Technical Garage screw up? (URGENT)

[purplepanda64]

Please help! This might be a stupid post but I am a new, young driver and I'd much rather this be a post I can look back on and laugh at how stupid I was instead of my fear that I've been screwed over

My 2014 Panda failed her MOT yesterday, luckily managed to book with a local garage today, I am on a time crunch as meant to be driving to North Wales on Tuesday! Garage quoted me £630 and said they can finish today (dropped off at 8:30), booked my free re-test for Monday - finally stopped stressing out.

Garage closed at 18:00, I called at 17:40 (live a 15 min drive away), they said to come down. As I arrived about 2 mins before they closed I didn't want to waste their time by checking over what they've done so drove home, and that's when the issues started:
1) Anytime I was driving above ~30mph, I could hear a new odd noise, sounds like nearside back, hard to describe but sounds metal-to-metal and speeds up with my car so my guess is something on the wheel.
2) The brakes feel completely different. When the car is off they are rock hard to press, then as soon as I turn the car on they soften instantly without having to press the pedal. I feel no feedback when I press the brakes while driving, it brakes fine but is this what you'd describe as spongy brakes? They have never felt like this in the past 2 years of owning.
3) The handbrake is broken. This is more cut and dry, they seemed to have sort of forced it back into place and it has broken the plastic (forgot to take a photo). I feel stupid because I know 100% they did this as I only use my handbrake at the end of my journeys and thats when I noticed it, but I have no proof that they broke it and not me as I drove off fast. The handbrake itself does work, but now has to be hiked up to the highest setting to hold the car in place.

Below is a photo of the new parts installed by the garage:

My question is - are these normal? I know new parts can take time to wear in so hoping the noises are due to that, but I know spongy brakes are an issue. If I fail my MOT again I'm screwed for my holiday.

Sorry again if this is stupid - and sorry for the long description! I am a teenage girl so I always feel a bit worried abt mechanical issues as I feel I might get ripped off, and my dad recently passed away so I can't ask him for help

Thank you to anyone who bothered to real all this, any help/advice is appreciated!

 

[bugsymike]

Please help! This might be a stupid post but I am a new, young driver and I'd much rather this be a post I can look back on and laugh at how stupid I was instead of my fear that I've been screwed over

My 2014 Panda failed her MOT yesterday, luckily managed to book with a local garage today, I am on a time crunch as meant to be driving to North Wales on Tuesday! Garage quoted me £630 and said they can finish today (dropped off at 8:30), booked my free re-test for Monday - finally stopped stressing out.

Garage closed at 18:00, I called at 17:40 (live a 15 min drive away), they said to come down. As I arrived about 2 mins before they closed I didn't want to waste their time by checking over what they've done so drove home, and that's when the issues started:
1) Anytime I was driving above ~30mph, I could hear a new odd noise, sounds like nearside back, hard to describe but sounds metal-to-metal and speeds up with my car so my guess is something on the wheel.
2) The brakes feel completely different. When the car is off they are rock hard to press, then as soon as I turn the car on they soften instantly without having to press the pedal. I feel no feedback when I press the brakes while driving, it brakes fine but is this what you'd describe as spongy brakes? They have never felt like this in the past 2 years of owning.
3) The handbrake is broken. This is more cut and dry, they seemed to have sort of forced it back into place and it has broken the plastic (forgot to take a photo). I feel stupid because I know 100% they did this as I only use my handbrake at the end of my journeys and thats when I noticed it, but I have no proof that they broke it and not me as I drove off fast. The handbrake itself does work, but now has to be hiked up to the highest setting to hold the car in place.

Below is a photo of the new parts installed by the garage:
View attachment 446831

My question is - are these normal? I know new parts can take time to wear in so hoping the noises are due to that, but I know spongy brakes are an issue. If I fail my MOT again I'm screwed for my holiday.

Sorry again if this is stupid - and sorry for the long description! I am a teenage girl so I always feel a bit worried abt mechanical issues as I feel I might get ripped off, and my dad recently passed away so I can't ask him for help

Thank you to anyone who bothered to real all this, any help/advice is appreciated!

Rely on your instincts, the car feels wrong!
If pedal has more brake travel after they have worked on it and you can hear a metal rubbing sound it doesn't sound safe to drive.
The garage shouldn't send a job out like that.
First give them a chance to fix it, stating what you have noticed , in writing and keep a copy.
It may be something small like the self adjustment in the rear brakes not right and the brake spring rubbing the brake drum/hub, but until it is checked and corrected I would advise not to drive it far at all.
You are not a professional, but it feels wrong /different so if garage any good they will fix it right away.
Your life and others could be at risk.
I was in the motor trade for over 55 years and would never send a customers car out like that!
Apart from all that breaking something and not mentioning it doesn't sound very professional.
When you go back take a friend/ parent or what ever as a witness, they are less likely to bull sh*t two of you.

