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Oct 26, 2006 13:03:38 GMT
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OK, in brief ...
My friend here has a 2002 Clio with 42,500 miles on the clock that has gone in for a simple oil change type service today.
The garage (Renauly delaership) has called saying the car needs the following
1. The coolant needs changing because it is "basically water" and it'll cost her £70
2. The head gasket needs changing as there is "coolant all down the back of the engine" and that'll be another £800.
Now, the car hasn't been overheating, there's no mayo in the oil filler and it hasn't been pinking.
I haven't seen the engine yet as there was no need before and obviously it's at the garage now so I can't confirm or deny any of their descriptions.
What are your thoughts?
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qwerty
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 2,417
Club RR Member Number: 52
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Help needed for lass .... qwerty
@qwerty
Club Retro Rides Member 52
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Oct 26, 2006 13:05:49 GMT
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Hmmm Seems a bit fishy to me but i'm always cynical when it comes to garages.
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phatphord
Part of things
Scorpilow
Posts: 674
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Oct 26, 2006 13:07:06 GMT
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pull the car out, they can't stop you doing that. settle up for any work done to date. Have a look yourself..steam out the exhaust is usually a giveaway. if there's fluid in the rad/header then how can the car have used it?
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1994 Ford Scorpio Lowrider
um...and some bikes...
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Oct 26, 2006 13:08:07 GMT
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OK, in brief ... My friend here has a 2002 Clio with 42,500 miles on the clock that has gone in for a simple oil change type service today. The garage (Renauly delaership) has called saying the car needs the following 1. The coolant needs changing because it is "basically water" and it'll cost her £70 2. The head gasket needs changing as there is "coolant all down the back of the engine" and that'll be another £800. Now, the car hasn't been overheating, there's no mayo in the oil filler and it hasn't been pinking. I haven't seen the engine yet as there was no need before and obviously it's at the garage now so I can't confirm or deny any of their descriptions. What are your thoughts? Demand to see a compression test (while a disinterested party bears witness) before the gasket it done.. Surely water down the engine would have evaporated, unless it's recent... and it it's leaking, why the hell was there any "coolant" in the system at all? |
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The lurker formerly known as Cappuccinocruiser.. or wedgedout..
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Oct 26, 2006 13:08:24 GMT
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yeah me too. If it was running OK, take it to another garage for a second opinion. If the coolant needs changing, thats a DIY job for which no tools are required and it will cost about £10 for new coolant - not £70, unless they are charging £100/hour for labour.
Sounds like Bo11ocks to me.
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1972 Fiat 130 1985 Talbot Alpine 1974 Lancia Beta Saloon 1975 + 1986 Mazda 929 Koop + Wagon 1982 Fiat Argenta 2.0 iniezione elettronica 1977 Toyota Carina TA14 BEST CAR EVER!!!!!!!! 1979 Datsun B310 Sunny 4-dr 1984 Audi 200 Quattro Turbo 1983 Honda Accord 1.6 DX GONE1989 Alfa 75 2.0 TS Mr T says: TREAT YO MOTHER RIGHT! |
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Oct 26, 2006 13:13:53 GMT
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i thought this was going to be a joke and you were going to say "sense of direction" or something like that!  ;D |
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Oct 26, 2006 13:21:29 GMT
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Haven't you got work to be doing? |
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Help needed for lass .... BenzBoy
@benzboy
Club Retro Rides Member 7
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Oct 26, 2006 13:21:42 GMT
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Sounds like they're trying to pull a fast one. No decent garage would diagnose a head gasket failure without doing a compression test. And £70 to replace coolant? That's ridiculous. Definitely get a 2nd opinion. As has been said, the coolant would have evaporated, and if the leak was really bad it wouldn't have made it to the garage in the first place, let alone had enough in the header tank for them to see that it's "basically water".... that is unless she's been topping it up every morning and diluting it. I can't stand stealerships like these, who try to pull the wool over peoples eyes. Bandits  |
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Oct 26, 2006 13:22:39 GMT
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Thanks guys, you've basically confirmed what I thought - but I just wanted to make sure my 'womanly brain' wasn't letting me down.
