ARRRGGHHHH...servicing prob...(long)...

[DJ984]

Hey guys, Had my car in for a Major Service yesterday (sat)...

The car gets serviced every 3 months (swaps between minor and major) as a part of the warranty... In the warranty book they have written down exactly what they'll do in a major service... had the car in yesterday and...

When i went to pick her up i asked the guy what they said was wrong with the air-con...(hasn't worked properly since b4 i got the car)... "oh, they didn't check that" he says... "but it's written down on a CONTRACT right there that you will check it" I reply... oh, he says, well... ummm....

Then he tell's me i have 100k's left on my rear brakes... I asked him why they didn't tell me they where low at the last service (3 months / 4000 k's ago) and asked whether they'd actually checked it then... he stuttered and threw a heap of crap on me.... Then because i was shitty about the air-con situation I told him if he changed the brakes for free i'd forget it... but he only offered me $20 off that...

So, i told him to come and look at the car with me b4 we went any further...

Open the bonnet, "you change the sparks on a major service don't you" I asked... "yep" he replied... then i said "well, I can tell from here that they havn't touched the head... It's as dirty as it was a week ago (so they can't have degreased it) and there's no fingerprints/grease prints etc... Then he says "oh well they just do a diagnostics program and if all the cylinders seem fine then they don't worry"....

Then, drive out to Castle Hill.... Hmmm, she wont hit full boost...(stock engine)... gets to about 8-9PSI then starts dropping off (with the foot to the floor)......

Then, get home... open bonnet again... hmm rusty fuel filter... but that's supposed to have been replaced with a new one?.... Back on the phone AGAIN!!!!

End story... he gave me $20 off the service for not checking the air-con... and i have to take it back so they can get the specialist to check and fix the air-con... also they have to look at the boost problem now and they have to put in a new fuel filter...

Hows that for a pain in the arse?!

feel free to post whatever comments, suggestions you have...

Also, does any one know what the boost problem could be? (car has 3" catback and Hybrid BOV, that's it.....HELP!!!)

cheers,

Dave.

[Kinks]

yikes.

so they didn't do what you asked, they didn't service your car (maybe they did the oil - you better check your oil and filter to make sure they're new btw).

why did you pay them ANY money?

[zRoYz]

yikes.

so they didn't do what you asked, they didn't service your car (maybe they did the oil - you better check your oil and filter to make sure they're new btw).

why did you pay them ANY money?

i also have no idea why you paid them anything because clearly they didn't service your car per contract spec so you don't pay money for nothing & if you do can you send me some.

you are going to dealer for warranty reasons so you have no choice but you do have rights so if it was me i would go back tell them you will be geting a inspection of car before they can touch it again (no work just inspection) because as they have just done full service with no reported fault except pads there souldn't be a problem with car. but if inspection comes back with faults you will be seeking advise from MTA about why workshop does full service but car shows correct service not carried out.

you have to do this with dealers because they need the push to do anything write, but if they flog you off even with warranty never go back & take photos of car infront witness & go then big time with MTA local papers etc don't ever give up & let them win because it happens just to much (what bloody good is your warranty if they can't even service your car which is reason faults are occuring)

i can tell you i'm no idiot & can do most mech things myself except tune but as an old man i'm new to turbo & bought my R33 for some fun & to play with but wanted good workshop to go over car first due to car being import etc. well i must say i feel so sorry for anybody who has a import & has to use syd workshops because they all just want your money thats it. i will never again use any syd workshop for mech repairs on my import (tune yes). yes there maybe 1 good 1 somewhere but i don't have the money to waste finding it.

[DJ984]

yikes.

so they didn't do what you asked, they didn't service your car (maybe they did the oil - you better check your oil and filter to make sure they're new btw).

why did you pay them ANY money?

I have to make another booking for the car to go in and have all things done properly now.... (free of charge), I am also planning to ring consumer affairs to see where i stand - as they have breached a written contract....

The oil was changed...(at least they did one thing right).... but there are many faults and i'll bet i can find many more....

So this will be a continuing saga and i will post updates.... Thanks for all the support... and i do agree that sydney workshops have only your wallet in mind but because of a written contract the only other option i have (at the moment) is to get it done somewhere else and void warranty...... I plan to see if i can have the warranty changed through consumer affairs and have the servicing done elsewhere as these guys also seem to do more bad than good...

P.S. Can anyone suggest what the boost issue could be???

[Kinks]

Does it feel like the car is as fast as usual? Check the vacuum lines haven't been stuffed around, I managed to do that to my car when changing the spark plugs

Otherwise not sure why it wouldn't boost up..

[DJ984]

Well, it feels almost as good as usual... (1PSI doesn't make that big a difference but watching the boostguage drop backwards is a bit scary when my foots to the floor...

the car kinda feels a bit doggy now... i've noticed that it doesn't roll as well as it used to when i let the clutch out...(i can usually rev it a bit and let the clutch out to roll it slowly into a car park etc... now it goes to stall... (i think they've played with something though cause it seems to go to stall when i'm driving and come to a stop too... i don't thiunk it's the tuning on the BOV though 'cause that seems the same as b4)....

