To expect a discount from this garage?

[HollyDayDream]

Took my car to a new garage for a basic service. My 'change engine oil' light came on last week and today was the soonest any local garage could fit me in.

Basic service was £120. I've just been to collect it and the mechanic told me that he has completed the service but unfortunately can't get the 'change engine oil' light to reset. He said my car manufacturer (not going to post the model as I've already posted on my local FB page for some advice from mechanics) has made it that only official dealerships are able to access the software (hardware?) to reset it. It can't be done manually like a lot of cars where you can access reset buttons through the dash. He said I would need to contact an official dealership to do this for me.

Just off the phone to my nearest one (100 miles away!) and they have said they would only be able to do this after they have done a service themselves which would cost much more money.

Basically, this is a car almost ten years old. I have no intention of selling it (it will do me until it packs in) so I've never been fussed about having it serviced at the official places.

My usual garage sold up at the start of this year and the family moved away and they've always managed to do it just fine! I explained this to today's mechanic who looked like he didn't believe me and said well, they must have had illegal equipment to be able to do that.

Today's garage won't offer me any sort of reduction as they have said they have done the work/service and didn't know about the issue of resetting the light until afterwards. They said they have never come across a car before that can't have its oil light reset manually.

I'm getting some responses on my FB pages from mechanics who say they'd be happy to take a look or for me to bring it in so hopefully I'll get the issue sorted.

My AIBU is - would you expect today's garage to give some sort of discount? Or are they right? I've paid the same price as other people would but have the added hassle now of trying to find someone to reset the light.

I really feel nervous driving the car with that warning light visible and pinging all the time.

No I wouldn't expect a discount, they did the service. If it's only the light that needs switching off but the oil is fine why not just wait till it needs a service next time and get the main dealer to do it and switch the light off

It's a light, not a bomb. Unreasonable to expect a discount.

I'm not sure why you're being coy about the make either. If you say what it is, maybe we can find a way to reset it.

You should be more annoyed with the manufacturer for having such a light in the first place. Shouldn’t be allowed by the competition authorities for a start. Nor should it be distracting you “pinging all the time”.

Garage doesn’t seem to have done anything wrong to me.

Absolutely wouldn't expect a discount. You paid for a service and got a service.

It would probably be helpful to share the make and model here as other people may have experience of this and be able to advise.

There is no need to feel nervous driving it. It's been serviced. If it makes you feel better stick something over the light.

Of course you can't expect a discount.

This is a common occurance for any car owner these days. Manufacturers make it as hard as possible for anyone other than them to properly service your car and some garages will do illegal stuff and turn off the lights anyway, and some won't.

But either way you can't hold them to account for it. They provided your service, the light is just still on. If you can prove it should have been perfectly legally possible for them to turn it off, take it back along with the instructions and have them do it.

No, absolutely not to a discount. This is the "risk" you take by going to an independent garage. They will more than likely be able to purchase the software at an extortionate price which would not be cost effective.

^^ This, post the make and model.

Also, there is nothing "illegal" about resetting service lights, its your vehicle.

No. They are mechanics and carried out the service. A fault light isn't a mechanical issue and probably needs specialist software to clear.

Is it a Chevrolet with a little spanner light that indicates a service/ oil change is due?

I had this issue and it couldn't be reset by 2 different garages, although I didn't ask for a refund as they completed the service/ changed the battery as requested.

Eventually took to a different garage for a different issue, I think the MOT and mentioned the light. They very quickly diagnosed that it couldn't be reset as it was actually displaying for a fault. (I think it was a faulty thermostat.) Once they replaced the thermostat, the light went out.

Bit like my friend who HAS to only use a certain screen wash...because her car manufacturers told her to... she pays 3 times the normal price of screen wash.

Sounds like a shit garage to me. Most diagnostic gear should be able to do something as basic as reset the service indicator. Tell us the make at least.

