Halfords. Not surprised really

[qprdude]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cornwall-32283758" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Zelandeth]

Doesn't surprise me at all.

...still tempted sometime to go in there and ask them to check the oil in the Skoda and see how long it takes them to find the engine...

Remember a good few years back when the Lada Samara I had at the time decided completely without warning to part company with a significant portion of its exhaust system. Kwik-Fit was my only real option at the time due to location, time of day and trying to get to college. They duly sorted the bust clamp, then told me my rear brake pipes were badly corroded and that my discs were worn.

...I had rebuilt the entire braking system including all pipes, new discs, new calipers etc roughly a month beforehand. I think the only bits I reused (the car had been sitting for a few years) were the drums.

Suffice to say I had a few choice words with the manager. Got a nice bundle of vouchers (£150 from memory) and a full service (which I watched be done), and a free set of tyres out of it. Apparently the mechanic in question left with his P45 that afternoon as well.

Think they learned a valuable lesson that day in that some car enthusiasts who do their own maintenance do drive Ladas!

[Stickyfinger]

My late Father had full service of his 5 cylinder Passet at the VW dealer in Salisbury...he moaned when I got home that it was starting badly and ran lumpy..

I had to change plugs, 3 had 3/5mm of electrode left with no curved bit remaining ! ,the points where like the Himalayas ..
All fixed we took the car down and saw the manager who started to tell my Dad (total ignoring me) about the quality checks blah blah, cannot think why but he looked shocked when I dropped 5 plugs and a set of points on his polished mahogany desk from two feet high, they bounced well

Full re service and one in the bank.

[THELABMAN]

This problem as stickyfinger pointed out isn't unique to the fast fit boys as main stealers are every bit just as bad....

I used Halfords in Motherwell once, many years ago, when my BX packed in as it was towed there by the AA as it had an AA breakdown warranty and Halfirds where AA approved... turned out to be a faulty vacuum advance unit so they ordered a new on in..... none anywhere in the UK according to Citroen and on back order, it took Citroen more than two weeks to obtain the unit.... The AA removed my hire car from me as I was only entitled to one whilst my car was being worked on and NOT when it was off the road due to waiting on parts.

[uhn113x]

Friend of ours used to have a Mehari.
She went to one of those "free test" things at Halfords; the results included "Coolant hoses need replacing and new antifreeze"!!

[myglaren]

Friend of ours used to have a Mehari.
She went to one of those "free test" things at Halfords; the results included "Coolant hoses need replacing and new antifreeze"!!

[old-un77]

not unlike needing the valves doing on a 3 cyl wartburg.....

[Stickyfinger]

or the Rad leaking in your Beetle