Newsflash, tyre charing mokeys screw up oil change. More details at 10!
Would you go and get your flu vaccination at a vets? No? Then why get your oil changed at a tyre place?
Well, some of us are actually satisfied customers, but it depends on if you know the people too! Don't generalize..
I could say main dealer screws up oil change, national tyres spot oil leak, put correct grade of oil in, do job properly. And I hasten to add, TODAY, national tyres can change my discs and pads, chevrolet dealer " can't get the parts till after easter".
secondly they do oil changes for me every 5000 miles, no problems, and £52.70 instead of £150 at the main dealers, and that is on top of the £250 annual service for the car,
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Newsflash, tyre charing mokeys screw up oil change. More details at 10!
Would you go and get your flu vaccination at a vets? No? Then why get your oil changed at a tyre place?
do you know of any garages that just do oil changes and nothing else?. Why wouldnt I take it there, they have all the kit and advertise oil changes.
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do you know of any garages that just do oil changes and nothing else?. Why wouldnt I take it there, they have all the kit and advertise oil changes.
Most dealers have a "fast-fit" branch that do oil changes and the like, and give you a proper stamp in your book. Vauxhall have their "Masterfit", for example.
Does the phrase "all the gear and no idea" mean anything to you?
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I let a Public Sector Business Manager, work shy desk jockey do all of the servicing on my car.... thats correct, I do it all myself.... :)
To the OP, if the filter hadn't leaked over your drive then you would never have known (for a good while at least) that the "wrong" (wrong for you) filter had been used... plus they didn't state what filter they would be using prior to doing the work and you never asked. So I think they are within rights to use the filter they choose.
As someone said, if you want a particular one using then go and buy it and supply it to the fitters, and next time go to someone you know will use the parts you want them to use.
If I was the garage, i'd fix the problem (replacement unipart filter) and then refund the money paid as a good-will gesture towards the oil on your drive....
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Years ago, I had two national chains carry out a simple oil/filter change on a Vauxhall Senator and then a Vauxhall Astra - I should have learnt the first time as the filter was the wrong internal specification and the oil was the wrong grade - second time it was just the oil the wrong grade.
Never again.
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I have just had Kwikfit swap my tyres over from winter to regular. Very simple procedure. It took them 3.5 hours and they haven't inflated them to the pressure they're supposed to be. Watching three Kwikfitters try to put my winter tyres in the boot of my car so I could take them home was like watching small children do a jigsaw. I actually had to go out and help, as they couldn't close the boot either (it has a tricky catch, but nothing too mind-boggling).
I should have taken it to ATS as the lads in my local branch are nice and they know what they're doing.
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I let a Public Sector Business Manager, work shy desk jockey do all of the servicing on my car.... thats correct, I do it all myself.... :)
To the OP, if the filter hadn't leaked over your drive then you would never have known (for a good while at least) that the "wrong" (wrong for you) filter had been used... plus they didn't state what filter they would be using prior to doing the work and you never asked. So I think they are within rights to use the filter they choose.
As someone said, if you want a particular one using then go and buy it and supply it to the fitters, and next time go to someone you know will use the parts you want them to use.
If I was the garage, i'd fix the problem (replacement unipart filter) and then refund the money paid as a good-will gesture towards the oil on your drive....
Struggling to understand your point are you trying to be amusing? I service my car but have just had a back op (but you didnt read that) so let some cretins do it by mistake.
If they advertise a price for a Lexus oil change with filter, then I would expect the parts supplied to be of sufficient quality to do the job...clearly they are not..so they shouldnt just fit the parts 'they choose', they should fit parts that do the job.
They are to blame ' National Tyres..'.not the customer...me because I failed to rock up with a part I knew was guaranteed to do the job.
I have never in 30 years had an oil filter leak on me or not fit....they messed up.
Edited by doog on 04/04/2012 at 20:30
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I have never in 30 years had an oil filter leak on me or not fit....they messed up.
Doog, thats what i said, National tyres should fit a filter that fits properly, if the unipart one doesn't fit they should refund you.. phone head office in Glasgow and speak to them, my local national manager agrees that you should not be dealt with like that! if you need the number its 0141 632 3222., Let us know what happens (please).
