Unbelievable main dealer service!

Berger

Berger

Berger

Soldato
Joined
22 May 2003
Posts
10,856
Location
Wigan
I couldnt possibly think of a worse main dealer to use than Evans Halshaw Ford on the docks at Preston.

Tuesday i phone to book my work van service, we have around 40-50 transits from Evans Halshaw, bought by head office and then sent down to here so we use our local dealer for servicing. Booked the van for Friday no problem but the guy seemed a bit of a numpty on the phone.

Today took the van and it isnt booked in.

They take the van.

I got at lunch to pickup some stuff from it, its moved places in the car park.

Phone at 4pm to ask if it is ready, told it is so go to collect.

Collect van and joke about how they must rake it in, £205 for a "major" service, which is just an inspection of brakes, tyres and an oil change.

Drive back to office, check oil, its pitch black and hasnt been changed. The screenwash has been topped up and the battery terminals copper greased.

Phone back and ask why the oil hasnt been changed.

"Why do you think the oil hasnt been changed?"
"Because its pitch black and blatently hasnt been touched"
"Diesel oil is always black out of the bottle"
"Pretty sure its not mate, we have 5 bottles on the shelf here and all are golden brown, id like it sorting please"
"If you bring it back now we can have a look"

Ill take it back on Monday, not faffing about now.

Absolute disgrace they try and get away with not changing the oil and filter and charging for it, then lie on the phone to try and cover up for it again!

Unbelievable!
 
Doesn't diesel oil go black almost instantly? I assume you drove a fair distance back to the office...
 
I was under the impression diesel oil is golden brown, but then pretty much instantly turns to black when you drive off.
 
in diesel engines ive found new oil is never clear for more than about 10 minutes anyway

does the filter look new and does it look like the sump drain plug has been removed (ie cleaner around that area?)
 
OllyM said:
Doesn't diesel oil go black almost instantly? I assume you drove a fair distance back to the office...
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1 Mile, we are on the other side of the dock. Didnt look like it had been touched underneath.

New oil isnt clear but its a golden brown syrup colour/texture, certainly not black sminge from 20k of abuse.
 
As said above it really does not take long at all in a diesel engine to go black!.

Check the sump plug for fresh spanner marks or even see if there is a new washer on the sump plug..Just make sure your 100% convinced its not been done before you go in guns blazing.(not sure if its an element filter or canister type but check that also).
 
rs125 said:
As said above it really does not take long at all in a diesel engine to go black!.

Check the sump plug for fresh spanner marks or even see if there is a new washer on the sump plug..Just make sure your 100% convinced its not been done before you go in guns blazing.(not sure if its an element filter or canister type but check that also).
Click to expand...

Will check tomorrow but im almost 100% convinced that its not been done, backed up by someone else in the office saying they were suspect that their van had been serviced properly too when i said when i got back.
 
diesel oil can go pitch black from after running for a couple of minutes let alone the test drive the van should have been take on before you picked it up.

a 'major service' on a ford should be oil filters changed not just oils. pollen, fuel, oil and air.
 
The oil does go dark very quickly in a diesel engine but I can always tell if mine has been changed as it is slightly translucent for a while.

I took my old Mondeo into EH when I had an injector problem on my way into Preston - told them it was down on power and the glow plug light was flashing. Mechanic came out and said it was probably the cat broken up inside the exhaust! I shook my head and walked out. I once went there with a view to buying a used car too, asked for a finance quote and they quoted me about the same monthly cost over 48 payments as another dealer wanted for 36. When I asked the interest rate they wouldn't tell me!

The service department at Ormskirk/Lancashire Ford is the best I've come across in that area but its half an hour or so from Preston. Pye Motors at Morecambe are good as well, but again a bit of a hike from Preston. I don't think its any coincidence that both of those are privately owned rather than part of a big PLC.
 
I to was quite shocked at how quick diesel oil changes colour after my recent oil change, no sooner had i topped up the car checked the level and turned the engine over and it had already turned black :eek: that was also me using wynns diesel flush as i thought it would still be golden brown as well :(
 
Evans Halshaw Ford Milton Keynes managed to forget to put a screw in the gear box when they had to replace part of it and then while out in the middle of nowhere lost all gears except reverse. Also a 2 day job takes a week normally if not longer. Lastly EVERY service it needs a new set of discs and pads even though one bit it spent 6 months plopped in the corner of the Yard and only did 3k miles that year.

But hey company paid anyway!
 
OllyM said:
Doesn't diesel oil go black almost instantly? I assume you drove a fair distance back to the office...
Click to expand...
yes, I changed mine, started it up, for 5-10 mins, swtiched off to check and it was black.
the name "evans halshaw" sounds like a chav outfit, saying that we jus bought a car from them!!!
 
ste_bla said:
Evans Halshaw Ford Milton Keynes managed to forget to put a screw in the gear box when they had to replace part of it and then while out in the middle of nowhere lost all gears except reverse. Also a 2 day job takes a week normally if not longer. Lastly EVERY service it needs a new set of discs and pads even though one bit it spent 6 months plopped in the corner of the Yard and only did 3k miles that year.

But hey company paid anyway!
Click to expand...

I had my fiesta serviced by them and I thought they did a good job! Saying that I don't own the car now and could be falling apart as we speak :p
 
cdcopyman said:
they dont need to undo the sump to drain , most garages now empty the oil ffrom the top of the engine , via suction :D :eek:
Click to expand...

I'm looking at getting one of those suction pumps from machinemart, starting to go off the fiddling around on the floor lark.
 
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