ChatterBank1 min ago
Kwik Fit!!
The centre of exhaust system fell off this morning so DH took it to Kwik Fit because it was closest to were he was and the garage we usually use (very trustworthy) is fully booked and we need the car for this weekend.
Anyway not only do we need a new bit for the exhaust but the catalytic converter has gone (??!!) so they duly ordered the part. "It will only take half an hour to arrive mate" they told DH. Part arrives 90 mins later (it came from Leeds to Scunthorpe - was it supposed to be coming in a lear jet??) and IT'S THE WRONG ONE!!!!!!!!!!! ARRGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!
AND
the supplier they ordered the part from did exactly the same thing yesterday!!!
So DH mills around town for 2 hours and goes back to Kwik Fit and it's still not ready. Finally they offer him a lift home and another hour and a half later they phone him. "There is a crack in the manifold the car is undrivable but we will fix it at cost" an extra �140 on top of the �280 rip off price anyway. So we still have no car it won't be ready til tomorrow now.
I am absolutely fuming and I am the person they are going to deal with tomorrow because DH absolutely hates complaining or making a fuss. Any pointers?? Advice?? Is a car undrivable with a cracked manifold or is that just a load of rubbish??
Anyway not only do we need a new bit for the exhaust but the catalytic converter has gone (??!!) so they duly ordered the part. "It will only take half an hour to arrive mate" they told DH. Part arrives 90 mins later (it came from Leeds to Scunthorpe - was it supposed to be coming in a lear jet??) and IT'S THE WRONG ONE!!!!!!!!!!! ARRGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!
AND
the supplier they ordered the part from did exactly the same thing yesterday!!!
So DH mills around town for 2 hours and goes back to Kwik Fit and it's still not ready. Finally they offer him a lift home and another hour and a half later they phone him. "There is a crack in the manifold the car is undrivable but we will fix it at cost" an extra �140 on top of the �280 rip off price anyway. So we still have no car it won't be ready til tomorrow now.
I am absolutely fuming and I am the person they are going to deal with tomorrow because DH absolutely hates complaining or making a fuss. Any pointers?? Advice?? Is a car undrivable with a cracked manifold or is that just a load of rubbish??
Answers
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Car may, in fact run (at least U.S. makes) with cracked exhaust manifold, but really bad things can happen. The car can catch on fire, but the worst thing would be insidious... odorless fumes (carbon monoxide), from the combustion process are deadly. So, don't drive it until repaired... Sorry for your inconvenience...
Have to agree with Clanad. In spite of everything they do KwikFit seem to be saddled with a perhaps unjustified reputation. I agree that they're not the cheapest, but they are usually quick and friendly, and just lately have helped me out by repairing two punctures free of charge on consecutive days. Not everyone is a rip-off merchant.
I remember taking my car to a Kwik Fit centre many years ago. The exhaust of my car had fallen off in the city and obviously needed it repairing straight away.
The garage tried to convince me that other things were wrong with my car such as the cambelt was very noisy and the engine needed repairing asap. I let them carry on telling me these lies before saying "excuse me, I'm a motor mechanic and this car doesn't even have a cambelt but a timing chain (it was OHV not OHC) and that the noisy was simply the chain" (notorious on old Fiesta's. They turned bright red and looked very sheepish and offered no explanation. They fitted the exhaust incorrectly too!
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Souunds about right for them. Are Kwik fit the living proof that Charles Darwin was right?
As a matter of interest, what car is it? I wonder this because if the maofold is cracked and it has a catalyst, then the lamba sensor would be getting silly readings and making the engine run rich, which could (perhaps) cause the cat to expire. However I think you may have noticed it before. If the manifold is cast iron (most are) then rewelding up a crack is very specialist, and I think involves pre-warming prior to welding. Not just a quick tack it with a MIG job. I would dispute anything that they say, years ago I took a car in for a tyre, and came out having been told my rear dampers were potentially lethal, and my brakes were shot. Neither was the case. I would be tempted to seek proof of this "repair" before parting with any money.
I do agree with Clanad, but how quick this would happen is debatable.
Regards
I'd have to add that catalytic converters are expensive �280 does not sound outrageous.
I took my 1964 MGB with knock on wire wheels to Quickfit once. The yoof looked at it with his pneumatic wrench in hand for a few moments and said "Ow d'yer get this off then?" a slightly older one said "you need a special hammer, silver I think" - I stepped in before they declared it a werewolf and decided to stuff it full of garlic.
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