Car service

[Griff]

My Citroen C1 is in for its 2nd year service.
They'e just phoned me and said the brake fluid should be changed every 2 years, but it will be £49 odd as it is not part of the service!!!!!!!!!!
They also said the handbrake could do with adjusting, and will be another £45 as this is not part of the service either!!!!!!
Didn't both of these things used to be part of a service???
The brake fluid charge seems wrong to me, and should be part of the service at that time period..........surely!!??
He said there are several things these days that are no longer part of a service
I expressed my disgust on the phone and will tell them what I think when I go to collect it tonight
Seems motorists are being treated like mugs these days from just about everybody :evil:

[WORKSIMON]

Have to agree mate, £45 quid for an adjust on your handbrake is ridiculous :shock: :shock: :shock: Brake fluid every two years is news to me, but maybe it's a new thing ??? If I were you I'd have a word with my mates etc and see if anyone knows a decent independant garage.

[Paneraiseeker]

have a look at the service schedule in your book, it will tell you all that needs to be done

[hogthrob]

Probably just a bit of price trickery on Citroen's part - take things like brake fluid change out of the service, reduce the 'headline' price of the service, and then charge for the brake fluid as an extra. I don't think Citroen are the ony ones doing this sort of thing.

The hand brake adjustment sounds a bit pricey though.

[Dazzler]

Tell em to get lost Griff. Handbrake should be done on warranty and it certanly isn't a 1 hour job.

Brake fluid, it should be on the service schedule if it's important. Brake fuild absorbs water over time which is slightly compressable, if you can't feel a problem under foot then I would suggest no problem, however it is corrosive stuff and always good to keep on top of it also, ABS traction control may be affected if it absorbs too much water. I change mine every year but then I take my car on the racetrack.

Sound like they've stripped out the service to give it a headline value.

[Seabadger]

The hand brake adjustment sounds ridiculous unless it requires a lot of labour, which would be unusual. Having said that, I remember watching Fifth Gear a couple of years ago and I'm pretty sure that they compared a headlight bulb change on a Golf to a Renault of some sort - 2 minute job on the Golf and required half of the front of the Renault removing, so I suppose you never know.

[sundial]

I'm waiting for the Haynes Manual to be published for my VW Fox and then will do all the servicing myself. So far the original dealer and then a local service centre have serviced the car but there isn't much point in having it done professionally now that the warranty period has passed. The original dealer's service was total pants and am sure they did not change the oil even though was charged for it ... and the invoice showed they had supposedly used the incorrect oil ... but was still dirty colour when I checked it a few days later as though had not been changed. Car had been serviced & oil changed just prior to purchase 3 months earlier when bought as an ex demo model and I guess they decided not to change the oil again at first 12 month service due, 3 months later ... but has to be logged in the service history as being changed. Regarding brake fluid it is necessary to change it ie flush through every couple of years because it does absorb water and air which under hard use could compromise braking efficiency. But regarding the hand brake adjustment, unless it's a particularly complicated handbrake linkage or maybe has separate brake shoes for the handbrake then £45 for adjustment is extortionate ... but maybe they charge a minimum hourly rate for extra work required? Having not been satisfied with my dealer's service I found a local 'little man' independent VW / Audi specialist who is cheaper - and he gave me some free synthetic topping up oil (from his bulk supply) on both occasions which has hardly needed using - but now have almost enough for a complete oil change when service it myself next year. The 'little man' takes a lot of beating. And nowadays there is no obligation to use the original dealer for servicing to stay within warranty.

Cheers

dunk

[aldfort]

Don't skimp on the brake fluid change. 2 years is normal now.

The problem is that dealers offer fixed price servicing which nowadys is little more than an oil and filter change and an inpection. Hence the low price. Everything they find which would have been covered under "check and adjust" years ago is now an extra! That's progress :D

[a13x]

Handbrake cable should be sorted under warranty. Give em some stick! :D

[ibby7]

Do what i did, i learnt how to change parts and service my car off youtube.

honestly

[johncoote69]

I'd go bloody mad - you should NEVER tell them to go ahead - brake fluid can be done at any roadside type outfit - most charge about £25 to do it - as for the handbrake adjustment - was the handbrake playing up? NO - or you'd have told them - it's ridiculous.
I remeber taking a Pug 307 for a £99 service and MOY offer from Peugeout.... what a con - the list of faults and stuff was frankly ridic, and they wanted to charge like £15 for just changing bulbs etc - ????????
Tell to stick it - get onto CS at Citroen too and give them a good telling off.

[steptoe]

- as for the handbrake adjustment - was the handbrake playing up? NO - or you'd have told them - it's ridiculous.
.

I'd imagine it's out of it's efficiant/safe working parameters. Handbrake wear is like brake pad replacement, it's efficiancy relies on consumable parts.

Just imagine the post and replies if the handbrake failed to work as intended and the car got damaged just after it's been in for a service and the garage hadn't checked it :?

[MonkeyBoy]

VW charge a similar price for the brake fluid change and also recomend every 2 years (as do most). The hand brake cable adjustment depends on the rear brake set up. But as your brakes wear down or cables stretch it will require adjustment. To cut a long story short, most setups have cables which come back to the handbrake lever and it should be a 10 minute job to adjust. I'm sure they will move on the quoted price.

Sundial, what do you think to the VW Fox, considering getting one for the 710.

[sundial]

- as for the handbrake adjustment - was the handbrake playing up? NO - or you'd have told them - it's ridiculous.
.

I'd imagine it's out of it's efficiant/safe working parameters. Handbrake wear is like brake pad replacement, it's efficiancy relies on consumable parts.

Just imagine the post and replies if the handbrake failed to work as intended and the car got damaged just after it's been in for a service and the garage hadn't checked it :?

Actually, handbrake efficiency relies more on proper adjustment and not on consumable parts. Handbrake 'wear' does not actually occur to any great degree. Handbrake cables stretch and then they might need adjustment. And with drum brakes, if the automatic brake adjusters get stuck and the brake pad wear is not compensated for, the handbrake cable then goes slack .. and then brakes and the cable could both need adjusting. Rear brakes do not usually wear as much as front brakes and on a normal car they last several years or tens of thousands of miles before needing replacement.

Cheers

dunk

[Matt.D]

We had a similar problem with a local Hyundai dealer a few years ago. Dealer has now gone bust. Go figure

[sundial]

VW charge a similar price for the brake fluid change and also recomend every 2 years (as do most). The hand brake cable adjustment depends on the rear brake set up. But as your brakes wear down or cables stretch it will require adjustment. To cut a long story short, most setups have cables which come back to the handbrake lever and it should be a 10 minute job to adjust. I'm sure they will move on the quoted price.

Sundial, what do you think to the VW Fox, considering getting one for the 710.

VW Fox is an excellent 'no frills' car and there is more room inside especially headroom it than in my former VW Polo. They have two individual rear bucket type passenger seats (in a bench) so cannot squeeze three passengers on the back seat. Car will cruise all day at over 80mph and top speed is almost 100mph. Handling and roadholding is excellent. Mine is an ex demo model and when I bought it I did not realise the nearside door trim had been damaged or stuck back on incorrectly .. this affected the rigidity of the door panel ... resulting in a bad dent when I was polishing the car and pushed too hard on the door panel! But all cars are the same these days ie the panels cave in too easily. I've since had a new door fitted and it's fine now. My only moan about the Fox is its poor fuel consumption. I make regular 300 mile motorway round trips and have measured the consumption accurately by starting off with a full tank and zeroing the trip meter ... then fill right up again when get home ... and measure the mpg using the actual fuel volume on the receipt. I have yet to better 40mpg on a long journey driving at 70mph ish ... expect could probably be improved if went a bit slower but would put extra time on an already long and time consuming journey. Recommended buy if you do not want something with more gadgets ... and being VW the bodies are welded a bit better than most other cars. They are made in Brazil which probably keeps the price down to a reasonable level. VW Fox road test reports never seem to praise them highly mainly because of their lack of gadgetry but if you want a good reliable no frills motor with comfortable driving then can be recommended. Mine has the wide alloy wheels option which probably contributes to better roadholding. Have to use the gearbox when in hilly country as is only a 1.2 litre engine ... there is a bigger engine option. Mine is 3 years old and has never needed any spare parts apart from normal service items ie oil filter ...and has never broken down. There is a bit of a blind spot re vision on the windscreen corner. Car size suits my small garage. New price is less than a SS Daytona . And never burns any oil :wink:

Cheers

dunk

[Chris_in_the_UK]

Don't be such a bunch of tight arses :roll:

[WORKSIMON]

Don't be such a bunch of tight arses :roll:

Some of us have to be :roll: How else are we to fund our watches :D

[MonkeyBoy]

Cheers Dunk.
Julian

[steptoe]

- as for the handbrake adjustment - was the handbrake playing up? NO - or you'd have told them - it's ridiculous.
.

I'd imagine it's out of it's efficiant/safe working parameters. Handbrake wear is like brake pad replacement, it's efficiancy relies on consumable parts.

Just imagine the post and replies if the handbrake failed to work as intended and the car got damaged just after it's been in for a service and the garage hadn't checked it :?

Actually, handbrake efficiency relies more on proper adjustment and not on consumable parts. Handbrake 'wear' does not actually occur to any great degree. Handbrake cables stretch and then they might need adjustment. And with drum brakes, if the automatic brake adjusters get stuck and the brake pad wear is not compensated for, the handbrake cable then goes slack .. and then brakes and the cable could both need adjusting. Rear brakes do not usually wear as much as front brakes and on a normal car they last several years or tens of thousands of miles before needing replacement.

Cheers

dunk

You don't know much about citroen C1 handbrakes, do you :D

[Chris_in_the_UK]

- as for the handbrake adjustment - was the handbrake playing up? NO - or you'd have told them - it's ridiculous.
.

I'd imagine it's out of it's efficiant/safe working parameters. Handbrake wear is like brake pad replacement, it's efficiancy relies on consumable parts.

Just imagine the post and replies if the handbrake failed to work as intended and the car got damaged just after it's been in for a service and the garage hadn't checked it :?

