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Author Topic: Car Repair unexpected cost!  (Read 6183 times)

Nordlys

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Car Repair unexpected cost!
« on: September 30, 2014, 11:58:40 am »

Completely unrelated to boating - sorry.

Garage phone me this morning to say they had trouble undoing a bolt on
suspension arm bush which in fact they sheared off.
This resulted in me being told I needed to fork out another £196 on top
of the quoted repair price for the job (replacing split rubber bushes).
They have to buy a complete new assy to complete the job.
Am I liable for this extra cost? Does anyone know where I stand please?
N
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Plastic - RIP

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Re: Car Repair unexpected cost!
« Reply #1 on: September 30, 2014, 12:58:55 pm »

Could be a really grey area.
 
If the job escalates due to additional parts needed due to the age or condition of the car, then yes, I would expect to pay. (the risk you take when driving older cars)
 
If it is due to their incompetence snapping things off or damaging your car, then you could argue it's their problem.
 
How much do you trust their word?
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Nordlys

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Re: Car Repair unexpected cost!
« Reply #2 on: September 30, 2014, 01:46:33 pm »

Whats galling me is that I decided to give this repair work to a local garage
instead of using the main dealer (VW) because they were quoting me
silly money for the work!
Talk about backfire!
Its only a '56 reg Polo not that old really?
N
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Martin (Admin)

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Re: Car Repair unexpected cost!
« Reply #3 on: September 30, 2014, 02:12:54 pm »


A friend took their Volvo to a main dealer, they snapped of a wheel stud, charged them for the privilege and a new wheel!
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Re: Car Repair unexpected cost!
« Reply #4 on: September 30, 2014, 02:24:58 pm »

'56 plate - 8 years old is an old car - if you live near the coast or where the roads are salted through the winter, the underneath nuts & bolts can be corroded to crap - a total nightmare to remove - almost certainly snapping off if they aren't heated first - the only problem is you can't get suspension bushes hot or they melt.
Hoping to penetrating oil would be clutching at straws too.
 
I think in this case you're probably going to have to cough up.
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Mankster

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Re: Car Repair unexpected cost!
« Reply #5 on: September 30, 2014, 07:10:35 pm »

It bolts are seized or snapped they can be cut off to remove the wishbone and the remnants driven/pressed out. You would only need new bolts and possibly a new bush.

grendel

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Re: Car Repair unexpected cost!
« Reply #6 on: September 30, 2014, 07:27:35 pm »

as an owner of old Volvos (my latest is 14 years old), and someone who does my own work on suspension bushes and the like, I can say that most garages dont know what penetrating oil is. you go most places and ask for penetrating oil, and they will sell you (or try to) WD40, true penetrating oil will free up locked nuts quite quickly (after trying WD40 overnight with no joy I used proper penetrating oil, went and had a coffee, came back and undid the nut (this on a seized suspension bushing nut). so WD40 may be good for a lot of things, but penetrating oil it is not, unfortunately I go to professional garages and their suppliers, and see the one using wd40, and the other only stocking wd40. then I despair.
Grendel
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Nordlys

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Re: Car Repair unexpected cost!
« Reply #7 on: September 30, 2014, 07:37:21 pm »

Basically what I'm asking is when a main dealer quotes you a price like £380 to do a job
is it likely or resonable that they would lump on an extra charge if something broke or was seized up during the course of the repair?
That's what I'm faced with. Bolt was seized  -nothing would shift it then it sheared
- result, I have to pay for a new part that otherwise wouldn't have been part of the normal repair.
N
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grendel

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Re: Car Repair unexpected cost!
« Reply #8 on: September 30, 2014, 09:07:13 pm »

I think if you  went to a main dealer and the same thing happened that you would probably have the same result to be honest (and probably pay dealership prices for the part to boot.)
though I am wondering why if the bolt wouldnt move they didnt use a nut splitter to take the nut off, unless it had seized in to the part they had to replace.
Grendel
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Nordlys

