Renault charge for diagnosing a fault

[jonathanedew]

Took my car into a Renault dealer this morning to get the blower fixed. I already checked the resistor pack and that's OK. Before the fan stopped working it started to make knocking noises so I am pretty sure that's where the problem lay.

With this information given to the garage, they said there would be a 'diagnostic' fee of £69 to confirm the problem.

I told them to simply replace the fan and they scrubbed the fee. Currently awaiting a call back.

My question is, if I went to any 'normal' garage, and said "please fix my blower", surely I would pay for the parts and the labour fee for fixing it.

Paying an additional £69 seems a back door way of charging more for something that should already be included in the labour fee.

What do you think?

 

[Flaydog]

Thats why they call them stealers!!

 

[Flaydog]

Oh, and just to add. i'm haveing the same problem with my blower. Hoping it is covered by the warranty!

 

[AK]

Why would you take it to a dealers? Have you not got a specialist near you?

Dealers should be last resorts/or if you've got warranty cover!

 

[DMH-01]

They wanted £79 to run a diagnostic check on my seat all over a broken handle :| there a total rip off.

 

[Beef-Mc]

I got my diagnostic check for free for some reason

 

[DMH-01]

O and the handle only cost me £4.50 to fix :S.

 

[jonathanedew]

Why would you take it to a dealers? Have you not got a specialist near you?

It's a long story!

I have had the fault for about a month now. First I had our company fitter have a look at it. He said he thought it was the resistor pack, despite me telling him the fan made a banging noise for a few days before it finally packed up. He also managed to blow the 30 amp fuse when testing the resistor pack.

Then he suggested I take it to his elecrician. So another 1/2 day off work and a 30 mile drive for him to look at it. He tested the resistor pack and concluded it was indeed the fan. He said he would fix it if I could get a replacement blower for him. That's how I left it last week.

Since then I haven't had time to organise getting one and, what with driving over to him to fit it, I did the usual thing I do and threw money at the problem; the Renault dealer being only 1/2 mile from my home.

Garage also replaced the reversing light switch. Total bill £280.00. They 'waived' the diagnostic fee... kind of them eh?

Oh and they also managed to break my fix of the gearshift gaiter, so it's out with the superglue again.

So... I am £280 lighter but can go to sleep tonight knowing the car's in FWO ... until the next fault of course! :dapprove: