Wa Workshop Annual Co-sign Awards 2010

[Mr Eps]

yup. just a quick public "shouts out" and exposure to a little office located in Balcatta.

just imported my series 3 vvti soarer (rare), registered it last thursday. paid rego - went to go to work. car drives off and breaks down in middle of busy intersection..

it's terminally DEAD. most people would wreck the car after this - but not me. i located it as an ECU problem. (rare car = rare ECU - time to consider a repair.. or even worse.. new ECU from toyota)

took the ECU out.. had a look.. could see nothing wrong but bought new set of capacitors "just in case" - $10 from jaycar

took it to PERTH DIGITAL .. found out these guys do electronic repairs - i won't lie.. i'm keen as with cars but complex soldering i leave to a pro.

http://www.perthdigital.com.au/

unit 1

8 corbusier pl BALCATTA

dropped it off today (monday morning) as i conveniently work around the corner

$88 up front fee to repair and replace capacitors

got a call in my lunch break to inform me that my ecu has:

a stuffed diode

leaking capacitors

a corroded track on the circuit board (due to leaking capacitor)

and corroded pinouts

they didn't call me and ask me if it's okay to go ahead with the work, they just "did it" without consultation..

all up - i have had 9 capacitors replaced... a diode replaced.. a track repair on the circuit board.. pinouts cleaned and re-juvinated on the pinouts..

all up the service came to $100 even.

fingers crossed my car will work thanks to these guys and their keen eye to spot this sort of thing. either way.

moral of the story is - all you guys that have cars that are getting long in the tooth (2000 or older) PLEASE take your ECU to these guys. GET YOUR CAPS REPLACED AND YOUR ECU INSPECTED.

it's a cheap service. old capacitors leak - and you'd NEVER notice it..

symptoms can be - but are not limited to:

lumpy idle

torque doesn't deliver properly through rev range

fuel economy SUCKS

or (like me) car can just fking DIE.

for $100 - Perth Digital get my personal WA Workshop recommendation for 2010, recognised for their honest excellent customer service, positive knowledge and a price i'm MORE than happy with.

honourable mentions go to:

HYPERDRIVE MALAGA for always delivering a quality product at a reasonable price - and ALWAYS following up with customers before carrying out unplanned works

STRUT SPECIALIST in osborne park - replaced dead gas struts in my boot with exchange parts in TWO of my families' cars.. in and out in about 20 minute and swapped the struts over for me no questions asked.. $66 per visit with exchange parts.. highly recommend.

PERTH VINYL WELDING

Unit 3, 8 Boag Rd, Morley, WA 6062

dash repair, door sill repair.. seamless work

and also

RICHARDS TYREPOWER (namely SAU Member Hank Scorpio) for being SO understanding and helpful throughout my horrific ordeal that i've had getting my families cars registered - i cannot thank you guys enough for your help and i WILL repay this favour you guys have done for me.

this thread can now be used for other members to reccommend / suggest other workshops we may not be aware of, i am aware there's the consolidated workshop thread but this is 2010 specific, and last i check the "sauwa consolidated thread" it contained many shops that have gone out of business and also had many shops there that deserve nothing more than to be blacklisted IE: sportswreck in bayswater (warranted accusation)

Edited November 15, 2010 by Mr Eps

[JonnoHR31]

so the remote for the immobiliser/central locking for my camry died today, the small button fell off the circuit board. thought i'd try these guys after seeing this thread. went in there, they resoldered it on the spot in less than 5 mins and didnt charge me a cent for it. best service i've seen in a long time.

glad you posted this or i'd have a nice headache right now

[Mr Eps]

serious??

that's bloody nice...

they seem very appreciative that im building more of a client base for them but free labour - that's pretty amazing?

[JonnoHR31]

yer i was shocked. good on em tho, they'll be my first port of call for anything electrical from now on

[turboedsloth]

I usually use precision auto electrics for my ecus but with their attitude lately ima give these guys a go. Cheers eps

[Mr Eps]

blergh - that's ANOTHER thing - attitude!!!!

a particular workshop that has since closed it's doors who is a well respected and supposed talent within the community.. i stopped taking my car to him. and started taking it to hyperdrive.

i couldn't stand his shabby customer service, i hated how he'd patronise me and make me feel like an idiot all the time.

he'd yell at me if i was stuck in traffic. he'd go off his face at me if i was 5 mins late to pick up my car.. even times when i'd be giving him like a grand cash... still would go off at me

i can't STAND people's bad attitiudes!