Im Screwed, I think?

Ello all.

Been up manchester for the past 2 days working and started to hear funny
noises when turnning the steering wheel, like squeeky scrape sounds.

Stopped car checked power steering fluid and it didn't even reach the min
mark (although not by much) so I took it to a vauxhall garage and asked for
some power steering fluid, i was given a bottle which was written in german
and had transmission fluid written on it, double checked it was the right
stuff.

Topped it up and the bloke said oh its leaking by the looks of it, its a
common fault with vectras where the aluminium seals go, its a big job and
will cost you £500!!!

Is it seriously going to cost that much to replace that little bottle?!?!

Help

 

Ok also I have some cash saved up and want the following done at vauxhall

cambelt
rollers
tensioners
gear gator thingy
clutch
full service

how much do u reckon??

over £650??

I dont mind if its done at alocal garage but I want the full checkover done
byu vauxhall after the works been done.

Cheers )

 

YES, Well over £650 if my wifes experience is
anything to go by.

See my thread..... Expensive Lesson

 

cambelt

Why? Go to a reputable non-franchise garage and they'll easily be able to
do this work to a high standard.

Even if you do go to an independent, you'll be lucky to get much change out
of £650 for this lot.

 

I have been in the motor trade in excess of 30-years, but there are still
something's which really baffle me. At the top of the list is: Why do the
public distrust small businesses, and yet not the main agents? Afterall,
more horror stories are bred within the confines of the latter.
I have spent the last couple of days working on an ecotec Omega. The
customer complained of mayonnaise in the oil and a loss of coolant. Pretty
obvious as to the cause, I'm sure you'll agree. So, I'll just relay the work
and cost, and you can decide if I'm fair (I'm just a typical tech).
Cylinder head removed and sent for skimming.
All valves removed and relapped
All seals replaced
Thermostat and housing replaced.
Full timing belt kit fitted (even though agent serviced 8-weeks ago and they
failed to noticed the cracks in the idlers)
New headbolts as per spec.
Fully synthetic oil and filter
Antifreeze
Full system scan.
And the price? Take a guess then scroll.
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£330 all inclusive.
Well, is this fair? If you say yes, then why do so many people shun small
businesses?
The best way to find a competent mechanic is by word of mouth. Ask your dad,
your brother, your sister, your friends, and if enough of them are using the
same guy, he's hardly likely to rip you off, because of the amount of future
work he could lose.
Just my 2-cents worth after hearing of the complaining in the newsgroup.

 

I will agree with you, but only up to a point.
Yes the small business or one man business do give a very cost
effective service. But it has been my experience that if you use
the same person for any length of time, they tend to become
greedy and think the customer might just be gullible to pay a
few extra quid and still come back again and again.

Good workmanship and service should ALLWAYS be well
paid, but the customer should never be taken advantage of.

An example.

My cars were serviced by a good friend for years, he was my
best man at my wedding, his son who I saw grow up, joined
his dad in the business. One day I took the car in for pre-MOT
check, the son said it wanted a new steering rack, which I
disputed as I could feel no play in the rack. I asked his dad
for his opinion, yes he agreed, it wanted a new steering rack.
However I wasn't convinced, I suspected the son was wrong
and his dad was only backing his son and not giving a honest
appraisal of the steering rack. I decided the only way to find
who was right was to see how it faired in the MOT.

Three years later, it was still passing MOT's on that steering
rack, and I was getting someone else to look after my cars.

When money is involved you cannot trust anyone.

 

That's unlucky, he should have got the low calorie version
it wouldn't have been as bad.

Fatsod

 

good for you malc.
a very fair price indeed

mike

 

The customer complained of mayonnaise in the oil

Clearly a dyslexic driver picked up the wrong container in a local
supermarket and dropped a jar of Hellmans into the system

 

Sorry malc im not implying that all local independant garages are bad, like
I said I dont mind the work being carried out this way but I would like a
full check done by vauxhall, this is because I havent had the car that long
and had no work or checks done on it and would like a very thorough check
done, im also very new to cars so this is my thinking, maybe im wrong?.

Also my first post, is it really going to cost £500 to replace that bottle?

 

"A fool and his money are easy parted"
why do some people always assume they get a superior service from main
dealers, find a good reputable independent who's livelihood is built on his
reputation and you will be amazed at the pounds (and I mean pounds) you will
save whilst they will still be using genuine Vaux parts, it would have to be
the last resort for me to go to the main dealers for them to add there
nought on to the final bill,

 

Did you even read what I typed?

 

Did he actually say the seals on the bottle? Its more likely he's talking
about the rack.

 

Yeah he definately said the seals - I think hes talking bollock personally
as Im getting cambelt rollers tensioners waterpump all brushes and the power
steering bottle fixed for £350

I must have twat written on my head?