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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To think that mechanics are thieves and liars ...

39 replies

Rosieeo · 10/08/2009 15:16

Even though they sound reasonable?

How can suspension ROT??? What the bloody hell is GREEN CORROSION in my fuse box? What, and where, IS my fuse box and what has it got to do with anything?

Why is an MOT that was supposed to cost £35 now going to cost me nearly £500?

And am I wrong to secretly blame the bearer of said bad news, namely the mechanic blokey? Or is it actually my fault for knowing sweet fa about cars and actually hating them with a passion for draining my pockets on a regular basis?

OP posts:

pjmama · 10/08/2009 15:37

After I passed my driving test and started looking for a car, I remember my dear old Dad saying to me "Once you buy a car, you'll never have any money!"

I have no idea what the mechanics are talking about either, I just hand over my credit card and weep a bit!

Tamarto · 10/08/2009 15:40

Suspensions rot? i was told they cracked, if they are that delicate why not warn people?

My last MOT cost the guts off £500 too and a new battery as while the mechanic fixed the car he drained the battery too.

Original poster

Rosieeo · 10/08/2009 15:42

Exactly, it's as though they just have direct access to my bank account. And I'm so useless that I can't even question it and have no idea if I'm being taken for a ride or not!

I think once the hysteria has died down I might cry a bit too.

OP posts:

thesouthsbelle · 10/08/2009 15:42

green corrossion in your fuse box I would imagine is when there's water in it and has corroded the connections insdie. it's usually found in the car (under the dash) or just inside the bonnet.

MOT's typically are £50 as standard (least that's mine when it's an easy one)

Suspension I didn't think rotted but that might be how's he's explained it to you so you understand. I it does go thou. Whta you have to ask yourself is how old is the car, how much do you use it and also have you had any 'big jobs' done it previously?

fwiw not all mechanics are rip off merchants - althou that said there's 2 I trust, one's my uncle the other is my cousin, wouldn't use any other garage after being stung in wales by a bodge job man who knackered my exhaust up.

if you're in the portsmouth area i'll gladly tell you the details.

thesouthsbelle · 10/08/2009 15:43

tam - did he not offer to charge it up for you? he should have been able to charge it up, (or more to the point why didn't he disconnect it?)

lilacclaire · 10/08/2009 15:44

I've just went bush at a garage place over the phone, I could have started this thread.
I didn't give them any money though, just swore and shouted a lot and called them lying moneygrabbing idiots....! (this was after being mucked about since last week, each time them telling me it was going to cost more and more)

Original poster

Rosieeo · 10/08/2009 15:45

I have no idea Tamarto, he just said that it was rotten, 'as bad as I've ever seen it' and wrote DANGEROUS on my feedback/potential bill.

The extra battery is just salt in the wound!

I suppose I should be grateful it isn't the head gasket bit, even I know that's bad ... or at least, that's what I've been told

OP posts:

SoupDragon · 10/08/2009 15:45

Your fuse box is under the bonnet somewhere and is a box with the fuses in for all the electrical stuff in your car.

Rot = rust

It's a bit harsh to call mechanics thieves and liars simply because your car is falling apart.

My car is going to fail badly this year as I know there is possibly £1k of work needed. [sigh]

SoupDragon · 10/08/2009 15:47

I had excessive play in my ball joints one year, a dodgy tracking rod last year and trouble with my bushes another year

OrmIrian · 10/08/2009 15:49

I very much doubt they are cheating you. IME MOT's very very rarely just cost the MOT fee. Because they find out all the things that have been going wrong since the MOT. Trick is to buy a new car or have an old one and get it serviced regularly.

So yes you are wrong to blame the mechanic.

BTW I am feeling a bit sore as we have just had to replace the brake pump and various other minorr bits. It cost 484 but only 72 was labour. He was working on the car for best part of a day all in all - so how was he cheating us? I suspect you only need to look at the cost of the parts to realise you are being unfair. Cars are expensive. Tis a simple and very sad fact.

Original poster

Rosieeo · 10/08/2009 15:50

thesouthsbelle, that actually makes sense, there is often a sloshing sound when I first move my car. God, I should have known this was my fault!

I'm oop noorth unfortunatley, or I'd take you up on that. The car's 5 years old now and I suppose I shouldn't complain as I haven't had anything else done to it apart from new tyres and a couple of coils (? no idea, something to do with it misfiring) replacing.

lilaclaire, good on you for sticking up for yourself, I'm so embarrassed that I think I just stand there looking wet.

OP posts:

oldraver · 10/08/2009 15:55

I seriously suspect at one MOT the mechanic either lied or sabotaged my car. I took it in for MOT they knew it had previously failed, had work done it and bought back for re-MOT. The guy straight back out and said the brake fluid had 'just gushed out'as he put the car on the ramps and told me it was too dangerous to drive and refused to let me take it away.They were very insistant on keeping it, and they would phone me with the verdict and they would take me home. I queried this as I was totally confused as to how it could of happened, they just shrugged and intimated it was the previous mechanic.

