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Car went in for service yesterday (a4 avant - yeah, yeah, I know...)
picked it up this morning, everything fine, car sounding much smoother than before service and they fixed some things I had pointed out. perfectly happy.
parked at work, walked away from car, pressed key fob, car wouldn't lock.
walked back, tried again, made sure all doors shut, tried again, no joy.
Realised that i had both keys on me (wife dropped car off, i collected it). Tried the other key, it worked fine.
Rang the garage, they immediately went on the defensive, saying that they key they had worked fine (which is probably true) and that it wasn't them as they "didn't touch the alarm". I pointed out that it would be a hell of coincidence for it to break without their influence, and not having the key was irrelevant, since it is the car that has to know about the keys (not vice versa).
They agreed to have a look at it, but still adamant that it won't be their problem.
I will try the softly softly approach, but the guy on the phone pissed me off. If they don't sort it, should I stamp my feet, or stump up cash to get it fixed?
Dave
ps. Keys most definitely worked fine before the service - we use both keys all the time as we share the car.
have you switched batteries between the two keys just to be sure it's not that?
If it's quick and cheap to resolve, they won't mind saying it was them.
If it's tricky and expensive to resolve, it won't be their fault.
I reckon.
Sometimes electrical gremlins can occur after the battery is disconnected. Our central locking and electric windows started to play up once (on a Mazda). Co-incidentlally I just got the windows re-synced about an hour ago (after putting up with it for a year and it turned out to be a 30 second job and I wasn't charged).
the light is coming on on the key fob, so battery (in the fob) seems unlikely - non trivial to open the key fob up and i have no tools here at work.
One thing they did during service was to replace the alternator pulley, so they almost definitely disconnected the battery.
Dave
Had similar with my local garage last month. Paid £500 for timing belt, basic service and handbrake cable. Picked it up and found the drivers' door module had stopped working (leccy windows / mirrors, central locking etc). Took it back and was told they hadn't touched it, oh no, not us, but that they would have a look at it. Picked it up again and module was working but fan now broken, handbrake barely working and the LCD radio display has wierd blotches all over it.
Checked the fuses and found some really wierd stuff going on and a few burnt out fuses - replaced them and the fan starts working agin, but module, radio panel and handbrake still goosed.
I just plan on going elsewhere next time - can't be arsed with the inevitable arguments and haven't got any more cash to throw at the problems.
These are some of the reasons I spare my free time to do my own car work and refuse to buy a car that I can't service from head to toe. You really can't trust anyone but yourself.
I used to service everything myself (inc full engine rebuilds), but time has become much more scarce/valuable and the time/money equation doesn't work out any more.
Happy to pay for the garage to do stuff so I can spend my spare time out on my bike, but it would be nice if they didn't pull this kind of stunt (full judgement reserved until they've sorted/shirked it)
Dave
thinking about it, they now have an opportunity to win or lose a customer for life.
when my iphone broke, it was 20 months old (outside warranty). I took it to the apple store. They replaced it no question and gave me a new 3 month warranty. Loyalty gained.
If the garage sort it out with a smile, they will have gained my loyalty and future business. If they make a fuss and piss me off, I will never go there again (despite them being my closest independant audi specialist - walking distance).
Dave
Happy to pay for the garage to do stuff so I can spend my spare time out on my bike, but it would be nice if they didn't pull this kind of stunt (full judgement reserved until they've sorted/shirked it)
I'd happily pay if the prices were sane and you could be sure it was right. I've literally never spoken to any friend or relative that doesn't have a nightmare story about their favourite/usual/well recommended local garage. If only I had the cash to send my car to a flawless repair location I'd be a happy chappy 😀
Right. I'm back from the garage, and I am happy 🙂
<Rant Cancelled>
They had a go with both keys, and he did some funny trick to try and resync the key (holding it in the lock, turning it and pressing the buttons); that didn't work, so he took it into the garage, plugged it into a laptop and fiddled around for about 10 minutes, then declared it fixed (he had to reprogram it completely; the car had forgotten that the key existed).
No hint of the attitude I picked up on the phone, and no question of me paying anything to sort it.
Done. Dusted. Repeat business assured.
Dave
Yup - all because they disconnected the battery. Next time my car goes in I am telling them to take precautions to stop this rubbish happening.