Well my Kia Rio had its first service on Monday at a Kia garage. Once home found my hands were mucky from a dirty steering wheel, few black marks on the drivers side carpet and a loose oil pressure connector inside engine compartment. The inside of the car cleaned up OK and I have re-connected the connector but am thinking that it is a good job I looked under the bonnet to check. I'm going to contact the service dept. to see what they have to say about this.
{slight amendment to subject line}
Edited by Dynamic Dave on 09/04/2008 at 10:59
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Twice I have found dirty marks in car after service-first occasion was on mat on passenger side,was immediately given set of rubber mats and following day carpet was cleaned;next occasion found mark on passenger seat,it was immediately steam cleaned and was told by Service Manager that if stain could still be seen after cleaning,seat would be replaced-it didn't need to be.Two different dealers but both part of big Ford groups.
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Considering how much we pay for a "service" (usually just oil/filter change) I'd say that was totally unacceptable - I'd have gone back and asked them to sort it and expect at least an appology if not a little more....
Edited by b308 on 09/04/2008 at 10:00
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I agree. We have two cars and whenever I pick one of them up from service I can't help wondering whether I've got value for my money. And whether the job's been done right. I'm afraid I think that unless you make yourself a bit of a pain in the hatchback you just don't get a decent job done anymore.
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It is unacceptable and down to the individual mech who worked on the car as they are always provided with protection kit - even my local indy uses a decent seat cover and clean gloves when moving a car around.
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Totally unacceptable - I'd have got the car cleaned professionally and sent them the bill!
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I'm afraid I think that unless you make yourself a bit of a pain in the hatchback you just don't get a decent job done anymore.
That's a bit of a sweeping statement. I've never had any problems with Ford dealers, current or past.
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I'm pleased to hear it, but how would you know?
You can see a mark on the upholstery or a bit falling off, but if there's something more technical how do you know they've done what they say on the sheet?
I know it sounds cynical and admit it's a bit sweeping but the motor trade doesn't have a great reputation, does it?
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My DiL's 06 Civic was in for a oil change service and the garage washed it - well not quite washed - the young 16yr old was given the task and he must have had the brush on the ground - washing and polishing did not fix it - roof and all down ones side was re-sprayed.
As a result any car in for a service - I would say do not wash - I would however expect oily hand marks on steering wheel etc to be removed.
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............ the motor trade doesn't have a great reputation does it?
It does with me, and that's from over 40 years experience.
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Personally as long as the car is serviced correctly and no marks inside I don't really care if the car is washed etc - thats my job.
What bugged me is my Renault garage used to wash the car (sort of) but never managed to fix the problems!
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Hi Chrome ..
IMHO this is not acceptable.
Dont bother with the Service Manager go straight to the MD / Dealer Principal.
To have to reconnect stuff is really bad ....
You may want to write a recorded delivery letter to the MD / DP ... keep it factual and brief but close along the lines of "why should I come back to your dealership for next service / future purchase / recommendations to family and friends.
If it was my garage that had dropped the ball to this extent we would collect your car ... recheck the work ... give you a full valet .. and knock this bill of your next service bill .. makes you happy and we keep you as a customer (well till the next service at least)
Hope you get somewghere if you dont then you know where not to spend your hard earned next time around !
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Thanks for all the responses here!
I have left a message for the Service manager (was told that it was his day off today) describing the problems, expecting a phone call from him tomorrow. Will keep you informed as per the outcome. I work in hospitality and as such have the technical know-how for removing marks etc. I also service my motorbikes (Suzuki 1200 Bandit & MZ ETZ250) and used to service my cars until I was foolish enough to buy a new one requiring services for the warranty. The most important thing here is the loose connector IMO, it was undone to remove the oil filter cover (it is routed over the top of the cover). It was very obvious and I am glad that I checked, what worries me is that this hints at slapdash and lack of concentration. If I get no satisfactory explanation from the SM I will go to the MD. I am very much minded NOT go back there again anyway. I live 120 miles from the garage (who I also purchased the car from) , it is close to my parents house and as such it was convenient for me (this time) to have the service done by them.
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Oh really... Doesn't anyone know how to do a service properly any more?
When servicing a car - any car, but the newer and posher the more vital - it is imperative that the inside of the car is treated properly.
All the carpets [particularly if white] must be clearly marked with bootprints from the oil in the bottom of the pit. Grease [always black of course] must be carefully applied to: the handbrake, gearknob, the control stalks, the full circumference of the steering wheel, all interior and exterior door handles and the driver's window winder or button.
[There used to be discussions about the choke knob; but advances in technology by-passed that one without any clear resolution.]
If this vital part of the service isn't carried out - and the radio re-tuned to Radio 1; then the customer will twig that you haven't done the rest.....
I despair of the state of the trade these days.......
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My car was left clean after a recent service. However, a plastic cover on the engine was left unsecured at the forward edge and was free to 'flap'. It took me 5 minutes with a 10mm spanner to fix. Makes you wonder what else was left loose. I should have taken it back but the garage is 25 miles away.
culmhead
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I rememember my old 01 Vectra not having the sump nut done up properly and it leaked oil all over my drive. I had to put a spanner on it myself!!!
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First thing the garage does where I take my car to is to fit plastic seat covers and put paper/thin card mats down. Can't recall ever seeing any marks on the interior, nor on my hands from touching the steering wheel, etc after it's been serviced.
