Help with dealer quote.

[Audicab]

I don't know if this is the right place but thought you'd have the knowledge to be able to help. Sorry for the length of post as well.

Sister in law has a Mazda 5 that 9 months ago went into main dealer because of an oil leak. Gearbox out new crank rear main oil seal, clutch and 2 drive shaft seals as well as new clutch etc. £1200 bill.

Now oil leak is back and main dealer said would need to take gearbox out again and pay for new seals again etc but this might not be the problem. Cost £550

This is my first issue, it sounds expensive and surely it should be covered under their warranty. They didn't give any other option just have to take the gearbox out to do the investigation.

Whilst at the dealer they also said you have a brake fluid leak and it is so dangerous everybody will die if it is driven. They also said that it looks like there has been a leak for a long time due to corrosion caused from the brake fluid.

What they have recommended is

New Master Cylinder £550
New brake servo & pipes £755
New pipe from brake master cylinder to clutch master cylinder £100

She hasn't noticed any change in braking or a spongy brake pedal, my thoughts are that surely you would notice a brake leak, especially a long term one.

This seems incredibly expensive, Is this a main dealer up to their usual tricks and trying to up the repair work by adding things that aren't needed. I just can't see how a 5 year old car can have so much wrong with the brakes.

The final part is that it had a service on Monday and no issues with the brakes were discovered, the service wasn't with this dealer but it was them who discovered the oil leak.

I know it is just guess work but does anybody have any thoughts on the costs, work required or advice.

I have recommended she takes it to an Indie that I use, at least they give honest advice.

Thanks

[HumbleJim]

Audicab said:

I have recommended she takes it to an Indie that I use, at least they give honest advice.

Thanks

This is the sensible thing to do, I would be reluctant to send a 5 y/o car to a main dealer.

[PaulKemp]

Original leak not fixed dealer should fix at own cost
Brakes work and brake fluid in resovour at correct height then there is not a substantial leak
If there was any serious leak you would have found out at MOT brake test
As brakes are a critical safety system get a second opinion
If second opinion is very different to dealer then complain to relevant standards organisation
If you have AA or RAC they can do independent analysis for you
Does sound like a lot of money

[neiljohnson]

I think rear main oil seal failure is quite common on these i had one through my workshop that i done & had to do again 6 months later (was done foc under warranty as the dealer should do!) its not a great design & my local dealer keeps them on the shelf which means they sell a few!!

The dealer may be covering themselves in case it isn't the rear main leaking in which case they should be clear that if it is the rear main it will be done under warranty if not then you will have to pay to get it put right.

Brake fluid leak doesn't sound right & the amount of components they are wanting to replace is ridiculous!!! what have they said is actually leaking?? could it be the garage that done the service recently split some fluid when topping it up?

[Audicab]

Thanks for the reply's.

Well I went in to the dealership this morning to discuss the quotes and get them to show me the problems.

From the start they were quite defensive, not very helpful and said that is what they had found and that's the work that needed doing. They also didn't seem keen to show me the work that was needed.

I did get to go through the car with the senior technician, who wasn't the person that assessed it originally, it was obvious that it didn't need a new master cylinder or servo. The slight brake leak was down to a pipe that had come lose and would cost about £25 to replace.

How can these companies get away with it? it went from £1750 worth of urgent work for a very dangerous car, lying about being no brake fluid left in the car and it couldn't be driven off site safely and my sister in law being in tears because of the cost.

To 1/2 an hour of me being in their with limited mechanical knowledge and a new estimate of less than £50.

They also agreed that the leak is covered by warranty so would be no cost.

They are absolute thieves who should not be allowed to get away with this.

Has anybody else had experience of this and made any official complaints.

Thanks

[porscheman944]

I had a prolem with main renault dealer (Cheltenham) when purchased a used Clio, they are worse than a back steet garage,got there customer service involved but they were a total waste of time too,made me a good will offer but went back on there word, got a third party involved,got the parts sent to me & fitted myself.Just goes to show what a rip off they are.

[Old Merc]

Audicab said:

Thanks for the reply's

They are absolute thieves who should not be allowed to get away with this.

Has anybody else had experience of this and made any official complaints.

Thanks

If you want to make them suffer? a detailed letter to Mazda UK head office may do the trick.

[Hammer67]

Audicab said:

Thanks for the reply's.

Well I went in to the dealership this morning to discuss the quotes and get them to show me the problems.

From the start they were quite defensive, not very helpful and said that is what they had found and that's the work that needed doing. They also didn't seem keen to show me the work that was needed.

I did get to go through the car with the senior technician, who wasn't the person that assessed it originally, it was obvious that it didn't need a new master cylinder or servo. The slight brake leak was down to a pipe that had come lose and would cost about £25 to replace.

How can these companies get away with it? it went from £1750 worth of urgent work for a very dangerous car, lying about being no brake fluid left in the car and it couldn't be driven off site safely and my sister in law being in tears because of the cost.

To 1/2 an hour of me being in their with limited mechanical knowledge and a new estimate of less than £50.

They also agreed that the leak is covered by warranty so would be no cost.

They are absolute thieves who should not be allowed to get away with this.

Has anybody else had experience of this and made any official complaints.

Thanks

What I would do is send this post in letter form to the MD of the dealership and ask him if he would like you to also send it to the local press. Bad publicity locally is what dealerships fear most as they'll lose business in all departments.

(Based upon my recently ended 30 years in aftersales management at multi franchised dealerships).

[col68]

To fit the rear crank seal properly the sump has to come off.....when this isn't done it usually results in a secondary failure.