Headlamp Alignment Done At Toyota

[Jamy197g]

Yesterday, I took the car to Toyota following an MOT failure due to headlights being out of alignment ( car only failed because of this). I could have took it to a local Independant garage but as the vehicle is

used as a taxi, I thought I'd give it to Mr T to do as they would do a professional job. the NS headlight was too high and too much toe the left and the OS was too much too the left.

One T garage said £200, so I rang my local one and was advised they could do it for £47- Result!!

But not so im afraid.. after waiting over an hour in the showroom, I was told that the tech couldnt align the OS h/l without having to remove the bumper and it would cost £94. I agreed and went home and collected

the car later in the evening.

Today, I took it for the re-test and it failed again as the OS h/l was too high and now too much towards the right. The tester showed me through the alignment machine and I could tell it was way out.

Well, as you can imagine I was fuming, so I rang T and was asked to bring it back again to have it looked at.

I waited another hour at toyota and was assured its been aligned correctly this time but im not too sure.

Thing is, the MOT station is about 29 miles away (specialist Taxi MOT garage who only work for the council) and now I have lost 5 days earnings as I cant use the vehicle as well as having to pay another MOT test fee. The earliest I can get it in for the MOT again is now 5 days away.

I mentioned this to the guy at toyota and asked for a refund for my inconvinience (although have lost as lot more in earnings), but was told the manager is in a meeting but he has spoken to him and

he cant refund it as the work has been carried out.

Where Do I stand on this? Your views would be appreciated. In the meantime I am writing a letter to the Toyota garage and the head office as I am appaled at their service.

[irishjay]

Yesterday, I took the car to Toyota following an MOT failure due to headlights being out of alignment ( car only failed because of this). I could have took it to a local Independant garage but as the vehicle is

used as a taxi, I thought I'd give it to Mr T to do as they would do a professional job. the NS headlight was too high and too much toe the left and the OS was too much too the left.

One T garage said £200, so I rang my local one and was advised they could do it for £47- Result!!

But not so im afraid.. after waiting over an hour in the showroom, I was told that the tech couldnt align the OS h/l without having to remove the bumper and it would cost £94. I agreed and went home and collected

the car later in the evening.

Today, I took it for the re-test and it failed again as the OS h/l was too high and now too much towards the right. The tester showed me through the alignment machine and I could tell it was way out.

Well, as you can imagine I was fuming, so I rang T and was asked to bring it back again to have it looked at.

I waited another hour at toyota and was assured its been aligned correctly this time but im not too sure.

Thing is, the MOT station is about 29 miles away (specialist Taxi MOT garage who only work for the council) and now I have lost 5 days earnings as I cant use the vehicle as well as having to pay another MOT test fee. The earliest I can get it in for the MOT again is now 5 days away.

I mentioned this to the guy at toyota and asked for a refund for my inconvinience (although have lost as lot more in earnings), but was told the manager is in a meeting but he has spoken to him and

he cant refund it as the work has been carried out.

Where Do I stand on this? Your views would be appreciated. In the meantime I am writing a letter to the Toyota garage and the head office as I am appaled at their service.

where do you stand ?? unsure to be honest , i sympathise fully with you as im a taxi driver , if it happened to me i wouldent be best pleased and i definetly would be arguing my case with the manager , who knows i suppose its up to them they didnt provide the service that you paid them for and are liable for that , you could go down the legal route and try to get the 5 days loss of wages too , ,thats if youre completly honest with the taxman!! lol hope it works out , the letter is a good idea and i would do a lot more ranting , i think you will get a result , goodluck

[Jamy197g]

Yesterday, I took the car to Toyota following an MOT failure due to headlights being out of alignment ( car only failed because of this). I could have took it to a local Independant garage but as the vehicle is

used as a taxi, I thought I'd give it to Mr T to do as they would do a professional job. the NS headlight was too high and too much toe the left and the OS was too much too the left.

One T garage said £200, so I rang my local one and was advised they could do it for £47- Result!!

But not so im afraid.. after waiting over an hour in the showroom, I was told that the tech couldnt align the OS h/l without having to remove the bumper and it would cost £94. I agreed and went home and collected

the car later in the evening.

Today, I took it for the re-test and it failed again as the OS h/l was too high and now too much towards the right. The tester showed me through the alignment machine and I could tell it was way out.

Well, as you can imagine I was fuming, so I rang T and was asked to bring it back again to have it looked at.

I waited another hour at toyota and was assured its been aligned correctly this time but im not too sure.

Thing is, the MOT station is about 29 miles away (specialist Taxi MOT garage who only work for the council) and now I have lost 5 days earnings as I cant use the vehicle as well as having to pay another MOT test fee. The earliest I can get it in for the MOT again is now 5 days away.

I mentioned this to the guy at toyota and asked for a refund for my inconvinience (although have lost as lot more in earnings), but was told the manager is in a meeting but he has spoken to him and

he cant refund it as the work has been carried out.

Where Do I stand on this? Your views would be appreciated. In the meantime I am writing a letter to the Toyota garage and the head office as I am appaled at their service.

where do you stand ?? unsure to be honest , i sympathise fully with you as im a taxi driver , if it happened to me i wouldent be best pleased and i definetly would be arguing my case with the manager , who knows i suppose its up to them they didnt provide the service that you paid them for and are liable for that , you could go down the legal route and try to get the 5 days loss of wages too , ,thats if youre completly honest with the taxman!! lol hope it works out , the letter is a good idea and i would do a lot more ranting , i think you will get a result , goodluck

Thanks IrishJay, Well, Ive done 2 letters, one to the Garage, which im going to hand deliver to them today, and post a copy to the headoffice in portsmouth with copies of the paperwork to what they have done. I'd rather not go down the legal route, but if i have to then i will as its not fair that ive lost out due to the incompetancy of their technicians.

[Adyone]

My question is this: Why were the headlamps so far out?

[Jamy197g]

Not sure to be honest, its possible they may have been replaced at some point by Toyota when the previous owner had the car, but thats just my guess... but yes to be out that much did get me wondering too...

The adjustment for the up and down is simple to get to, but the right to left adjusment means having to take the bumper off or the headlight out at least as its in the wing area.

Can you believe that when i first rang Toyota, their technician said that there is no adjustment for the right to left aim! Makes me wonder sometimes....

[Jamy197g]

Hi All,

Just to advise of the outcome, I called the manager of the branch a week after sending the complaint letter and he said he had read it and sent me a full refund for the Job!!

[Duffryn]

Hi All,

Just to advise of the outcome, I called the manager of the branch a week after sending the complaint letter and he said he had read it and sent me a full refund for the Job!!

Should damn well think so too!

Well done for not giving up, shows what can be done if you make enough noise, although it shouldn't have been necessary to have to do that though, black marks for Mr. T. and his dealer.

[jed50]

Take the car in for MOT 2 weeks before its due. You will get the new MOT dated from when your old one expires. So, if it fails the test, the car will still be covered by the old certificate, and you will have time to get it sorted.