 

[purplepanda64]

Rely on your instincts, the car feels wrong!
If pedal has more brake travel after they have worked on it and you can hear a metal rubbing sound it doesn't sound safe to drive.
The garage shouldn't send a job out like that.
First give them a chance to fix it, stating what you have noticed , in writing and keep a copy.
It may be something small like the self adjustment in the rear brakes not right and the brake spring rubbing the brake drum/hub, but until it is checked and corrected I would advise not to drive it far at all.
You are not a professional, but it feels wrong /different so if garage any good they will fix it right away.
Your life and others could be at risk.
I was in the motor trade for over 55 years and would never send a customers car out like that!
Apart from all that breaking something and not mentioning it doesn't sound very professional.
When you go back take a friend/ parent or what ever as a witness, they are less likely to bull sh*t two of you.

Thank you, this defintely made me feel more confident to stick up for myself!

Managed to contact someone on Facebook who said I can bring it back tomorrow morning, but reassured me that it shouldn't be an issue as they test drive every car. And then, I remembered I have a dash cam!

Wouldn't you know, they did not test drive it at all! A process (I'm guessing the alignment) was also rushed considering they started at 17:45, I would of been fine to wait until the next day but I called at 17:40 to ask if it would be ready today as I was being left in the dark! I feel a bit bad as I might have made them think they need to rush, but I have a very timid voice and was not demanding they are done today, just wanted an update as I knew they were closing soon and wanted to know if my car was staying overnight.

I'm hoping they will just admit mistake tomorrow morning, but if not I have footage to prove they never test drove it (and a pretty funny video of me talking to myself asking 'am i braking? is this what brakes are supposed to feel like?' when I reached my first traffic lights )

 

[bugsymike]

Thank you, this defintely made me feel more confident to stick up for myself!

Managed to contact someone on Facebook who said I can bring it back tomorrow morning, but reassured me that it shouldn't be an issue as they test drive every car. And then, I remembered I have a dash cam!

Wouldn't you know, they did not test drive it at all! A process (I'm guessing the alignment) was also rushed considering they started at 17:45, I would of been fine to wait until the next day but I called at 17:40 to ask if it would be ready today as I was being left in the dark! I feel a bit bad as I might have made them think they need to rush, but I have a very timid voice and was not demanding they are done today, just wanted an update as I knew they were closing soon and wanted to know if my car was staying overnight.

I'm hoping they will just admit mistake tomorrow morning, but if not I have footage to prove they never test drove it (and a pretty funny video of me talking to myself asking 'am i braking? is this what brakes are supposed to feel like?' when I reached my first traffic lights )

Back up your dash cam footage.
I still repair my two youngest daughters cars even though I am 70, but I keep warning them to make the most of it.

 

[Panda IIs]

Please help! This might be a stupid post but I am a new, young driver and I'd much rather this be a post I can look back on and laugh at how stupid I was instead of my fear that I've been screwed over

My 2014 Panda failed her MOT yesterday, luckily managed to book with a local garage today, I am on a time crunch as meant to be driving to North Wales on Tuesday! Garage quoted me £630 and said they can finish today (dropped off at 8:30), booked my free re-test for Monday - finally stopped stressing out.

Garage closed at 18:00, I called at 17:40 (live a 15 min drive away), they said to come down. As I arrived about 2 mins before they closed I didn't want to waste their time by checking over what they've done so drove home, and that's when the issues started:
1) Anytime I was driving above ~30mph, I could hear a new odd noise, sounds like nearside back, hard to describe but sounds metal-to-metal and speeds up with my car so my guess is something on the wheel.
2) The brakes feel completely different. When the car is off they are rock hard to press, then as soon as I turn the car on they soften instantly without having to press the pedal. I feel no feedback when I press the brakes while driving, it brakes fine but is this what you'd describe as spongy brakes? They have never felt like this in the past 2 years of owning.
3) The handbrake is broken. This is more cut and dry, they seemed to have sort of forced it back into place and it has broken the plastic (forgot to take a photo). I feel stupid because I know 100% they did this as I only use my handbrake at the end of my journeys and thats when I noticed it, but I have no proof that they broke it and not me as I drove off fast. The handbrake itself does work, but now has to be hiked up to the highest setting to hold the car in place.

