Am I entitled to a refund from Vauxhall?

Last week, I had to take my Omega to the local Vauxhall dealership.

During motorway cruising, the engine management light had repeatedly come
on, so on Saturday I took it to the garage.
They apparently connected it to the tech2 computer which diagnosed a faulty
airflow meter. They replaced the meter, and when I collected the car and
handed over the £200, I asked if anything else had shown up on the tech2,
and they told me nothing had.

Today, the first day I've done some motorway driving since, the engine
management light again iluminates.

I can't take the car back until later this week, but assuming that when I
do, they say that either:

This is a completely unrelated problem caused by another component or
This is a airflow meter related problem, but was perhaps the wiring or
connector

What is my chance or being able to argue that the new air flow meter was
completely unnecessary, and that it shouldn't have been replaced? Is it
complicated by the fact that they've presumably binned the old one?

Any comments much appreciated!

Paul.

 

Your argument will be helped if it can be shown that any "new" fault
showing up is likely to have been present for some time, and the cause of
the original problem.

If it came to a "small claim", the test is "Balance of probabilities"

Make sure any parts replaced this time are retained. An engineers report
may be necessary.

You will still have the problem of showing the garage hadn't demonstrated
proper care in the work they carried out. If the Tech 2 indicated the
Air-flow meter was at fault, they will try to argue it isn't their fault.
This is a spurious argument, but will need careful handling.

Your over-riding concern is that you entrusted your car to them to be
fixed. It is their responsibility, not yours, to ensure the tools they use
are appropriate, working properly and reliable. If they misled you as to
the cause of the fault, then tried to argue that in some way this isn't
their responsibility, this argument will fail. If they have a problem with
Tech 2, that is for them to resolve.

I am not a lawyer - just seems to be common sense.

Good luck

steveb

 

I remember once going to a Vauxhall main dealer to have a car hooked up to
their machine for a fault diagnosis. They wanted me to go away and come back
when the car was ready. I insisted on staying to watch. Eventually they
admitted that they could only hook up the car if I told them where to plug
it in.

I've not been to a main dealer since.

 

No, you are not entitled to a refund from Vauxhall but you might be
entitled to one from the Vauxhall dealer who did the work for you!

Please don't confuse us dealers with Vauxhall!

--

Alan


New & used Vauxhall cars & vans, servicing, repairs & parts
www.steeles.co.uk

Vauxhall CD players & handbooks
http://www.stores.ebay.co.uk/vauxhallradiosales

 

I agree with this, fwiw. There may be "issues" to do with Main Dealers, but
no more than with many other companies and businesses.

The main problems seem to arise when ppl pay a premium price for a premium
service (acknowledging extra training and equipment costs), but then find
they have been treated shabbily.

steveb

 

Thanks for the advice.
I'm booking the car in this week, so I'll post again with the outcome -
whatever that may be!

 

Tech 2 is a proprietory Vauxhall diagnostic computer. It is widely
available at Vauxhall Dealers ... lol

 

There are people with equipment that does the same as Tech2 but most run of
the mill businesses do not have enough Vauxhall customers to justify the
(significant) expense and training to buy it.

--

Alan


New & used Vauxhall cars & vans, servicing, repairs & parts
www.steeles.co.uk

Vauxhall CD players & handbooks
http://www.stores.ebay.co.uk/vauxhallradiosales

 

The car's been checked over and I've got a reply from the dealership.

This time they say it's the oxygen sensor. When I queried why it didn't show
up 3 days ago, they said that they have to clear 1 fault at a time, and this
time an oxygen sensor fault has shown up in the ECU. Parts plus fitting come
to £217.

I always thought that the ECU stores multiple fault codes? If that is the
case then I'm suspicious because the 'new' fault started the day after the
airflow meter was fitted, and under exactly the same circumstances
(sustained motorway cruising).

Any thoughts appreciated.

Also, any damage likely to be caused if I leave it for a month or two before
it's changed? Are they located somewhere I could easily replace it to save
cost, or is any special monitoring/programming equipment needed?

Thanks again,
Paul

 

The system can store multiple trouble codes but not all codes are remembered
and quite often one fault will produce multiple codes that mask other
faults.

They are probably telling you the truth but I would haggle hard on the price
as there is always an element of doubt.

They will not want to alienate a customer either.

--

Alan


New & used Vauxhall cars & vans, servicing, repairs & parts
www.steeles.co.uk

Vauxhall CD players & handbooks
http://www.stores.ebay.co.uk/vauxhallradiosales

 

It was five years ago, so the mechanics could be anywhere now...

 

To diversify sligthly I have to say the standard of service from all the
Vauxhall dealers in my area is apaalling. They are the worst garages I have
ever had the misfortune to go near for parts. I wouldn`t dream of having my
car serviced by them. regards,
Michael.