Mechanics… why oh why…
Lately I have been attempting to get some small issues resolved through the local mechanic. They are pretty simple problems.. i.e. fuel gauge not working, headlights need aligning, accelerator linkages…etc.
Anyway, there were some delays, so I had to wait a little longer to pick up the car.. That’s cool with me; I understand the pressures of running a business. The day comes to pick up the bus and I’m excited to see her rosy face again. Get to the shop and they’re ‘yep all done mate, running like a dream’ so I enquire about a few things, and about half weren’t resolved. At this stage I’m a little disappointed, but still upbeat.
They tell me that the wiring behind the fuel gauge is dodgy, so they replaced the entire instrument set with another unit. Cool I said; did you install the original speedo with the original (low) mileage? Err no, and they promptly retrieved it from the bin, caked in grease and other shite.
I’m still not overly fussed at this stage, thinking I can put it back in my own time. We move onto the headlights, dude grimaces and starts shaking his head, confused as to why one points up and one down. I have a quick look and notice one is installed upside-down. We shared a mutually awkward laugh and I make a mental note that this was something I should have fixed myself.
Anyway, I pay for the work (not cheap) and start on my way. Weather is shithouse and traffic is worse, but I was thinking how happy I am to have the accelerator operating smoothly. Things were starting to look up when I notice the fuel gauge registering a full tank. I overcome my scepticism and thought how nice it was for them to top up the tank so my new, working fuel gauge points earnestly at the ‘F’ mark.
I round a corner in heavy rain with my rear view mirrors littered with Japanese econo-boxes and feel the engine cut and lose power. Many thoughts ran through my mind at this point, and after some reflection I am still incapable of transferring them into a sentence that would be socially acceptable outside a turrets syndrome support meeting.
Nevertheless I walk to the nearest servo and purchase some fuel, thinking to myself that that was a very expensive way to fix some accelerator linkages..
i think u got bummed dude....there was a post here ages ago....bout mechanics...and everyone seemed to say, go with the vw specialists....most of the others wouldnt know a thing about vw's....when i went to the mechanics with the t3 i used a specialist...and he was awesome...but hey...do what my dad does...drive the car back as is...and tell them quite angrily...that the car u just fixed is still F$%^@# and i want it fixed properly now, or u can speak to my lawyer...:P
jonno
"if only everything in life was made like a volkswagen"
ive been on both sides of this one as i use to work for a mechanic, sometimes it happens when people book in for a small job and the when they turn up have a list of things they want done while its in. this really shit my old man cause he books just about every hour of the work day.
“We all pay for life with death, so everything in between should be free.” Bill Hicks
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I listed what I wanted done up front and it was from a vw specialist...
wezley wrote:I listed what I wanted done up front and it was from a vw specialist...
Simple fix....TAKE IT BACK
😠tssnq.com.au
Let others know who it was,if you are in a club let them know.
Its the only way that some of these companies will learn.
Some places need to know that they have a bad name, it might shock them into getting better staff or lifting there game.
Cheers
dave
I realise I need to take it back, thanks for the tip though… inspired to say the least..
57Kombi,
I'm not sure if I want to make the company name public, after all, they might have just had a bad day(s). I will try to resolve it with them first. That being said I had already been warned.. so it’s probably me who is to blame. In the end of the day I am happy to drive a bit further for better service and cheaper prices..
They are nice guys; I just wish their service was as good as their smile...
Its no good being nice guys if they cant do the job that they are paid to do.
It sounds like it wasnt just a bad day for them if you had been warned!!!
Cheers
Dave
No one wants to be done or had. But you trust these guys. I know who wezley is talking about but what do you do. I don't want to bad mouth them, but they need to know. I've had experiences with them. It's just so annoying. I wont be going back. I'm angry. Sorry wezley.....
VW's arn't like 'normal' cars, you either fix them yourself or get someone who knows how to..
.
Whats with this spate of issues with mechanics? El Nino?
Sorry to hear about ya dealing Wes...
...and Robert's ya father's brother...
Mmmm. Can of worms i think , everyone seems to have been ripped off in some way or maybe it could also be a lack of understand on the mechanics and whats involved in fixing cars that are 30 years old. Not all mechanics deserve the flack they get , just some.
As regard to my VW this is how i look at things.
Most jobs service jobs like brakes , engine etc can be done by even the most novice home mechanic ( me) with minimal tools required and with heaps of advise from the forum and various manuals etc.
The reason i try and do as much as i can is that i know it's done to the book and also i'm learning alot and saving alot.
However i know my limits and certain things like building a motor , box , body and paint or anything electrical and i'm as much use as an ashtray on a motorbike!
So that work is only trusted to places i know are VW specialists and will understand my car and look after it. That means alot of running around etc but worth the hassle.
Running cool old dubs isn't a cheap deal , just maybe think twice on where your taking your pride and joy.
Just get stuck in and understand your car better , it's good fun!
Dan😉
"If i had to explain you wouldnt understand"
The Lower Class
i`m with dan ,try to do as much as i can myself then if its something i cant do ,take it to someone who can🙂
and i am also very sceptical about mechanics,:o
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https://www.facebook.com/FlatFourthats very bad news wezley, you are going back to get something done about it and thats a good thing.
but a good mechanic would have told you everything that they had done even before they give you the keys back, all you would need to ask is "so what did you do?"
and a good mechanic does not throw away YOUR parts when they replace them with theirs.
go back and put your foot down because it sounds like you paid alot for not very much at all.
and get yourself some books, theres alot you can do on a vw yourself with only very rudimentary tools. Its much more fun that way.
[Edited on 11-11-2004 by Starbuggy]
in the beginning, the universe was created.
this made alot of people very angry and is widely regarded as a bad move.
Thanks guys, I appreciate the support. This has only stengthened my resolve to do all I can for my bus myself. That way I know exactly what has/hasn't been done.
The guys apologised and I'm taking it in next week, hopefully this will be my last dealing with them..
Choo, I hope your bus is ok.. I will give you a lift to DOVW in bayby.. Oh and I'll take those new chrome mirrors for 2.50 😉
Go back to the shop, ask them to fix the car as per what you wanted, and make it know you are not happy with the service or quility of work. Its no good bad mouthing them, but if nobody goes back and complains they wil never know what ppl think.
Also say you were not happy with their work, and you might try them once more and if their work slips, go somewhere else. They want your business!!! so they should work for it!
as is the thing with most complaints, if you go in angry and bad mothing them, they will shut down and counteract, while is you go in for a quiet word and be pleasant, they will be happier and more willing to respond and help.
I have no sympathy for my car, only the wallet that pays for it!
Go hard or go home!!!!
I've got a better one than that.
Took my car to the mechanic yesterday afternoon as I suddenly got a lot of freeplay on the clutch pedal - the car was due to go in today for its 2400 mile service post complete engine rebuild.
The rebuild was done approx 3 months ago and paid for.
After the mechanic had tried the clutch pedal himself and told me it needed a new clutch cable he then fronted me with the listing from my engine rebuild and said he had forgotten to charge me for the new engine cases.......
my immediate reaction was WTF........
I am hoping I can get the car back this afternoon and just pay for the work done today but I am not a very happy camper as you can imagine.....
and unless this has a happy ending he will never be getting the car or any futher business from us again
wez, i got the solution, and you know what it is.
i would still go back and get what you paid for first.
but there are good people out there - as we have discussed
...................( O \ l / O ).....................
cheers kim,
yep I should have heeded your warning - i will be definately going out to delux soon. thanks mate. look forward to seeing your project...and have a nice holiday!
