W/S Bad Exp. 6mth Suspension Changed Twice

[MrWeiwei]

Abt 6mth ago, sent my 6plus yo car to a w/s in Sin Ming to check sound coming from undercarriage.

 

Was told need to leave car in w/s to do thru check.

 

Before i left, told them to let me know what need to be done and cost so i can decide as dont want to

spent much in an old car.

 

After 2 days, w/s told me car ok ready for collection.

 

Was a bit surprised and put off cos they never told me what they did before going ahead.

 

Got a big bill when collected car...replaced one pair front suspensions, front brake pads, amoung other

small items.

 

I asked why so ex and was told original parts so not cheap.

 

Anyway did not argue cos told myself will not come back to this place again.

 

What was shocking was while driving home, the exact same sound was still there!

Wonder they actually check or not?

 

Call them and was told to bring car back. Left it there another day.

 

When i collect car next day asked why they didnt check properly and what they did this time round.

Was told they replace 2 rubber bushes. They didnt charge me this time as i express disappoint after

just paid so much.

 

So the actual problem was the rubber bushes then why change brake pads, suspensions, linkage, etc?

 

On my way home again heard some noise but this time soft squicking noise coming from my left front side.

 

Not the same before which was 'clock clock'.

 

Drove back to w/s again and after checking told me its the left drive shaft problem. was told can still drive till both sides

problem then change together.

 

Trusted them but its my mistake. After 3 mth the squicky sound get louder and louder. Was busy so just keep driving

till abt 6mth later the sound was getting seriously loud.

 

Fearing that the drive shaft may cause more problems and even danger, went to a drive shaft specialist w/s to check.

 

Was surprised when told the drive shaft was not the cos of the noise but the left suspension!

 

was shown oil already leaking out from the left suspension.

 

Went back to the first w/s who replaced the suspensions and was told will settle it for me.

 

Another big disappointment when i was given a big bill for replace the suspensions again.

 

Expressed my disappointment and after reasoning they asked me to pay the 2 new suspensions price.

 

Paid and will never engage them again hoping no further problem from their shoddy works again after this.

 

My qns ...

 

1) Why consumer has to pay for wrong diagnosis?... replacement of unnecessary parts like brake pads, suspensions,

linkage, etc. Is this a way to inflate repair cost since they cannot charge much for a simple repair?

 

2) They said cannot claim from supplier for the faulty suspension. I can understand since its been so long. But they

were the one who make not one but two wrong diagnosis saying it was the draft shaft after all. So how can consumer bear

all the responsibility? They are the expert and I trusted them.

 

3) If w/s replace a part and the part breaks down almost immediately. Shd consumer blame on his bad luck and bears

all the cost for another replacement since no warranty for spare parts?

 

4) How will u react when w/s cannot follow simple instructions eg let you know the costs or parts required before proceeding?

Do you think they hv no intention to inform you since its not to their advantage if they do? Or is this a common practice in the car repair industries?

 

5) Is it right that for this case, they need to change 2 front suspensions again instead of only the left? They just said

that cos the suspension always come in a pair so got to replace both at the same time?

 

6) In the above instance, is it fair that i bear the part costs and workshop absorb the labour cost for the 2nd replacement of suspension?

 

I treat this as a lesson. But what would u do if u were me? I think i need to bear some responsiblities as well. But

anything one can do to prevent this?

 

I was wondering how much did you pay for this 'lesson'?

[Maldini03]

Bro, who recommend you to this W/S? Seem quite ulu. HAha

[Vega]

Which brand of cars do they specialise on?

[Darkseed73]

For checking I prefer to go AD, then they quote me what is the problem and what need to replace then i decide which workshop I wanna go.

 

I thinking paying a small fee for check-up by reputed or AD give me a better peace of mind in long run.

 

Just like I don't repair air-con or computers - usually if it's dead I just dump it.

 

Cars since my life depends on it, shouldn't save money.

 

I would take public if the car becomes a trouble.

[Luckcent]

Even the name of the ws dont sound like one.

[Rogersk8ter]

I was wondering how much did you pay for this 'lesson'?

 

 

Bro, its not how much but what happened and the way they treated their clients.

 

Not to mentioned the time and distress.

 

Parts alone cost me almost $900.

 

The annoying thing is after going one big round, the repair cost is only a fraction if the diagnosis

was right the first time.

 

The real cause of the noise was the rubber bushes which can be gotten for less than $100.

 

Why replace my brake pads, suspensions, linkage, etc. and ended replacing the suspension again

all within short peroid?

 

Even after the first diagnosis and they not sure, at least let me know and check if i want to take a risk to

replace all these parts. But no, they simply went ahead. So i tot they must be very confident thats why.

 

What a mistake! the problem was right there the moment i drove out of the work shop.

 

Then when u got back to them they denial its the problem from the parts replace but some other problems.

 

How bad can it get?

 

[Mcf777]

not only W/S make mistake. AGENT also make mistake.

 

i went to 3rd party WS about some noise when going thru uneven road or hump.

they changed shock absorber rubber (about S$400. kana chop when i found out the actual cost from stockist)

noise still remain after collecting car.

 

sent directly to AGENT. told me noise come from lower arms and dont know what drive shaft (about S$1000).

Noise still remain after ccollecting the car.

 

Make another appt and re-sent to AGENT.