Actually, handbrake efficiency relies more on proper adjustment and not on consumable parts. Handbrake 'wear' does not actually occur to any great degree. Handbrake cables stretch and then they might need adjustment. And with drum brakes, if the automatic brake adjusters get stuck and the brake pad wear is not compensated for, the handbrake cable then goes slack .. and then brakes and the cable could both need adjusting. Rear brakes do not usually wear as much as front brakes and on a normal car they last several years or tens of thousands of miles before needing replacement.

Cheers

dunk

You don't know much about citroen C1 handbrakes, do you :D

:lol:

Love it when the 'carburettor and cable' gang roost....

[sundial]

- as for the handbrake adjustment - was the handbrake playing up? NO - or you'd have told them - it's ridiculous.
.

I'd imagine it's out of it's efficiant/safe working parameters. Handbrake wear is like brake pad replacement, it's efficiancy relies on consumable parts.

Just imagine the post and replies if the handbrake failed to work as intended and the car got damaged just after it's been in for a service and the garage hadn't checked it :?

Actually, handbrake efficiency relies more on proper adjustment and not on consumable parts. Handbrake 'wear' does not actually occur to any great degree. Handbrake cables stretch and then they might need adjustment. And with drum brakes, if the automatic brake adjusters get stuck and the brake pad wear is not compensated for, the handbrake cable then goes slack .. and then brakes and the cable could both need adjusting. Rear brakes do not usually wear as much as front brakes and on a normal car they last several years or tens of thousands of miles before needing replacement.

Cheers

dunk

You don't know much about citroen C1 handbrakes, do you :D

No I don't actually ...I know nothing about Citroen brakes ... but I once worked as a London Country Bus Services bus/vehicle mechanic and have adjusted and replaced brakes on hundreds of vehicles .

dunk

[steptoe]

- as for the handbrake adjustment - was the handbrake playing up? NO - or you'd have told them - it's ridiculous.
.

I'd imagine it's out of it's efficiant/safe working parameters. Handbrake wear is like brake pad replacement, it's efficiancy relies on consumable parts.

Just imagine the post and replies if the handbrake failed to work as intended and the car got damaged just after it's been in for a service and the garage hadn't checked it :?

Actually, handbrake efficiency relies more on proper adjustment and not on consumable parts. Handbrake 'wear' does not actually occur to any great degree. Handbrake cables stretch and then they might need adjustment. And with drum brakes, if the automatic brake adjusters get stuck and the brake pad wear is not compensated for, the handbrake cable then goes slack .. and then brakes and the cable could both need adjusting. Rear brakes do not usually wear as much as front brakes and on a normal car they last several years or tens of thousands of miles before needing replacement.

Cheers

dunk

You don't know much about citroen C1 handbrakes, do you :D

No I don't actually ...I know nothing about Citroen brakes ... but I once worked as a London Country Bus Services bus/vehicle mechanic and have adjusted and replaced brakes on hundreds of vehicles .

dunk

Thats horse and cart technology grandad. :D

[sundial]

You cheeky young pup :) ... & BTW I was not very far away from Kingston :wink:

dunk

[scenic]

We had a similar problem with a local Hyundai dealer a few years ago. Dealer has now gone bust. Go figure

I always independent garages now. People still think they are forced to use main dealers

[hogthrob]

I always independent garages now. People still think they are forced to use main dealers

I've been waiting three years for someone to say that.

[GraniteQuarry]

I've been waiting three years for someone to say that.

No hurry when taking the scenic route.

[ralphy]

For a moment there I thought Griff had returned to the fold...

R

[Taff]

As a garage owner this makes my blood boil! All they are doing is trying to cover their inefficient business model by over charging. Handbrake adjust on any model car is 10 mins max. Brake fluid change.. go with what is recommended but £49+ the vodka n tonic is a bit rich.

[london lad]

The only reason the change brake fluid every 2 years on a road car is to increase dealer profits.

I have a proper brake fluid tester that actually boils the fluid sample and reports water absorption, boiling point and contamination.
I have tested loads of samples and never found one from a car under 8 years old that dosen't meet the relevant DOT specification.

Changing AC gas is another such scam.

Trouble is if its in the service scheduled and you don't do it you will have a row if you need to have a claim under warranty.

[hogthrob]

Perhaps my 'waiting three years comment' was a little cryptic. The recent new member scenic resurrected and replied to a three year old thread. :-)

[jonny]

For a moment there I thought Griff had returned to the fold...

R

+1

[Chewy]

Perhaps my 'waiting three years comment' was a little cryptic. The recent new member scenic resurrected and replied to a three year old thread. :-)

Don't worry, i got it. It wasn't completely wasted. :)

[Chris_in_the_UK]

Jeez....

Would have been great though if Griff had come out of hibernation though!

[jonny]

Jeez....

Would have been great though if Griff had come out of hibernation though!

perhaps pm him and ask him to come back ?

Has anyone heard from him?

[PhilM]

Sadly not, he stopped posting on both forums around the same time. Have tried to reach him on his personal email, but it was his work one, which bounces back as he is now retired.

Would be good to know that he's okay.