Just spoken to my 84 year old mother in law who has had her 55 reg Nissan micra in for service today. She received a phone call sating that it needed some extra work namely new brakes ( not sure what - pads I think) and something to do with the rear indicators. She only does local driving and she only does about 1000 miles a years (if that) The brakes will cost £160 and the indicator thing £60.

The MOT was done at the end of April and I'd had thought that if the brakes would wear out in a couple of hundred miles it would have been an advisory. The car hasn't done 10k yet,

I'm a bit concerned that they are taking advantage of an old lady and trying to get work done that isn't necessary. As I only found tonight I'm going to give them a call in the morning to see if they have a decent explanation.

Probably not brakes wearing out,

(when were the pads or shoes changed tho?)

But maybe, Callipers binding, Hand brake cable corroding or Discs Corrosion type thing maybe, Low mileage and very possible when doing so few miles and only in town or locally..

*Possibly its them saying the Discs need skimmed.*

 

so best see what it is, asking is the best thing to do.

or even look yourself and see what things look like.

 

Thats why the car is in for a service is it not, getting someone that knows what to look for to do the looking.

surely the oil & filter is not being changed every year/1000 miles?

 

8 year old car might well have corroded bulb holders, or needing a little clean and KY jelly.

Someone has to do the work.

 

george

I had a service done on my old Fabia a couple of months after it had it's MOT and was told the Discs were "very close" to needing to be changed.

 

I had the same query, why not an advisory on the MOT? I was told all they do on MOTs is test breaking force on the rollers, and don't bother to check the wear on them... sounded like *******s to me but maybe there's something in it after all.

That would be 'Braking force'. (efficiency)

It will probably be pads are getting low, and at 1000 miles a year they'll be fine for a while. It's the same thing that garages always have done and always will do - recommend stuff like this at the earliest opportunity.

It'll be a nice simple DIY job for £25.

That would be 'Braking force'. (efficiency)

 

I've had a long day... that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it

Well sorted this out this morning,  Front Brake bad 80%-85%  worn so need replacing at £160 and £60 for four indicator bulbs and fitting!!  Told them not to do the work.

Is it an Automatic?

& are you going someplace else or going to DIY?

 

My mum is 88 and drove only 600 miles last year.

I do like her brakes to be 100% at all times.

 

george

It is an automatic -  I have to say I'm a bit annoyed  with the garage and will be getting a second opinion on the brakes especially with the wanting to charge £60 to supply and fit four indicator bulbs.  The brakes aren't urgent -  we have time to find a better quote. £220 is  a lot of money for a pensioner.

Probably not brakes wearing out,

(when were the pads or shoes changed tho?)

But maybe, Callipers binding, Hand brake cable corroding or Discs Corrosion type thing maybe, Low mileage and very possible when doing so few miles and only in town or locally..

*Possibly its them saying the Discs need skimmed.*

 

so best see what it is, asking is the best thing to do.

or even look yourself and see what things look like.

 

Thats why the car is in for a service is it not, getting someone that knows what to look for to do the looking.

surely the oil & filter is not being changed every year/1000 miles?

 

8 year old car might well have corroded bulb holders, or needing a little clean and KY jelly.

Someone has to do the work.

 

george

 

I agree with all but one part, why would you use ky jelly???

That was actually a fraudulent slip.  I should have typed Petroleum Jelly. (Vaseline)  DOH Sorry,

thanks for pointing that out.

 

Because when a bulb is shorting or there is corrosion it is a good substance to use,

& on seals on lights etc.

 

Must remember next time to not mix up my Lubes.

 

george

I had a service done on my old Fabia a couple of months after it had it's MOT and was told the Discs were "very close" to needing to be changed.

I had the same query, why not an advisory on the MOT? I was told all they do on MOTs is test breaking force on the rollers, and don't bother to check the wear on them... sounded like *******s to me but maybe there's something in it after all.

My last car failed its MOT because the rear brake pads were 90% worn aparently so they must do some sort of visual check of the pads and the year after the front discs were an advisory because they were corroded. I can't imagine that when the MOT is done that they wouldn't at least have a quick look at them. Its extra money in their pocket if they find something wrong because 95% of the time the customer will just get the garage to do whatever work needs doing done there

Testers are not there to pull in work for their employer or workplace, just to carry out the requirements of the test.

