Vauxhall service Photo's - The Verdict is out.

Well at least they did go to the trouble of stripping the engine down, just in case any damage had been done.

I suppose a lot of garages on realising their mistake, would have refitted the belt correctly, and if everything then appeared to be working OK, would have taken a gamble and just left it at that.

More than satisfactory outcome IMO, and i hope you told them so!

Tom

I'm so pleased to hear of the satisfactory outcome to your problem and I'm happy to hear that that you're going to take the matter further with Vauxhall. The most worrying thing is that had you been less knowledgeable, the dealer could have got away scot-free with this outrage.

One of my experiences with a main dealer was that they overtightened a spark plug, and I didn't dare to try removing it, especially in an alloy head. After approaching the dealer at first in writing, with evidence that they had carried the last service, they gave me a courtesy car and sorted the problem for free.

The point is that none of these problems should not occur with proper training, although job-satisfaction is also an issue. If a dealer is charging £100+ an hour and paying the 'mechanics' £7, what can you expect? In over 45 years of self-servicing my cars, I never had any major problems. It was only since I started paying for service that my problems started. My Nissan is eight years old and running well and I'm going back to self-servicing to make sure it lasts another few years.

Terry D

knowledgeable,

Yes, none of these problems should occur, but we live in the real world. Training at best can only minimise the number of c*ck-ups. The worlds best mechanic will from time to time c*ck the job up. Likewise with the best engine designer.

I totally reject the idea that mechanic will c*ck the job up purely because he / she is on low money. Mechanic, service technicians call them what you will are tradesmen, who do take a pride in their work. Yes I dare say they have an off day like everyone else.

I will say it again and again, there is no crime in making a mistake. The real crime, is not only up to the customer, telling lies in a deliberate attempt to deceive the customer. Having said that I have no way of knowing that mechanic did or did not tell is supervisor that he had cocked it up. So I can only stick to the facts and point at the dealer from the other side of the road.

Now I know people think just a whinger who is off his head, and some are treating this as a joke, but the fact of the matter is that decepetion by a garage is serious matter. In this instance it was only the timing that was out. But it could have been a totally different ending, had they made a mistake on the brakes and hidden the fact.

- Fatsod

Yes, I did. The Group After Sales Manager was extremely helping in finding out the facts and he took the flack for his subordinates on the chin like a man. Felt sorry for the guy really, but being the customer facing man at the top it comes with the territory.

- Fatsod

Sorry for the Typo.... must be the stress :-)

Yes, I did. The Group After Sales Manager was extremely HELPFULL in finding out the facts and he took the flack for his subordinates on the chin like a man. Felt sorry for the guy really, but being the customer facing man at the top it comes with the territory.

I had a somewhat similar experience a few years ago. After it was over, I wrote to Nick Reilly (who was head of Vauxhall, now Europe IIRC). He sent me a nice letter and £200 in vouchers !