I own a 2000 Audi A6 2.4 SE Avant which is great for 364 days a year, but then I have to take it to the garage. I know I have to stomach the expense and have to sort out insurance and tax in the next month, and need to get it serviced and MOTd now. Money is too tight to mention (couldn't really afford the car, but have never been able to afford to change it as I need it pretty much every day, and never had the cash to be able to facilitate such an operation). Been scrimping and saving (and stressing) since the end of the summer in order to afford to get it all done ? let's just say there was no Christmas for me! Well, last week the time came and I took it to a new garage (after the feeling that my previous one had been ripping me off), hoping for everything to be straightforward, although not necessarily expecting it to be so. Diagnostic and MOT first and the news was bad; words like 'catastrophic' and 'uneconomical to repair' were not what I wanted to hear. The most sickening thing about this was that almost all the things that caused the 'fail' were work that had been, supposedly, done the previous year. Now I don't know what to do and the panic is setting in. I hope someone on the site (which has always been a place I've come for honest advice from John) can help confirm what I believe and maybe give some advice on where I go from here.
I want to give the full history of work done/not done as I think it tells it's own story, but for those who don't want to read all that, the basic questions are:
Should a track rod fail only 3600 miles after being replaced?
Should a CV gaiter fail after less than 6000 miles?
Should my rear brake pads come up for an advisory (wearing thin) after 9000 miles?
Now, for those of you with the time and interest to read, here is the history (I think it says a lot!):
August 2006 109,625 miles went to my local garage to do the work after finding out that gaiters, track rods, etc. needed to be done. Left a note with the garage as comprehensive as someone without all the lingo could manage (bearing in mind I see the front end as a single entity!):
'Front suspension rebuild (shocks don't need replacing though), so all tracking arms/wishbones, bushes plus all other ancillary bits needed for build. Front left CV joint. Rear discs and pads.'
Aside from servicing, MOT, etc., bill ended up as follows:
To replace rear brake discs and pads £185
To replace 1 x CV boot £120
To replace 1 x track rod end £113.50
Total bill £723
Next visit January 2008, less than 6k miles later and another MOT fail, reasons being:
Anti-lock braking system warning lamp indicates an ABS fault
Offside track rod end ball joint has excessive play
Nearside front constant velocity joint gaiter split
Offside front constant velocity joint gaiter split
I asked why he hadn't done both track-rod ends the last time and he very helpfully told me he was trying to 'save me money'. The ABS fault was not investigated because the warning light was intermittent, he didn't have the computer to do the diagnostic (apparently shares it with another garage), then put through MOT when the light wasn't flashing. Again aside from servicing, MOT, etc., bill ended up as follows:
Replace 1 x (offside) track rod end £100
Replace 2 x CV gaiters £260
Total bill £774
Now to the present (finally)!
January 2009 118,773 miles. Thought I'd try a different garage after being singularly unimpressed by the previous oh so charitable attempts to save me money, just get a diagnostic and MOT so I knew where I stood (bearing in mind the tightness of my budget). I've given up expecting positive news from garages but was distraught when I received the call, then angry when given the reasons for the MOT fail:
Nearside and offside constant velocity joint excessively worn
Offside track rod end ball joint has excessive play
Anti-lock braking system warning lamp indicates an ABS fault
Nearside steering rack gaiter split
Advisory on rear brake pads 'wearing thin'
In spite of the new place being an Audi specialist, they didn't manage to give me a proper idea of what the ABS fault might be ('couldn't communicate with the computer'), but were scaring me with the fact it could be the pump, rather than just a sensor which I had hoped. This particular snippet of conversation was the one that brought up the horrible words (potential) 'catastrophic failure' for the ABS, and the suggestion that, to me is a very serviceable car, one that I drive conservatively (being an Audi, what else?), one that I HAVE to rely on suddenly being 'uneconomical to repair'. Couldn't believe it seemed to be exactly the same things all over again, things that had supposed to be done ? everything within the space of 9000 miles.
To me this truly is catastrophic. Can't afford to get the work done, can't afford to not get it done, can't afford to pick up a cheap 'beater' car to tide me over until all this is worked out.
If anybody here who has waded through this has any advice I would be hugely appreciative. Am I wrong to feel I have been horribly ripped-off? Have I good grounds for complaint? How do I get through this? Please, dear forum readers, HELP!
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That's a sorry tale. Where in the country are you, you might get a good reccomendation for a garage. If the work really needs doing that will affect the re-sale price if you want to offload, so my advice would be keep but at the lowesst possible cost.
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it does sound like the original garage has taken your £700 a year and done nothing! You seem to have the same experience as me when it comes to garages - it defies belief that some of them are still in business. Luckily I have found a 'reasonably' good one now - ask around at work, pub etc to see if someone can recommend one?
Regarding the work that needs doing 'again', have you asked the garage that has just looked at the car to see if the parts have actually been replaced and fit for purpose - if not you might have a case against the previous garage - a hint of trading standards might do wonders as if they have done this to your car,they have likely done it to countless others.
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When I was 19, I had a nice BMW because it was during the last recession they were cheap to buy but not to run. Garage after garage ripped me off at MOT time even though I really looked after the car and made sure everything was perfect and like you, on one occasion I found it would fail the next year on something that was supposed to have been replaced the year before (track rod end) but clearly hadn't.