Below is a photo of the new parts installed by the garage:
View attachment 446831

My question is - are these normal? I know new parts can take time to wear in so hoping the noises are due to that, but I know spongy brakes are an issue. If I fail my MOT again I'm screwed for my holiday.

Sorry again if this is stupid - and sorry for the long description! I am a teenage girl so I always feel a bit worried abt mechanical issues as I feel I might get ripped off, and my dad recently passed away so I can't ask him for help

Thank you to anyone who bothered to real all this, any help/advice is appreciated!

Hello, from the list of parts replaced it sounds like the MOT failed on rear brake or handbrake performance, NSF suspension balljoint or bushes and steering track rod end? Oh and one or more front shock absorbers (surprised if they only replaced one since it is good practice to swap as a pair, but maybe you were on a budget).

The "odd" brake pedal feel may relate to a poorly bled brake system following the replacement (of presumably leaky) rear wheel cylinders. Its been a while since I have owned and maintained a car with rear drum brakes so this may be related to the shoes bedding in (but I doubt it) and it does sound like the handbrake needs adjustment (or the shoes - can anyone say whether they auto adjust?? The broken handbrake (cover or trim I assume) was probably as a result of digging around for the cable adjusters. Wheel alignment comes with all the front suspension work - you hope this is correct (often you get a print out from the alignment test equipment indicating all is left in specification).

 

[jrkitching]

can anyone say whether they auto adjust

The Panda rear shoes auto adjust (at least they should if they are clean, lubricated and assembled correctly).

 

[shaun200765]

Where roughly are you based mate?

 

[purplepanda64]

Please help! This might be a stupid post but I am a new, young driver and I'd much rather this be a post I can look back on and laugh at how stupid I was instead of my fear that I've been screwed over

My 2014 Panda failed her MOT yesterday, luckily managed to book with a local garage today, I am on a time crunch as meant to be driving to North Wales on Tuesday! Garage quoted me £630 and said they can finish today (dropped off at 8:30), booked my free re-test for Monday - finally stopped stressing out.

Garage closed at 18:00, I called at 17:40 (live a 15 min drive away), they said to come down. As I arrived about 2 mins before they closed I didn't want to waste their time by checking over what they've done so drove home, and that's when the issues started:
1) Anytime I was driving above ~30mph, I could hear a new odd noise, sounds like nearside back, hard to describe but sounds metal-to-metal and speeds up with my car so my guess is something on the wheel.
2) The brakes feel completely different. When the car is off they are rock hard to press, then as soon as I turn the car on they soften instantly without having to press the pedal. I feel no feedback when I press the brakes while driving, it brakes fine but is this what you'd describe as spongy brakes? They have never felt like this in the past 2 years of owning.
3) The handbrake is broken. This is more cut and dry, they seemed to have sort of forced it back into place and it has broken the plastic (forgot to take a photo). I feel stupid because I know 100% they did this as I only use my handbrake at the end of my journeys and thats when I noticed it, but I have no proof that they broke it and not me as I drove off fast. The handbrake itself does work, but now has to be hiked up to the highest setting to hold the car in place.

Below is a photo of the new parts installed by the garage:
View attachment 446831

My question is - are these normal? I know new parts can take time to wear in so hoping the noises are due to that, but I know spongy brakes are an issue. If I fail my MOT again I'm screwed for my holiday.

Sorry again if this is stupid - and sorry for the long description! I am a teenage girl so I always feel a bit worried abt mechanical issues as I feel I might get ripped off, and my dad recently passed away so I can't ask him for help

Thank you to anyone who bothered to real all this, any help/advice is appreciated!

She passed her retest! I managed to contact the garage in the evening and they brought her in and fixed her for free the next day, they were very apologetic and have 2/3 test drive it just to be sure. The brakes was just excess air (like I guessed) which hadn't all been bled out. Very stressful few days but she is finally road-worthy and ready for our roadtrip tomorrow

 

[Greasytrucker]

She passed her retest! I managed to contact the garage in the evening and they brought her in and fixed her for free the next day, they were very apologetic and have 2/3 test drive it just to be sure. The brakes was just excess air (like I guessed) which hadn't all been bled out. Very stressful few days but she is finally road-worthy and ready for our roadtrip tomorrow

Sounds to me like they’d screwed something else up with the noise and the high handbrake, air in the system is the easy answer to give. But if they’ve sorted it they’ve obviously realized they’ve messed up so luckily no damage done! Enjoy your road trip