my car is worse after service

[pinkynomore]

Hello not sure how to use this site, so just going to say jist of problem no.1 I have an old M reg VW golf, had it for
3 years always starts and good runner. It had tyrouble starting had it taken to garage I've used for the last 3 years. Unbeknownst to
me it had changed from NAC to Halfords and the managers had changed too. The problem was split throttle housing, they fixed it and
told me it also needed new battery and starter motor, as it was near MOT and I was worried about a rust issue ....
1:43 [pinkynomore]: had I asked them to check if it was sound, it was so I said go ahead and also cambelt needed changing, it also
needed 2 front tyres. Had work done cost £600ish and was running like silk, then after a week It started having starting problems but
only on first use, took it back to garage, they thought it was a faulty wire in ignition and I was just starting it too 'feebly' bearing in mind
I have been driving said car for 3 years and had no such problem with 'feeble starting' before, was near to ..
1:50 [pinkynomore]: MOT so as it was running so smooth aside from starting issue, I said MOT and service. DUring MOT they had to
align headlamps,change nearside bearings on rear wheel and nearside track rod, they gave it a full service cost a further £430. Got it
back and it is driving horribly gears feel wrong it's making strange whining noise when I hit 40 mph and just is not smooth took it back,
they said some brake valve hadn't been tightened ( still having starting probs that I don't see how it can be ......
1:53 [pinkynomore]: loose connection as it only happens on firsat start) Still driving horribley feels like gears, they test drove it and
told me it's fine but it doesn't feel fine, finally reversing onto my drive it stalls and won't start, taken in again it's the coil another £53
quid no starting problem now but is making noises when driving it never made pre service or ever before. What can I do, I feel like
they saw me coming

[Caspar]

Re: my car is worse after service

When you say it's making weird noises, where are the noises coming from and what sort of noise are they (knocking, grinding, whining etc....)? Are the noises there constantly or do they come and go? If they come and go, is there a pattern to them -eg- going round a roundabout, turning left or on steep left hand bend etc....

[Guest]

Re: my car is worse after service

When you take your car to a garage for servicing or repair, you are making a contract with the garage owner and the laws you can look to for protection are the Supply of Goods and Services Act 1982 and the Sale and Supply of Goods to Consumers Regulations 2002. These laws give you statutory rights and you are entitled to expect that the work be carried out with reasonable care and skill.

If the garage replaces a part during the service or repair, you are entitled to expect that it be of satisfactory quality, free from minor defects and it should also be durable and safe and finally, fit for its intended purpose. If a fault has not been correctly diagnosed or not repaired properly, you should allow the garage the opportunity to rectify it. If the garage fails to do so, you may be entitled to get the work done elsewhere and recover the cost from the garage.

How did you pay the garage for the work that they have done so far?

[Tools]

Re: my car is worse after service

If the wheel bearings have been changed it is possible they may have had to remove the driveshafts. If so the gearbox oil may not have been topped up fully causing the gears to become difficult to engage and may even be responsible for the whirring noise. Check the gearbox oil level or get them to do it for you.