Garage rip-offs

[lowdrag]

This is but a small thing, but for the fourth time the rear wiper failed on my old W202 estate. The dealers sucked their teeth, spoke of motors failing, wires breaking at the join at the top due to flexing, the relay having failed etc. So I took the cover off myself and all that had happened was that the relay had fallen off. 10 minutes to take the cover off, put the relay back, and put the cover back on.

Now I am sure you have far better tales of "estimates" to repair which in the end was a pretty simple problem. Let be hearing the horror stories!

[matc]

How do you know they won't have done exactly what you did though? I would suggest they were just giving you some options as to what it could be, but without taking the thing apart, as you did, how would they know what the issue is?

[NJS25]

Not Merc, but a friend was having problems with remote central locking on a Ford Focus.

He spoke to Ford who asked them to 'bring it in' they would take a look at his cost, but probably a new key at £80 + software, on top of any labour.

I did a quick google which highlighted a well known fault on the Focus, when a static build up on RC controller in the drivers footwell stops it working. Simply unplug the connector and leave for 10 mins, reconnect and problem is solved. I asked for the key and invited my friends to stay for lunch, when they had finished the car was miraculously fixed at no cost.

Who said there is no such thing as a free lunch!

Funnily enough, the dealer had never mentioned this known fault and would have been happy to charge £100+ for nothing.

Regards, Neil

[leyorkie]

My daily drive had problems with cruise control, dealer diagnosed faulty switch -replacement £147.
Searching on the owners forum, known problem. Remove switch clean contacts with cotton bud and all now OK 30 mins max.

We are all suffering because of the replacement culture that exsists in main dealerships.
"Fix it with a new one" and we end up paying for it.