have I been ripped off?

My Cabbie was juddering, particularily up hills or when pressing down the throttle more quickly. I took it to my local VW specialist in Bradford. I asked them if it was worth changing the Pierburg carb to a webber as that is what was at fault. They said people only change to a webber as they dont know how to set them up properly so I left the car with them. They ended up having the car for 6 weeks, saying they were waiting for a replacement carb amongst other things like ' the guy working on your cars gone on holiday' or 'hes not in today'. Anyway I needed the car back, and then they said the brake cylinder had just gone in their garage and that needed doing. I collected the car today. The bill was over £200. On the drive, the car is exactly how it was when I dropped it off! For that kind of money I could have bought a webber carb and fitted it myself. It still judders on fast throttle and on hills. I also found the gear stick had a noticibly easier shift change. Before it was a little stiffer. Why would this be when they didnt have to do any work there? I found an old testomonial on the garage. It said ' Do not take your car here! They take off parts from your car' 

Hi there personally I would go back and ask them exactly what they have done then take one of them for a drive and show them that it is no better than before. The end of the day you have paid for a service and have not received it, and they surely must guarantee there work. Best of luck mate.
Martin.

I would have gone in the following week myself!

Is there any note of work undertaken on a reciept or anything?

Most importantly, can you spot any missing parts at all? Have a good snoop around and double check things, personall things too inside the car.

If you feel/find out theyve dne nothing id be speaking to trading standards, it seems like all 'VW specialists' are rip off merchants and just try it on.

I'd go back and have it out with them.
Polite but very, very firm!  

Did you take a note of the mileage on the car when you dropped it off?

Hi Mate

I'm based in Leeds and work in the motor trade, don't get me wrong I'm no tech but if you wanted to call over at mine at some point I can have a look over the car and tell you if anything has been changed.

I know Leeds would be a bit further but I used IVC the other day for a starting fault and even though it wasn't fixed they were very good and very professional.

I would recommend them highly.

Good Luck Ad

Thanks everyone for your posts. I have not found anything missing so far. I will hopefully let slammed88 have a look at it. Would be interesting to see if a wheel cylinder has been replaced. Also, why do mechanics never give you the receipts for the parts bought? They right the cost of the parts on the invoice but never give the receipts ( even copies) I am a builder and the only time I do not give material receipts is when I have priced for the complete job and do not need to tell the customer what the materials cost. If a part became faulty I would have no way of returning it.

probably cos they get it at good trade and charge you RRP, then with no reciepts fr parts, you go back to him to sort it out  

Yep they've ripped you off. It's not commercially viable to work on the pooburg carbs and that's the reason garages swap them out for a weber. I suspect this garage have just found this out and given you the car back hoping the placebo effect will keep you happy.

It takes a couple of minutes to see if the rear wheel cylinder has been changed, you don't even have to jack the car up or take the wheel off, if you pop your head under the car at the back you should be able to see the back of the wheel hub and spot a new cylinder and bleed nipple as they stick out from the back.

The more worrying thing is that if you can see brake fluid coming out of the brake drum then fluid has gone all over your brake shoes and unless they are brand new you might be able to clean them but it's always best to replace them for new as they are not that expensive and brakes are important.

Pagid brake shoes for £14.34…. Why take the risk on re-using the old ones…

http://www.eurocarparts.com/ecp/c/Volkswagen_Golf+Cabriolet_1.8_1988/p/car-parts/brakes/brake-friction/brake-shoes/?102440088&1&d51b3dcc367ac8b125b208164a37dc7a615e5137&000043

 

mark1gls said

It takes a couple of minutes to see if the rear wheel cylinder has been changed, you don't even have to jack the car up or take the wheel off, if you pop your head under the car at the back you should be able to see the back of the wheel hub and spot a new cylinder and bleed nipple as they stick out from the back.

The more worrying thing is that if you can see brake fluid coming out of the brake drum then fluid has gone all over your brake shoes and unless they are brand

new you might be able to clean them but it's always best to replace them for new as they are not that expensive and brakes are important.

Pagid brake shoes for £14.34…. Why take the risk on re-using the old ones…







http://www.eurocarparts.com/ecp/c/Volkswagen_Golf+Cabriolet_1.8_1988/p/car-parts/brakes/brake-friction/brake-shoes/?102440088&1&d51b3dcc367ac8b125b208164a37dc7a615e5137&000043

 

Thanks mark. I will have a close look. I would hope there was no brake oil on the pads when it left the garage!

I'm free this weekend if you wanna nip over and we can check the car over ?? 

thanks mate. Will try ang get over on Saturday

Ref the receipts you mention, you would only get copies if anything as they'd need originals for their accounts. That said, they'll most likely have a trade account with someone and pay monthly, so wont have full receipts with each delivery.