Shonky Mechanic

[Buggerific]

So I just forked out $1,300 to get some work done "properly" and that was for my timing belt, sump gasket and rear axle seal.

The timing belt and at leas part of the axle work I wouldn't have been able to do myself but in saying that I could have done most of the axle and just got them to re-pack the bearing for me.

When doing the timing belt they took the radiator out to give them more room so they hosed all the shit out of the core and also replaced the thermostat to try to help combat my overheating problem.

I got the car back Thursday morning. Was driving it three days and there was a noise that wasn't there before so today (Saturday) I get around to taking a look for the noise after work in the dark in my work clothes to find 2 loose hose clamps, one thermo bypass hose and the lower radiator hose. As well as a loose belt, only the air con but loose as all buggery and obviously if it came off the pulley it would cause all sorts of strife.


So first thing Monday I'm going to take it back up to him and give him a good talking to, was just wondering if anyone has suggestions on exactly what to say to him. I'm going to make it very clear that I want him to go over everything again and make sure there's no other problems I will be finding because if there is I will be extremely more unhappy than I already am.

Thanks for listening to my rant!

[MightyMouse]

I would ring Consumer Affairs for some advice on how you should proceed - they will almost certainly tell you that step 1 is to talk to the mechanic, but ask them what happens if......... etc. Find out your rights first.

Then.......

Go straight to the manager if there is one.

Don't threaten, raise you voice - there's just no point. A SILENT friend ( witness ) wouldn't hurt but not a 120kg hit man.....( just yet ).

Try and be calm but firm when discussing the problems, whilst getting angry will make you feel better ( for awhile ) its unlikely to yield results. You have to give them a chance to fix things....

I think you should outline the actual problems you have found, your concerns re their workmanship and ask what the are prepared to do to rectify the situation.

Give them a chance - you might be surprised, but in any case loosing you cool isn't going to do your case any good.

Let us know how you go - but remember find out your rights from Consumer Affairs first.

[r0ck_m0nkey]

So first thing Monday I'm going to take it back up to him and give him a good talking to, was just wondering if anyone has suggestions on exactly what to say to him. I'm going to make it very clear that I want him to go over everything again and make sure there's no other problems I will be finding because if there is I will be extremely more unhappy than I already am.

I wouldn't even go in there with that attitude.

Ignoring the potential issues, it's all something i would consider just an error on their part.

First step is to just calmly go in, don't be angry or unhappy, don't demand anything, don't make "anything clear". Just explain what's happened and ask them politely to rectify it, which you may not even have to ask once you tell them the issue. Being polite about it should see an apology and a rectification with minimal hassle.

This is what anyone like consumer affairs will tell you to do, if nothing is rectified from this, then take further action.

A perfect example from me. Recently had the Auto serviced and flushed in my Prado. They didn't tighten the pan up properly on the Auto, which subsequently seen it dump a fair bit of oil when it started to get worked on the beach from higher temperatures. Tightened the pan up myself and rang them up the following Monday on what had happened. All they had to say was, bring it in as soon as you can and we will go over it all again for you and gave a sincere apology. Which they did and havn't had any issues since.

[Buggerific]

Yeah well I am pissed off but I'm not going in there with that kind of mind set.

Basically my plan was to go in first thing Monday and tell them what I've already found and fixed myself and see what he says about that... The main thing I want is not to find any other problems especially when I go away next week so I will pretty much just ask that he goes over everything he's done to make sure there was nothing else forgotten.

As far as I could see there was nothing else forgotten but to me it looks like there is oil around the sump and it's definitely leaking from the plug so I will ask him to take a squiz at that also.

My main problem is not that he forgot these things because people do make mistakes. I think my main problem is the fact that they repeated the fact that they went over it a number of times after finishing it to make sure nothing was forgotten.

[dai-hard]

So what was the noise. Just the belt loose

When i 1st got mine the timing belt was rubbing on the cover.
It cut thru the cover and the radiator hose.

Dont have a timing belt to worry about anymore.

[murcod]

More importantly have your cooling woes been cured with drive belts that will now do what they're supposed to?

[Buggerific]

It may have just been the loose belt but it was a metallic rattle so i'm not sure! I will have another listen and look for the noise before i take it in the morning but it sounded more like it was towards the back of the engine. There's a metal think next to the engine that protects the brake line which i think could have been doing it so nothing to worry about but i want to try to make sure thats all it was!

As for the heating issues. I'll make sure everything is all good then take it for a whirl!

[RockyF75]

This is why I try and do everything Myself. It takes longer, works out cheaper in $$ up front, but if I stuff it up I've no one else to blame and if nothing else at least I've learn't something in the process

[Buggerific]

So there were the loose things that he forgot... And then there was the oil that I didn't think should have been there.

Turns out the oil was leaking from one of the seals in behind the timing belt cover, one of the pulleys but I cant remember which.

Anywho. He put in the wrong seal because Daihatsu told him the seal wasn't available. As in he was told they no longer make such a seal.

After a couple more phone calls to Daihatsu he spoke to someone who was willing to do a little bit of research and actually find the part that DOES exist.


Who else has had the same experience with Daihatsu. I know that there is one guy that has been really helpful here in Sydney. And my mechanic finally spoke to that same guy who managed to find the part despite the fact it didn't show up on his screen in 20 seconds flat.

So the moral of the story is - If you're in Sydney and use Chatswood Toyota (Artarmon) speak to Brian.

[RockyF75]

Had a similar problem when doing my timing belt. Seal that came in the kit was totally wrong, yet it was the only one listed in their books

Managed to get a replacement one off a general machinery gear place easily enough though.

[Buggerific]

Yeah well thats the thing... He chucked one in that looked like it would do the job but it just didn't.

Think it was the cam pully seal... Took em a while to work out it was the cams coz it was so far down.

[tabrocky]

This is why I try and do everything Myself. It takes longer, works out cheaper in $$ up front, but if I stuff it up I've no one else to blame and if nothing else at least I've learn't something in the process

X2

100% agree