Hi Guys, just wanted to let you know about the crap cars that we have been getting in recently on behalf of other garages.
As a Fiat dealer we automatically do a vehicle safety check on every vehicle visit, and the results have been bloody amazing. We have been checking every car even cars coming in for diagnostics from other garages and some have been so bad they have had to be repaired in the car park before the garages have taken them away. We have had tyres that were worn through the canvas, we have had broken springs, we even had a car come in with the gearbox literally hanging out because half the gearbox bolts were missing, the garage had fitted a clutch a month before and booked the car in for a diagnostic check for an airbag fault. Another one was a steering fault which a large independant dealer felt wasnt worth repairing even though they had failed it on their MOT.
So if your car is going to a fiat dealer, ask if they do a vehicle safety check, and if not, ask why not. Its free

Unless its a Arnold Clark garage as all they check is tyres

T14086 said:

Unless its a Arnold Clark garage as all they check is tyres

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To be honest, that doesnt surprise me!

you done not bad at getting a gearbox out of it though

T14086 said:

Unless its a Arnold Clark garage as all they check is tyres

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And according to the log sheets my tyres tread went up between visits (and no they weren't replaced in between).

Although they do seem to follow all the checks on the sheet at the AC my car goes to

In saying that its the sort of basic checks the owner should be doing anyway (tyres, wipers and levels).

techs get no time for the checks so just tick the boxes or get into trouble for not doing them,wether rightly or wrongly filled out.

T14086 said:

techs get no time for the checks so just tick the boxes or get into trouble for not doing them,wether rightly or wrongly filled out.

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Well they did spot low oil levels on one trip and my streaky wipers (cannot get rid of rainx!).

Haven't always bothered checking the spare though - even if I've empted all the crap out of the boot.

sorry I should of put 'most techs'.

Did they charge you for topping up oil?

T14086 said:

sorry I should of put 'most techs'.

Did they charge you for topping up oil?

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lol didn't even offer to do it

bought a bottle and did it myself

T14086 said:

you done not bad at getting a gearbox out of it though

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lol very true! But they knew something wasnt right with it and I wasnt going down without a fight!

I'm just waiting on the drop links going, and the alloys starting to corrode and I'll be back in to see them!

Papa P said:

lol very true! But they knew something wasnt right with it and I wasnt going down without a fight!

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but you said in that gearbox thread that the new gearbox was no better, so it did'nt need the gearbox

Anyway I'm wandering off topic...30111987 are you saying they didn't top it up or even offer (even for a charge)?

T14086 said:

but you said in that gearbox thread that the new gearbox was no better, so it did'nt need the gearbox

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Nah its definitley better now that its had a chance to bed in/loosen up, or whatever a gearbox does! I dont need to fight it into gear any more!

Sorry...sorry...back on topic...

T14086 said:

Anyway I'm wandering off topic...30111987 are you saying they didn't top it up or even offer (even for a charge)?

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yep

at least there was no mention of it having been topped up and when i check the dip stick before topping up it was at the low end ok

I've had worse. Took it in to have the handbrake adjusted. When I went to collect it I saw my car rolling down the garage - had to run after it! Needless to say it had to go back to have the handbrake properly tightened up!

AC seem to blow hot and cold. Staff are always friendly to speak to, just I always get the impression the customers a number (at least from head office level).

problem with arnold clark is that they dont listen to the staff on the workshop floor who deal with the customers everyday, if they did they wouldn't have such bad name!