This time told me steering gear problem. Must change the whole set.

must wait 2-3weeks for stock to arrive (about S$2500).

 

now waiting patiently for my new toy to arrive.

Edited November 22, 2011 by Mcf777

[Zze121]

One thing good about forum is for newbie to learn and get poison.

To TS, next time wanna fix any problem come in here and ask all the lao jiao here, u will get yr problem fit with the best deal .

Dun look back liao, just treat that u paid for a lesson, least u learn something.

My colleague was once a newbie with a stock stock car till I intro him to online forum, now he is more pro then me liao, while I just surf to kill time

[MrWeiwei]

Bro, its not how much but what happened and the way they treated their clients.

 

Not to mentioned the time and distress.

 

Parts alone cost me almost $900.

 

The annoying thing is after going one big round, the repair cost is only a fraction if the diagnosis

was right the first time.

 

The real cause of the noise was the rubber bushes which can be gotten for less than $100.

 

Why replace my brake pads, suspensions, linkage, etc. and ended replacing the suspension again

all within short peroid?

 

Even after the first diagnosis and they not sure, at least let me know and check if i want to take a risk to

replace all these parts. But no, they simply went ahead. So i tot they must be very confident thats why.

 

What a mistake! the problem was right there the moment i drove out of the work shop.

 

Then when u got back to them they denial its the problem from the parts replace but some other problems.

 

How bad can it get?

 

Yea bro, can understand how u felt. Money is one thing, but the time and effort to solve your noise issue is simply frustrating.

Blame on the poor judgement and management of the WS.

[Rosschang]

TS can PM me the name of the workshop?

 

just to make sure I avoid it.

[Rogersk8ter]

One thing good about forum is for newbie to learn and get poison.

To TS, next time wanna fix any problem come in here and ask all the lao jiao here, u will get yr problem fit with the best deal .

Dun look back liao, just treat that u paid for a lesson, least u learn something.

My colleague was once a newbie with a stock stock car till I intro him to online forum, now he is more pro then me liao, while I just surf to kill time

 

 

Bro, u are so right. im not vindictive. just wanna share this so we all can gang up to tackle such unprofessional

w/s.

 

Must say i learn alot here just by sharing this incident. tks...

[Caravan]

What is your agent?

[Rogersk8ter]

not only W/S make mistake. AGENT also make mistake.

 

i went to 3rd party WS about some noise when going thru uneven road or hump.

they changed shock absorber rubber (about S$400. kana chop when i found out the actual cost from stockist)

noise still remain after collecting car.

 

sent directly to AGENT. told me noise come from lower arms and dont know what drive shaft (about S$1000).

Noise still remain after ccollecting the car.

 

Make another appt and re-sent to AGENT.

This time told me steering gear problem. Must change the whole set.

must wait 2-3weeks for stock to arrive (about S$2500).

 

now waiting patiently for my new toy to arrive.

 

 

Yes, bro. all these mistakes...wrong diagnosis....who shd bear?

 

Imagine a w/s replacing all irrelavent parts and works and u pay for it!

 

Is like a trial and error. How can we consumers accept this?

 

Are we unreasonable to ask them to fix back all the parts and not pay a single cent? I just cant do such things loh.

 

 

 

 

[Rogersk8ter]

TS can PM me the name of the workshop?

 

just to make sure I avoid it.

 

 

Its mentioned in this post...Teck Kee

[Calvin79]

I always stay in the workshop if i were to repair something... even to the extent of taking leave.... this is to ensure that they do a good job and at the same time, i could learn something during the process...

 

Agree on this... when i started using a new WS, i spent 6 hours there when he was doing the repair...

use this 6 hours to build up a bit of rapport as well.

i always tell my Mech and the boss... u want to earn abit more is ok...

but make sure i dun always need to come back for unnecessary stuffs...

 

[Calvin79]

Bro, its not how much but what happened and the way they treated their clients.

 

Not to mentioned the time and distress.

 

Parts alone cost me almost $900.

 

The annoying thing is after going one big round, the repair cost is only a fraction if the diagnosis

was right the first time.

 

The real cause of the noise was the rubber bushes which can be gotten for less than $100.

 

Why replace my brake pads, suspensions, linkage, etc. and ended replacing the suspension again

all within short peroid?

 

Even after the first diagnosis and they not sure, at least let me know and check if i want to take a risk to

replace all these parts. But no, they simply went ahead. So i tot they must be very confident thats why.

 

What a mistake! the problem was right there the moment i drove out of the work shop.

 

Then when u got back to them they denial its the problem from the parts replace but some other problems.

 

How bad can it get?

 

Honestly i sympathise with you...

agree that once they already change everything its hard for you to argue...

Most WS are waiting for customers like you...

one deal and can cover for 3 days...

 

thats y when dealing with them must adapt and behave like them...

hahaha

but honestly in the first place, you should not have left your ride there...

this is the clear sign for them to sharpen their knives...

[Ahrex]

For checking I prefer to go AD, then they quote me what is the problem and what need to replace then i decide which workshop I wanna go.

 

I thinking paying a small fee for check-up by reputed or AD give me a better peace of mind in long run.

 

Just like I don't repair air-con or computers - usually if it's dead I just dump it.

 

Cars since my life depends on it, shouldn't save money.

 

I would take public if the car becomes a trouble.

 

how much would it cost to send to AD to diagnose? dun need to repair with them right?

[Subutai]

WS name please... tks.