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Diagnostic Fee - Fair?
I have a 2017 Mazda. I've owned it since March 2020 and it has been serviced and MOT'd twice by the main dealer I bought it from. It was working fine until I took it in for the annual service and MOT on February 14th.
I do a very low mileage (3000 miles between the last two MOT's). The second day after the service when I started it up, several of the amber lights on the dashboard were on and the lane assist light was flashing. I turned the car off and on again and the lights went out but as I was driving to the shops they came on again so I called Mazda and they said to bring it in and they'd have a look.
As I had no way of getting home from the garage, I waited for them to inspect it and I heard the service manager telling the mechanic that the car had been very recently serviced. I was then informed that an ABS sensor on one of the wheels had failed. Part £31, an hours labour £105 plus VAT. I thought, how unlucky that the sensor had failed just a day or two after the car had had a full service but with no way of proving otherwise, I asked them to order the part.
Then, I was presented with a bill for £123 for the diagnostic testing that they did to discover the fault.
Does this sound right? Is there anyone here knowledgeable enough to give me an opinion on a) whether it might have been something that the garage did on the service that caused the ABS sensor to fail or b) whether it sounds correct that I should be charged the diagnostic fee so close to the service? Or do I just suck it up?
I do a very low mileage (3000 miles between the last two MOT's). The second day after the service when I started it up, several of the amber lights on the dashboard were on and the lane assist light was flashing. I turned the car off and on again and the lights went out but as I was driving to the shops they came on again so I called Mazda and they said to bring it in and they'd have a look.
As I had no way of getting home from the garage, I waited for them to inspect it and I heard the service manager telling the mechanic that the car had been very recently serviced. I was then informed that an ABS sensor on one of the wheels had failed. Part £31, an hours labour £105 plus VAT. I thought, how unlucky that the sensor had failed just a day or two after the car had had a full service but with no way of proving otherwise, I asked them to order the part.
Then, I was presented with a bill for £123 for the diagnostic testing that they did to discover the fault.
Does this sound right? Is there anyone here knowledgeable enough to give me an opinion on a) whether it might have been something that the garage did on the service that caused the ABS sensor to fail or b) whether it sounds correct that I should be charged the diagnostic fee so close to the service? Or do I just suck it up?
"If you think it's expensive to hire a professional to do the job, wait until you hire an amateur." -- Red Adair
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As a comparison Halfords and others charge around £50 for diagnostics
Can you ask the garage for any goodwill gesture especially as you service the car with them and are doing the repair with them?
While I was waiting, they tried to sell me a new one!
the indie did tell me the jag hourly charge was £230😳
I called the AA and told them about light and power loss, they scanned the car.
Told me the fault and let me take a picture. Cleared the code.
If it comes back I need a Nox sensor.
Common fault these days on diesel cars, my brothers had one go, mates Vauxhall insignia and my Peugeot.