Carina E - Mot - Gaiters Leaking

[Big Dee]

Hi,

I've just joined the Forum.

I recently had my MOT done on Carina E and it failed. The reason on the Fail certificate was "both gaiters leaking". I was not at the MOT station during the test but was called to say that this was the problem and to recitfy this would cost me £25 each to put right. I asked them to go ahead with this. I was on the assumption that both gaiters were "damaged" and going to be replaced. I later had my car returned with a Pass MOT certificate.

After the MOT at home, I inspected under the car to find that the gaiters were not new but the clips (original would have been metal) were plastic cable ties. I did see around one gaiter some grease around nearby components which to me implies that the gaiter had come loose at the hub end.

Have I misunderstood the fault and solution?

Is there some component that I could not see that really had been replaced?

Have they just re-greased and secured the gaiters?

It feels as though the gaiters were fine, they deliberatly failed MOT, said they'd rectified it and then passed MOT.

Can someone please advise.

Thanks.

[Wombleman]

It could be a common garage "scam" - see www.honestjohn.co.uk look for 'garage scams' - however without checking them before the car went in you may never know.

On the other hand they may well have needed replacing !

[Big Dee]

Thanks Wombleman.

I had a look at this link - very interesting ;-)

Well, I can definitely say that the gaiters are NOT new, they are originals as they have signs of wear and are still slightly perished.

I have taken some photos of both gaiters (after the MOT) for my records. If I could post the pics in this topic I would but have not found out if its possible.

Do you think my theory is right or have I misunderstood the "repair job"? I'd like to prove the Garage wrong and if they have charged me for something that may not have been replaced, I would ask for my money back.

What do you think?

[Wombleman]

They did say "gaiters leaking" - so re-packing them with grease and putting on new clips to stop the leaks sounds like a repair. Obviously the grease is cheap but the killer cost in garages is usually labour (£35 - £50 an hour quite common).

Sounds like the garage have done what they said.

Good site for tips though isn't it?

[Big Dee]

Hi Wombleman.

The website is very useful.

Point taken about labour charges but.....when I spoke to the Garage after my checks, they told me that the gaiters were damaged and if I wanted proof they would dig out the old ones from their bin and show me. They were not that friendly when I spoke to them about this.

Does that not imply that the gaiters were changed? obviously they haven't been.

Thanks.

[Beardie]

£25 for a repair seems a quick fix and that they were not replaced. They seem to have done what they say, but then to say they have the old one's seems very odd. If you want the hassle of trying to get to the bottom of things, then the garage can turn araound and say that they will have another look at any work not carried out, but then again, no leaking gaiters mean good job??? I would take it that they may have taken you for a ride but at least it did'nt cost an arm and the job is good. My advice , find another MOT station and warn other mates...

[Big Dee]

Hi Beardie and Wobleman,

Thanks for your replies. I have found another local garage & MOT station, hopefully they'll serve me better.

[nrichards]

Hi,

With regard to your gaiter problem, I had my Carina Gti fail the MOT on a perished gaiter, but was prepared for this and bought a replacement from my local FMP ( Foreign Motor Parts ) which cost me about a fiver and the garage fitted it for £35.00.

I did try to attempt the replacement myself and even bought a Haynes manual to point me in the right direction, but to replace the gaiter involves emptying the transamission fluid and removing the driveshaft, which I will admit, I am not capable enough in doing.

Regards

Nigel