SunnySideUp

For reading their Error Codes on a Classic for them to decide what is needed and to probably let you do the work?

Just interested as I was, frankly, shocked that I was told it would be £25. It is, after all, a task which is completed in what? 30 seconds? 1 Minute tops.

widdows

Thats not fair! it dont even take that long to do.

Im guessing they arent doing so good in the current economic climate and are therefore trying to fill in the gaps with little charges like that.

Personally I would go elsewhere or read the codes yourself before hand.

+Doc+

If you go to the right garage they won't charge you.
Or you could:
JollyGreenMonster.co.uk
I'm guessing 23 or 32

T5NYW

iTrader: (4)

To be fair to Garages most don't charge if you were having the Car after to repair it.

Also the guy has to drop the work he was doing, get the select monitor, start it up, plug it in, read tell you put it back etc etc. He will lose approx 1/2hour . he then has to restart the Previous Job. Would you like it if you paid for his time reading my fault codes, I think not

My local garage never charged because I'm a good customer

You could just invest in a software and OBD 02 cable package like "Deltadash" and load it onto a Laptop for about £120 which could be a better investment. charge you mates £1 and recoup your money

or by a PSi3 or APEXi MONI unit which will give you real time monitoring and fault reset

SunnySideUp

The bloke I talked to was 'Front of House' if you like .... sat in reception - may have had to have dropped some paperwork to offer the help, though.

Point is, I was told that they were good - were helpful and it would be better to get them to read the code than me, as they could go through the options of what they could do to cure the fault.

So, I drove 20 miles to see them - they come recommended by my local Scooby Owners (who suggested I pay them a visit) and, indeed, on here too.

In the end I went outside into the Car Park - connected the Black connectors and read the 22 Error Code - I have never done it before, but, literally 60 seconds later I was done and returned with the verdict ...... I did want them to have the job, you see?

I was then told that the Knock Sensor was not in stock, but could be got the next day - fair enough. Also, if I wanted them to do it it would 45 minutes Labour - as it's a right 'pig of a job' to do ...... I left, rather disappointed that the experience wasn't what I had been led to believe I would receive.

DannyBoy007

iTrader: (7)

I did wonder from reading your thread why you hadn't done it yourself.

With regards to changing the sensor, unless you have FMIC I suggest you Get them to replace it, it is a pig of job, Subaru stuck it in the most in-accessable area they could think off.

It's right down on the back of the engine under the intercooler (Intercooler off job), you will need a really long socket adaptor to reach the bolt that holds it in

dunx

iTrader: (3)

Make them commit to a full refund if it doesn't clear the fault....

dunx

nick172sport

iTrader: (6)

my local garage never charge me

computerangel

My local specialist in Newbury doesn't charge me, however i have been going there for a long time.

Alan Jeffery

There you go!

Dave Y

iTrader: (52)

Do you use one in hereford ?

p1doc

my 2 local garages did not cgarge me but the one in aberdeen did hence why i do not use them-fisrt impressions count and probably explains why they have lost the subaru franchise and losing servicing at the end of this month according to another subaru garage down the road!
martin

Beastra

iTrader: (20)

Didn`t think this could be done on classics.

Ian

iTrader: (10)

if your around my way pete, ill change it for you

Alan Jeffery

To access fault codes on a classic, you push the driver's seat right back, clamber in upside down then using a torch, look up under the dash. If it hasn't been checked before, you'll see a pair green wires and a pair of black wires secured to the loom with a bit of blue tape. You access the two black wires, lucar connectors, then plug them together. You then put the ignition on and check the flashes to correspond with the chart I posted. Slow flashes are the first digit and the fast ones are the second. All you have to be able to do is count, but try doing it when you have five fault codes!
To clear them you have to plug the green wires together as well, then drive it up the road until the check light flashes continuously. It will only do this if the faults can be cleared. That also counts as an ECU re set. Then remove the two wires from each other.
When you've finished, you have to get the *** ends and bits of grass etc. out of your hair where you've been rolling around on the floor...

richie001

iTrader: (3)

Never been charged by the local specialist or the dealer.

Ginge !

iTrader: (1)

no offence but to be fair garages are there to make money,,, they aint some sort of registered charity who want to help road users

if you use a regular garage you will get perks of being there customer BUT if you strolled in somewhere for the first time then i doubt there gonna work for free,,,, your paying for more than someones time,, your paying for there knowlege too aswell

ive just spent a few quid having 3 electricians in my flat rewiring it,,,,, most of the time they was drilling conduit in the wall which is **** easy yet i still had to pay there same rate per how to do that

servicing a car takes **** all time tbh and also requires no real skill yet im sure you dont worry about paying 100 quid for it,,, some places charge 200 for a ****ing oil service

SunnySideUp

Really - well, that's interesting .... very interesting, as it is a Newbury outfit I am talking about and they wanted £25!!

Granted you have been going there a long time .... I was considering started a relationship with them too - it could also have turned out to have been a long one? ..... a Customer/Supplier relationship has to start somewhere, after all.

Clearly they don't want new custom? Fair enough if they have all they can handle, I suppose?

SunnySideUp

I was shocked ..... as they come recommended on here, thought they would 'go the extra mile' and help.

