Am I being unreasonable?
Discussion
I was poking around under the bonnet of my 1999 Griff at the weekend, as you do, when I realised that the air intake box was not connected to the air filter or the front of the car - it was just rattling around in the nose cone. In addition, the air 'hose' that runs up to the airbox on the engine was not attached to the air intake - the end was just stuffed into the nose cone too. The effect is the engine has been drawing in unfiltered air.
I only got the car at the beginning of April, from a main dealer who (after a few 'issues') serviced it. I will need to check if the service was one which involved an air filter change - but the filter looks new.
After messing about for about an hour trying to put it all back the way it should be, I gave up. I can't get the hose onto the air intake outlet to tighten up the jubilee clip. I think the intake assembly needs to come out of the nosecone to do this properly, but there isn't enough clearance between the bodywork and the radiator/fans. And although I can get the intake assembly roughly in position over the filter, I can't secure it properly. It's better than it was, but not right.
This lot has not just worked loose - there is a bolt which has a small 'L' bracket on it which looks like it is supposed to secure the air-intake - it was undone but very stiff in the thread - it's not undone itself - it needed a spanner to move it. Someone has undone it in the past and not replaced it properly.
Regardless of whether the dealer changed the filter or not I think they should have spotted this and dealt with it. I don't see how you could miss it - I suspect the mechanic just couldn't be bothered to put it right as its so fiddly.
I don't think its acceptable and I intend taking it up with the dealer. Am I expecting too much for them to have sorted this?
P.S - Is there an easy way to sort this out that I am missing?
I only got the car at the beginning of April, from a main dealer who (after a few 'issues') serviced it. I will need to check if the service was one which involved an air filter change - but the filter looks new.
After messing about for about an hour trying to put it all back the way it should be, I gave up. I can't get the hose onto the air intake outlet to tighten up the jubilee clip. I think the intake assembly needs to come out of the nosecone to do this properly, but there isn't enough clearance between the bodywork and the radiator/fans. And although I can get the intake assembly roughly in position over the filter, I can't secure it properly. It's better than it was, but not right.
This lot has not just worked loose - there is a bolt which has a small 'L' bracket on it which looks like it is supposed to secure the air-intake - it was undone but very stiff in the thread - it's not undone itself - it needed a spanner to move it. Someone has undone it in the past and not replaced it properly.
Regardless of whether the dealer changed the filter or not I think they should have spotted this and dealt with it. I don't see how you could miss it - I suspect the mechanic just couldn't be bothered to put it right as its so fiddly.
I don't think its acceptable and I intend taking it up with the dealer. Am I expecting too much for them to have sorted this?
P.S - Is there an easy way to sort this out that I am missing?
No (you're not being unreasonable) but I expect you have lost any confidence in this dealer.
Bits fall off from time to time (well they have on mine) I just feel good about the fact that the Garage I go to will sort it out and always wants to go 110% of the way. If you're only getting "90% service, leaving a sour taste feeling, are they ripping me off" type thoughts then you're just being human.
Time for another dealer? Anyway, good luck in sorting them out (and the Griff)!
Bits fall off from time to time (well they have on mine) I just feel good about the fact that the Garage I go to will sort it out and always wants to go 110% of the way. If you're only getting "90% service, leaving a sour taste feeling, are they ripping me off" type thoughts then you're just being human.
Time for another dealer? Anyway, good luck in sorting them out (and the Griff)!
No!
I think it is quite reasonable to expect a car to be put back together after a service!
The problem with dealers, and this remark is general, in my experience, and not restricted to TVR, is that there is always going to be a percentage of staff who quite frankly do not give a toss. High prices are charged for the peace of mind of using the service providers supported by the manufacturer. But if a mechanic on the shop floor does a crap job, is anyone monitoring his work?
It seems that they have a service schedule which they follow, but sometimes ignore the bleeding obvious, because it is not on the list of things to check, and they are working to a strict time schedule. The other thing is if there is a problem, it is NEVER their fault. I once had my Griff serviced by a main dealer who is no longer with us. They did a good job, and the car was returned in excellent condition BUT when I drove it into town, having had it delivered to my house on a transporter, I could not lock it. I drove straight home and phoned the dealer. They were helpful to a point, but would not conceed that it even MIGHT be something they had done, even though they had had the car for 2 weeks and the locks were fine before then. It is that atitude that puts me off some dealers!
