Hi.
A History lesson
Saturday 4th August
Went swimming with key/fob. Car towed away 5-6 o’clock evening. Had a 2+ hour wait for pickup. He’d sbeen unable to find us. He was at the top of the road, I was parked in carpark at bottom of the road, as I explained to breakdown telephone operator.
My visits to the Ford Garage St Brieuc.
Before I recount my dealings with the Ford garage, may I just say that not once have the garage phoned me. I have asked them on every meeting to phone me to keep me informed. I have always gone with at least one person who can speak good French or who are fluent. I have relied on friends and neighbours to transport me there (about 20-25 mins in car, each way).
I first went to the Ford garage Monday 6th August to order a new fob (I was told it would take two days to arrive). The car was initially towed to a Renault garage (where the breakdown lorry was based), and not where I wanted it to go. I asked if it could go to the nearest ford/landrover dealer or even my home address. He said it was too late!
After a number of phone calls to my insurance company and the Renault garage, I decided to make my way to the Renault garage in the off chance that the fob had dried out and I could get the car started. No chance. So I paid the Renault garage to move the car the Ford Garage at St Brieuc. It arrived a day after they said.
Phoned the garage on Thursday, they understood all they had to do was reprogramme the new fob.
Went to pickup the car up on the Friday 10th August (as I previously been told that it would take only half an hour to reprogramme the fob). Work hadn’t started. They said they were very busy and it was late, it was now about 5 o’clock. I signed a devi, which said the car would be ready 4 o’clock Tuesday.
I arrived Tuesday 4 o’clock. There had been a problem. It would now be Thursday. Of course they hadn’t thought to phone me. Thursday comes, (you’ve guessed it no phone call )- so I thought I’d better phone them this time. Sure enough had I turned up it would have been another wasted journey. They’d regrogrammed the new fob but now the engine won’t turn over. They asked me when was the last time I drove the car!
In I go on Friday, 17 August, and sign another devi. This no date date is given for when the car will be ready. I ask them AGAIN for them to phone me if there are any problems.
Monday/Tuesday, I can’t remember they tell me they’ve checked the solenoid and now suspect the Starter motor.
Another update. The Garage have just told me "Its not the Starter Motor" But they don't know that it is.
24th August went in with bypass unit (AMR4956). left it with them to fit
Monday 27th August , they’ve refitted all the bits taken off the car, but engine is still not turning over. They suspect the Fuel Injector pump and cost 150 euro for starters to take if off. We’ve had enough of their incompetence.
Tuesday 28th have tracked down TWO English landrover mechanics. Both seem understand the problem and think they have the solution and all over the phone. I’ll keep my fingers crossed.
Go to garage to tell them enough is enough.
I’ll end here and perhaps post tomorrow with a breakdown of their 600+ euro bill to reprogramme a key fob and wreak our car.
Some of their excuses:
We’ve been busy
Our Landrover mechanic has been on hoilday (So who the hell has been working on the car?)
In fact I’ve just found out that “their landrover mechanic” is shared between two garages.
And I think he said “They are no longer a Landrover agent”. Well what all the landrover signs etc doing and why are people working/walking around in Landrover overalls? However I do see that the Landrover showroom over the road has closed and that they are now selling Suzuki car.