Final note, national mostly use Unipart and have few problems, From my own days with Rover we used a lot of unipart service parts with few problems. Unipart will surely be pleased to get your comments. if it was a unipart and not a bleu-print filter that is! (the blueprint one would still be under a unipart part number though, so check before going further.
Edited by OldRoverboy on 04/04/2012 at 20:47
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I have never in 30 years had an oil filter leak on me or not fit....they messed up.
Doog, thats what i said, National tyres should fit a filter that fits properly, if the unipart one doesn't fit they should refund you.. phone head office in Glasgow and speak to them, my local national manager agrees that you should not be dealt with like that! if you need the number its 0141 632 3222., Let us know what happens (please).
thanks for your advice OldRoverboy, this forum never used to be full of such sarcasm in years gone by-its gone right downhill. I will ring that number tomorrow. They have offered nothing at the branch, just had the same attitude as a few posters on here - almost as if it served me right for turning up at their branch for an oil change. The cheek of it.
cheers
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Doog, you may have read in other posts of mine of my former experience in the "trade" SWMBO is a doctor and i often take her colleagues cars for work at NT, but i know all the people here and they know too that they can't fool me and we have a good relationship. There are chevrolet main dealers who will never see my car, if it broke down close to one of them i would get it transported to the two near here who i trust. I also agree that there is a fair bit of sarcasm at times, but that is the problem with ageneral discussion site, the chevrolet site is nowhere near as bad as this site, but it's a problem we have to put up with.
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Doog, you may have read in other posts of mine of my former experience in the "trade" SWMBO is a doctor and i often take her colleagues cars for work at NT, but i know all the people here and they know too that they can't fool me and we have a good relationship. There are chevrolet main dealers who will never see my car, if it broke down close to one of them i would get it transported to the two near here who i trust. I also agree that there is a fair bit of sarcasm at times, but that is the problem with ageneral discussion site, the chevrolet site is nowhere near as bad as this site, but it's a problem we have to put up with.
To be fair, i did come on all guns blazing :-) . Ive only tended to post over the last 10 years when things have gone wrong - that doesnt happen much with the Lex.
One thing of interest was that the manager stated these cheap oil changes were loss leaders from Head Office, the idea being they find other faults tyres etc. He said when the faults are pointed out the customers rarely get them done so he felt they were a waste of time and he was losing money on these deals.
He told me to keep an eye on my Kumho's as his had split after 10 laps on a track day.I assured him I wouldnt be doing any track days soon but thanked him for his concern.
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One thing of interest was that the manager stated these cheap oil changes were loss leaders from Head Office, the idea being they find other faults tyres etc.
Do these 'fast-fit' style places still generate work by sticking a screwdriver through your cv boot whilst it is on the ramp before pointing it out to you in a bid to create more work?
Along with other well known con-tricks...
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Do these 'fast-fit' style places still generate work by sticking a screwdriver through your cv boot whilst it is on the ramp before pointing it out to you in a bid to create more work?
Along with other well known con-tricks...
Now drop-link gaiters are part of the MOT (as from January) and take 10 mins a side to replace - expect to see the screwdriver trick employed with much gusto, along with dodgy quick-fit centres surprisingly having new ones in stock...
Previously, if suspention link gaiters/seals was split, as long as the ball joint was still free from play, they couldn't fail you.
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I've bought badly stamped filters before in the distant past, the usual carp that an accessory shop sells.
TBH the car in question is not the sort of car i would entrust to just anyone, extremely fortunate the leak was seen before the car could be driven with low oil and with reduced pressure.
Things too good to be true usually are.
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TBH the car in question is not the sort of car i would entrust to just anyone, extremely fortunate the leak was seen before the car could be driven with low oil and with reduced pressure.
Things too good to be true usually are.
too right and a timely reminder, lesson learnt.
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thanks for your advice OldRoverboy, this forum never used to be full of such sarcasm in years gone by-its gone right downhill. I will ring that number tomorrow. They have offered nothing at the branch, just had the same attitude as a few posters on here - almost as if it served me right for turning up at their branch for an oil change. The cheek of it.
cheers
Oh dear, taking offence over of some percieved sarcasm that actually wasn't......
