40 replies to this topic

[Steveti]

LOL, Dave, love it, cam belt change, IIf they had ever claimed to have done it I'd loved to have seen there faces if you'd asked for the old one back. Yes, it is a chan drive on the NC engine.

[Pat]

 

Certainly sounds like the cause of the EML coming on

 

hope it is resolved very soon

 

Are they a Main Dealer?

 

Hi Pat, yes, called Johnsons. They also have franchises with Volvo that I know of. They are a 'new' (not sure how long they've been doing it) dealer in Gloucester itself. I used to have to go to Cheltenham, not a million miles away, but I stopped using them when I reckon they ripped me off on a 3 year service contract when my car was still quite young (it's 14 years old this coming March, almost the same age as Jonty!).
I was told that the first two would be pretty much normal service cost but the third year would be a big service that would save me at least a couple of hundred pounds. Well, it didn't because they did 3 normal, annual, services. I complained, wrote to Bristol Street Motors head office, and when I didn't get any joy I told them I would not be using them for servicing/maintenance. That's probably the service that should have had the gearbox oil changed, they also said it was a cam belt change which I am pretty sure the Mk3 doesn't have.
Might have been a bit petty but I wouldn't have taken out the contract if they'd been honest. They knew my forecasted mileage so could have guessed it wouldn't be ready for those big jobs. If I hadn't taken the contract they'd have continued to keep my custom as I was very happy with them otherwise.
At least with this 'fault', I know there's nothing major wrong with the car.

 

If you get another incident like that Dave

 

which i hope you don't

 

contact me as i have connections to Trading Standards

 

 

Hopefully Johnsons  will see the fault and rectify it

 

which of course they should

[djrose007]

Thanks again, I'll bear that in mind, and I'll also update this thread when it's done and dusted.
I would have tried to fix it myself but it's so awkward, it's difficult enough to get underneath there at 72 years old, and I just don't have the dexterity to turn my wrists through 360 degrees!

 

[Pat]

Thanks again, I'll bear that in mind, and I'll also update this thread when it's done and dusted.
I would have tried to fix it myself but it's so awkward, it's difficult enough to get underneath there at 72 years old, and I just don't have the dexterity to turn my wrists through 360 degrees!

 

You shoudn't have to do it yourself

 

their error so their obligation to rectify it

[djrose007]

[Pat]

 

A rather big mistake to make !

[Kev5]

Unfortunately, this is what happens when hard-working dealership mechanics (now called technicians) are put under huge pressure to complete the task within the time allotted by the manufacturer.

 

I have seen much evidence of this over the years. Every procedure has a time limit and if this time is exceeded, the workshop foreman wants to know why! 

 

As usual, it's all about the money 

 

So glad you've got it sorted, Dave 

[JennyR]

One reason i always try to go to a specialist, Kev.

[djrose007]

Got to the garage at 0825 this morning and they were very quick to get on with it while I took Jonty for a little walk.
I got back and after a few minutes the service lady, Chelsey, turned up with my key and informed me they couldn't fix it because the tab is broken off. They have put in an order for a new one.
Neither of us mentioned who is paying for the new part but I don't think, or hope, they are expecting me to pay for it although they are less than £10.00 to purchase.
We'll see what happens when it turns up but still shouldn't take them long to fit it, unplug the old one and stick in the new, and fit it to the bracket.
 

[Steveti]

I'd hope there would be no question about who pays for the Job Dave. They were the last ones in there, possibly damaged the tab when they were replacing  the part (rod) in there, easy enough to do as it is bloody tight in there but of course should have all been thoroughly checked post work.

 

Hope it gets all sorted with no fuss.

[JennyR]

Surely that should be no cost to you as the technician more than likely broke it on removal.

[Pat]

Do not pay ,Dave

 

in fact i feel they should pay you for the inconvenience if anything

 

The EML was not on before you had the work done

 

they had worked on that part

 

Down to them 

 

sounds to me like the part was broken whilst doing the work

 

and hoped it would go unnoticed

 

but that is just my feelings

 

we have had a few rough dealings with main dealers in the past

[Kev5]

Some years ago my Dad had a major engine job done on his Ford Ka by the local Ford dealer. It required a new exhaust manifold and integral catalytic converter, which in turn needed the radiator and air-con condenser to be removed, so a fair bit of dismantling and reinstating.

 

The vehicle was out of warranty, but due to the fault he received a goodwill contribution from Ford UK, so was committed to the ford dealer.

 

After receiving the car back, Dad noticed his fuel consumption had taken a dive and that the idle speed was all wrong. The exhaust was also smoky and he described it as "like having the choke fully on". 

 

I told him to take it back, but he wanted me to check it out first, so I had a look round and soon discovered that the connection from the loom to the temperature sender was swinging gaily about under the engine bay! The connector was incredibly difficult to access on the little Kent-engined Ka without removing loads of stuff, but I got it done eventually.

 

Instant cure! No more smoke, a nice steady idle and the usual 45 - 50 mpg fuel consumption returned! 

 

As we know, without the signal from the temp sender (and other sensors) the fuel injectors stay on 'cold start' enrichment mode!

 

A very small omission by a hard-pushed dealership technician can cause major problems - sometimes they simply do not have enough time to double check their work due to unrealistic time scales allotted to each job 

[djrose007]

 

A very small omission by a hard-pushed dealership technician can cause major problems - sometimes they simply do not have enough time to double check their work due to unrealistic time scales allotted to each job 

 

It's dreadful but understandable that these sort of mistakes are made. As an aside to my role as senior technical instructor with Nortel Networks I was asked to do Quality Assurance assessments. Went on training etc. of course and really enjoyed doing it, and it made a big difference to some of the processes and procedures to the departments I inspected. Maybe they could do with a bit of that, using checklists etc. so nothing is missed/forgotten.
I didn't go in ranting and raving, just pointed out the problem and they seem to understand. Asking me to take it in at 0830 is because that is before the time the mechanics, oops, technicians start on the list of jobs booked in. 
I think they will be ok with this, consider it closed unless I come back ranting! HAHAHAHAHAHAHA

[Steveti]

Just me being me fof course but I'd be exp[ecting to drop the car off there and then, have a courtesy car provided and for them to drop the car off with the fault rectified and perhaps a few quids worth of fuel put in the tank for your inconvenience. Only saying this because with so many 'service' industries the only way they learn is by being put out themselves.

 

QA, sadly not applicable as any form of check anymore, the technicians are expected to be on top of quality checks right through all jobs now.

[djrose007]

All finished this morning. Clutch Switch arrived yesterday at Johnsons and I said I'd pop in early this morning. It was all done by 0850, including resetting of the EML warning indicator.
The service young lady, Chelsey, has been lovely, getting in touch and sorting things. No charge of course but no offer of compensation, which I wasn't expecting and didn't ask for anyway.
Jonty enjoyed the rides there and back so it wasn't all a waste of time!
 

[djrose007]

All finished this morning. Clutch Switch arrived yesterday at Johnsons and I said I'd pop in early this morning. It was all done by 0850, including resetting of the EML warning indicator.
The service young lady, Chelsey, has been lovely, getting in touch and sorting things. No charge of course but no offer of compensation, which I wasn't expecting and didn't ask for anyway.
Jonty enjoyed the rides there and back so it wasn't all a waste of time!

 

[Pat]

Yay i do love a happy ending

 

well done Dave 

[Kev5]

Great news finally, Dave 

[Qu1ckn1ck]

Very pleased it has been sorted for you Dave !

 

 

 

 

... do you now have an  ODBII reader for sale .... ?