Vauxhall service PHOTO's

Hello,

I have finally got my car back after 4 days
for what was supposed to be a routine service
MOT and a request by me to change the cam belt
and tensioner.

I would like a few opinions of a photograph of the
cylinder head bolt which in my opinion looks to
be new. This is puzzling as the previous owner
(my cousin) has never had a cylinder head bolts
changed from new and the jobs done do not
facilitate changing the cylinder head bolts.

Also, there are photo's of the oil that has be spilled
or splattered during it's stay at the Vauxhall dealers.

Could I please have as many opinions on this as
possible by Monday morning as I want to be
confident I'm right in what I am thinking has
happened before I challenge After-Sales Director

No-one's opinion will be quoted when this matter
is discussed with the dealer.

Photo's can be found at:

http://www.olbanystars.co.uk/diesel/vauxhall.htm


-
Fatsod (wanting to kick ass)

 

Well, almost certainly, they have cocked up the cam timing, they have then
had the head off to change valves, guides etc. One or more of the head
bolts has been in such a state they have had to replace it. The oil mess is
caused by carelessly blowing out the bolt holes in the block.

There will be little difficulty in seeing whether the head gasket has been
replaced, at the gearbox end there will be a bit of gasket sticking out with
notches in (shows the thickness) It will be quite obvious if this is new.
Even the dodgiest dealer would put a new gasket on.

mrcheerful

 

Thankyou,
My thoughts too, hence the bullshit story of waiting for parts
and a four day delay.
Though it was strange that upon phoning up the chap on the
other end who was the parts manager said, oh your the one
in to have the head gasket changed.

Also found it strange that the invoice was dated on the first
day it arrived at the garage, along with the new MOT certificate
which had 9 miles fewer on it than the odometer.

Angry is not the word. I do want heads on sticks over this.

 

http://www.olbanystars.co.uk/diesel/vauxhall.htm

Calm down, you'll drop your pompom sweetie.

http://www.olbanystars.co.uk/

 

Is the car OK now?

Looking at it another way, for a moment - they fecked it up, did some
damage and then put it right without charging you. You've got a new
head gasket, some new valves and a decoke for free. Not too shabby.

 

They blew your engine up and repaired it without telling you?

 

That site was started as a favour to my young neice
who is a member of the morris dance troup.

It's not my scene at all,
Mines Rugby League and F1 motor racing

 

Assuming that the car runs ok, then the only real annoyance is that they
covered it up, really. Most garages would have tried to say it was your
fault. I agree that an apology is in order, but it is not too serious in
the big scheme of things. Perhaps a free Mot or something will be offered,
but I don;t think you should expect any thing more.

mrcheerful

 

That is NOT the problem, I'm NOT after compsention.
I just want the TRUTH about what did happen

I took it to the main dealer because I THOUGHT I would get
a quality job. I was prepared to a premium price to get a quality
job. But all I got was fobbed of with waiting for parts.

If they had come clean and said, we've cocked it up, but dont
worry we will fix the mistake at no charge to you then I would
not be angry. I accept mistakes happen.

The fact is this dealer told bare face lies to protect the reputation
of the garage. I dont like LIARS.

It is NOT the first time this dealer has tried to con us.
Only the other month, they fitted a wing mirror after it
had been kick off. internal parts and labour came to £78
and included the black tape to hold mirror casing on.
(yes I did say that).

6hrs later it was off again. Back in the garage they admitted
that they had broke it but thought it would stay on.......
(me thinks long enough so they would not be found out.)

Ok that was my wifes car. Now what do I do with the
Astra Estate I bought 18months ago from them. I dont
feel I can trust them to do the servicing even though I've
prepaid for servicing on a two years deal.

fatsod

them service mine for

 

I dont want money, I dont want any freebies.

I simply want the truth.

Is it really too much to ask.

Is the British motor trade industry so far up
it's own arse it is not man enough to own up
to the simple facts that they do make mistakes
from time to time.

-
fatsod.

 

FatSod () gurgled happily, sounding much like they
were saying :

More fool you for going back, then.

Ever heard
"Fool me once, shame on you,
Fool me twice, shame on me."?

 

I think Mr Cheerful, among others, have commented previously on the tearful
consequences (due to the criticality of replacing the cambelt) on some Astra
diesel engines, even when fitted by reputable dealers.
Especially as there are no timing marks on the camshaft pulley, which is
best adjusted using the proper DTI tool.

 

What you want is a bit irelevant if they wont admit it.

You may well have got a quality job (whatever that means). I expect
they've done the HG well enough - although if it was my car I wouldn't
have accepted it back oil all over the place.

Fair enough - shouting at me (or them) wont help your case though.

Why did you go back then? I never give a garage a second chance to
**** me over.

 

Everyone deserve a second chance.

A third chance NEVER.

-
fatsod

 

YES YES YES BLOODY YES.

I was after reading all the stories of timing disasters that I decided that
we would make sure my wife's car would be done correctly.
we would pay through the nose and take to a Vauxhall Dealer
who employ factory trained mechanics and use the proper tools.

Well that makes me a complete and utter dickhead doesn't it.

-
Fatsod

 

What's actually wrong with the car now? It works doesn't it? They
fixed whatever they did wrong didn't they?

I don't think that is what makes you a dickhead.

 

what engine is it

 

Exactly why I did the job myself, although in reality I'm far too old to be
grovelling around under motor cars at my time of life!

After reading various horror stories of people who had trustingly taken
their vehicles to so called 'reputable' garages to have their cambelt
replaced, I eventually wound up buying a 'genuine' Vauxhall cambelt, plus
the guide roller and water pump from Autovaux, and by shopping around on the
Net managed to purchase the correct Sealey DTI tool plus alignment plate for
under £40, and fitted the whole lot myself, so far touch wood, I've driven
about 5000 miles without any problems.

 

Don't if it's a GM or Izusu
but it's a 1997 Astra 1.7Ls Td Estate

Parts replaced (cambelt etc etc)
V0090530598 Belt Tooth
V0009158004 Roller Tension Tooth
V0090495046 Bush
V0090250709 Sleeve
V0090411787 Guide Pulley Toothed

-
fatsod

 

Yes the car working as it should be.

Under the terms and conditons of the work carried out by the dealer.
The dealer warrants that it's work is garantteed for a period of three
months or 3000 miles. However, as it is suspected that undocument
addition work has be carried out on this vehicle, there will be no
garanttee for this work. Should there be any failure during the garranttee
period, then the dealer will not accept liabilty and I will be expected to
pay for any faulty parts or poor workmanship.

Now do you understand why they should have done the honourable
thing and admitted they cocked up.

-
fatsod