I appreciate its difficult to tell with the layout of the forum, but my comment about letting a business manager service my car was actually in your defence, in response to ChannelZ's comment ^^^^
The rest of my comment was hardly controversial / sarcastic - for the avoidance of doubt - if you are only paying £19.99 for the service then you shouldn't expect a Toyota part. Thats not to say you shouldn't expect a correct, functioning part for the job... and so I do agree that they should re-do the job correctly (and as I said, I would refund too if it was me....)
I'm repeating my post above so will shut up now... lesson learned, don't try to help people.
Edited by Man without a plan on 04/04/2012 at 22:15
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Plenty of Jag owners use Natuonal Tyres, but the caveat is to provide an OEM filter, it is still cheaper than a main dealer doing an oil change.
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Plenty of Jag owners use Natuonal Tyres, but the caveat is to provide an OEM filter, it is still cheaper than a main dealer doing an oil change.
many thanks and worth bearing in mind
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thanks for your advice OldRoverboy, this forum never used to be full of such sarcasm in years gone by-its gone right downhill. I will ring that number tomorrow. They have offered nothing at the branch, just had the same attitude as a few posters on here - almost as if it served me right for turning up at their branch for an oil change. The cheek of it.
cheers
Oh dear, taking offence over of some percieved sarcasm that actually wasn't......
I appreciate its difficult to tell with the layout of the forum, but my comment about letting a business manager service my car was actually in your defence, in response to ChannelZ's comment ^^^^
The rest of my comment was hardly controversial / sarcastic - for the avoidance of doubt - if you are only paying £19.99 for the service then you shouldn't expect a Toyota part. Thats not to say you shouldn't expect a correct, functioning part for the job... and so I do agree that they should re-do the job correctly (and as I said, I would refund too if it was me....)
I'm repeating my post above so will shut up now... lesson learned, don't try to help people.
Perhaps if you want to 'help people' dont be so patronising. You state the filter was 'wrong for me'- it was actually wrong for the car.
You stated I didnt ask what filter would be used - why would I do this?It was only afterwards that I recalled there may be an issue with filters when my drive was covered in oil.
The 'service' as you call it was £38 as I stated in my original post not £19.99 (where did you get that from or was it another 'funny')
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Could it be that the correct filter was used; it just happened to either be faulty or fitted incorrectly?
I was thinking of taking my car to NT for an oil change in the near future; I think i'll just pay my local indi £50 instead
Whilst I can understand that the offer is a loss leader, they should still do the job correctly, using the correct parts for the job. If this happened to me I would take it back and not leave until I spoke to the regional/area manager and got my money back, along with an apology!
I remember a similar thing happened to my mate who used another national chain for a cheap oil change; when he took it back they became abusive. Luckily one of the other customers who was there at the time knew him - and the fact that he's a 3rd degree black belt :D.
Needless to say he got his apology
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and the fact that he's a 3rd degree black belt :D.
So, if you're not purposely colliding with people, you're threatening to beat them up?! :)
Hope I don't cross you on the road.
Edited by unthrottled on 04/04/2012 at 22:55
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I'm not a black belt - my friend is!
As it happens - I have little tolerance to incompetance. Everyone makes mistakes; it's how we deal with them. I dont deal well with aggressive behaviour as my violent side tends to emerge
Edited by balleballe on 04/04/2012 at 23:00
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I took the damage limitation route in the end...let them do the job and get the car back in one piece.
I have all the evidence I need ( including photos ) to take it up with National Tyres.
One thing that struck me was that whatever corporate image is being spread by Head office, it isnt being filtered down to the ground. In this case, they were a law unto themselves.
When I collected the car, a child of about 12 was tightening up a customers wheel bolts..to 120...apparently!! The customer was a stranded holidaymaker with 3 kids, I hope he made it home.
Edited by Avant on 04/04/2012 at 23:42
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It's OK to name a supplier and to state facts, but I've taken out a line in the post above which was a bit too personal.
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Perhaps if you want to 'help people' dont be so patronising.
Wow, that inferiority complex is working overtime.
You state the filter was 'wrong for me'- it was actually wrong for the car.
Do you have proof that it was wrong for the car, or (as others have said, was it just fitted wrongly or faulty. You even stated in your OP that the guy said it was "tight on so must be a bad fit" which would indicate to me 'correct part, fitted badly'
You stated I didnt ask what filter would be used - why would I do this?
Kind of obvious, if you wanted a specific filter to be fitted (i.e. mention in your OP of wanting a Toyota part) then you should have checked they would use one. If not then you could find somewhere that did.
