28 replies to this topic

[icklemini]

Chaps, the point is that the agreed price included supplying a steering rack and two track rod ends. They were not needed so he supplied no parts.

Yeah he said 165 supplying a rack and trackrod ends..


So rather than being a robot, he actually examined the car and upon diagnosis, it turned out to be something else and so fixed that instead... so actually he has done you a favour: would you have been happy if he fitted the rack and track rod ends and the problem have still been there? probably not...

What you are paying for is for him to diagnose, fix, and the extra jobs that wasnt part of the original agreement anyway...

And he's let you drive away without paying..

Personally i dont think you have been hard done by..

[racingbob]

jason, ask him is it still the same cost but less the cost of the rack, how did the time go

oh ask him how much he would charge to put a couple new bump stops on my car
i cant get in there to do it
bob

[Mrpeanut]

We obviously look at things differently. He wanted 100 Labour and 65 for parts IF a rack was needed. Clearly I didn't want him supplying parts i don't need but equally why pay for labour that hasn't been provided?

If he allowed for 2 and half hours but spent no more than that (even allowing for extras) how can he justify 4 hours!

[Beej123]

Sounds to me like he under-quoted the rack change based on his wages PH. He didn't fit the rack but did fix the problem. Forget the first quote because that wasn't what he did in the end so that quote is useless. The number he gave you is for fixing the problem by way of repairing the column, and that's a good quote to do that.

[icklemini]

He wanted 100 Labour and 65 for parts IF a rack was needed.

Yeah sounds reasonable... but he didnt supply and fit a steering rack, because it wasnt needed!
What about fitting the shocks, steering wheel, and greasing the suspension?

Clearly I didn't want him supplying parts i don't need but equally why pay for labour that hasn't been provided?

What labour hasnt been provided exactly? - the job turned out to be something completly different to what was agreed upon..

Diagnosis time?
time to remove the column?
time to fix the column?
time to refit the column?
time to change steering wheels?
time to fit shocks?
time to grease suspension?

If he allowed for 2 and half hours but spent no more than that (even allowing for extras) how can he justify 4 hours!

2.5hours + parts is for changing a steering rack and trackrod ends...if that was the problem... it wasnt the problem, but he has spent the time on finding what it is and doing that instead..

If he has honestly spent 4 hours on *fixing the problem* then isnt he due 4 hours pay!

Edited by icklemini, 10 May 2012 - 06:31 PM.

[Mrpeanut]

Cheers chaps. The collective view is that he's asking reasonable money for what he did. That answers my question.

[minidaves]

have to agree with dave he's done the job properly, not just done a job, rare thin to be honest these days

[Mrpeanut]

I've now spoken to the fella. The column was worn by the spline. He cut it back, opened it up and clamped it. He also fitted a bump stop.

He clearly spent a lot of time on it, and did a proper job. He's been paid in full and thanked warmly.

[Ethel]

That doesn't sound so clever now,cutting the column back isn't sensible as it's located by the pinch bolt in the groove on the shaft of the rack and it'd lead to a string of compromised adjustments if you did get it to sit further down. A new inner column was really needed. Unless you mean he took a bit of metal off the faces of the clamp so it nips up tighter on the rack? Reckon you could do that, with a Dremel, without dismantling anything.

[tiger99]

I am seriously concerned about this, as steering column spline failure is one of the two main potential causes of catastrophe in a Mini, the other being fractured ball joints. Cutting back the column is NOT an approved repair procedure. Your car is unsafe.

I would not drive it, but instead make him do the job properly by fitting a new column, at his expense, or else report it to Trading Standards.

[Mrpeanut]

Ethel and tiger, they are worrying comments. The garage is well established, has a cracking reputation and does mot's. They know and love minis.

I find it surprising that they would send me out with dangerous steering.

Does anyone else have any thoughts about this repair?

[Beej123]

If it's not replacing bushes on the column or gaitors on the rack then as a rule it's a replacement job. I can't think of anything that could be 'cut' which wouldn't compromise the safety of the column or rack. We would certainly never do it ourselves. Just imagine turning into a corner and finding the wheels don't turn. Get it checked by another garage ASAP or ask the guy who did it to explain in full what he did.

[Mrpeanut]

The explanation he gives is that the column was "opened up and clamped".

Naturally I'm worried. He considers this to be an acceptable repair and the car would pass the mot.

I will speak with him again.

[mini-luke]

He considers this to be an acceptable repair and the car would pass the mot.

That doesn't really mean a lot as they wouldn't be able to see what had been done during an MOT.