Kwik Fit - MOT - "new" failure on re-test?!

makara

EDIT to the below story -


I forgot to mention...the new wishbone itself is about £50, and the labour about £40 (or vice versa - I can't remember)



- but would it be worth making a point to to Head Office (once the MOT is done that is...) that surely the Labour should not be charged twice (once for the CV gaiter replacement - and then again for the Wishbone replacement) - given the staff don't even know if they might have caused the Bush split...?


In other words - would it be a fair criticism that I should not have had an additional labour cost added?

++++


Hi, All


I know some will tell me it's my own fault for using Kwik Fit for their cheap MOTs, but...in my experience of KF it all depends on the staff / manager who happen to be at the branch...


A current bad experience going on right now - so urgent replies appreciated.


After getting my car MOT-ed on Monday this week, it failed on a Nearside Front Gaiter CV joint.


Yesterday they replaced it with a new one (for £70, including labour and VAT)



- but then the MOT tester said he had on the MOT re-test "just noticed" the Nearside bush (on the same wheel) had split - and he would have to re-fail it again...UNLESS I GOT IT FIXED...which he said would be easiest if we replaced the whole Wishbone (which apparently contains the Bush too) - as apparently bushes can be difficult to remove from behind the wishbones.



I retorted "Why didn't you notice that when you did original MOT??" - to which he made some excuse as to only seeing it now.


I was then quoted £108 by his colleague - and I told them to reduce it to under £100 - so they eventually knocked it down to £90.


Now the situation is I have to go back next week to get the "new problem" work done...in order to get the MOT passed...



The quoting colleague told me (repeatedly) that the reason he had quoted me "such a cheap price" of £108 was because he could not be sure whether the split bush had happened in its own right....OR...if his colleagues had caused it when they replaced the CV Gaiter....


So my comment to him was "Is this something I need to take up with Head Office once I have paid the extra £90...??"


He replied that he would speak to the current branch manager (who wasn't in that day, but who frankly seems very dodgy) - and that he was sure "they could sort something out".



Since I need the MOT (to get my Road Tax) - is the best course of action to pay them for the new wishbone - and then complain about all the above to Head Office?


My past experience (of another KF branch 2 years back) is that the Area Managers tend to defend their Branches - the last time something similar happened, the Area Manager refuted all my accusations - but DID end up refunding me in full for the MOT and "needed parts".


P.S. Here is the "advisory" info. of the original MOT test - you can clearly see the Wishbones (etc) were only advisories -


nearside front Anti-roll bar rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement U Bush (2.4.G.2)

nearside outer Front suspension has slight movement at a wishbone pin or bush (2.5.A.1c)


Thanks in advance.

AdrianC

It's entirely possible that the borderline knackered bush looked fine at the original test, but the extra stress from being dismantled for the driveshaft boot has pushed it over the edge. Not their fault, simply wear and tear being exacerbated by the other job, causing slightly accelerated failure.

Yes, many times the entire arm does have to be replaced, the bush or joint often isn't individually available or replaceable.

Yes, he probably should have noticed it while doing the gaiter - but there's not going to be much extra labour in doing it now.

Joe_Horner

Ask them for a DVSA appeal form in respect of the original test to appeal the item that passed when it shouldn't have. Havethe DVSA helpline number on your phone and if they try to refuse the form then dial it.

Then watch them squirm.

AdrianC

Joe_Horner wrote: »

Ask them for a DVSA appeal form in respect of the original test.

The work's been done, so the appeal can't judge whether it should have failed or not.

makara

AdrianC wrote: »

Yes, he probably should have noticed it while doing the gaiter - but there's not going to be much extra labour in doing it now.

Wow, you guys are FAST...thanks a ton :-)


So given the CV gaiter cost next to nothing (the part was about a fiver - the rest was Labour) - do you think it's worth making a case to get the labour of the Wishbone cancelled?


