Took my car for its first service...some questions

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Soldato
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Hi all,

I recently took my car for its first service. I took it to a place where I had been recommended by ETC Tyres of Leicester (reputable tyre company over here)...

The full service cost me £125... and the things that were listed were:

All brake pads and discs worn low, slight play on rack ends, engine took a lot of water, CO2 and HC out...

I've been quoted for all discs and pads and labour £191... is this a good deal? I feel like all these places have me over a barrel as I know nothing about cars...

The car, after getting all the tyres changed recently, still does not feel right and the guy said the play on the rack ends should be the problem and said something about needing new "drum sticks" (chicken drum sticks they may as well be to me lol) but he said that getting new discs and pads should sort out the problem with the play in the car... does this sound about right? He did mention I think it was the fronts particularly that were badly "distorted and out of shape" ... sure thats what he said.
 
Which car do you have?

Disks and pads sort out play in the car? Do you mean play (spongyness) in the brake pedal?

If the track rod ends are a bit iffy you may have play in the steering.
 
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What car is it you have?

if the £191 includes new brake fluid + bleeding, depending on the size of the discs and pads needed for the car, it could be the right price.

Warped discs can cause issues while driving normally and clear issues while braking. Regardless of the 'play in the car' warped discs need sorting, but the issue will have been caused by something, or it could be age.

If you replace the track rod ends, you'll need the tracking and alignment sorted as well, make sure you go to a garage with the proper equipment (4 wheel laser alignment)

"engine took a lot of water, CO2 and HC out..." Do you mean they checked the exhaust and there was excess co2 (carbon dioxide) and Hydro Carbons (engine not burning fuel correctly)? Bearing in mind its carbon monoxide, not oxide that comes out your tailpipe.

"Engine took a lot of water" you mean its leaking water?
 
a car will 'feel' different with new tyres all round, and in most case will feel wrong for the first couple of hundred miles.

but he said that getting new discs and pads should sort out the problem with the play in the car... does this sound about right?
Click to expand...

new brake discs and pads won't fix a problem with play in the steering rack. tbh i think either you've misheard - or they're trying to milk you.
 
the car is a mk3 (2001) 1.8 Mondeo...

Well I have had this problem with the car not feeling "balanced" properly for a while now. Initially I thought it was the tyres that had hit a kerb or so... I'd had the front tyres changed about April time and was advised by ATS that the rears would need changing soon too because of the wear on the tread... my MOT garage also told me this after passing the car in April.

Anyway the unbalanced feeling was still there after getting the front tyres changed and balanced and I had them rebalanced a couple of times at ATS, but the problem persisted.

The guys then said they'd do it again but it happened again I would have to have the rears changed as it may be the lack of tread which was causing the steering wheel/car to shake.

I got new tyres on the rears, these were then changed with the fronts so that the newest tyres were on the front of the car. The car did feel a great deal better and more balanced and grounded properly without any sort of feeling of wobbling or misalignment.

But then it crept back again, I was advised it must be something else as they had done the balancing a few times and the problem was still there. They had actually told me about the front pads/discs needing replacing soon but never mentioned the rears.

Anyway I was told a service may find the problem and here we are.

The actual problem now is quite strange, it doesn't feel so much like the steering wheel is vibrating badly like it was before but the car just doesn't feel grounded properly. When I pick up speed and go in excess of 60-70mph it feels a little bit wobbly, like a rumbling feeling under my feet.

I don't quite understand the engine bit but the readings are:

CO % vol value = 0.43

HC ppm vol value = 485

They said they refilled the engine with water and it took a lot - 4 watering cans or something i think they said... and that they weren't sure if there was a leak but if I come back monday to get the discs/pads fitted they will have a look to see if its gone down.

I really really want this car sorted because we're going away to cornwall on the 17th and I dont need a 4 hour trip crapped on because of this play I'm getting ;(

£191 was quoted for labour and all pads and discs, he didnt mention brake fluid or bleeding but then I guess he guessed i wouldnt have heard those terms before anyway !
 
