I'm just wondering if it costs to get their help. Even just advice, I'm out of work at the minute and mechanic is just sending my car back with more problems than what I sent it down with. Already gave him 500 pound and hes asking for more.

If you think they are messing you about before doing anything I would probably say to them you will contact trading standards. They might just get their act together. Trading standards as far as I know don't charge as it is a standard that all trading companies have to comply with and they investigate if a complaint is made, but I may be corrected.

Would suggest getting onto the CAB if you're seeking advice, it is free and there's plenty of info on their website; here may be a good place to start. Alternatively if you were to attain a meeting with an advisor they can give your further advice, point you in the right direction and even commence proceedings for you if they are required.

You can contact Trading Standards (they have an advice line) but it will charge you to call unfortunately. The online advice for Trading Standards doubles on the CAB website as they are related. I'd suggest you have a browse on the site, see if that helps you out with what you need to do and then make an appointment at your local branch if necessary or call to see what you can do next. Appointments aren't always immediate but the wait isn't that long (not at branches near me anyway).

First port of call would be to speak to the garage; present all info to them, say why you are having an issue with the service and make it clear that if something is not mutually sorted that you are prepared to go further with it. Often this will be enough to make people back down if they are in the wrong but it's best to be tooled up just in case.

Hope you can get something sorted (:

Thanks for the advice. I'm just worried that if I do mention this to the garage then they will not take me seriously and take the piss even more, by messing me around taking an age to fix my problem and keep making up excuses around me. I will have a look at that site though, I've booked in for Tuesday morning and ill probably say if the car doesnt come back to standard this time or he tries to charge me anymore then i will get trading standards involved..

i would first contact C.A.B http://www.citizensadvice.co.uk/ they will be able to advise you what to do next

If they have any fleck of common sense they'd take it seriously. It might just be that they don't know they are doing anything wrong (unlikely) and a chat might sort something out but best place to start really as confronting the issue head on may make them see differently, it also reflects better on you were further action to be taken as you gave them a chance rectify the wrong. Just be sure that you're prepared to take it further if you say you are.

Have you got a full list of what the crack is, eg what's been done and that for us to ponder over?

Eg visit 1 this happened at this cost etc?

I know about the clutch diagnosis over the phone but what else?

First visit I had the clutch and gearbox done.. he said he had tried to weld the exhaust but it was too close to the flexi pipe.. he said the gearbox they had sent was wrong and hd had to wait for a new one.. I could have my car over the weekend while it was being posted. I said I didnt want my car back still broken.. This visit took 1 week 4 days. Got it back on the Friday and instantly knew something wasnt right and was grinding into reverse and clutch felt slack, the exhaust was also blowing more than normal. He said he would do it Monday, so we went down Monday and he sorted the clutch and I asked about the blow. He was paid 460 at this point for all that and a service. He adjusted the clutch and said come back friday and ill fit the flexi pipe for you. During this point the clutch was fine, friday come and I left my car for 4 hours and when I got it back he charged me 30 extra pound. On driving home I could still hear a blowing in the exhaust but not as bad. I rang him and he replied with 'ill let you know when your servo pipe comes' (something else he said i need to helo my brakes) and totally averted the question about exhaust. On the Saturday the clutch felt very stiff again so I got my dad to ring him and he said bring it down tuesday, I woke up this morning and the clutch doesnt feel stiff anymore but theres a large banging sound coming from somewhere underneath the car. Its in on Tuesday but my car hasnt been right since I first took it too him. I'm getting so frustrated and aargung with everyone as I know there is nothing I can do and I'm embarrassed and feel like I'm being played like a mug.

So essentially he's had £490 to:

Do a service

Change a gearbox (for a used replacement I assume)

Replace the clutch

Break your exhaust

Break your brake servo vac hose

Sounds like poor workmanship, gearbox/clutch is likely adjustment related, and probably damaged the exhaust & servo pipe moving the engine around removing/fitting the box.

Have you seen your old box & clutch?

No I haven't seen my old parts and yes that is what I'm thinking... I had no problem with my servo pipe before it went in and now it has tape round it. And there was only a slight blow in the exhaust but its blowing just as loud as before it went down. I wish I could do something... this is why I want to know what my options are.. what could the bumping and banging be? If he tries to charge me more he can fuck off..

As Harris raving said. Make sure you see your old parts and its essential to look on here for your gearbox code if you don't know it make sure they don't show you any old gearbox. Have you got any pics of servo or anything before you took it just to back your self up with evidence if needed and if that blow is coming from the flexi pipe due to corrosion or it's been messed around with too much if you think that they are fobbing you off try and catch them out example ask them something about the replacement clutch gearbox try and catch them out on something be clever hehe :)

I dont have any old pictures of my servo.. and I'm hoping it all gets sorted by Tuesday. Or I'm 100% going to trading standards and ill be letting them know my story! Its just one guy in a backstreet garage and he knows my dad but that doesnt make a difference.. if it takes going through legal action then I will, can you see any way of this not being his fault and actually being genuine faults? My concern is that it drove fine then my gearbox went.. then since its been changed all these little niggly problems have started to happen.. it cant be that much of a coincidence? And how much would I look at paying for a servo? Ill do it myself... It doesnt look too difficult.

