Advice - Specialist may have stolen my parts.

[tgurske]

I used to work at a shop that, for A/C repairs for example, would tell the customer that the compressor needed to be replaced when all that was really needed was a coolant recharge. And, even worse, they would just clean the old compressor (without removing it) and put a new sticker on it. Then, they would just recharge the A/C and charge the customer $800 for the job.

This stuff happens all the time. And dealerships do it too. My old Saab dealer would do free oil changes for me and say that they did a 21 point inspection on everything. Each time they told me that the tires or brakes needed to be replaced when they didn't. Eventually, I pulled the battery cover off to check it myself and found a mountain of corrosion on the battery. The terminal was 80% corroded away. They never once looked at it while doing their inspection. They just parked the car for an hour and then told me that I needed braked and tires. Not sure they ever even did an oil change either. Stealers.

Anyway, I'm not sure what actually happened to you, but good work on taking the photos and inspecting the job. I would take it to a different shop and have them tell you for sure exactly what was done. Have them write up a report and document it. Then, you can go back to the original shop and get a refund if they didn't do what they were supposed to do. I wouldn't let them touch the car again.

 

[Georgio]

Bad luck on your bodge job, but it just goes to show that you really can't trust any garage unless you know them well and even then always keep them on their toes by checking the work before you pay for the work and collect your car; once you've driven off the forecourt they can deny everything if things get nasty.

Always, always check for new oil filters/oil, brake pads, suspension parts etc. when work has supposedly been done. I always ask for the 'old' parts to take away, if they look shifty, then I start to look more closely.

I know I sound a bit paranoid but I've had a few bad experiences with garages over the years including the theft of a complete set of brand new instruments/sensors for an MG; the car had gone in for an MoT and came out a day later with no dials!!

Basically, if the garage think they can con you by not doing a service and just wiping over the oil filter they will. Not usually because they're malicious, but usually because they always take on more work than they handle, so something has to give - just make sure it's not you.