I have had the same sort of problems with my every day car, a Saab. A water leak was diagnosed as being a result of an "over tightened drain cap " on the radiator. When I pointed out that they were the only ones who had serviced it in 4 years, and they must therefore have over tightened it (I did not even know that this cap existed) They said that they would never drain the rad via the drain cap in case such a thing happened!
I have now found a excellent independent guy, Adrian Venn at Exactly TVR in Coventry, having used main dealers for 4 years. His service is way beyond the call of duty and he is genuinely interested in making sure you get the best from your car. He is a genuine TVR fanatic and when I leave the car with him, I know he will not just follow a service list, but thoroughly check the car over sort any niggles and report on any improvements that can be made. On top of it all, he is extremely reasonably priced! (Incidentally, the original recommendation was through this site) So after many years of sticking to the main dealers believeing they are best, I am now a convert. Find a guy to look after you car who is an enthusiat, not just doing a job. This is not an attempt at dealer bashing by the way, I have never had any really bad experiences, but it seems to be the little guys who go the exra mile for you.
Jon H
I think it is quite reasonable to expect a car to be put back together after a service!
The problem with dealers, and this remark is general, in my experience, and not restricted to TVR, is that there is always going to be a percentage of staff who quite frankly do not give a toss. High prices are charged for the peace of mind of using the service providers supported by the manufacturer. But if a mechanic on the shop floor does a crap job, is anyone monitoring his work?
It seems that they have a service schedule which they follow, but sometimes ignore the bleeding obvious, because it is not on the list of things to check, and they are working to a strict time schedule. The other thing is if there is a problem, it is NEVER their fault. I once had my Griff serviced by a main dealer who is no longer with us. They did a good job, and the car was returned in excellent condition BUT when I drove it into town, having had it delivered to my house on a transporter, I could not lock it. I drove straight home and phoned the dealer. They were helpful to a point, but would not conceed that it even MIGHT be something they had done, even though they had had the car for 2 weeks and the locks were fine before then. It is that atitude that puts me off some dealers!
I have had the same sort of problems with my every day car, a Saab. A water leak was diagnosed as being a result of an "over tightened drain cap " on the radiator. When I pointed out that they were the only ones who had serviced it in 4 years, and they must therefore have over tightened it (I did not even know that this cap existed) They said that they would never drain the rad via the drain cap in case such a thing happened!
I have now found a excellent independent guy, Adrian Venn at Exactly TVR in Coventry, having used main dealers for 4 years. His service is way beyond the call of duty and he is genuinely interested in making sure you get the best from your car. He is a genuine TVR fanatic and when I leave the car with him, I know he will not just follow a service list, but thoroughly check the car over sort any niggles and report on any improvements that can be made. On top of it all, he is extremely reasonably priced! (Incidentally, the original recommendation was through this site) So after many years of sticking to the main dealers believeing they are best, I am now a convert. Find a guy to look after you car who is an enthusiat, not just doing a job. This is not an attempt at dealer bashing by the way, I have never had any really bad experiences, but it seems to be the little guys who go the exra mile for you.
Jon H
I would use an Independant if possible and under recommendation. Dealers are pricey and these 'problems' seem to occur too often, an Independant will most likely be an enthusiast and more acutely aware of how his customer relations can affect his balance sheet. Check that your Warranty is transferrable as well
On this subject the air-filter on the Griffith is rather stuffed up in the nose and inaccessable, as Griff2B says it is not immediatly obvious how you get it out. On mine I am not sure it has ever been cleaned although Iam sure it gets filthy there pretty quickly so what is the routine service requirement for the filter as prescribed in the service proceedure? Rich...
'Am I expecting too much for them to have sorted this?'
No, they are either *competent* or they are not, and this case they were not. However, don't be so quick to dump them - if you make your displeasure known and tell them you'll be checking up next time, they will (hopefully) give your car more attention than usual.
My uncle had a Rover and shortly after it came back from a service, it packed up. Reason - the battery terminal had not been tightened up. By the time he'd finished bollocking the dealer, they came out, collected the car, took it away, fixed the problem, checked everything again and returned it even shinier. Great. But it shouldn't have had to happen.
Why are so many business so crap - or am I just getting old?
No, they are either *competent* or they are not, and this case they were not. However, don't be so quick to dump them - if you make your displeasure known and tell them you'll be checking up next time, they will (hopefully) give your car more attention than usual.