That's a good price for discs and pads all around

Get the track rod ends replaced to sort the looseness and get someone who knows what they are doing to look at the emissions and water loss
 
4 watering cans of water for the engine to me is worring. Depending on the size of the watering can...lol. I would have a least expected coolant to be put in not water.

Maybe u could ask on here for a reputable garage where ever u live.
 
I hope they put in coolant not just water.

I'd take the car elsewhere. Don't say anything about what the previous people have said to this new place, just say that the steering is odd and can they check out the rest of the car, when you hear back from them discuss what has been said and introduce the other problems to them.

When was the car last serviced?

I wasn't aware that CO2 etc was normally checked during a routine service?

You can check to see if the water level has gone down yourself.
 
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CO2 is never checked, they check for CO. Sorry but that grinds my gears something rotten, everyone mistakes it for CO2, I blame the hippy brigade forever going on about it. Many would be surprised to find out the catalytic converter in their car actually increases the CO2 emissions.





Aaaaaaanyway, this whole thing sounds like a shambles, everything is very vague and watering cans for putting 'water' in the engine, sounds professional :/
Also why would a service find out whatever mysterious problem you have? A service is a service, not a diagnostic.
 
This feeling of imbalance you mention, sounds rather like your tracking is out to me, of course if your track-rod/tie-rod (same thing, you may hear both terms though) ends are knackered then you'll also get this effect, but once replaced you will need a proper laser alignment doing to bring it all back to spec.

God knows what the watering cans full of water was about, I'm thinking they are either talking rubbish or you miss-understood something here. They should use a proper coolant ...of course you can mix your own but 4 watering cans seems an awful lot ...then again how big is a watering can? ...how long is a piece of string ...I am thinking of the one my mother uses to water the plants in her greenhouse, that holds 10 litres of water I reckon ...so unless you are cooling a tank engine ...that can't be right.
 
To clarify the water situation - I even said to him "so any water, like tap water will do?" to which he replied "yes"...

bit worrying this since the guy at ETS recommended me to them (ETS being the reputable tyre company in Leicester etc.)

I said "so a place like kwik fit wouldn't be ok"? and he said " I wouldn't take my push bike to get serviced there"...

Anyway, he definitely did just say tap water. I wish I knew a bit more about cars right now but my time is devoted to computers and music so I can't have it all I guess!

I think taking the car to a local garage in my village would be a good idea as sigma suggested... although how much would they charge for looking at it ? I'm hoping to snap up some F1 tickets for myself and the missus this tomorrow and with having a holiday on the doorstep, discs and pads etc. it's getting quite costly all this!
 
If they're a decent place you'll get it checked for free, if they're grumpy ****s they will charge you, I once got charged £20 when I asked what for they said "nothing is free these days". Another time I had someone check something out I asked how much they wanted as they did quite a thorough check to which they said "well we have not fixed anything so there is nothing to pay for". Hmm!


Clarkey said:
CO2 is never checked, they check for CO. Sorry but that grinds my gears something rotten, everyone mistakes it for CO2, I blame the hippy brigade forever going on about it. Many would be surprised to find out the catalytic converter in their car actually increases the CO2 emissions.
Click to expand...

Fair enough, but checking CO during a normal service? I thought they only do that for the MOT.
 
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Engines don't take water. They take coolant - which costs money.

If they've put water in then they will be liable when your engine block freezes in the winter.
 
I see your from Leicester. Tyres Galore (in Stoneygate) who me and family have used for a number of years and have always been very good. They know what they're doing and do not try and sell you what you don't need (I was convinced I needed a new exhaust, I took it there, they put it on a ramp etc and sent me away saying it was fine). So give them a try if you think your current garage are trying it on.

For servicing consider 'Gin's auto centre' - who are good.

There's also a good garage off of Narborough rd however they are VERY busy.

I also know of another garage but I don't quite know the address. My uncle has used them for many years and have always been good. It's quite a small garage. If you're interested I can track down the address.
 
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