For our safety & the general public.

Even if that can be what happens.

http://www.motuk.co.uk/manual_370.htm

http://www.motuk.co.uk/manual_380.htm

http://www.motuk.co.uk/manual_360.htm

Can't fail for 90% worn, to know the percentage the tester will have to accurately measure them and know their original thickness and that just isn't going to happen.  1.5 mm is the minimum brake pad thickness as far as the MOT goes, discs have to be virtually hanging off the car, I haven't failed a brake disc yet.

 

The MOT is there to ensure that the minimum safety standard is met, not to advise on what may need doing in the future.

That was actually a fraudulent slip.  I should have typed Petroleum Jelly. (Vaseline)  DOH Sorry,

thanks for pointing that out.

 

Because when a bulb is shorting or there is corrosion it is a good substance to use,

& on seals on lights etc.

 

Must remember next time to not mix up my Lubes.

 

george

dont worry I won't tell your wife lol.

They're taking the p***! £60 for some indicator bulbs. Yeah right.

 

Glad you decided to go elsewhere.

 

Phil

Well what needs checking is how easy the bulbs are to change on a 55 plate Micra,

&  how much are the actual 4 bulbs.

 

If £2.50 each and it takes 5 minutes a bulb its a rip off.

If its an Epic, takes 30-40 minutes labour & £4 a bulb, then VAT its maybe not.

 

Once the OP has done them he can tell us if the Quoted cost was too high.

 

george

Can't fail for 90% worn, to know the percentage the tester will have to accurately measure them and know their original thickness and that just isn't going to happen. 1.5 mm is the minimum brake pad thickness as far as the MOT goes, discs have to be virtually hanging off the car, I haven't failed a brake disc yet.

I did question it. My arguement was that there was still 10% of the pad left so as long as it passes the brake test machine thing in the MOT then it should pass but they flatly refused to even let me ask the tester why he failed it.

Thrn again it was an arnold clark garage..... Hate them with a passion ever since they screwed me over and gave me my car back in a **** state. It looked as if they had run the engine while the oil filler cap was off because there was oil all over the engine bay. Its not even like it was even a one off because they screwed my dad over as well when he had the car before me.

Back on topic, why don't you just fit the indicators yourself and ask to see the old pads when they come off and see how much meat they actually have left on them. Ir even better see if you can watch them changing the pads and ask for them to be taken straight over to you when they come off so you know that they have definitely come off the micra and if they still have plenty of meat left on them ask for them to be refitted and refuse to pay for any labour because the garage have tried it on with you and failed.

It is easier in life to use garages that can be trusted.

 

If you can not get local recommendations and get a trusted relationship with local businesses it does become time wasting and worrying.

Everyone seems to become an Expert mechanic after the fact.

 

People sometimes need to use professionals and pay them as it is how they make their living,

or use friends or family that have the time or inclination,

or just DIY.

Funnily some just get ripped off though.

 

george

The Brakes problem ''may'' be down to callipers starting to seize ( common fault on many older Nissan cars), But take it somewhere else for a second opinion sort of thing, Garage might be just making up work that does not need doing..

Probably not brakes wearing out,

(when were the pads or shoes changed tho?)

But maybe, Callipers binding, Hand brake cable corroding or Discs Corrosion type thing maybe, Low mileage and very possible when doing so few miles and only in town or locally..

*Possibly its them saying the Discs need skimmed.*

so best see what it is, asking is the best thing to do.

or even look yourself and see what things look like.

Thats why the car is in for a service is it not, getting someone that knows what to look for to do the looking.

surely the oil & filter is not being changed every year/1000 miles?

8 year old car might well have corroded bulb holders, or needing a little clean and KY jelly.

Someone has to do the work.

george

on a low mileage car changing oil annually is even more important surely?

Up to the owner really,

personally i would do the bulbs and brakes more importantly.

 

Oil that can last 15,000 miles plus of hard use can manage 2-3 years and a few thousand miles without killing an engine.

Any moisture showing on the rocker/filler cap from never getting a decent run and heat up and then i would be changing it.

Then again, it might sit through 3 months of winter and say only do 300 miles and it might be as bad again, if it does go bad.

 

george