G/F popped into a Halfords autocentre to have a filter and oil change done on her 2007 1.5 Suzuki Swift (i know, i know, i should have done it myself but i was busy and it was easy for her) anyhow noticed a puddle of oil where her car had been parked at home, checked the oil level and the dipstick was only showing half way up.

Thought to myself hmmm something isn't right here, popped it up on the ramps and found this

The filter was so loose i was able to freely spin it off with my left hand.

Upon inspection the filter is actually for an Mk1 Suzuki swift 1.3, its nearly 10mm wider than the correct filter and the rubber ring was making no contact with the metal ring its supposed to press against to form a seal.

I've ended up changing the filter now for the correct one and doing the oil change myself to sort this little incident out, going to be contacting the autocentre to complain as i wasn't best pleased at this.

While i wouldn't want to tar all branches of these kinds of places with the same brush, certainly shows what they say about them in some cases is true!

Thats shocking!!!!

These idiots should stick to fitting wiper blades & selling screenwash,you want your money back from the work they did & the cost of your oil & filter & a freebie or two as well..........muppets!

These idiots should stick to fitting selling wiper blades & screenwash,you want your money back from the work they did & the cost of your oil & filter & a freebie or two as well..........muppets!

Post re-edited.....as more appropriate!.. .... .....

Post re-edited.....as more appropriate!.. .... .....

Ha Ha.......

Ha Ha.......

Well I was thinking that if they fit a totaly wrong oil filter there is no way I'd let them fit my wiper blades.......way too complex for them......(drivers side is straight and one length...passenger side is curved and a different length from the drivers side).

Upon inspection the filter is actually for an Mk1 Suzuki swift 1.3, its nearly 10mm wider than the correct filter and the rubber ring was making no contact with the metal ring its supposed to press against to form a seal.

'....but but but, that's the one it says in our book is supposed to fit your car.....'

To say Halfords is staffed by muppets would be an insult to Jim Henson.

The most scary thing about that is that the guy that fitted that filter probably also fits brakes, steering and suspension components!

The most scary thing about that is that the guy that fitted that filter probably also fits brakes, steering and suspension components!

You're right and yes it is scary - imagine if they had fitted the wrong brakes or pads for a customer, could cause some serious damage, if not fatal injuries.

Surely replaced an oil filter is a relatively simple task in the scheme of things - problem is these guys are often not paid to think too much and would just fit whatever part it says should be fitted.

Pay peanuts..........

Another good case for licensing laws if you ask me.

You're right and yes it is scary - imagine if they had fitted the wrong brakes or pads for a customer, could cause some serious damage, if not fatal injuries.

Surely replaced an oil filter is a relatively simple task in the scheme of things - problem is these guys are often not paid to think too much and would just fit whatever part it says should be fitted.

There was a thread on the RX-8 forum when someone had had brakes fitted, and the top calliper bolt came out and jammed the calliper against the wheel.

Not sure who fitted them, but pretty scary thoughts all the same!

Ah, so a Halfords Autocentre strikes again?!

http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/195946-halfords-autocentres-review/

I can't beleive how calm you are!

After discovering the botch the car wouldn't have moved off my drive. Halfords would have been paying for recovery, new filter and fresh oil, the taxi fare for your girlfriend to get to and from work and for your drive to be professionally cleaned. I'd then be after a full refund and apology.

To ignore the fact that the filter he took off was different to the one he was replacing it with is shoddiness at its best. Had you not noticed the leak and the engine was run dry of oil I dread to think how Halfords would have tried to worm out of paying up!

I can't beleive how calm you are!

After discovering the botch the car wouldn't have moved off my drive. Halfords would have been paying for recovery, new filter and fresh oil, the taxi fare for your girlfriend to get to and from work and for your drive to be professionally cleaned. I'd then be after a full refund and apology.

To ignore the fact that the filter he took off was different to the one he was replacing it with is shoddiness at its best. Had you not noticed the leak and the engine was run dry of oil I dread to think how Halfords would have tried to worm out of paying up!

I agree completely with all of this.

If it was me they'd get a rocket big enough to get them to Pluto!

To say Halfords is staffed by muppets would be an insult to Jim Henson.

I agree......the Muppets are cool....

Halfrauds staff arn't......

I also know of the local one branches where a bloke (20yr lad) went in for a set of spark plugs for his jap/nissan/skyline...or celica turbo??...can't remember....they said (after looking at the car ...this was when they didn't do servicing)...he needed X set/type so he bought they and fitted them.......engine almost self detonated to scrap as the spark plugs where totally the wrong type even tho they fitted......he tried to get them to pay the bill to fix the engine (£1,000+)......."but the book says".........incorrect data in....#### out....!!!

