Hi

 

I've had a visual health check carried out by my local dealer. They've advised that the rear subframe and anti-roll bar are developing corrosion. Whilst certainly not new, the car is only 9 years old and corrosion like this seems a little premature. Does anyone else have any experience of this?

 

They've quoted £494.60 for the parts. I shudder to think what the labour charges will be.

 

Thanks in advance - Stuart

sounds like time for an independent opinion  when was the last MOT?

sounds like time for an independent opinion  when was the last MOT?

 

Nearly a year ago, it's got to be done by the end of the month.

 

I'm looking for recommendations for a local independent in another thread http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/402824-independent-skoda-or-vag-specialist-in-the-exeter-area/

Edited 17 June, 20169 yr by StuartA

if you're anywhere near I can recommend Paul in Plymton St M    next to the London/church   trustworthy and good labour rates too

I wouldn't panic but by all means get it checked.

It's largely in part (I would put money on) a downside to the VHC system. A technician fills out a visual inspection check on a laptop. He will note anything considered note worthy and save the form. This then gets to the stores, they have a quick scan, see if anything is noted and add part numbers and prices. Then the form goes to the service advisor and they add labour and handle the customer end. The issue is it's more than likely the tech was only noting the corrosion. This covers them should you take it elsewhere for say tyres and they inform you your subframe is looking a bit tatty. If they hadn't noted it it could come back on them why they hadn't informed you seeing as you just had a health check etc etc. The problem is most of the time the parts person or service advisor won't know it's just an advisory or even paid attention to the fact it was an amber tick not a red one.

Back in the day we used to fill in a bit of paper and then go and talk to someone and explain these things. But these days it's all proof and accountability and auditing blah blah blah. So everything is done on a computer to thus negating the need to talk to someone. Progress eh?

Thanks Tech1e, that's reassuring. I agree, the personal touch has been lost.

Stuart,

I have been in a similar boat with regard to advisories during services and health checks at main dealer, and especially from the MOT at the same main dealer. I have to admit, I rarely had 100% confidence in some of the advisories which seemed to appear at this time but not during my regular weekly vehicle checks.

I would recommend (as I have done) you separate your service and MOT provider and source a local independent MOT test station. I found and used the following site (which I have no affiliation to) to source an independent MOT test station local to me with no service and repair facility incorporated or with any motivation to "generate income":

http://www.ukmot.com/ATF-MOT-Test-Centers/UK

(It also contains other useful information on the MOT test etc)

You will possibly find a council test station or as I did, local police or fire authority test station.

you could also search other sources.

One point to note, having recently used an independent MOT test station (my local police authority), It was the first time in a long while I have been able to sit (in the authorised customer viewing area) and watched the full MOT from start to finish and been fully satisfied with the outcome (even if it was a full pass). Needles to say I will be using the same station again in future.

How many of us have actually done this at a main dealer, even though the rules for ALL MOT test stations state they must have a customer viewing area. More than likely it's a case of drop it off and then wait for the phone call to either authorise works or to go and collect it when complete, all without having the opportunity to talk to the tester about any "advisories".

Edited 17 June, 20169 yr by FB011964

Every MOT station must have a viewing area. Every dealer I have worked at has, however the last one what just a chair behind a railing lol

Garage I use has it via video link or you can stand and watch

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy S7

I was referring to Main dealers who in my experience mostly operate with you booking the car and then leaving it with them for however long during the day. (and yes I realise you can request to wait while it is serviced/MOT'd etc, but most people do not wish to, or are unable to).

My main point for Stuart was to SEPARATE the MOT station from the SERVICE & REPAIR facility if he was not confident with the advisories given and this would maybe limit his feeling of revenue generating advisories. (and yes I realise not all garages or main dealers use MOT's or services to record unnecessary advisories which generate revenue. Some MAY do though).

I would recommend you try and get a look at it to ascertain how bad it is.

 

In all likely hood it won't be much more than surface rust.  If it is then get some ramps or jack +stands, some safety glasses and something to lie on.

 

use some form of wire brush or wire wheel to remove the loose rust and treat,  prime & paint with something like Galmet cold galvanising paint.  Sometimes it's easier  / quicker to replace parts but I'd be surprised if  a day or two of hard slog won't extend the life of the existing parts by a few years

Quick update:

 

I've had a look myself and also had it looked at by my new MoT testing guy who says it's just normal surface rust for a car of this age. Therefore, Brad's suggestion would be well worth doing.

 

Cheers.