I also noticed when i first got back in the car that everything seemed 'looser'...(ie clutch, brakes)....

i've had a very brief look in the engine bay for the problem and couldn't find nething but i'll have a better look later....

[makaveli]

im sorry to hear man, that sounds like a huge pain in the ass. i think i would have lost my cool and pumped some oil in the dudes mouth like Johnny Tran!

not really i would have felt like taking him outside and smashing the shit out of him although thats not right either.

Just get them to fix everything for free and after thats done tell them your never returning again! tell all your mates never to go there either!

take it easy

Mark

[DJ984]

yeah... i am contemplating that...the only issue is the warranty... obviously the warranty's not worth worrying about if they're gonna screw my car everytime but if something goes wrong then that's where the problems are.... i've gotta ring consumer affairs and see where i stand etc....

[makaveli]

thats a good idea, sus everything out before you make a decision.

take it easy

Mark

[_turtle_]

ur not alone mate, a lot of places say they've done this and that. yet if u actually check it it hasn't been done.

btw, do u have a aftermarket boost gauge that ur using?

[x2shy]

You might also want to contact who you have a warranty through. I am sure they will want to know if you an advised service centre is not doing thier job right. After all, it means it could cost THEM money.

[DJ984]

Yep after market boost guage... it hit 10PSI before anfd stayed there... now it gets to about 8-9 then starts goin backwards....

The warranty is through who i bought it off (ie the people who do the servicing...)... so yeah... you see where all the big issues are here...

[sewid]

I realised very quickly that aftermarket warranty is worth far less than the paper it is printed on. What kind of warranty do you have that is worth all of this drama?

[Mr R32 M-Spec]

I bought my car privately, had it checked at a performance workshop (went over it with a fine tooth come and gave me a report, cost $40) and haven't had too much drama apart from air con, which the electrician near me fixed, he is a top bloke and I trust him completely with my car anytime.

I do the servicing myself, plugs, filters, oil, did some suspension with mates help. far more satisfying(& cheaper )

I would go back and do a huge burnout on there driveway, then rant a bit. or maybe just go to consumer affairs. my mate just had a clutch done and the place he went to have done something that makes weird noises and rattles under the car now,(180sx) he went back and the guy said, oh we have done this heaps of times, theres no probs and sent him away...

he left the drive with the wheels spinning and all the way up the street, black lines aplenty. :D

[DJ984]

LOL... that sounds fun... Yeah, I mean if theyu don't fix everything then I'll just see consumer affairs stuff the warranty and do servicing myself... as at the moment the only reason i do the servicing through them is because of warranty... and after this experience we can clearly see that it's not worth it...

Also, could you please let me know where I can have my car checked over like you did yours?... i'd like to do that and $40 is nothing compared to what you get from it so yeah... that'd be great...

Luckily though, the warranty is a written contract and seeing as they havn't met those WRITTEN standards, I'm very sure consumer affairs will be on my side...

[MINES_DATSUN]

i have the a similar problem , it damn sux!

[zRoYz]

what shits me even more is the R33 i have pulls apart very quickly & it is a dream to work on form a mech point of veiw so why does any work on them cost so bloody much. i work for myself so i don't always have the time to do everything myself but i will now on my R33 because it's a no brainer (try pulling apart dash ford/holden as an example).

i'm new to this forum but a idea would be for owners to form work groups (your area) for help & repairs hands on. example would be say service so when cars due you get together & do together (great way to find little things wrong & gain info first hand)

you may already do this, it's just a thought.

[BIGBLOCKR31COUPE]

I agree with zROYz. If you are paying people money for doing nothing you should give some to me. I will do nothing for you either. Please PM me and I will give you my account details so you can make the transfer. $20-30K should do.

Seriously, don't do anything stupid at the dealership. Remember that they know where you live. The warranty that they gave you is normally backed by a 3rd party. The warranty booklet should tell you who they are. You should take the matter up with them and the Department of fair trading.

[TTT]

are you sure that the boost prob isn't just the heat?

on a hot day like the last couple, the boost will not reach the max 10psi and will tend to drop off as the revs go above 5000rpm.

Mine use to do that..

Also, if you just fitted the aftermarker boost guage in to the factory boost guage line, are you CERTAIN that the factory hoses aren;t cracked and leaking?

I had this happen as well.

I say, check the boost guage hose in the engine bay for leaks and use some cable ties to make sure the connections are tight.

then go for a trash in your car closer to mid night when it is cooler and see what your boost guage says then..

as for the other dealer warranty issues.... good luck.

[DJ984]

GTST: i was thinking along the same lines... But i never thought of the cable ties... thanks for that... i'll have a little looksie tonight and see what i can do but it wasn't really all that hot on sat arvo.... so i dunno...

I thought they may have tampered with the A/F Ratio and that could be causing it to be leaning out?....