What worries me is that as said they fit other things, that they didn't notice or care that it was different and also that there seems to be a hole in it.

That monkey should be fired.

Ross, I do agree with sentiments towards licensing being required to stop people like this, but I can't imagine that halfords wouldn't be able to get their muppets past any such tests and still let them lose on cars :(

When you think what other trades have to be licenced like electrics, heating, plumbing whatever the fact anyone can pick up a spanner and change something that could be life threatening its really a joke.

Not just Halfrauds ,though my younger son has some tales from his after school placement at our local depot .

Couple of years ago ,I needed an oil change in a hurry ,so I asked the manager at the local place where I took our vans .Price said from -and because of the custom i brought ,that was price ,done with correct oil (Less than cost of oil, never mind filter).Took it down , and got lift back an hour later ,leaving them to cure the oil leak from the filter .Manager took over personally .When I picked up car ,turned out no top seal was delivered with filter -hence leak .Monkey didn't think to check .

Recently used Halfords Customer Service to complain about their headlight fitting.

£6.99 buys you your own nitwit to come out and fit the light, supposedly.

I would've done it myself, but this was my old Civic... it had a bonnet smaller than a Transit van's and a whopping 2-litre engine shoved in there. Access to get behind the headlight was oh-so-tight. Paid £7 to save the hassle.

Monkey came out, attempted to get cap off the back of the light. Had to show him how.

"Er... mate... you've bought the wrong bulbs."

"No I haven't, this model uses H1s."

"No it don't, this has got three prongs on the connector, the H1 only has one..."

"Well, how do you explain that I've just fitted my side?"

"Oh..."

Two minutes later...

"How do you get the bulb out?"

"Like this..."

"Oh right, cheers."

Merrily merrily... went home, complained, got phone call from the manager personally, sent a £10 gift card.

Give them a shout, they have to take it seriously.

When you think what other trades have to be licenced like electrics, heating, plumbing whatever the fact anyone can pick up a spanner and change something that could be life threatening its really a joke.

Unfortunatly it still doesn't mean that the job is perfect.......I've seen some diabolical messes on brand new heating installs by CORGI & SNEPF?? registered plumbers......that resulted in stones in the pipes that jambed in the heating valves/pumps in the boiler.....needing W/B to come out and strip a one week old boiler down!!!......

I've also had installs that I have done double checked by NIEEIC?????? .......registered sparkies......I had to tell them what to do and how to test!!.......idiots......and I've also seen some shocking..(litrally)...."approved" installations.....

And even in my trade.....some of the fully qualified "instructors/trainers" with all the bits of paper.........bloody damgerous (I've been involved in stuff that has been in the press)....their attitude "I'm always right because I've got the qualifications".......NO....BUT you do have your head shoved firmly up your own rear end!!!!

Bits of paper can help....BUT doesn't always gurantee a proper or even a safe job!!! :S

Unfortunatly it still doesn't mean that the job is perfect.......I've seen some diabolical messes on brand new heating installs by CORGI & SNEPF?? registered plumbers......that resulted in stones in the pipes that jambed in the heating valves/pumps in the boiler.....needing W/B to come out and strip a one week old boiler down!!!......

I've also had installs that I have done double checked by NIEEIC?????? .......registered sparkies......I had to tell them what to do and how to test!!.......idiots......and I've also seen some shocking..(litrally)...."approved" installations.....

Me too, and that's why I DIY wherever possible. Contrary to popular belief it is not illegal to carry out your own gas and electrical work in your own home as long as you are competent to do it, follow the relevent regs, and get building regs approval where applicable.

the only thing i have ever used halfords for it bulbs and washer fluid, one of two reasons, its cheaper from my local motor factors and two...they dont stock anything for the octy vrs...airfilter? no...fuel filter? no...ok maybe its best asking what dont stock

the only thing i have ever used halfords for it bulbs and washer fluid, one of two reasons, its cheaper from my local motor factors and two...they dont stock anything for the octy vrs...airfilter? no...fuel filter? no...ok maybe its best asking what dont stock

Shame their washer fluid is not much better than water these days, due to the pathetic temperature range on it even neat.

Just to lighten this thread up a bit.

Even Monkeys know better than to work for Halfords. They get left with the ones too slow to run away.