Like I said, maybe they have enough work on the books and don't need to impress anyone new?

chocolate_o_brian

iTrader: (22)

Or some peoples expectations are greater than others?

oadamo

iTrader: (1)

at my garage i dont charge if we are are fixing the fault. but if someone turns up for just reading the code i charge them. but thats because you will get people taking the **** if its free.
adam

SunnySideUp

My expectations were raised to a high level from the local Scooby owners who use them and, indeed, by members on here.

So, yes, I was expecting a Service a bit beyond the 'also-rans' .... sadly, I didn't receive what I was led to believe was standard at this outfit. It just seemed 'too much trouble' - ignoring the excessive charge!!

SunnySideUp

I wanted the job doing by them, indeed I asked for a quote to do the Sensor replacement! Still the charge was to be levied ....

I had no intention of taking the pi55, I travelled 20 miles to see them - that's a gallon of petrol as you know!

The fact remains that it was a 30 second job, ok - with the faffing about adding another 5 minutes - what a cheap price to get another convert and another voice singing their praise!? And another job!

As can be seen above - most decent Specialists will not charge for such a Service, the rewards for helping for free far outweigh the minor costs incurred. Short sighted view IMO.

Ginge !

iTrader: (1)

mate if people do FOC work for people who aint got a relationship how are they aware its worth there while ?

i deal from a different level with companys asking for " freebies" or asking for bigger discounts as its for there cars,,,,, even though they aint bought naff all from me with the " if you do me a good price ill recomend them to my customers" pony

sorry but a fresh face will generally be charged for work,,,,, or as said they will have people traveling the country for free diagnostic work,,,,, which yeah makes the company sound great but wont be paying the rent of the unit or putting food in there kids mouths either,

im sure you do loads of FOC work for people,,, remember that you are looking at is as your one person,,,,, they prob get 30 phone calls a day and about 10 people a day turning up thinking the same thing

ive fitted bulbs to peoples cars before, then asked to fit the wipers then asked if i can check the oil,,,,, they the cheeky ****s dont even offer to pay 2 quid for a coffee for my time doing something that they COULD NOT DO

i here where your comming from but honestly for every nice thing you do for a 10 strangers i would say 2 people would come back for work/ remember you

SunnySideUp

I had a £5 note in my pocket to reward whoever did the 30 second job with a couple of pints ..... I do not believe in getting something for nothing, but - sometimes it's good to 'help' someone who requests it.

We are talking a very simple task, remember ... I wasn't asking for a complete diagnostic service - just a simple read of the error code and the options to rectify given to me.

If I was in business and helped 10 people, 2 of whom return for more work - I would say that is a very good return. The other 8 will certainly speak highly of you and word of mouth is the top recommendation.

Word of mouth is the reason I went there - which is why the disappointment was greater.

Ginge !

iTrader: (1)

mate a 20k workshop rent per year, business rates, electric, tools, staff costs and the work he would have to come off to do this,,,, remember its not just for you but the 7 other people that day that would arrive to check there brakes and top up there oil

its about is it worth it for them,,,, your paying them for there knowlege and expirience, they start doing 5 min jobs that take them off there work they wouldnt turn a profit,,,, not to mention what about those people who are paying 90 quid a hour for work being done

some businesses have a min charge for work, i used to manage a bike shop and i had people ask me all the time to fit a innertube or do this,,,, only takes a min so how can you charge for that,,,,, for a fiver i doubt any garage would do the work for a stranger

as said i know alot of garages, i was hanging about in 3 of em today having a chat ect and still see them have people turn up asking for work for nothing,,,,, a women who had a burning smell from behind her dash said that quoting around 100ish quid in labour to attempt to find the issue is rip off as its only gonna be a loose wire somewhere that needs sorting and a few screws to remove the dashboard

i see both cases i honestly do but this is peoples jobs here,,,,, next question is if you think thats alot of money we have just paid 130 quid for 2 doctors to sign a death certificate,,,,, and the friend died in hospital and the doctors didnt even meet him !!!

65 quid for signing a sheet of paper and you need 2 plus 15 quid for the certificate,,,,,,,,, and this is cause the person died !!!!

SunnySideUp

I do understand your points, very valid.

But, I was told to go and see these people as "they will tell you what's wrong and what you need to do to rectify, they are really helpful and will see you right".

They failed ..... and it's interesting to see the above posters who wouldn't think of charging for such a simple job.

turbolag_is_foreplay

iTrader: (1)

I had a fault and borrowed a obd2 universal reader, pluged it in, check fault code against chart it comes with then cleared the fault, it cost my mate 19.99 for the reader and lead, so im going to buy one now!

dunx

iTrader: (3)

With the greatest of respect, I would pay UNTIL I formed a relationship, where a bit of "give and take" becomes the norm.

My tame mechanic is 38 miles away, but so long as he's not three deep in customers will always try and make time for the "regulars"...

I wouldn't ask for special treatment, but even a coffee is a welcome gesture on a cold day. It is as much about trust in the people as the "freebies" they may distribute. I can't imagine a situation where "my" mechanic would come back having scuffed one of the wheels on a customers car.... as I read earlier, elsewhere on S'net today !

So try them again, and then "try it on"....

dunx

oadamo

iTrader: (1)

dont get me wrong not everyone takes the **** but when you have had it done a few times you tend not to take the risk. if its someone that comes in for work i no, ive been know to do a few odd jobs for free or very cheap because i know there gonna come back for work.
just last week a guy turned up because his alarm was playing up so i went to his house it was just around the corner from the unit. i told him what needed doing he said he would get it towed to my unit the next day. turned out he went to another garage
adam