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It's certainly not acceptable for your car to come back dirtier than it went in. Mind you, I prefer the garage NOT to clean the car as part of the service. I never use automatic car washes or brushes on my car as they always, over time, leave millions of fine craze marks. Once a garage 'kindly' cleaned my car and the paint looked like someone had gone over it with very fine abrasive paper.
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>I despair of the state of the trade these days.
Just cannot get the staff nowadays Screwloose. The Renault dealer my daughter uses always leaves the spare nuts and washers in a plastic cup in the glove box.
My problem is I cannot recognize them and therefore have no idea where they came from:-{{
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>I despair of the state of the trade these days.
At a non-franchise garage in the 1970s the term 'road test' really meant take a customer's car home for lunch, to get spares, pick up another customer, deliver another car, etc.
What took the biscuit was pressure from the gaffer to take the garage mongrel with you because 'Whisko likes a run out'.
Surprisingly, it was a successful business in it's own way, the job was done right in all other respects and no customer was pressed for payment if the gaffer knew they were short of cash.
As for the dog hairs, it was a rural area and most of the customers couldn't care less if Whisko was asleep in their car when they came to collect it.
Edited by ifithelps on 09/04/2008 at 20:03
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Fair points all, however the title for this thread was the moderator's ("Car left dirty after servicing" ) and not mine! I am more concerned by the loose connector than a few dirty marks (which cleaned off without trace anyway). the loose connector indicates to me that someone 'signed' the car off without due care and attention. I have no wish to claim monetary compensation, just think that whoever was responsible be given a 'talking to' & that they up their game so to speak.
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I guess you get a similar thing in other areas of life if you get others to do things for you.
If it were societal norm to pay someone else to put your pants on every morning, some would get the belt too tight or miss a loophole at the back.
Best thing I ever did buying those car mech magazines and Haynes manuals as a teenager.;)
Regards
(intended as humour...but its true isn`t it ;)
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Sorry, but getting my car back a bit grubby would fall into the " bit disappointing" rather than "totally unacceptable" category in my view. Not the most worrying thing likely to happen this lifetime I would have thought.
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At the last service they even wrapped the gear change and hand brake levers prior to starting work.
(Labour rate = ?31.50 plus 16% vat)
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Had a brand new Volvo S40 - faulty sun roof replaced 2 days after delivery. Got car back - seats & carpet (light grey) stained with oil. Refused to accept car back. Dealer cleaned it and "gave my car an extra polish" for me - only they put polish on the black trim. Again refused to accept car. They cleaned up the polish and replaced some trim, but got oily feet all over the carpet again. So I again refused to take car back. They cleaned it, but then bumped into another car while reversing out of the service bay. This ime they had no courtesy car to give me so I told them I wouldn't leave until eitehr (a) my car was fixed or (b) they got me another car. So in the first 4 weeks of ownership, I had my car for less than 48 hours.
I got the Dealer Principal's T5 for the next two weeks, and they paid for my fuel, plus £100 voucher.
Changed dealers - never went back there again!
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Just picked mine up from the main dealer after having both radiator fans replaced and a few other bits n bobs done, aircon fixed and re-gassed, oil and filter. They've only gone and washed it inside and out and given it a quick vac. There was cling-film around the steering wheel and gear selector, paper mats and polythene seat covers. They even washed the kids' muddy footprints off the backs of mine and wifey's seats. Astonishing price too - labour was less than 40 quid. If you're ever taking your car abroad, that's a good time to get it serviced.
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I have now spoken to the Service Manager and detailed the faults, I accepted his apologies and he is going to follow up my request which is to have a word with the guy who did the service. As I have mentioned I am not interested in renumeration and am happy with the garage response. It will be a different dealer for the next service however...........
Thanks for all the responses here!
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Sorry but getting my car back a bit grubby would fall into the " bit disappointing" rather than "totally unacceptable" category in my view.
Think if I arrived home to find my hands covered with oil, which may well have been transferred to my clothes by that time, I would be more than a "bit dissapointed"! ;)
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Oh don't get me wrong, in that instance I would be irritated too. Just suggesting an injection of a bit of perspective. As with describing footballers as "heroes" or a car as "mind blowing" I would be more inclined to reserve phrases like "totally unacceptable" for issues which cause a touch more grief than a mucky car.
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It will be a different dealer for the next service however...........
It will need to be, just in case you got the same technician and he remembered the occasion and was miffed about you complaining! Complain often enough about trivial matters and you may end up without anywhere you dare take your car a second time!
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Should have written that I mentioned to the SM that the dirty marks were a minor point, the main failing IMO was the loose connector. I don't think that I have been unduly 'fussy' and yes a Kia Rio is a bogtrotting sort of car but if I am paying for service and expertise from a franchise agent I do expect things to be better. I am lucky in that this dealer is hardly local to me and it is no more hassle for me to take it elsewhere for servicing.
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My Fiat dealer replaced my wiper arms, which were corroding under the paint but fitted the left on the right and vice versa. Meanwhile, Fiat were insisting that water entering a headlamp unit should be cured by drilling big holes in the headlamp unit (assuming the problem was condensation).
I kept cool. I switched the wiper blades myself and wrote a calm letter to the service manager about these issues. He did not feel threatened, his bosses were not involved and he replaced the headlamp unit, agreeing to fight it out with Fiat himself at a later date.
Result, I was happy, he was not too stressed and both myself and my daughter still use the same dealership.
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