Thread: Help, have had a problem with a service and need advice!

Hi,

I have a Renault Clio that had a problem with the immobiliser. It kept on cutting in whilst driving and the problem was eventually tracked down to a faulty wire located near the ECU by a Renault Dealer. The fault was fixed at our own expense and we continued to use the car for about 9 months before the fault reoccured. We took the car to a different garage (also an authorised Renault garage) and they found that the previous repair had been inaddequate. The wire had been repaired by using insulating tape by the previous garage. They actually cut the offending repair out and gave it to us, and have given us the invoice which describes the previous repair as being the cause of the immobiliser failing again.

I'm a little upset that the first garage we visited did such an appalling job. They also charged us three times the amount the second garage did to put the job right! We still have all the receipts and paper work associated with both repairs, and I'm rather hoping that the fact they are both Renault garages will mean I can reclaim some of the money I have spent fixing this problem.

Do I have any rights over this matter that may help me? If so, who do I turn to for help. I haven't yet approached the original garage, but intent to take the matter up with them this afternoon.

Thanks for any advice given!

9 months for a repair to las, not long enough to expect from a competent garage, main dealer at that to do a bodge job. hope they agree and refunf some if not all the money failingbthat the onlynrecourse would be to take them to court, you eill have to decide if its worth the hassle; you may not get all of it back, but it would be covered under SOGA.

Difficult on this. If I read this correctly, you had an immobiliser fault. the first garage did fix it, but then it went wrong again 9 months later?

Ok, if that is the case and from what you say the reason it went wrong the second time was because it wasn't done correctly the first time, ie sticky tape.

Did the original repair cause any damage or did the original repair just fail because it was badly done? If the first then I suggest they are liable for the damage caused. If the second I suggest they are liable for the entire second bill plus costs (ie hire car or time off work in the view of consequential loss) because they bodged the original repair. Sticky tape in an engine bay is never a good idea, but the immobiliser just kicking in and leaving you potentially in a very dangerous situation is not acceptable.

I am sure someone more experienced in this will be along soon to advise, but that is my opinion and I am sure many will agree. If it was me, I would be billing them for the entire re-repair and telling them to count themselves lucky you don't sue!

Hi!

Thanks to all who have replied so far, I thought I would post an update to let you know what is happening. I went to the garage with my wife this morning and spoke to the service manager. He seemed very understanding about the problem and listened whilst we explained it from start to finish. He said he is new in the job and wasn't around during the time it was serviced but has said he will look into it for us. He has taken a copy of all the paperwork and also now has the wire with the insulating tape on it. He also said that he has no problems issuing us with a full refund for the original cost of the repair if it turns out that the repair was not fit for purpose.

He is going to phone back on Monday and I will let all here know what the outcome is. We both feel that we were fortunate it was an electronic wire and not a brake line they fixed. If they refund the money then it will be the end of the matter from our point of view, but if they decide not to then we will want to take things further.

Thanks again!

Originally Posted by Milly0001

If they refund the money then it will be the end of the matter from our point of view, but if they decide not to then we will want to take things further.

It will be a neat trick to take it any further when you've handed over the evidence to them to be 'lost'.

Hi,

The thought did cross my mind as I handed it over, but as the bloke was being very reasonable I wanted to give him the benefit of the doubt. Plus, the garage that handed the wire over to us will vouch that it existed if required. The fact they went on to 'lose' it only further incriminates them. I'm really hoping it won't come to that though!

Another update on this one, I phoned the garage up the other day and the service manager has agreed to refund the full amount of the original fix. I didn't have to kick off at all, just went in politely and they didn't argue at all.

Thanks for all your advice!

Weel done, thats how it should be; dont what you wiil get until try.