I never have any problems these days and always get passes with mundane cars. Maybe your situation is a symptom of the recession and having an expensive but older car?
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I would agree with bbroomlea. It sounds like the original garage has simply failed to do the work you have paid them to do.
The real alarm bell for me is the repeated occurrence of the rear brake pad warning. To put this into context, I ran a Ford Focus from new to 99,000 miles and it never once had rear pads changed. Our current 1550kg people carrier has done 62,000 miles and is still on its original rear pads. This is not an outstaning feature of these particular vehicles, but the normal wear rate of rear brake friction material in normal use. If you had replaced them once during your ownership of the car, you shouldn't have to do it again.
I would level up with the new "good" garage and be honest with them. Tell them you have invoices for all this work quite recently and you didn't expect to have to fork out for it all again. Tell them you are going to speak to Trading Standards in relation to the former garage, and ask if they would be prepared to help you. Then call Trading Standards.
For what it's worth, the good mechanics I know (and there are plenty out there) hate these cowboys as much as the punters do, as it wrecks trust and reputations across the board.
Good luck.
Cheers
DP
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Thanks for all the replies so far - reassurance is great when things are looking so bleak! I know there are good, honest mechanics out there (seemed easier to find when I was riding bikes, but I guess it's all pretty much on show) - trouble is I do live in an area of London (W4) which is full of yummy-mummies and people to whom such expenditure is a mild inconvenience rather than a disaster; easy to list faults which are hidden and people are unlikely to question.
Provisional plan at the moment is (possibly) going to my main Audi dealership to get them to do a quick computer diagnostic (hoping they'll be able to identify the anti-lock problem so I know where I stand) and a proper inspection so I'm prepared. Trouble is, all the money I had been hoarding to get the car 'sorted' is going to get slowly eaten away; already spent almost a ton on the partial diagnostic and the failed MOT. My fear is that I won't be able to get it done before I have to get the car taxed and they've been clamping like crazy recently!
Anything, any clear opinions I can get are very much appreciated. I dread having to go to the original garage - I feel the burden is on me to show that they've let me down - it's always so easy for them to deny any responsibility. Got links ready for Trading Standards and the trade association they belong to.
I am grateful to all that have replied so far and hope to get as much feedback/opinion/advice as possible - so please keep it coming!
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Puppet, i'm not so sure that you've been turned over by the first garage.
Track rod ends, if one is worn most garage's would only change one, and some pattern parts of that type do not last very long i assure you.
The CV boot issue also has me wondering, i'm not too familiar with the Audi, i've always avoided them as i know they can be very expensive to maintain, and the dealer prices ludicrous.
Are there 4 CV boots on an Audi i'm wondering, 2 x inner and 2 x outer?
Some garage's used to fit sort of glue on boot kits i seem to recall without dismantling the hub and should the mechanic not fully clean and refill the joint with the correct grease early failure is imminent.
Is it possible the joint had run dry the first time, and the garage only refilled the joint and refitted a new boot to get another year out of it for you.
The ABS system is a potential money pit should the main system go down on any vehicle.
I assume you bought the car used, you don't know what sort of life or service competency the vehicle was subject to before your purchase.
My own MB indy was telling me recently that much of his work now is rebuilding the suspensions of cars coming in for service work, which he blames fairly and squarely on the state of the roads/speed humps etc.
Maybe it would be worth getting Audi to have a look at your car, unless you can find a competent indy you have trust in.
I can see holes in any argument you may have with the first garage, i'd be reluctant to go down the legal route, others may feel different.
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Feel very sorry for you.
I have a similar car in a Passat & have also just had both outer gaiters replaced, £62, admittedly from a friend who has his own garage, but certainly wouldn't expect to have paid more than twice that amount at an independant.
But I also live upt north & not in rip-off London.
Regarding your tax. If your current MOT is still valid, why not send the old tax disc back for a refund then buy a new one from the post office the same day. That would give you some breathing space to get the work done.
If the MOT lasts past 1st Feb, send the old disc back on the 31st Jan & buy a new disc to start from 1st Feb, you won't then lose any money as refunds are only for complete months.
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Bear in mind that it may be the second garage that's after your money. There are probably as many garages that fail when they should pass (greed) as do the opposite (sloppines).
I'd suggest you go back to the first garage who either won't have the gall to fail it on something they themselves repaired only a few thousand miles ago, or might do a deal if their original work was faulty.
I certainly think a second opinion is needed.
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The bottom line is that you cant afford to run a 2000 Audi A6 2.4 SE Avant. Its going to get more and more expensive. Get something cheaper to maintain and run.
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This is a case where leasing/PCP for a new small car makes perfect sense.You can never expect to run an Audi A6 with a maintenance budget of under 1k per year.A new C1/107 with 6000 miles a year will cost around a 100 PM with no unexpexted bills.Ditch the Audi.
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It's a bit late now I know, but always ask them to retain the old parts for inspection when you go to collect the car. That way they can't lie so easily about whether they have replaced the parts or not.
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It's a bit late now I know but always ask them to retain the old parts for inspection when you go to collect the car. That way they can't lie so easily about whether they have replaced the parts or not.
good idea, except.... prove the parts are off your car!
better idea, is to ask to look under the car so you can see that the parts have been replaced - new parts will be clean and old bits dirty.
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