halp, halp, I needs advice please from the petrolhead b3tans
My VW Polo had two new front tyres fitted in January when it had its MOT. I asked the garage to check the tracking and steering at the same time as the steering wheel was pointing to 10 o'clock when the wheels were straight. They did, so I put the new lighter feeling on the steering down to the new fluffy shiny properly inflated legally grippy tyres.

Then over the past couple of weeks it seemed as though the steering had grown a mind of its own, almost as if it wanted to carry on turning by itself - like driving on ice. So I took it back to the garage last week and asked them to check the steering etc. They said it was due to the suspension bushes which they replaced, and they also checked the front wheels which they said (and I have the invoice to prove this) were "okay".

However, yesterday on my way back home the front nearside tyre popped. When I got it off, it was down to the canvas on the inside edge. I mean you can see the wire, it's in a real state. The other one well on the way to being the same, there is no tread at all on the inside edge. Both still look like new on the outside edges. The nice man who helped me change the tyre took one look at the front wheels and said the tracking was visibly out.

So my query is this - what comeback do I have with this when I take it back to the garage? Tyres don't wear out in 6 weeks, do they? I do about 1500 miles a month on twisty country roads, but I'm not exactly Felipe Massa. Surely they should have noticed the state of the tyres?

fankoo ver' much

*cakes*
(happylittletulip helpless and delicious, Mon 16 Mar 2009, 16:56, 13 replies, latest was 16 years ago)

If they did anything to the front end
they should have done an alignment. If they took it apart and replaced parts and put it back together without aligning the wheels, they're incompetent. And if your tires wore out in six weeks, it must have been out of alignment BAD.

Sounds to me like they owe you an alignment and a set of tires. Bastards.
( The Resident Loon Not a demographic. Do not measure., Mon 16 Mar 2009, 17:00, Reply)

Sounds like awful service to me
Personally I'd be pushing for a refund on the tyres and tracking then going elsewhere but I've no idea if you've any legislation to support demanding that.
( Captain V, Mon 16 Mar 2009, 17:01, Reply)

I would suggest a different garage...

They are in the wrong and should have sorted the problem the first time.

Not sure what the best course of action is legally, I suspect it would end up in small claims, unless you can threaten them with somehow endangering your life through negligence.

I'd probably just piss through their letter box...
( Naked Ape call me Caitlyn, Mon 16 Mar 2009, 17:12, Reply)

The garage are clearly being shit
Get an AA inspection if you can.

The problem isn't just the alignment - ie which way the wheels are pointing when viewed from above, but the camber which way the sheels are pointing when viewed from the front. It sounds a lot like the camber is out of kilter - usually £60 to put right in a special lazer jig type thing.

They should have indicated that the geometry was out after test driving the car, moreover in unbolting the suspension to fit new bushings a geometry check should take place anyway.

See if you can get an AA inspection and ask your rights. This garage deserves to be taken to task. Get in touch with Trading Standards and lodge a complaint too.

It's not good enough by a long shot.
(Bicycle Repairman "you're also a bit of a wanker", Mon 16 Mar 2009, 17:15, Reply)

thanks chaps
I just spoke to them, they said they did the tracking on Wednesday last so it must have happened since then shyeah right.

I asked if he really expected me to believe that the tyres would wear out to that extent in less than a week and he said he'd seen it happen in two to three days where the tracking was out. I mean FFS they look like Formula One slicks on the inside edges.

So I said, if they'd done the tracking on Wednesday, how come it was still not right? Then he said the front wheels were obviously "toed" ie both pointing outwards.

He said they'll check it on Wednesday. I want to take it somewhere else to get another opinion but I daren't drive it anywhere in case the other one pops, cos I don't have another spare tyre.

I got the feeling he was fobbing me off cos I'm a girl. Grrrrrrrr.

edit: the funny thing is that i've always had great service from this place :(
(happylittletulip helpless and delicious, Mon 16 Mar 2009, 17:16, Reply)

Yes, they're fobbing you off
But I've had similar experiences in the past with both Volkswagen and Alfa Romeo main agents. As a result, I frequent neither these days.

AA is your friend here, you might also ask to speak to the garage owner/dealer principal and mention "Trading Standards" a few times too.
(Bicycle Repairman "you're also a bit of a wanker", Mon 16 Mar 2009, 17:19, Reply)

Is it an dealership garage?
They are the worst for this kind of crap. Unfortunately, finding a little independent garage that is reliable is down to word of mouth from people you know.

Don't be driving all dangerously now, I don't want a squished tulip.
(Bazongaloid, Mon 16 Mar 2009, 17:22, Reply)

No, they're an independent
and they've been great in the past.

My car is far too old to go near a dealership, the smart sales people would just mock it :(

Don't worry al, I'm not driving it til its fixed, cos I don't want to be squished either.
(happylittletulip helpless and delicious, Mon 16 Mar 2009, 17:24, Reply)

@la tulip
Are you close to an accident repair centre or VW dealership? Would be worth giving them a call to explain that you need your front suspension checked/aligned (!) and get a full report from them showing how far out of kilter the geometry is.

I'd recommend you get the check done, I know it's not cheap but at least you can guarantee your next tyres will last longer than a Grand Prix distance.
(Bicycle Repairman "you're also a bit of a wanker", Mon 16 Mar 2009, 17:30, Reply)

super advice chaps
I shall get the AA on the case.

huzah!
(happylittletulip helpless and delicious, Mon 16 Mar 2009, 18:42, Reply)

what a pack of lies they have spun you
even if the tyres were so far out of whack that the thing was barely drivable there is just no way that a tyre could wear down that much in just 6 weeks.

get your fuck cunting boots on!
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Mon 16 Mar 2009, 19:19, Reply)

Post their telephone number here
We can all give them a ring...
( Enzyme is powered by sunlight, Mon 16 Mar 2009, 22:08, Reply)

tulip
who and where are they? WE* will sort them out!



*we be B3tans, the immovable object multiplied by the irrestable force!!
( blaireau69 , the Cumbrian Travis Bickle., Mon 16 Mar 2009, 23:04, Reply)