scoobz72

This is my story of my "simple" fault on my car:

In january my ABS light would not switch off. It only went out when I pressed the brake pedal, but as soon as I let the pedal off it comes back on, although the brakes & ABS in particular did not feel any different. I took the car to a local garage, who could not plug into the car but they did check the sensors & wiring, all ok there. They advised I go to Subaru as they have the correct kit etc.

So off I go for my Diagnostic appointment, I wait for 30 mins for the mechanic to surface & tell me the ABS ECU is shot. I tentatively ask the price, "£1200 fitted". I disagreed & bought a reconditioned unit with 3 month warranty for £180. Fitting was simple enough. My problem then was, the bloody light was still on!! I rung Subaru who claim the unit has to have all the codes / faults cleared. Reluctantly I agree to have this done, especially as my MOT is due soon.
Apparently the new ECU is working well as is the ABS but still the light is on.
Oh what a surprise, they then tell me there is another error, to which they cannot diagnose. The car should have only been in for 45 mins - 1 hour tops.
They then want to keep my car for further checks etc. By now I am livid with their diagnostic system as to me it seems to be poor.

Subaru apparently have instructed them to change various parts including brake light switch, relay box, bulbs, all to no avail. By now they have employed a "specialist" electrician to look the car over, who finds nothing wrong. Each phone call I make, they blame the modifications, which consist of a remapped ECU for TD05 turbo, turbo timer, boost guage & LED light bulbs.

So the upshot now is, I am waiting for a new ABS pump to be "tried out" on the car, a snip at £1300!

How can car dealers do this to customers? If it was a small garage then I could understand, but a mainline Subaru garage, I think its poor considering my bill for this work is set to be huge, and I still have the fault!!!

Subaru have now said I can pick the car up as they dont know what is wrong!

harvey

iTrader: (48)

What a very poor experience. Shame you are not closer to here.

scoobz72

Thanks, so do I.

I am still car less, no surprises I have had no phone calls yet to say whether its done or not.

It makes me so mad when they think they can just charge what they want, without actually fixing the problem.

You dont expect this from a main dealer.
I believe Subaru should diagnose the diagnostic machine, as its clearly not working!

You would think their computer thing would show the ABS pump as being faulty? I presume so anyway!

jaytc2003

iTrader: (1)

therein I think lies your problem. Do you also have aftermarket lights fitted as well?

Reason I ask is I have a similar problem (albeit not on my scoob) I have a Calibra that is fitted with lexus style rears lights and led bulbs. Problem is down to the way the lights are fitted/connected/earthed. Wonder if yours could be down to the same thing. If you have normal lights, try just changing the bulbs to standard ones. (I know you said they did this but from other things they have said could you trust them? )

Good luck anyway

timmy2take

iTrader: (7)

Make sure you see the new ABS pump and get a photo of the old one, or mark it somehow to check they do actually change it and don't find the problem elsewhere and still charge you £1300 to do the job.

scoobz72

The LED bulbs I did wonder about, but I replaced the original bulbs due to my clusters being smoked. They are original clusters, when I got the car it had some lexus jobbies on.

I took a call yesterday from the garage, to say it was done at last. The problem lied with the front relay box / loom.

The total bill is £596 which given the amount of hours supposedly spent on the car, i thought was not bad, but not good lol

So now I have to find an MOT place, as Subaru have failed mine for the clusters being too dark!! FFS

Anyone know of any good bright bulbs as replacements? The LED ones I have are the 360 type, but they are red. If i could find similar in white then I would be happier.

Ian

iTrader: (10)

drive up to harvey, he is only about 190 miles away, so it is 2 tanks of v-power max, and you will get much better service, and price!

Ian

iTrader: (10)

dont think they can fail it on dark clusters, as long as you can see the lights through it, and you have a reflector at the rear of the car, it should be ok

The Rig

iTrader: (13)

christ,and theres me wanting £50 for an ABS pump i have in my garage !!

hope it gets sorted bud,bit ****e its trialand error tho, anyone can fix a fault that way, house is a bit cold today, knock it down,build a new one, arh, sorted the coldness now eek !!!!

scoobz72

lol yeah thats so right!

scoobz72

Neither did i, so i have ordered some LED xenon bulbs, proper tail/stop lamps.
They should work lol
Probably end up pink but working lol