General Fiat Oldbury (Arnold Clark)

[pensuke]

Been a long time since i've posted here, and it's a shame its about this.

My Stilo developed a fault, where by it was in 'safe mode' (or 'limp mode' if you will). Whereby it wouldn't rev above 2,000 rpm. Obviously because of this i couldn't do an MOT as it couldn't do a CAT/Emissions test. This being the case and me trying numerous sources (including this forum) to find a way to solve it, had to then rely on the dealership to diagnose the problem and hopefuilly sort it out.

Now I usually go to Fiat Colliers in Tyseley (Birmingham), however due to a dispute there, i decided to go to Arnold Clark Oldbury. After dropping the car off, and giving background on what i'd tried and what MAY be causing the problem etc (it should be noted that i told the service department, that the crank sensor had been welded back in position after being broken off which may be an issue), they agreed to put it on the diagnostic machine and in turn, give me an answer which i was happy to do and pay for. (this was 4th Feb 2010).

2 days later i recieved a call from the service desk, stating that they had plugged it into the diagnostic machine but the results weren't conclusive so they had to get another mechanic from another dealership to check the wiring which would be an additional hrs labour, to which i again agreed too.

This took another 3 or so days, to which they came back and said the RPM sensor was faulty, me being the 'noob' i am asked if this was the crank sensor, to which he said it wasn't it was the RPM sensor. After coming off the phone and in passing talking to my uncle who works for Ford, i came to find out the RPM and Crank sensor are the same thing.

Having found this out, i decided to go and collect my car and fix it myself now knowing what the issue was. When i went to the dealership, and requested pay and take it back, they made me aware i couldn't because (and i quote) "it's in bits". They then proceed to bargain with me, and state they wouldn't charge me any additional labour (other than the diagnostics and the wiring check) for fixing the car and getting the parts which came up to £238 for a new crank sensor and bracket.

Since then 3 weeks have passed to which they have still not put the car together, as they have been waiting for the crank sensor bracket. They have made excessive excuses, first stating it was on back order from Warrington, then 3 days later it was coming from Italy, and now its supposed to be on order from Poland.

My issue is that they should never have taken the car apart, or rather broken off the crank sensor from its welding point without having the replacement part there to fix it. Also during this time they have NOT offered a rental car, not given me calls back as they've stated they would do and now they refuse to answer my calls. (and it seems now their number is in-active 0121 544 0990)

From a legal stand point, what are my options?

 

[ROWENA]

Did they put anything down in writing? problem/repair costs/timescale
It sounds like the dealer has put your number on a blocking list, try ringing from a payphone or a friends house or go down there and make a fuss in the showroom (they dont like raised voices with potential customers around)

 

[Argonought]

You're obviously responsible for paying for 2 hours labour but the rest depends if you agreed they should carry out the work or not (did they quote you and did you accept?)

If they've removed the crank sensor (un-welded it) which means the car can't be driven then I don't think you can hold them responsible for that since the bracket was already 'broken'

You need to weigh up cost of collecting the car and doing the job yourself vs paying for the repair and making sure you get a concrete warranty on the fault they've fixed. Sometimes worth getting them to state the original fault is guaranteed on the invoice as that protects you if the fault is really in say the wiring.

 

[pensuke]

You're obviously responsible for paying for 2 hours labour but the rest depends if you agreed they should carry out the work or not (did they quote you and did you accept?)

If they've removed the crank sensor (un-welded it) which means the car can't be driven then I don't think you can hold them responsible for that since the bracket was already 'broken'

You need to weigh up cost of collecting the car and doing the job yourself vs paying for the repair and making sure you get a concrete warranty on the fault they've fixed. Sometimes worth getting them to state the original fault is guaranteed on the invoice as that protects you if the fault is really in say the wiring.

I must disagree with some parts of your post, as from my understanding, they should not have removed the part if they had not got a replacement ready to put on. As no contract or paperwork has been signed i'm not bound to take them up on their offer to fix it, not to mention i did not ask them to take the crank sensor off, that was on their own initiative.

I indeed agree to have the work done, on the basis that it was an RPM sensor, to which i asked them two times "it's not the crank sensor is it" and they replied twice "no", to which now it turns out the crank/rpm sensor are the same thing. So would i be 'punished' so called for my lack of knowledge of the numerous names for the same part?

Finally i'll say this, if i drove the car in working, as far as i'm aware they cannot then give me the car back in a lesser condition to what they received it in, i.e un-driveable. From what i've been told by various mechanics is that, they should've specifically had the part there before they took off the crank sensor, and i know from past experiences garages (main dealers) don't like to push cars around the workshop so what happened here?

Finally they said they wouldn't guarantee the work done, because even after the 2 hours (diagnostics and checking the wiring), they weren't sure it was even the crank sensor and that it would be down to 'trial and error'.

 

[seboni121]

you are definatley in a bit of a cuffuful, as you agreed to the work being carried out if it was not the crank sensor and apparentley its not its the rpm sensor, although you thought it was called the crank sensor sounds as if you've had your legs chopped off,grin and bare it pay up and don't go back or fight it small claims court seems they have you by the short and curlies they want there pound of flesh now so hopefully they don't throw a couple nuts and bolts into the engine :devil: