garage costs for checkup?

travelmonster

hey guys

I've never had to go to the car garage before . so I don't know what u should be asking or saying. I'm pretty sure if they see me as a novice they'll try to rip me.off.

basically I have 2 things wrong with my audi a3 petrol. the engine makes a slight crackling noise and the coolant light keeps flashing so there's Deffo a fault. even after I fill it.

at this stage all I want is to get these things checked. how much should it cost for a quick check up ?

DoaM

Speak with your friends - find out who they recommend for car mechanic type work. Less likely to get ripped off that way. Avoid Kwik Fit, Halfords etc.

Is your A3 still under Audi warranty?

travelmonster

no its old. .. 57 plate. .

Bigphil1474

Definitely ask around - mates, family, neighbours. More likely to avoid being ripped off if someone you trust, uses a garage they trust. If you can't find a recommended garage, then try somewhere local - hopefully if they know you are local they'll try and do a decent job so you'll become a repeat customer. Maybe drop that into the conversation when you call in. You can't always tell on looks, but if a garage looks busy, then chances are they have a lot of customers. Deffo avoid the Kwik Fit, Halfords type places for this sort of issue.

wgl2014

Have you had your car serviced at all?

Spending a bit on routine maintenance will save more in the long term.

DoaM

wgl2014 wrote: »

Have you had your car serviced at all?

travelmonster wrote: »

I've never had to go to the car garage before

I think the OP may have already answered your question.

macman

Where are you? There are plenty of good independent VAG specialists around.
Engine 'crackle'? I'm hazarding a guess at a hole in the exhaust?
If the coolant level drops after you fill it, then (obvs) you have a leak. If it doesn't drop but the light still comes on, then possibly the sensor is faulty.
When was it last MOT'd?

travelmonster

MOT was done Feb before I bought the car.

the level does drop. ...


for a quick check up from a local garage ? what's a reasonable cost ?

AdrianC

travelmonster wrote: »

for a quick check up from a local garage ? what's a reasonable cost ?

How long's a piece of string?
Depending on where you are in the country, an hour's labour is likely to be £50-70 + vat. One hour should be sufficient for a "quick check up". What a "quick check up" will achieve is another question entirely, beyond giving you a list of issues that need doing or investigating further. On top of whatever time's necessary to fix those issues, there's whatever parts are going to be needed.

The eventual bill could be anywhere between one hour's labour and no parts, or "throw the car away, the bill would be more than it's worth".

onomatopoeia99

travelmonster wrote: »

for a quick check up from a local garage ? what's a reasonable cost ?

Perhaps an hour's labour (guess as we can't see the car so don't know how long it will take to find the problem). So perhaps fifty to a hundred quid, depending on location. That's just for a diagnosis. If you ask them to fix it, they may waive the diagnosis charge.

When I have a problem with mine I just say "it's doing this, please fix it" and then pay whatever they charge me.

Is this your first car as you've never taken one to a "car garage" before?

travelmonster

yes..... cus whenever I ring the garage I'm saying how much would you charge to check xyz