Seeing as the total of the WB replacement is £90 - I am thinking of asking Head Office for a partial refund as a goodwill gesture of say £45


(the total cost will end up being £160 - i.e. £70 for the CV Gaiter - and £90 for the Wishbone).

makara

AdrianC wrote: »

The work's been done, so the appeal can't judge whether it should have failed or not.

Actually so far only the CV gaiter has been done - I have the car at the moment, and am taking it back next week to get the Wishbone done.


Would this alter your above reply?

AdrianC

makara wrote: »

So given the CV gaiter cost next to nothing (the part was about a fiver - the rest was Labour) - do you think it's worth making a case to get the labour of the Wishbone cancelled?

No.

Changing the gaiter will just involve undoing the balljoint at the outer end, and dropping the arm down a bit so the hub can be moved up. Changing the arm involves undoing that balljoint, then undoing the inner pivot, then checking/adjusting the tracking once it's back together.

The fact that the gaiter's just been done means that the balljoint will come apart easily. The only duplication is in getting the car onto the ramp, into the air, wheel off, and balljoint off.

makara wrote: »

Actually so far only the CV gaiter has been done - I have the car at the moment, and am taking it back next week to get the Wishbone done.

Would this alter your above reply?

Yes, it would - you can appeal - but the original advisory said that the bush was worn to start with, just not quite bad enough to replace. Yet.

makara

AdrianC wrote: »

No.

Changing the gaiter will just involve undoing the balljoint at the outer end, and dropping the arm down a bit so the hub can be moved up. Changing the arm involves undoing that balljoint, then undoing the inner pivot, then checking/adjusting the tracking once it's back together.

The fact that the gaiter's just been done means that the balljoint will come apart easily. The only duplication is in getting the car onto the ramp, into the air, wheel off, and balljoint off.

Thanks for explaining the labour difference (between CVG and WB).


From the sounds of it then (and you clearly know about cars more than I) the best course of action *before* a DVSA appeal or a KF Head Office complaint would be to see what goodwill gestures the Manager makes - and then take a decision from there.


Let's hope the car passes its MOT once they do the Wishbone :undecided:undecided

makara

AdrianC wrote: »

Changing the arm involves undoing that balljoint, then undoing the inner pivot, then checking/adjusting the tracking once it's back together

I am not sure, BUT now that you mention "tracking" - I just remembered something...


I may be wrong, but as part of the £90 for the new Wishbone - I think the KF quoter said the price would include "tracking" - I think he (and maybe also the MOT tester too) said replacing the Wishbone would necessitate them having to do the Tracking.


So it seems for the £90, they will be replacing the Wishbone (Part and Labour) - and also doing the Tracking.


Reasonable cost for a 1997 Ford Escort?

AdrianC

makara wrote: »

I am not sure, BUT now that you mention "tracking" - I just remembered something...

I may be wrong, but as part of the £90 for the new Wishbone - I think the KF quoter said the price would include "tracking" - I think he (and maybe also the MOT tester too) said replacing the Wishbone would necessitate them having to do the Tracking.

Yep.

Replace one of the three "legs" that attaches the wheel to the car, the wheel may point in a different direction.

So it seems for the £90, they will be replacing the Wishbone (Part and Labour) - and also doing the Tracking.

Yep.

Reasonable cost for a 1997 Ford Escort?

£90 sounds very reasonable. Tracking alone is usually damn near half that, and the part alone is most of the rest for something worth buying. And that's assuming they can get the old arm off without a fight against two-decade-old fasteners.

http://www.mister-auto.co.uk/en/suspension-arm-track-control-arm/ford-escort-mk-vii-saloon-gal-afl-1-6-i-16v-88hp_v12445_g273.html

makara

AdrianC wrote: »

£90 sounds very reasonable. Tracking alone is usually damn near half that, and the part alone is most of the rest for something worth buying. And that's assuming they can get the old arm off without a fight against two-decade-old fasteners.]

Thanks again - I just phoned the quoter, and he confirmed that the Tracking WILL be included as part of the £90.