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Re: Car Repair unexpected cost!
« Reply #9 on: September 30, 2014, 09:28:18 pm »

Grendel - I'm beginning to feel a little easier with your view - maybe they would
charge too......
It was a steel bolt that had seized in an Aluminium component. I haven't seen the part
so can't really elaborate any further.
Still don't have the car back -2 days now.
MOT in the morning too! What fun (not).
All financed by a pension.........!
N
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Stavros

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Re: Car Repair unexpected cost!
« Reply #10 on: September 30, 2014, 10:41:05 pm »

As a Garage owner I wouldnt hessitate to charge for the part for the simple reason it is NOT the garages fault that the bolt has sheared,it is common for bolts to seize in bushes especially when a steel bolt and an ali bush centre......tbh if it has seized then you would defo need a new arm anyway....they have done you a BIG FAVOUR in snapping it as it would only be  amatter of time before the bolt sheared and caused you a lot more expense.
 
 
Dave
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essex2visuvesi

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Re: Car Repair unexpected cost!
« Reply #11 on: October 01, 2014, 12:19:26 am »

as an owner of old Volvos (my latest is 14 years old), and someone who does my own work on suspension bushes and the like, I can say that most garages dont know what penetrating oil is. you go most places and ask for penetrating oil, and they will sell you (or try to) WD40, true penetrating oil will free up locked nuts quite quickly (after trying WD40 overnight with no joy I used proper penetrating oil, went and had a coffee, came back and undid the nut (this on a seized suspension bushing nut). so WD40 may be good for a lot of things, but penetrating oil it is not, unfortunately I go to professional garages and their suppliers, and see the one using wd40, and the other only stocking wd40. then I despair.
Grendel


One of the best penetrating oils there is may well be in you fuel tank.... Diesel
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NFMike

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Re: Car Repair unexpected cost!
« Reply #12 on: October 01, 2014, 12:58:14 am »

Penetrating oil is fine for amateurs and specialist restorers, but for a general garage having a car taking up a ramp for an hour or two while it 'works' (and it often won't anyway) isn't really an option.
Something corroded like this would probably class as fair wear and tear even if it was still under a warranty.

tigertiger

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Re: Car Repair unexpected cost!
« Reply #13 on: October 01, 2014, 05:53:31 am »

I have had a similar thing with a seized bolt when I needed to do the tracking. I watched for 2 hours as the mechanics tried everything in their tool kit. They gave me the choice of sheer it off and have to get potential more new parts, or leave it as the tracking was only a tiny bit out.
I left it.


Like others have said, it is the consequence of owning an older car. Not the garages fault.
But yes, it is annoying and a bit of a shock.
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cdsc123

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Re: Car Repair unexpected cost!
« Reply #14 on: October 01, 2014, 08:15:24 am »

Euro car parts have the suspension arm assemblies on ebay for 22.50 at the moment.
I just changed the bushes on my 1999 Fabia (same as a Polo) it is an easy enough job the trick is to use a ratchet strap to help get the arm back in. I did squirt penetrating oil at all the bolts the day before though. There is a very good "how to" on the Briskoda forum.
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Nordlys

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Re: Car Repair unexpected cost!
« Reply #16 on: October 01, 2014, 09:13:42 am »

Its been quite sometime since I got involved with car repairs and the anxiety of waiting for the dreaded phone call advising me of a substantial unexpected upping of the estimate. Its all come as a bit of a wake-up now that I'm retired and watching the pennies a bit closer than before.
But I hear what most are saying and what a comfort you are Dave! You're probably right tho'.
I'll get over it - eventually.
Thanks for all the replies - its been interesting.
N
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tony23

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Re: Car Repair unexpected cost!
« Reply #17 on: October 01, 2014, 10:36:05 am »

