Sunshine story from Sweden:

Fellie needed some TLC last week: a slight coolant leak where the parking heater is mounted (no help tightening the hose clamps) and a whining noise developing the last weeks that had made me a bit suspicious.

Visited the garage on Tuesday. "Next Wednesday?" "No, sorry, off with the car that day:" "Well, a coolant leak and a check-up - we'll find a slot this Thursday."

Telephone call at lunchtime Thursday:

1) Coolant leak piece of cake. New hose, old one soft and spongy. Q: "Wasn't me that mounted that parking heater for you, was it?" A: "Yes, you did - autumn 2007". A: "Weird - well, that useless piece of hose must've come with the kit then".

2) Whining noise: PAS pump on it's way out "but I'll get one for you at the scrappie"

3) "Noticed a broken CV gaiter, should I change it?" Yes, please.

Telephone call at 5 p.m: "Got a PAS pump only to find that it had a broken outlet pipe - sorry, but yo'll have to wait till tomorrow, will get a replacement."

Telephone call at lunch Friday: Car's ready.

Cost for coolant leak fix: None "Since it was I who mounted that lousy hose"

Cost for gaiter, 2nd hand pump, labour and VAT £300.

I like the gesture re. coolant leak (even if it was nothing but 10 mins. job and a piece of hose). And I very much like that he noticed the broken gaiter and mentioned it. And that he fixed it fast and - by Swedish standards - at a good price (pump only was £60).

Fellie's purring contentedly

But only 60,000 K out of a PAS pump is a bit disappointing.

I had a good experience with a garage last year. Took car to a garage that fitted the centre exhaust nearly a year ago. I thought the rear exhaust was blowing and was expecting to pay £40 for a new one. They told me that it was leaking at the clamp and they remembered fitting it, and they sorted that. I mentioned an exhaust hanger was snapped and they sorted that. And he pointed out the bush on the rear shock absorber bush was out of place, and they levered it back into place with a screw driver. All free of charge.

The rear shock bush came back out eventually though and I replaced both rear shocks.

Edit: Likewise I took the car to a backstreet garage to get the tailgate strut support welded up. Month later the tailgate strut falls off as the metal they welded in was too thin. Plus they mentioned a nutsert, but when I removed the strut balljoint bolt two nuts dropped from behind it. (Unfortunately the garage previously mentioned no longer does any welding - I presume for health and safety reasons or something?!)

Edited 20 April, 200917 yr by anewman

really wish i could find a honest garage with some form of work ethic. the attitude of many UK mechanics is shambolic. the best i have found so far are all ex-army