Anybody in the Croydon area or Tillington (Essex)? - Fixed #
Posted by Pete Mutlow on October 9, 2009, 7:17 pm
Year of Manufacture *: n/a Engine Code or Type *: n/a
Evening All,
Have a friend who lives in Croydon and regulary visits Tillington. He has an old Corsa with bad starting in the damp. He is getting the runaround by cowboys and was told that his main problem is that the car needs a new rad and thermostat! My diagnosis over the phone was new dizzy cap and rotor arm would be a start which he can't get over to these sharks. If there is anyone in the area who could help, I would be grateful.
Regards
Pete M
Re: Anybody in the Croydon area or Tillington (Essex)?
>>>>He is getting the runaround by cowboys and was told that his main problem is that the car needs a new rad and thermostat!<<<<
>>>>which he can't get over to these sharks.<<<<
Thats a bit strong isn't it, I am the first to complain about the skill levels of lots of garages even to the point of saying most garages should not touch most diagnostic work as all they do is fit parts and cost the customer money. or worse create more faults that were not there in the first place.
Have you seen this car? How do you know there isn't a problem with the radiator and thermostat? although I would struggle to work out why this would cause a bad starting problem. Unless the head gasket was giving trouble as a result.
I understand what you are saying about cap and rotor and / or leads but at the end of the day yours is just a guess too.
The remarks you make are typical of retail customers who talk to mates in the pub who all have different ideas of the fault, but don't realy have a clue. And unjustly slating garages because they dont understand what they have done and why they have come to such a conclusion.
I am not doubting your ability but to use such works as "Cowboys snd Sharks" based purely on an unskilled friends testimony over the phone seems a little harsh too me.
I point blank refuse to carry out any diagnostics, even for friends, over the phone, but I guess, as you once said to me "Its not what you got, its what you do with it" Hmmm I must try to buy one of them Diagnostic Phones
I do however often have consultations on the phone helping and being helped by fellow Proffesionals.
Mike
M.O.M. Miserable Old Manc
Re: Anybody in the Croydon area or Tillington (Essex)?
I am getting worried ! If anyone asks me about a car / truck problem whilst out I politely give them my work phone number & ask them to ring when I am at work.
As for over the phone silver bullet diagnostics - don't do it, I just say when someone asks regarding a problem , lets get in the workshop & after a proper checkover we will discuss the repairs needed.
Yes the exchange of info between like minded folks may help in the way we work but I too have given up guessing over the phone.
And thats what is worrying me if I am not careful I may start sounding like you
Regards Pete
Re: Anybody in the Croydon area or Tillington (Essex)?
Cowboys and Sharks. This guy has a starting poblem in damp conditions and causing problems getting to work. He has been told that the car has had a diagnostic check and no faults found (No fault codes) and there is no problem with the car. He is now facing a bill for a diagnostic check and estimate to replace rad and cap. His fault has not been fixed. If these people had undertaken proper basic checks then this fault would be found and then advised about the over-heating problem.
Previous to this, he had an over-heating problem a few months ago in which various bits were replaced and now he is told that the problem is still there. Previous to that, he had a head gasket problem which went wrong and cost him a lot of money (long story). Recently, he had a tyre replaced and shortly afterwards was rescued on the M4 with said wheel hanging off. These people blacken our name and I make no apology in calling them cowboys and sharks.
Diagnostic Phones. I too do not give diagnostic help over the phone but if you had a mate that was 3 hours drive away and at wits end with a problem then I make exception to the rule. I am sure most fair minded people would as well.
In summary, whether this car has an over-heating problem is neither here nor there. His problem is only in damp weather which indicates an HT problem. All that was done on this car was some goon plugged into it and nothing was shown. Hence my call for some professional tech subscribing to UKAT to help him out.
Regards
Pete M
Re: Anybody in the Croydon area or Tillington (Essex)?
As I said I would be the first to condmen these type of outfits, if all the facts of the matter are known, fact is you have not seen the car, (If you have I appoligise)
I agree it does not sound good from what you say, but I have heard such stories many times, some are down to poor workmanship and incompetance and some are down to customers that are trying to keep an old car running on a budget they can ill afford and not allowing the repairing garage to do the job properly because it will cost more than the cars worth.
This garage maybe cowboys but by the sounds of it your friend has been back to them so many times despite all his problems, why?
Most customers either don't have a clue what goes on under the bonnet or they think they do which can be even worse. Old cars can often have one problem after another which become a "sincyer" (sinceya did me car this has happened etc) Or has all this previous work been carried out by different garages? and if so are they all cowboys and sharks or is it just your friend did not give some of them chance to sort the problems out?
I am with you 100% WRT getting Cowboys and Sharks out of our trade as we all get tarnished with the same brush. I see the results of incometance on a daily basis. It doesn't help with factors actively going to garages and telling them "They don't need specialists cos if they buy this tool they can do it all themselves."
If a car was presented to me with a wet starting problem and I noticed an overheating fault whilst checking it out I too would probably suggest they get that sorted first, But as I say I haven't seen the car.
Having sharks and Cowboys in our trade does us no good, but calling each other sharks and cowboys on forums doesn't do us any good either.
MikeM.O.M. Miserable Old Manc
Re: Anybody in the Croydon area or Tillington (Essex)?
As you say, I have not seen this car but that is irrelevant. We all form judgements on the evidence put before us and I am clear that this guy has had his pants taken down. Do you need to circle the globe to prove the world is round? - I think not.
It is not just one garage he has used. As a paying customer he expects (hopes) any work is carried out correctly if not you try someone else. I know I do. Hence this post.
Re this over-heating. It is a matter of priorities in terms of practicalities and finances. He wants to go to work and if there is an over-heating problem then that will be dealt with in due course when finances etc permit. He has not however experienced any problem with this recently.
I agree that cowboys, sharks and the like are detrimental to people like you and I who are honest and up front with customers. I have no qualms in using the term on this forum - could have used incompetents, nefarious etc but lets call a spade a spade.
Regards
Pete M
Re: Anybody in the Croydon area or Tillington (Essex)?
Pete If you are sure it,s cap/rotor and leads, send them to your mate and if he makes a 15 mile (approx) detour off the M25 (on his way from Croydon to Essex) to the Medway towns i will fit them FREE. That way there could only be 2 cowboys to blame YOU and ME . This is an HONEST offer. Kev.
Re: Anybody in the Croydon area or Tillington (Essex)?
No I am not sure that the issue with the car is leads etc - merely suggested that as a start. As I said this vehicle requires someone with basic knowledge of diagnostics to find what the problem is rather than a guy who plugs in and comes up with "Nah, nowt wrong with your care mate and that will be £45"!
Hmmm. Noticed what time you posted your response - Midnight Cowboy?!
on October 10, 2009, 8:10 am, in reply to "
