Garage charges for work that doesn't work.

[parkydave]

Having car repairs is a costly episode for anyone but from what has been said mechanics that find a fault and repair it without having to rely on guess work are few and far between . you would have done as well googling the problem and get your own parts and have the work done by yourself or a mobile mechanic . We expect a so called specialist garage to be above the guessing game

[Marx]

The car is a 54 plate. I need to clarify why a £50 thermostat was replaced, if the original part wasn't faulty, as they have stated. I wouldn't expect to be charged for something that wasn't needed, even if it is usually that part that causes the issue that was presenting. I really thought I was getting a good service from experts and that it would be a 'straight-forward' fix.

[geared]

They don't have some magic ability to know exactly what the problem is.

 

They replaced the most likely culprit because that was the best chance of success.

Sometimes you just get unlucky.

[truman]

They don't have some magic ability to know exactly what the problem is.

 

They replaced the most likely culprit because that was the best chance of success.

Sometimes you just get unlucky.

 

The problem is that the customer gets charged for all the garage's guesses...

[RootsBooster]

They don't have some magic ability to know exactly what the problem is.

Of course not, they have multimeters, digital thermometers, possibly an oscilloscope and (hopefully) the correct Volvo diagnostic software and interface, not just an EOBD reader.

They replaced the most likely culprit because that was the best chance of success.

Sometimes you just get unlucky.

This attitude is part of the problem, accepting the guesswork as okay practice.

It's worth noting that after the guesses didn't work, they charged him more and actually started testing stuff.

[geared]

Of course not, they have multimeters, digital thermometers, possibly an oscilloscope and (hopefully) the correct Volvo diagnostic software and interface, not just an EOBD reader.

 

So many so called 'specialists' will only have the latter though.

Sometimes specialist just means "cars we usually work on".

 

Customer is always free to negotiate the bill though, especially if the work been done has not solved the issue.

[rudds1]

Of course not, they have multimeters, digital thermometers, possibly an oscilloscope and (hopefully) the correct Volvo diagnostic software and interface, not just an EOBD reader.

 

This attitude is part of the problem, accepting the guesswork as okay practice.

It's worth noting that after the guesses didn't work, they charged him more and actually started testing stuff.

 

Why would the garage have Volvo diagnostic gear as car in question is a Vauxhall ?

[geared]

Why would the garage have Volvo diagnostic gear as car in question is a Vauxhall ?

 

 

I took my next car, a Volvo, to a specialist garage

 

:hihi::hihi:

[Lockdoctor]

They don't have some magic ability to know exactly what the problem is.

 

They replaced the most likely culprit because that was the best chance of success.

Sometimes you just get unlucky.

Agree with what you write. The OP''s situation is not a reason to contact Trading Standards. If you are happy with the work a garage as done, then you go back again. If you are not happy then next time you choose a different garage.

[Top Cats Hat]

Although usually much more expensive, one advantage of a main service agent is that if they want to test a temperature sensor for example, they will take one off the shelf and fit it. If the problem is resolved they will charge you for the part and the time it took to fit. If the problem is something else they will refit your original part and just charge you for time it took to fit.