The 'service' as you call it was £38 as I stated in my original post not £19.99 (where did you get that from or was it another 'funny')
You seem obsessed that I am trying to be funny or take the p*** in my posts when all I am trying to do is help. The £19.99 was a mistype - the problems that happen when reading multiple websites at once.
If you deal so agressively with someone that a) defends you against an unfair post and then b) agrees with you, then how did you deal with the garage owner you took it back to? I'm not surprised he "didn't do customer service so well".
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No If's or buts
Fit a genuine oil filter only !!!!!!!!!!!!!! end off
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I'd suggest a very careful inspection to make sure they haven't done some bodge that'll rear its ugly head in the future.
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I'd suggest a very careful inspection to make sure they haven't done some bodge that'll rear its ugly head in the future.
I agree, two filters having the same fault isn't likely.
I hope someone hasn't mashed or cross threaded the fitting.
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No If's or buts
Fit a genuine oil filter only !!!!!!!!!!!!!! end off
I use Bosch filters on my Mondeo, they're dirt cheap from ECP. I get a few when I'm passing, and whatever oil that meets the specs that's on sale. 10 minutes DIY to change the oil and filter, and I don't even have to jack the car up. If parked at the garage door, I can reach under and do the work no problems.
I did use a Fram filter once, and a Halford's one once as well - one leaked a little, the other had what appeared to be tissue paper inside it as a filter media. Bosch from then on!
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No If's or buts
Fit a genuine oil filter only !!!!!!!!!!!!!! end off
Good advice, especially if you have a PSA car with the replaceable cartridge type filter (I thought they died with the Morris Minor!) pattern ones tend to collapse starving the engine of oil.
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Good advice, especially if you have a PSA car with the replaceable cartridge type filter (I thought they died with the Morris Minor!)>>
You'll find them in MB's and BMW's too.
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Modern cars - "designed" by accountants! Are spin-ons really that much more expensive? I guess we know the answer! Probably 50p against 70p (to the manufacturer). Perhaps it's to put DIYers off doing their own oil changes?
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Modern cars - "designed" by accountants! Are spin-ons really that much more expensive? I guess we know the answer! Probably 50p against 70p (to the manufacturer). Perhaps it's to put DIYers off doing their own oil changes?
I prefer the replacement cartrdige type.
You can see and feel the quality of the filter itself, not judge the filter by the shade of micro thin paint or how Germanic the brand sounds.
The filter housing is always of good quality too, not some fantastically thin replacement that might well puncture at the slightest knock should road debris get thrown up, or indeed rust as i have seen many times...remember the things twisting up like an empty bean can if the previous replacement was overtightened.
I think the spin on type is more DIY friendly, thats a good point, thought it might not be such a good idea if Mr DIY buys his oil as well as his filter by price alone.
Thinking back to the A and B series Austin Morris engines, they could be fiddly to get the thing to seal, the O ring was narrow and could easily be twisted on fitting.
Edited by gordonbennet on 07/04/2012 at 16:52
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Did you ever experience the joy a 'standing' spin-on filter on the B series? It fitted with the open end facing down and because of that it had to have a non-return valve so it retained its contents when the engine stopped. When it was spun off, its contents went................
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Did you ever experience the joy a 'standing' spin-on filter on the B series? It fitted with the open end facing down and because of that it had to have a non-return valve so it retained its contents when the engine stopped. When it was spun off, its contents went................
Can't recall the upside down filters on **B series Tom, but i remember vividly the insane siting of the filter on the 'side' of the 1360ish engine fitted to Pug 205 or was it Renault 14 or both?...unfortunately the engine was tilted probably 75% from upright and the filter ending up on top, loosening the filter saw its contents fill every casting nook and cranny, brilliant.
**i had Land Crabs and a Princess with the B, my previous B's and C's were banger raced and oil changes were not usually part of pre race prep...;)
I could cry at some of the cars we destroyed that way, Westminsters, P4 Rovers, Zodiacs etc.
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Good advice, especially if you have a PSA car with the replaceable cartridge type filter (I thought they died with the Morris Minor!)>>
You'll find them in MB's and BMW's too.
And Vauxhalls, at least on the X18XE1 engine and maybe some of the V6's.
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