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Original poster

I need a car expert....please asap

20 replies

KatyMac · 19/11/2008 12:22

The garage has stuffed me up

I booked the car in for the gear box to be repaired one of these fancy electronic ones

The phoned and said while they were taking the drive shaft out they removed the thread & we need a new drive shaft £150 plus VAT

Is this reasonable in a 4 yr old car?

OP posts:
Original poster
KatyMac · 19/11/2008 12:29

bump

OP posts:
gscrym · 19/11/2008 12:34

I wouldn't have thought so. Is it the dealer of the car you've bought that's fixing it or a local garage? Might be worth a call to the manufacturers to speak to them about this. They may do something as an act of good will. If the car is high mileage, then they may say that the age is irrelevent. If it's low mileage then I wouldn't expect the drive shaft to fail. The other thing you could do is call the AA and ask them for advise.

Original poster
KatyMac · 19/11/2008 12:41

Dealer

about 32000 I think

OP posts:
Marne · 19/11/2008 12:42

Can i ask what car it is?

Original poster
KatyMac · 19/11/2008 12:57

SMART Fourfour

OP posts:
gscrym · 19/11/2008 12:58

Based on average mileage being 12k per year, it's not high mileage. I'd be very suspicious that they had damaged something taking the bits off and are passing it off as wear and tear. Unfortunately it's not something you can prove. It's not as if you can drive the car away now with the broken drive shaft.

gscrym · 19/11/2008 12:59

Contact SMART and ask them about it. Also ask if there have been any recalls related to this that may not have been passed on to you.

SoupDragon · 19/11/2008 12:59

Didn't Hulababy have problems with the gearbox on her Smart car? More than once IIRC.

Original poster
KatyMac · 19/11/2008 13:02

DId she?

OP posts:
SoupDragon · 19/11/2008 13:04

one thread

stardazzle · 19/11/2008 13:04

hulababy had loads of problems with her smart, will email her and ask her if the gearbox was one of them and get her to look here later.

gscrym · 19/11/2008 13:05

See if you can find a forum with SMART owners. I found that very helpful when I was having issues with my clio.

stardazzle · 19/11/2008 13:14

hula says it was her clutch that went not the gerabox, if you do a search on her name around halloween last year you should find her thread on it.

mommy6 · 19/11/2008 14:13

Just read the OP to my dh,he said the garage have most likely took it off with a airgun.This would damage the thread on the drive shaft.Dh said garage have done the damage they should put it right.The thread on a drive shaft is to chunky to damage if removed properly.Some times the thread is left handed and if so and they use a airgun set to right hand it would rip the thread off.HTH

Original poster
KatyMac · 19/11/2008 15:36

grrr

I am not a happy bunny - the garage knows this & has offered a discount - I am waiting to see if I can get a bit more off

OP posts:
Hulababy · 20/11/2008 21:12

Our original issue

Original problem - thread 2

Hulababy · 20/11/2008 21:16

Was clutch and fly wheel that went

Original poster
KatyMac · 22/11/2008 22:24

Not a clue what went wrong with ours - but then mine is a lot older 42000 miles (I checked)

OP posts:
LuckySalem · 22/11/2008 22:25

That's way too young a car to have lost a driveshaft - unless your a mad boy racer who's bombing it around the back fields at night!!

Original poster
KatyMac · 25/11/2008 21:39

WOW

SMART have just refunded me more than half what they charged me - as apparently it is partly under warrantee

OMG

OP posts:
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