Astonishing!

May 31, 2006

I've just taken my 'P' reg estate RAV for its MOT and it passed no problem! The garage I took it to was a Peugeot franchise across the road from where I work. Since I have a bit of a problem with engine knock at the moment (see 'Pinking'), I asked if they had any third party diag kit and they don't!

I'd never really thought about it before, but why doesn't any garage, franchise or not, buy some reasonably cheap, aftermarket diagnosis gear? They could have had some extra money. If you asked them to work on the car they would probably agree, but they can't diagnose it.

Given the extent of electronics in cars today, I would have thought that a garage would have a spanner that fit all cars, not just their own.

What do you think?

May 31, 2006

I've just taken my 'P' reg estate RAV for its MOT and it passed no problem! The garage I took it to was a Peugeot franchise across the road from where I work. Since I have a bit of a problem with engine knock at the moment (see 'Pinking'), I asked if they had any third party diag kit and they don't!
I'd never really thought about it before, but why doesn't any garage, franchise or not, buy some reasonably cheap, aftermarket diagnosis gear? They could have had some extra money. If you asked them to work on the car they would probably agree, but they can't diagnose it.
Given the extent of electronics in cars today, I would have thought that a garage would have a spanner that fit all cars, not just their own.
What do you think?

Percydood

I had a new shape Megane before I traded it for the RAV4.

To change the front headlight bulb either involved getting someone who could dislicate there shoulder so they could access the bulb through the wheel arch, and have xray vision to see what your doing as there is no way otherwise.... :eek: :eek: or take it to Renault so they could remove front bumper and change said bulb... :lol: :lol: About a £4 bulb and 30 quid labour....PMSL luckly I managed it my self but ended up with not a lot of skin left on wrist and hand.....

More gizmos and trickery are going into fancy shape cars now but the ability for general public who buy these to do a bit of DIY is fast going....

:thumbsup:

June 1, 2006

Cars in general are becomming increasingly difficult for the average mechanic to work on. Ok, they are essentially exactly the same as they were 20 years ago, so most of the mechanical stuff hasn't really changed.

The problem is that the electrical systems are becomming increasingly more complicated and therefore require specialist facilities.

Your P reg Rav has a low level on board diagnostic system, and can't tell the mechanic much more than it can you. You can read fault codes yourself, which is all the mechanic would do. Obviously the mechanic would have a better level of diagnostic equipment, and would be able to test engine sensors induvidually etc. But that requires a mechanic that can understand the stuff in the first place!

I'm not in any way running mechanics down. After all, no one can reasonably know every thing about everything! But as with most proffessions, knowledge comes with interest. And as with most professions, for every 100 people who are in it cause it's a job, there's 1 who has a proper interest and therefore higher level of skill.

God, I don't half talk rubbish sometimes! :thumbsup:

June 2, 2006

I used to work for (well, still do) an aftermarket diagnostics company and it seems amazing that all the little garages have diag gear that can read a thousand different cars but the faranchises don't. I'm just repeating myself now!

It's not nearly as expensive as the franchise testers which will start at around £7000. Sykes-Pickavant (my old company) used to sell one for about £500 - £1000.

A small, independant garage would change your cambelt or cylinder head gasket for you and I reckon the franchises would as well. I don't know why the franchises don't have a cheap tester.

I think you're right about the ability of some people. With complicated vehicle electronics, the first thing you should do is stick the tester on it, then get your screwdriver out and start having a go.

A little story. My aunt had a Vauxhall Corsa which woud simply switch off whilst driving!! Everything would go off. She took it to Vauxhall a few times who put the tester on it, read no faults and told her there was nothing wrong!! At this point they should have got back to basics to find the fault. One of the guys who worked for us used to work for GM and said that ignition switch relays often were a problem. If that was the fault, the ECU would record no faults since it probably thought you were doing a perfectly reasonable thing and turn the ignition off!!

Sorry, I can't half talk!!