Unfortuanatly garages use air guns so they have no sense if a nut is going to snap unlike if you were using a ring spanner on the nut. I just had 4 new alloy wheels with new bolts fitted to my car and told them not to use an air gun on the nuts they looked at me if I was crazy, what a grease monkey has to use a spider to do up nuts YES! I also took my own copper slip grease for them to put on the face of the wheel and a dab on the nuts so I can remove the wheel if I get a puncture. How many drivers do you see on the motorways with a spare wheel by the car and cannot get the wheel off it's the AA's and RAC's biggest call out!
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grendel

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Re: Car Repair unexpected cost!
« Reply #18 on: October 01, 2014, 02:02:23 pm »

I had that with my current car, I've only had it 9 months now, but when it came time for a new tyre they went to get it off, problem, the locking wheel nuts wont come off - then - the adaptor part has now broken, of course they had been done up with a gun - my tyre place is good, they always put them on by hand and then use a torque wrench to tighten them. fortunately in the packet that had the locking 'key part (both were broken) there were the old studs, I had to wait all day for the car instead of just an hour while the tyres were done, as they had another car in front of mine to have its locking nuts removed too, but it was done and my new tyres put on - for just an extra £20 onto the cost of the tyres, have I bothered to put new locking nuts on - no I jolly well haven't, as I don't want to be stuck with no way to change the tyre.
Ps I always have a 24" breaker bar in the car for wheel nuts - just in case
Grendel
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essex2visuvesi

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Re: Car Repair unexpected cost!
« Reply #19 on: October 01, 2014, 05:16:19 pm »

Ah yes.... locking wheel nuts, a blessing and a curse.
If anyone actually bothered to read the instructions that come with most sets, it says to only hand tools.


With the correct tools and some innovative use conventional tools its a 10 min job to remove most damaged locking wheel nuts.  For legal/moral reasons I wont go into details on a public forum ;)
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Nordlys

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Re: Car Repair unexpected cost!
« Reply #20 on: October 01, 2014, 05:33:17 pm »

Update.
The outcome to my unexpected repair bill came as a surprise today when I collected
the car.
They did not, after all, charge me for the extra work.

I think I was lucky judging by the posts on here.
It was a hefty bill nevertheless but they withheld the extra.
I know not why, other than my shock reaction to their phone call.
N
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slug

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Re: Car Repair unexpected cost!
« Reply #21 on: October 01, 2014, 05:44:24 pm »

what a fair outcome...all garages are not heartless....you  will no doubt use them again.....tony
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Nordlys

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Re: Car Repair unexpected cost!
« Reply #22 on: October 01, 2014, 06:22:29 pm »

Yes, Tony, I probably will use them again as they presented me with a well
prepared invoice of work done, itemised costs for parts & labour in a wallet
under the 'Good Garage scheme' (.com) and showed me the damaged part.
So yes, a good outcome for me.
N
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dpbarry

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Re: Car Repair unexpected cost!
« Reply #23 on: October 01, 2014, 09:20:17 pm »

Unfortuanatly garages use air guns so they have no sense if a nut is going to snap unlike if you were using a ring spanner on the nut. I just had 4 new alloy wheels with new bolts fitted to my car and told them not to use an air gun on the nuts they looked at me if I was crazy, what a grease monkey has to use a spider to do up nuts YES! I also took my own copper slip grease for them to put on the face of the wheel and a dab on the nuts so I can remove the wheel if I get a puncture. How many drivers do you see on the motorways with a spare wheel by the car and cannot get the wheel off it's the AA's and RAC's biggest call out!


Hmmm!! Seen that one before. Brings tears to the eyes. Friends car had a puncture, took wheel studs off. Would rim move? Not on yer nellie. Ended up with a sledge hammer and block of wood. Swung sledge several times (turning rim 90 degrees each swing) before rim came off. Copper grease now applied thereafter.


Declan
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essex2visuvesi

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Re: Car Repair unexpected cost!
« Reply #24 on: October 01, 2014, 09:45:14 pm »

Not the safest thing to do but this does work,


If you are stuck with a wheel that wont budge. refit the wheel bolts/nuts to just under finger tight and lower the car back down, drive the car gently forwards and backwards a few feet, this can often be enough to loosen the wheel on the hub
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