She hasn't topped up the coolant since last winter so I think it's safe to say that there's no leak there
She's now going to a mate's dad who is going to charge her £400 to skim the head and do the job ................
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Last Edit: Oct 26, 2006 13:23:44 GMT by Peaches
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Oct 26, 2006 13:24:26 GMT
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check that the head gasket has even gone first!
btw - yes i have work to do but I'm trying to stop a dog chewing a wall!
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Oct 26, 2006 13:26:44 GMT
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FOR SALE: One dog, only slightly used ......
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Help needed for lass .... BenzBoy
@benzboy
Club Retro Rides Member 7
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Oct 26, 2006 13:27:13 GMT
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Yeah I'd definitely get a compression test before getting any work done. That's how these people work though - they throw seeds of doubt in your mind and know that a lot of people will just go with what they say.
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Oct 26, 2006 13:29:47 GMT
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just because they thay the head gasket needs doin doesnt meen it knackered! Id say there talking curse word and some self confessed knob machanic thinks he knows what hes on about. Pull it out of there full stop as £70 to add coolant to a water system is a joke!  I wouldnt go back there ever again even for a service! |
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Oct 26, 2006 13:30:00 GMT
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FOR SALE: One dog, only slightly used ...... No ta. Unless you want mine in p-ex. Doesn't chew walls at least..... |
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Oct 26, 2006 13:33:22 GMT
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FOR SALE: One dog, only slightly used ...... I buy! (Sorry, had a Jason moment) |
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The lurker formerly known as Cappuccinocruiser.. or wedgedout..
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Oct 26, 2006 13:35:07 GMT
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I'll give you my dog and £50. Needs attention to brain.
Erm.... as for the clio, ^^^ what they said. Pull the car out of the garage and take it to another place. There are different symptoms for HGF depending on where its split (between bores, water channel to bore, water channel to outside etc) but they should have at least done a compression test.
Sounds like it could be leaking water channel to rear of block, in which case a compression test won't always pick up a fault though. Either way though, a 2nd opinion from a reputable independant garage will a)confirm or deny a fault and b) be cheaper!
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Never trust a man
Who names himself Trevor.
Or one day you might find
He's not a real drug dealer.
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Oct 26, 2006 13:42:55 GMT
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Once again thanks guys, you are legends  And as for the dog babes, I give you permission to feed him one of your chilis - that should give him something to worry about for the rest of the afternoon |
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Oct 26, 2006 13:50:51 GMT
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Main dealers and headgaskets.... ;D
My mate took his four year old Neon in for it's 80k service..."Needs a new headgasket mate". £1,000 odd spent.
Takes it in for it's 100k service a while later..."Needs a new headgasket mate". No, actually it was just a bit of dampness on the block caused by a dribble from a damaged windscreen washer pipe. £20 to fix. They hadn't even done a compression test the first time, and there was NO evidence of headgasket failure other than the dampness!
I see hundreds of peoples' car repair bills every year in my job, and you'd be astounded by how many stories like this I come across....
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My fleet:
Suzuki GSX-R600Y SRAD with bald, melted tyres
A borrowed Mondeo
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Oct 26, 2006 13:54:52 GMT
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I know, I'm a bit up in arms about the whole thing this time because my mum has just been done for a SECOND head gasket on an 02 Fabia because she is genetically conditioned to ignore everything I say. It's not her fault, she's from Gibraltar, women know nothing about cars where she comes from ... *waits for the obvious comebacks* |
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Oct 26, 2006 14:01:54 GMT
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i'd be tempted to ask for an itemised quote,listing parts and labour seperatley etc.if they are up to anything that should have them squirming in their nice corporate stealership chairs
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Last Edit: Oct 26, 2006 14:02:59 GMT by Imperial
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;D
I wouldnt go back there ever again even for a service! 