Something similar to this happened to me a while back... took a car into ATS for MOT, it failed on a windscreen crack, wheel bearing, needing some welding on the inlet manifold and it needed a handbrake caliper on the rear was sticking.

I took the car to a (what i thought was) reputable garage for the work to be carried out.

When I returned I was presented with a bill for £895 which was for:

Oil/Filter change

Spot of weld on manifold

New windscreen (was £60 under insurance)

New wheel bearing

Rebuilding on handbrake caliper

4 hours Labour

I thought, fuck me thats expensive.

Then I noticed that he had replaced a tyre without asking me, which I found even stranger when I remember that the car had passed at ATS (a fucking tyre place) on ALL tyres with good tread depth.

When I asked to see my old tyre he said it had already been disposed of (20 mins after he finished apparently).

Also the engine oil level was below the min marker.

Confronted the bloke (politely and calmly) who owned the place and basically got chased out of his garage by men with powertools...

In the end, it cost me another £220 because miraculously 2 weeks after getting the car back, BOTH handbrake calipers seized up completely and the only fix was to replace them!

Trading standards have since stopped his business trading and the guy is now due in court ahahah

As such I no longer trust anyone to work on my car apart from VW and myself. Most small garages seem to be run by scheming little bastards who would rob you at knife point as soon as look at you.

Even local garages with the trusted mechanic working there isn't safe, as theres no guarantee who will carry out the work, the experienced mechanic, or the disgruntled apprentice/trainee who probably couldn't give a flying fuck.

Vw are just as bad lol

I dunno, I think it's a shame, but it might not be all his fault..

The gearbox was replaced but you had to order another one because the one that was sent was the wrong one - this gives me the impression that he's put the RIGHT box in, and not just another 6n2 box in..

Clutch was adjusted but maybe not enough - if it's slack and grinds going into reverse, it sounds like it's not adjusted correctly. Bearing in mind these cars have a massive pedal box issue - has this been done?

Otherwise, it could be your pedal box failing and you're trying to blame the box on the issue.

Exhaust is annoying, get the flexi replaced (usually attached to the cat), get get underneath it with some paste and meh, try and sort it best you can.

Sounds like something is knocking, get underneath and have a look; you can't diagnose stuff like that on the internet. The servo pipes are common, they get really brittle over time and fail, it might've been nudged so now leaks.

Yes, it's his fault because he did it, but I don't think he's meant to.

So,

Replace the servo pipe (or bodge it together with hard fuel line or garden hose (which worked for me for over a year).

Check the knocking.

Check the pedal box for cracks (or if it's been replaced).

Weld the exhaust properly (it might now be blowing somewhere else..)

All in all, I'm not convinced it's all his fault..

Knocking may be the exhaust hitting the tunnel/brace due to being broken.

main dealers are probably worse than a lot of garages, they're that pushed for time and earning bonus so they actually get a decent wage short cuts have to be taken and work standards are often no good, obviously they're not all the same but still.

A lot of garages just mug people off who know no better, but some are also really good. It's hit and miss, places like quick fit etc are shit.

I find it hard to trust people to work on stuff I'm driving which can be difficult with my job, rather do it myself.

As said above good results can be had from using trading standards etc, women especially get ripped off left right and centre because as soon as a garage says "this is wrong and it's dangerous" they'll jus pay to have it done without thinking.

A motto of a lot of garages too is things such as "an oily rag always sells a damper"

Ie, smear some oil over it, must be leaking = replacement shocks sir lets have your money

Thanks for the good response, it goes down for a fourth time tomorrow and I'm not taking it back until its completely finished to a good standard. Ill use the trading standards against him if I must. And I'm not paying any more money towards it.. ill replace the servo myself, it seems easy enough to do. Ill post again once I know what is happening and you can give your opinions again. Thanks.

He sorted the knocking and welded a bit more of the exhaust.. ill probably need a new one soon but its finding a cheap one.. and i the problem was the wheel nuts were loose.. all of them. He said it wasnt his fault and someone must of tried to steal my wheels.. theres no proving otherwise but I'm not arsed aslong as its sorted..

It sounds like you need a new exhaust. Buy cheap, buy twice. There's no point in spending money on getting it welded, if it's blowing, you might as well just replace - they're cheap enough on the Polo..

Bear in mind that the brakes on the Polo were never as good as other cars, I found. Pedal needed a little more travel, so don't expect it to be solid..

If you want to learn about cars, these are perfect little jobs to get in amongst!

All nuts was loose? And all of the above you mentioned? Jesus where did you find him? A special school?

Edited 27 August, 201313 yr by Jake Ellis

With regards to your exhaust, I was thinking about Sugru... Get underneath, scrub rusted, holed section with wire brush, clean and dry. Apply Sugru in a circumferential manner and leave for 48 hours as it may be a little thicker than normal. Test.

http://sugru.com/gallery/temporarily-fix-your-car-exhaust

http://nomadism.eu/2013/06/27/fixing-the-bike-with-sugru/

I think you could do with a temporary breather for your wallet and this may just save lots of ailing 6n2 flexis for a while. Anyway, I put it out there to the audience. Anyone done this yet?

(Heat resistance is up to 180oC but I've found lots of examples of application on bike and car exhausts!)

PoloD.

Edited 27 August, 201313 yr by PoloD