, it's still there and you're told. We've balanced them as best we can but your wheels are damaged.

Have you driven many rear wheel drive cars before?