Paul Fraser
New member
Well, I picked up the Boxster from the garage today and to say I am not happy with the results in an understatement.
It was in for an oil leak investigation and aircon diagnostic.
I wanted the oil filler hose replaced as I was told by Ninemeister that it was leaking and this was confirmed last month by the Edinburgh OPC. I also requested the engine was steam cleaned to see if there were any other leaks.
Two days later (Friday) I phone them (no call from them letting me know what was happening, but they had said it would be a Saturday pickup) and find the car will indeed be ready on Saturday. I phone back a couple of hours later to see what has happened and get the proprietor.
I am told: aircon system ok but needs regas, engine has been steam cleaned and the RMS has a slight leak, nothing to worry about, the sump pan had a slight leak -- bolts tightened, and there is a leak from the oil cooler pipe and that he has managed to tighten up the three bolts at the gasket area. Leaks appeared to have stopped, but as he filled it up with some long nose oil thing he wouldn't have caused a leak from the filler pipe. At least I think the latter is what he said, some of it is a bit hazy. Also told that two litres oil added to bring level up and if I need to change the oil filler pipe it is an engine out job. If engine comes out aircon has to be drained so this is the reason why it wasn't regassed.
Go to pick up the car on Saturday and find the prop. isn't there. Find oil is overfilled. Really overfilled, almost at the top of the plastic bit on the dipstick. I am correct in thinking that one measures this when the car is cold and not running? Also find that oil dipstick tube is misaligned and has been pushed in hole. I now make my first mistake and take car home rather than dragging one of the employees out and saying 'fix this, I'll be back on Monday'. Get home and girlfriend (who has driven the car home while I was in another) shows me her hands. Black from oil and other muck on steering wheel. Look into engine bay. No signs of top of engine being steam cleaned as there is still oil on top of engine. I can't see how I can check the repair has been sucessful if it isn't clean to start with. Take the opportunity while I'm at the back of the car to realign oil dipstick pipe and find that, although I can get in into position it isn't secure as the cap that fits on the end to hold it in position is missing. Also find small bit of plastic that makes me wonder if new cap will fit on. Still way too much oil, but car has only been sitting fifteen minutes.
So, to say this hasn't been a good experience is an understatement and I'm a bit conflicted about what to do next. I am swinging between just forgetting about it and going somewhere else and driving down on Monday to be there when the doors open. Problem is (a) I absolutely hate having to complain about things as it really stresses me out and I end up coming over all strident (b) I'm not sure I trust them to work on the car again. I mean if you can't even get the oil level correct FFS?
To add further insult to injury I've just found TSB 1715 on Renntech. This is a mid-filler-tube replacement procedure for oil leaks on the oil filler hose/crankcase. I would have thought that this would have been the first place to start but they don't seem to have been aware of it. If I had found this TSB I would have sloshed a bucket of water and degreaser over the top of the engine and replaced this part myself first.
Finally, and this is the really, really, really galling thing about the whole escapade: this garage has got a really good reputation so I bunged the car into him thumb up bum brain in neutral.
PS I won't say what the garage is until I've either decided to forget this and go elsewhere or sort it out with them. I would however appreciate some feedback so I can try and get some perspective on the whole thing.
It was in for an oil leak investigation and aircon diagnostic.
I wanted the oil filler hose replaced as I was told by Ninemeister that it was leaking and this was confirmed last month by the Edinburgh OPC. I also requested the engine was steam cleaned to see if there were any other leaks.
Two days later (Friday) I phone them (no call from them letting me know what was happening, but they had said it would be a Saturday pickup) and find the car will indeed be ready on Saturday. I phone back a couple of hours later to see what has happened and get the proprietor.
I am told: aircon system ok but needs regas, engine has been steam cleaned and the RMS has a slight leak, nothing to worry about, the sump pan had a slight leak -- bolts tightened, and there is a leak from the oil cooler pipe and that he has managed to tighten up the three bolts at the gasket area. Leaks appeared to have stopped, but as he filled it up with some long nose oil thing he wouldn't have caused a leak from the filler pipe. At least I think the latter is what he said, some of it is a bit hazy. Also told that two litres oil added to bring level up and if I need to change the oil filler pipe it is an engine out job. If engine comes out aircon has to be drained so this is the reason why it wasn't regassed.
Go to pick up the car on Saturday and find the prop. isn't there. Find oil is overfilled. Really overfilled, almost at the top of the plastic bit on the dipstick. I am correct in thinking that one measures this when the car is cold and not running? Also find that oil dipstick tube is misaligned and has been pushed in hole. I now make my first mistake and take car home rather than dragging one of the employees out and saying 'fix this, I'll be back on Monday'. Get home and girlfriend (who has driven the car home while I was in another) shows me her hands. Black from oil and other muck on steering wheel. Look into engine bay. No signs of top of engine being steam cleaned as there is still oil on top of engine. I can't see how I can check the repair has been sucessful if it isn't clean to start with. Take the opportunity while I'm at the back of the car to realign oil dipstick pipe and find that, although I can get in into position it isn't secure as the cap that fits on the end to hold it in position is missing. Also find small bit of plastic that makes me wonder if new cap will fit on. Still way too much oil, but car has only been sitting fifteen minutes.
So, to say this hasn't been a good experience is an understatement and I'm a bit conflicted about what to do next. I am swinging between just forgetting about it and going somewhere else and driving down on Monday to be there when the doors open. Problem is (a) I absolutely hate having to complain about things as it really stresses me out and I end up coming over all strident (b) I'm not sure I trust them to work on the car again. I mean if you can't even get the oil level correct FFS?
To add further insult to injury I've just found TSB 1715 on Renntech. This is a mid-filler-tube replacement procedure for oil leaks on the oil filler hose/crankcase. I would have thought that this would have been the first place to start but they don't seem to have been aware of it. If I had found this TSB I would have sloshed a bucket of water and degreaser over the top of the engine and replaced this part myself first.
Finally, and this is the really, really, really galling thing about the whole escapade: this garage has got a really good reputation so I bunged the car into him thumb up bum brain in neutral.
PS I won't say what the garage is until I've either decided to forget this and go elsewhere or sort it out with them. I would however appreciate some feedback so I can try and get some perspective on the whole thing.
