Need some help/advice. Ecu light has come on, and I would like it sorting sooner rather than later. 

 

Its hard for me to take time off work during the week ATM, and would be convenient if I could take it to a kwikfit or similar at the weekend. 

 

Whilst I don't know if they do any diagnostics, are they even worth bothering with? (No local mobile mechanics).

Not worth the gamble if there is a long established VW Group Specialist in your area.

 

?

What model / engine Fabia is it?

Some BRISKODA Member with the gear and an idea might be able to help with reading the fault codes if you post in the Fabia Section.

1 hour ago, Wench said:

Need some help/advice. Ecu light has come on, and I would like it sorting sooner rather than later. 

 

Its hard for me to take time off work during the week ATM, and would be convenient if I could take it to a kwikfit or similar at the weekend. 

 

Whilst I don't know if they do any diagnostics, are they even worth bothering with? (No local mobile mechanics).

 

I use to live in Hull and my parents are still there. My dad uses a garage near HRI that he trusts with all of his cars. If you want i can get the details for you.

@Wench - It's your money, but I literally will not trust Kwikfit out of my sight!

Doh,

i read KWIKFIT and the brain thought HALFORDS SERVICE CENTRE. 

 

Why would you take a car to KWIKFIT even for an EXHAUST or PUNCTURE REPAIR?

 

As to HALFORDS SERVICE CENTRES there is a Tech that works there that will say how much improved they are, 

that is like putting perfume on a lump of dog poo and saying yummy, smells lovely must be tasty.

On 2017-6-16 at 17:29, Awayoffski said:

Not worth the gamble if there is a long established VW Group Specialist in your area.

 

But even some 'specialists' are cowboys even though they appear to have a good reputation.

 

At least with KwikFit/ATS/Halfords Autocentres etc. they are convenient (opening hours and location) and you've probably got more chance of resolving any issues without going to court if they do **** anything up. Not all of the staff in these places can be incompetent idiots, surely?!

 

However, for the OP's issue I wouldn't take it to one of these places, I'd scan the codes myself (VCDS Lite or OBDII bluetooth adaptor + Torque app) or take it to a tame local mechanic to scan & fix.

No not all can be surely,

there must be some of the management that can employ hard working qualified and diligent staff, but it seems many of the management are incompetent idiots.

Edited 21 June, 20179 yr by Awayoffski

24 minutes ago, Awayoffski said:

No not all can be surely,

there must be some of the management that can employ hard working qualified and diligent staff, but it seems many of the management are incompetent idiots.

agreed, my next door neighbour works at quick fit (but also rebuilds cars to sell in his time off)  and even he says the managers there don't have any practical knowledge so have nothing to go on when employing staff which are normally their friends or any other monkey holding a spanner- but said there are some places with good staff but few and far between

Edited 21 June, 20179 yr by Gissin

Never had a problem with ATS but Kwikfit only in desperation. My neighbours son is good friends with the assistant manager at our local Kwikfit. Only recently did I watch him knacker up the neighbours Civic rear caliper doing a simple pad change with tools that should never be needed including chisel and lump hammer.

My own experience of them when I was much younger was their "free" brake check. Left them with it only to come back to find all the wheels and discs off. Got the tale of them being dangerously worn and they could have failed at any moment. The discs and pads were going to cost me nearly £1200, which I couldn't afford then and was nearly as much as the car was worth. They could set up a store card for me though! When I was refusing to have the discs changed they tried to claim they couldn't refit the discs otherwise they'd be breaking the law, if I was to have an accident and kill someone they would be responsible.  The argument carried on for over 2 hours and I think they only gave up as it was coming up to closing time. I had them checked the next day by a mate's dad's garage who said they had a slight lip but well within tolerance but they hadn't tightened the caliper bolts up so I could have had an accident due to what they'd done. 

The last time I used them was on the AC cooling offer were if they cold get it working colder there was no charge. As it was only blowing cold when driving at speed I thought I'd take them up on it. Car was with them all day. It should have been an hours job but they couldn't get any cold air out of it despite emptying and recharging the system numerous times. I ended up going home on foot to collect it later at no charge. Took it to an AC specialist who in 10 minutes diagnosed that the fuse for the engine fan had blown. Changed and it was icy cold AC again. Didn't even charge me.

The wife a couple of years ago damaged the side wall on the tyre of her Mini Cooper S on raised man hole cover right outside Kwikfit. Drove it straight in there and they fitted her a new tyre, which wasn't runflat as the previous one but also a different size when I checked it later. When she went back they first refused to change saying my wife had specified that tyre and belittled her getting her all upset so she called me. Needless to say they didn't try the same tactics with me as I raged at the manager who seemed to shrink by the second.

I've never used Halfords garages only their stores so can't comment on their mechanical abilities.  

There was a  " North Eastern Tyre and Autocare " centre in Knarsborough. It has now become a " Kwik Fit Plus " Centre. 

 

kwik-fit.com/knaresborough-st-james-retail-park-

 

 

Edited 21 June, 20179 yr by Auric Goldfinger

Actually, I've just remembered that some years ago my Mum's local KwikFit was part of a chain called "Thistle Metallics", and all the local indy mechanics would take cars there for exhaust work because they could supply and fit systems for less than the indys could buy the system for. As a result I became pals with the staff there, and none of them had any prior experience except for own car DIY work.

The only national chain I would use is "formula one autocentres"....they are family-owned and I always have MOT's done there. In about fourteen years, they have never once "invented" work needed to pass MOT. On one occasion they actually spent about 20 minutes freeing a jammed rear seatbelt (Fabia Mk1 Estate) to enable the car to pass MOT (I was present the whole time) and didn't charge for the time/work. I was really impressed (and grateful!).

 

https://www.f1autocentres.co.uk/

I have had decent experiences with Kwik Fit and other similar chains, *but* that's when I've gone there for specific known and straightforward work like tyres or an exhaust.
I'd be far less inclined to use them for anything like the OPs problem where diagnostics and repair would be needed - for that I'd look for a recommended independent garage.

Management staff in garages having no practical knowledge of how to deal with customers and or fix cars is one of the biggest issues in this crappy trade. You often see that "off the tools" staff have a much faster progression route up the chain of command than anyone in the workshop.

 

Kwik fit are investing heavily in the recruitment and training of Master Technicians across the country to help lead their centres and improve their image, some of them are good lads but undoubtedly some are muppets - just like any dealer, Indy, chain or mobile tech can be.