My uncle had a Rover and shortly after it came back from a service, it packed up. Reason - the battery terminal had not been tightened up. By the time he'd finished bollocking the dealer, they came out, collected the car, took it away, fixed the problem, checked everything again and returned it even shinier. Great. But it shouldn't have had to happen.
Why are so many business so crap - or am I just getting old?
Problem I have is getting the damn thing back on securely - it doesn't want to stay put. The 'L' bracket has an extra couple of holes in it - perhaps I have something missing?
As for getting the pipe/hose back on - there just isn't enough room and I don't have enough hands to get it on fully!
The dealer - well, I won't be going back as even before this they they proved themselves to be less than competent. This is the bunch that stamped the service book but didn't service the car, fitted the wrong tyres, didn't pick up all the faults during the service when they eventually did it, delivered it back very late, forgot to fill the car with fuel, forgot to supply a roof bag, failed to respond to my letter complaining about all of the above, claimed to have resolved all issues with me when their parent company customer services person contacted them.... blah blah...
I have asked for something by way of compensation for all the inconvenience I have suffered, in addition to them paying my invoices from my local independent to get it all put right. They agreed to the latter and I am waiting to hear on the former. If they do the decent thing I will let you know - its not fair to just post their failings - if they properly sort things out it at least shows they care.
As for getting the pipe/hose back on - there just isn't enough room and I don't have enough hands to get it on fully!
The dealer - well, I won't be going back as even before this they they proved themselves to be less than competent. This is the bunch that stamped the service book but didn't service the car, fitted the wrong tyres, didn't pick up all the faults during the service when they eventually did it, delivered it back very late, forgot to fill the car with fuel, forgot to supply a roof bag, failed to respond to my letter complaining about all of the above, claimed to have resolved all issues with me when their parent company customer services person contacted them.... blah blah...
I have asked for something by way of compensation for all the inconvenience I have suffered, in addition to them paying my invoices from my local independent to get it all put right. They agreed to the latter and I am waiting to hear on the former. If they do the decent thing I will let you know - its not fair to just post their failings - if they properly sort things out it at least shows they care.
To be honest, I wouldn't waste the time going back to this dealer. For an independent it'll be a short job to fix your problem – just the sort of job to try an independent out on really – if you let them know you'll maybe be servicing it with them in the future they *may* go that extra little bit further for you.
All you've got to do if you decide to go down that route is pick the independent ...
Other than the air box problem are you enjoying the car ... ?
All you've got to do if you decide to go down that route is pick the independent ...
Other than the air box problem are you enjoying the car ... ?
The car will be off to Thames Valley Racetech when I have time - to have the faulty alarm and duff airbox assembly sorted out. Then I'll be sending the bills to the supplying dealer, to join the £489 worth that I have already sent them for things which they had missed during the service, plus 2 new tyres of the correct spec.
Apart from the supplying dealer aspect - yes, I'm really enjoying the car. I had a day off yesterday - managed to do a full Zymolling by 10.30 am and then off to Windsor for the horse show. I'm biased, but I thought the Griff looked rather good between all those Range Rovers. Especially with a fresh coat of Zymol on the dark blue metallic paint! As a bonus the field for parking was like a lawn, so I managed to keep the lip spoiler attached to the car.
And a lovely day for a topless blat!
Apart from the supplying dealer aspect - yes, I'm really enjoying the car. I had a day off yesterday - managed to do a full Zymolling by 10.30 am and then off to Windsor for the horse show. I'm biased, but I thought the Griff looked rather good between all those Range Rovers. Especially with a fresh coat of Zymol on the dark blue metallic paint! As a bonus the field for parking was like a lawn, so I managed to keep the lip spoiler attached to the car.
And a lovely day for a topless blat!
That was me JSG - thanks for stopping and asking if we were ok - I had just stopped to answer the phone.
Glorious TVR weather - shame its supposed to break for the weekend!
We were threatening a small Crays Pond/Goring Heath/Peppard TVR beer meeting a while ago with EdT - perhaps we should have another go at organising something?
>> Edited by Griff2be on Friday 17th May 12:07
Glorious TVR weather - shame its supposed to break for the weekend!
We were threatening a small Crays Pond/Goring Heath/Peppard TVR beer meeting a while ago with EdT - perhaps we should have another go at organising something?
>> Edited by Griff2be on Friday 17th May 12:07
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