This.
most independent garages spend thousands on tech to be able to do this sort of basic stuff.
i wouldn’t expect a discount, but I wouldn’t go back there. I’d get a recommendation for somewhere else

Unless they didn't actually service it at all....

I bet they need to change the oil filter

I've apparently had my oil filter changed at every service, and yet when I took it to a new garage they actually changed it and the light went off for the first time! The old garage were happy to charge me for it but never actually did it.

They also claimed to have done my pollen filters as an extra but when I did them myself -a really easy 3 min job there were needles from the pine tree I used to park under before we moved house.

Mine's a Vauxhall Zafira, for example, and if I want to turn the front passenger airbag off, it has to go to the main dealership. Right pain in the arse!

This is true. My dp is a mechanic and he has a portable computer which he connects to the car and it diagnoses faults as well as resets lights after a service. I wouldn't expect a discount though

The light wont cause any problem, beyond being an irritation (don't let it distract you).

I think the garage is feeding you nonsense tbh.

All garages - not just official dealerships - should have the ability to put off warning lights on cars.

There is no reason why only an official dealer should be able to do it, and especially not after the court ruling (years ago) that drivers were entitled to get their car serviced anywhere they like.

It sounds like the garage do not have the required 'thing' for your model of car (its like an electronic device which plus into the car) and cant be bothered to get one.

In the first instance, I would nip into another garage explain the situation and ask if they can get the light off for you.

Say you are willing to pay, but I expect they would do it for nothing as it should only take moments. if they are not busy at the time, it shouldn't be an issue.

Use google reviews to find a reputable garage to try, or ask on here.

Changing the oil filter won’t extinguish/reset the service indicator.

Of course the light is now a fault. It can't do its job, which is to inform you when there is an issue with car's oil. So you'd be very unwise to just leave it like that.

Perhaps they haven't completed the service properly?

If the light stays on how will you know when the next oil change is required? On my car the handbook says the service light comes on based on a number of factors not just the mile's covered e.g. type of driving - short distances versus motorway, time since last oil change etc.

THEY should get it reset for you if they say they have completed the service.

YABU to expect a discount from the garage TBH, they did what they were asked to do — a service. I hear you that it's annoying though, and ultimately I'd want it reset too. Otherwise you're reliant on remembering/making a note re time and mileage next time it needs servicing.

If you post the make and model here you might get some more helpful suggestions. You could also try asking on a Pistonheads forum. (I know... but bear with me.) There are specialised boards for many makes on there, including some weird stuff as well as the common ones. You might encounter some people who are experienced with the make and model you have, who have a route to resetting the service light. I've had good advice on there previously about very specific electronics issues on my cars. As long as you avoid the News, Politics and Economics board — which is basically Combat 18 without the whimsy — it's fine over there.

It's a 10yo car.
Any respectable garage will have the OBD reader to reset the service light for any common model of that age. What obscure combination of make and model has stumped this one?

No of course I wouldn't expect a discount !

I have an OBD2 reader which connects to an app called Torque and allowed me to see and then clear if safe/needed my engine lights on my old car. Haven't needed it yet on new one but was under the impression the OBD2 readers were universal for all cars made after the late 90s. I think Argos sell them, mine is a Bluetooth version and about £6 on amazon. Unless you have a Tesla or something I'd expect any garage or mechanic to be able to do this.

(Bought mine initially because a recurrent fault in my sensors meant I was spending £95 every couple of months to have it read and cleared at Toyota - bugger that! But did also have access to my very knowledgeable car club at the time too).

Hi @HollyDayDream I would complain to the UK main dealer and explain that preventing a suitably qualified local mechanic from resetting the light is in breach of anti-trust laws.

Pp are correct that diagnostic equipment costs thousands, this is reflected in the price. If this is a one man band he might not have access to the equipment.
To the pp, changing the oil filter will not reset the light, the light can be reset on vehicles without doing the service.