I had asked if I should get the car towed back home and they refused to let me take it. What they had forgot was it was my brother that had repaired it (he's a Race Manager) and sent it to them for MOT as they were affiliated. My brother came to pick me up and in the meantime I had kicked up a fuss so much they bought my 'undrivable' car round to the carpark and insisted on pointing out the bolt that wasnt tightened. Originally the managerwas going to take me straight into th e workshop to see the car but he was hastily stopped by mechanic. All of their behaviour after I kicked up a fuss rang alarm bells especially as i told them my DB was coming to look, still not realising who he was. The manager and mechanic fell silent when my DB walked in and they actually said "ah, yes we forgot it was yours"

MorningTownRide · 10/08/2009 15:57

This is one of the MANY reasons I have never owned a car!

Dawnybabe · 10/08/2009 16:08

Rosi I think you're a bit unlucky! My car is 6 years old and I've never had a repair bill. It goes in for Mot, it comes out & I take it home. It's serviced every year and so far has had one new set of tyres in it's whole life! That's all I've ever replaced, everything else has been standard maintenance. Can't believe how much trouble some people have with their cars! Get a VW, that's my advice.

ShauntheSheep · 10/08/2009 16:10

Makes me so glad aI dont have a car. A bike I can manage to bodge fix on the whole but havent got a clue with a car.

I do know that bushes are the bits that hold the suspension in tho well they are on full suspension bikes anyway.

sb6699 · 10/08/2009 16:14

Is there not an "honesty scheme" for garages now. I think its a voluntary thing though.

mummyhill · 10/08/2009 16:20

What car is it?

Green corrosion is indeed where water has gotten into the fusebox and caused corrosion much like you get when a battery leaks.

There are parts of the suspension that can rust.

I am lucky in that I am married to a mechanic and he does all the work on our cars.

The problem with cars is that they can take a lot of time and money to keep in really good condition. We used to run old bangers before we had the kids and used to spend most of our weekends doing something to keep them on the road. These days we run 1 newer car which is more reliable and dh makes sure he makes any running repairs as soon as they come to his attention rather than leaving it for a while as it works out cheaper to do it there and then than leave it till it affects something else iyswim.

OrmIrian · 10/08/2009 16:27

Having always abused my cars mercilessly - ie never serviced them - I have finally learnt the lesson that taking a bit of care pays dividends. Our last car was N reg, we had it for 6 yrs and it didn't seriously let us down until the spring when it died .

Original poster

Rosieeo · 10/08/2009 17:04

It's a Renault Scenic mummyhill.

Now the rage has passed I can see I was a little unreasonable! I just hate everything about cars apart from how convinient they are: MOT, road tax, insurance, losing value the moment you buy them and with every passing moment, breaking down, constant faults, the list goes on. I honestly wish I didn't have to drive sometimes.

OP posts:

mummyhill · 10/08/2009 17:06

Well at least the body panels won't rust!

mummyhill · 10/08/2009 17:07

We've got the grand scenic and touch wood it has been great so far. We have only had to replace brake pads and get a puncture fixed. But then we have only had it for 18months LOL.

thesouthsbelle · 10/08/2009 17:09

ooh renult, I have one a megane and uncle (who's incidental an AA man) has a senic, both of us would NEVER get another one again. the washer pump seems to go a lot on them.

failng that if you have a rough idea of things that are wrong you can always get bits from a scrappy (assuming it's not big work that needs doing) and i've always found places like quick fit, the dealerships etc cost so much more, where as if you find a little back street one usually they're really good and don't tend to charge the earth.

that said thou my rear shoes went this year for my MOT, plus 3 new tyres and a few other bits, even with my cousin doing it on 'family rates' it was still over £230 all in incl the £50 for the MOT.

LIZS · 10/08/2009 17:21

We've just had the thread on the sump "go" on our Scenic. They discovered it when they started to remove it to do the oil change , then couldn't get it back on when we said we rather think about it before agreeing to them changing it so we had no alternative. Apparently it can just happen Fortunately we don't clock up sufficient mileage for it to need servicing very often.

scratchet · 10/08/2009 17:47

I have a 4 year old pug with low milage and the fly wheel has just gone. Quoted £970 with the peugeot garage but only £550 with local mechanic who we usually use.

Have since found out that a fly wheel should not go on such low milage and that it is a common problem with the model of car we have. Am furious about it and wouldn't touch a peugeot again, appears their parts are made of chocolate or something and are bloody expensive too.

BouncingTurtle · 10/08/2009 18:06

Well you would buy a French car ;)

What I would do if I were you, is try looking for some owners clubs for your car, and have a chat with the people on there. They would be able to tell you if suspension corrosion is typical in a peugeot of that age.

www.clubpeugeotuk.org/ This is the official UK Peugeot owners club there are forums on here, might be worth a look.

Both my Dad & and my ex boss had 307s which they bought arounf 5-6 years ago... and severely regretted as they both suffered various mechanical failures, in fact my dad's suspension had similar problems to yours. Funnily enough they both went and bought Fords!!

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