>>Any thoughts anyone??
Did you notice Jud's reply in amongst it all ??
M.
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Yeh, I did cheers! But he wasn't sure!
I thought someone may have had experience of missing earth leads and the problems they can cause.
Jamie
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As part of the EU's ending of the 'block exemption' that is supposed to make cars in the UK sell for a similar price as inEurope (don't hold your breath!), the manufacturer's right to tie servicing and warranty repairs to their dealer franchise network is to be ended.
The consequence of this is that places such as fast fit outlets will be able to do your warranty work or servicing (if you wish) without invalidating your warranty!
Just a thought.
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I suppose it's just possible for a missing earth lead to affect the alternator, if the other points of earth contact between the engine and the body were intermittent (thus producing surges that could blow the rectifier diodes). However, this is an unlikely explanation if everything else was working normally, esp. the starter motor. Any condition powerful enough to blow up the alternator would almost certainly produce some collateral damage to electronics, too...
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Speaking as an onlooker we have these fast-fir places where I am, tires, mufflers, that stuff and no one seems to complain. Is it that these joints employ unskilled labor perhaps? If anyone wants to be a mechanic (or a spray painter, plumber, roofer, real estate saleman, aircon tech, other blue collar professional) where I come from he has to have a license issued by an appropriate professional body before he can get a job.
THat does not obviate incompetence, stupidity or plain error, but it does at least ensure that whoever works on your car or whatever has gone through a certified method of skills acquisition. An establishment hiring people who haven't risks being fined, and the customer thus has a comeback too of sorts.
There are still plenty of back street chop shops who flout the rules, buy off the inspectors etc, but yer pays yer money and takes yer choice. At least the ****-Fit outlets we have here (yes same names in many cases) are some what policed and there is some avenue of redress for the customer.
I don't know about Europe/UK, but if this is not the case and any old Joe Six-pack capable of rounding off your nuts with a mole-grip can be hired to work on your car then I would have thought the seat-warmers in Brussels ought be seizing on this opportunity eagerly as a chance to write a few more rain-forests' worth of door-stoppers alongside their other monumental treatises on the correct thickness of burger cartons etc.
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You mean over there muffler and brake 'shop owners are categorised (I nearly said catylised) with roofers, plumbers and estate agrnts? :-)
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He has to have a license to do his job, like you have one to drive your car, implying that he's met the standards set by the professional body covering what he does. This can be withdrawn by same. US has similar set up.
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But you have said in earlier posts Growler that Licences etc can be bought cheap?
Neccesity is the mother of invention and I have always thought that the Far Easterners have an inborn ability to adapt and make things work far better than we of puteh skin can, so a back streeter in your land is on par with an MB Trained mechanic?
DVD
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My point was if so many shops seems to be turning out lousy work then what is the quality of their people like, is there no minimum standard for hiring them or some form of regulation about who has to demonstrate what job skills before he is allowed to get his hands onha vehicle in a repair shop?
After all, this week he leaves off your ground strap, or breaks something underneath, next week he forgets your wheel nuts.....
THere seems not to be, otherwise why would you have a thread like this full of whinges about such places.
The MB place has its own trained people but that's an MB rule and I should hope so given what they charge. I mean an externally imposed set of standards. Like someone inspects your local curry house from time to time to make sure it's fit to east in.
Is it OK for your quick-fit shop to hire just anyone? Or does he get inspected from time to time by anyone, just like a restaurant does for its hygiene.
Of course e consistently lousy work=lousy management too. Another reason for inspection?
If my neighbour wants to be a roofing salesman he has to get a license. To do that he has to show he knows his job. If he consistently, say sells shoddy work, or cons someone and they complain and he is found seriously lacking he loses his license. Real estate, paramedic, air-con mechanic doesn't matter, same-same. Even if he got his license by the back door, you make a big complaint and he's still going to have to account for himself. Maybe he also gets found out about the way he got his license too.
Plenty of shoddy work here, but again my point is I can go to a third party and make a problem for this guy if he messes up my car. If he bought his license, then he's also going to have to buy himself off the hook as well if I file a formal complaint with the mayor's office, for example, so there is a sort of regulatory process at work.
So, the question again: I take my car round the corner near your place to get new tires, exhaust or whatever fitted. The clown that does it damages my car in the process (best case) or I have an accident as a result of his shoddy work (worst case).
What sanctions have I got to (a) get my own back and (b) to have the shop held up to others as a rotten service provider?
Here I do have some, seems you don't. That was all I was trying to say.
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Most "fast-fit" mechanics put a trolley jack under whatever part of the car is the most convenient, and this can cause a lot of damage. I can heartily recommend Ford dealer "Rapid Fit" departments which have to comply with Ford standards. The one I use (Ringways Doncaster) raise the whole car on a hoist. Four large rubber blocks are placed under the sills, and they don't even leave a mark. In addition, "Rapid Fit" prices are very competitive.
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Did I not read recently that Kwik-Fit were sold by Ford at a great loss back to bloke they bought it from not three years ago? Probably discussed in another thread - I haven't checked.
Quality could go either way.
So long as they keep filling my car with Mobil 1 for £34 that's OK.
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Yep - This is one thing Mark can't tell me off for! :)
I took my car to the Rapid Fit at Jennings Ford, Carville, Durham and I can honestly say that the guy there was the most helpful person I've come across in a main dealer environment. He even offered to fix my wheel alignment for free seeing as it was only a little bit out and the car was brand new! The prices are competitive and like has just been said, they use an excellent hoist system that does not damage the car at all. Good prices to. I will certainly be going back there to spend my hard earned cash...
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Interesting how things can differ, our local Rapid Fit was prosecuted by Trading Standards not six months ago for charging for work that was not done. Sounds like you have a good one near you.
as ever
Mark
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You can never be certain, it may be that I just happened to deal with the best mechanic in the place and that the rest will rob you blind! I don't really know, but I made sure to get his name so that I know who to ask for next time!
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I popped into Ford rapid fit in Yarmouth for an exhaust it was cheaper by miles than two other companies I asked for quotes. The service was excellent. I in common with many others have had bad experiences with other well known companies . One bunch of Nit-Wits wanted to fit a new manifold when they snapped a stud. So I drove the car home and popped in another stud in next to no time myself . The same bunch of Nit-Wits were about to disconnect my father in laws battery on an old Rover until I asked if they were going to use a memory saver it seems that were unaware of the need to do this. On another occasion I watched in horror as my wheel studs were subjected to a massive torque at the hands of a young tyre fitter .
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Daft question was your car a Ford Carl? Just if they only stocked Ford exhausts.
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Shold read (where's that EDIT button): Daft question was your car a Ford Carl? Just wondered if they only stocked Ford exhausts
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Boring Escort I,m afraid. They did say they could work on other
makes. There was a 5 series on the ramp next to mine .
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