I Just Took My Skoda Octavia for a Service and Dealership Damaged The Ignition Button - Plus Weird Noise

Nuclearvodka on 27/05/2020 - 18:42
Last edited 28/05/2020 - 13:19 by 1 other user

I just took my car for the 75 k service.
Picked it up with the engine already on.
So when I went to start it again, I realised the "START" button was broken.
My guess is that the mechanic pressed too hard without realising you had to have your foot on the brake to start it.
There's also a loud noise coming from the front of the vehicle. Like a rattling.
I will call the mechanic tomorrow (it's too late in QLD now)

Fixing the start button should cost absolutely nothing but I would have liked someone to tell me that it happened.
Accident happened, and I had to find out later.

Also, the car had the brake pads replaced, could the noise come from that?

I don't know anything about cars, so I would like to know what I can do, and who to speak to just in case.

Automotive

Comments

  • brendanm on 27/05/2020 - 18:46
    +5

    Brake.

    How is the start button broken? Every single mechanic will know you have to put your foot on the brake to start it.

    Brakes don't make a noise when you are stopped.

    • Dr Prepper on 27/05/2020 - 19:51
      +5

      There are many sub par mechanics .

      I had a similar experience with a mechanic who broke the button on the automatic transmission.

  • oscargamer on 27/05/2020 - 19:16

    Brake, as already said.

    How did you fix the start button?

  • Nuclearvodka on 27/05/2020 - 19:26
    +6

    Start button is broken as in, the plastic is broken.
    someone pushed too hard, and it's broken

    Every single mechanic will know you have to put your foot on the brake to start it.

    That's what I thought, but since no one came to tell us "hey, someone broke your start button"
    I thought maybe an apprentice?

    • brendanm on 27/05/2020 - 19:31

      I don't understand how it can be broken, do you have a picture? You would push it out the back of the dash before physically breaking the plastic.

      • Nuclearvodka on 27/05/2020 - 19:34
        +1

        I have a pic, I'll post it in a sec.
        Thanks for the neg (whoever negged)

        • kahn on 27/05/2020 - 21:11
          +23

          It couldn't have been me because my neg vote button is broken.

  • Nuclearvodka on 27/05/2020 - 19:39
    +1

    Pic here

    • brendanm on 27/05/2020 - 19:49

      Weird, I've worked on a lot of cars and have never seen a start button damaged like that. Definitely have a chat with them about it if it was ok before. What sort of car and how many KMs?

      • Nuclearvodka on 27/05/2020 - 19:54

        Skoda Octavia MY16
        78.000 km.

        I'm pretty sure it's nothing (I can still start the car)
        But it is clearly broken, and that + the noise, I find it a bit weird that no one told me anything.

    • whooah1979 on 27/05/2020 - 21:48
      +1

      Do you have an image of the button working before the service?

    • OpayuOnam on 30/05/2020 - 08:41
      +1

      Ah looks like the good old brute-force-if-it-not-working method … Seen it with different things: mechanic ripped my FOB trying to open the doors with the open trunk button, but he was honest enough to own up to his mistake and get me a replacement key we both had a good laugh over it, his excuse was that the trunk open icon looked like an open door…

  • Nuclearvodka on 27/05/2020 - 19:52
    +12

    So, I would post something on a forum saying my start button is broken, but in the end, it was me all along who broke it?

    Wow.

    I have no idea why all the negs.

    Someone today at that mechanic pushed so hard on the start button that it broke.

    I don't really give a shit who broke it.
    The mechanic, the apprentice, the receptionist or Scott Morrison, but all I know is that it wasn't me.

    Would brake noise be common / dangerous after a service and pad change?

    • Orico on 27/05/2020 - 20:00
      -8

      Don't post on a public forum with what you think happened and expect people to feel sympathy and believe you.

      Just state relevant facts.

      • Nuclearvodka on 27/05/2020 - 20:01
        +5

        I posted a pic.
        Again, why would I say that someone broke my car's start button for fun?
        I know we're in lockdown and a bit bored but really?

      • Nuclearvodka on 27/05/2020 - 20:06
        +2

        I didn't know I came out as pedantic.

        Writing on a forum is weird, I do appreciate the Karen reference, I will certainly not ask to speak to the manager XD

        And regarding the button (which is really a minor issue) I'm just surprised to find out later, when as I said, accidents happen, why not just tell me straight away?

        I am way more concerned about the rattling noise I heard on my way home.
        If it is the wheel nuts, it's definitely scary.

        Yeah, I edited the brake problem.

        English is not my first language.

        • pegaxs on 27/05/2020 - 20:17
          -6

          No, do ask to speak to the manager, just don't "Karen" it. You will catch more bees with sugar…

          And the button… To give you an idea, your car has about 75,000km on it. The average car does about 50km/day round trip to work. gets started on average twice a day. That's somewhere in the order of 2~3,000 start button presses. You still don't think that you or the previous owner may have contributed to it in any way?

          But like I said, you may have broken it with your last button press. The mechanic may have gotten in your car and noticed it broken and just said nothing or may have pressed it and not noticed that it broke. The reason they didn't call you and fall at their knees begging for forgiveness is that they actually may not have been the ones that did the damage or just simply didn't notice it.

          I'm not saying that they did or didn't break it, but going off half cocked about something so simple and minor isnt going to curry you any favour. And I just wanted to point out the fact that this person pressed the button once, you pressed it about 200 times since last service…

          The brakes; speak to the manager and don't drive it until you have spoken to them. It's impossible and unsafe to diagnose a rattle/noise in a vehicle on a forum, especially one that has just had the brakes done.

          • Nuclearvodka on 27/05/2020 - 20:22
            +3

            @pegaxs: Hmmm not sure about the button.
            The car is not even 4 years old yet.
            The print on the button is still quite visible, meaning the plastic hasn't thinned out, or weakened.
            I would agree that whoever did this might not have realised, but when I started it next, I immediately felt that the button was broken.

            • pegaxs on 27/05/2020 - 20:35
              -4

              @Nuclearvodka:

              The car is not even 4 years old yet.

              Is it covered under warranty still?? If so, ask them to fix it as a warranty issue.

              I would agree that whoever did this might not have realised

              Here, have an upvote :D I don't think it was intentional and if your car is under warranty and if the person who did it actually noticed, they would have just ordered/fitted a new one. But remember, the dealership gets people making claims about mechanics breaking things on their cars all the time, most of the time, it just isnt true.

              You don't need an irate customer chewing the managers arse, who chews the advisors arse, who chews the workshop foreman's arse, who then, after gathering all that moss rolling down hill, chews the arse off the mechanic. It's easier to report and solve than it is to say nothing and hope it goes unnoticed…

              And before all the neg retards get on their neg bandwagon, I am not here standing up for the dealer, just pointing out that this issue could have happened at any time and not have been noticed… Hell, if I was the service manager, for the cost of the part, right or wrong, I would just replace it. Cost price on that part would be worth it not to get the grief.

              Now, the brake issue, first thing in the morning, do not drive it, call the dealer and tell them about the noise and you fear it could be a safety issue. They will ask you some questions about the noise and may get a better idea after speaking to you… And if it is something they have done and it is a major safety issue, then they are a shit dealership for letting that happen. (probably couldnt road test it because the start button was broken…)

              • Nuclearvodka on 27/05/2020 - 20:42
                +1

                @pegaxs: Lol at the last sentence.

                I can't stand people abusing customer service staff, or "ask to speak to the manager"
                Am I pissed that the start button is broken?
                Yes of course.

                But really, I'm just worried about the noise, and just hope it's nothing and an easy fix.

                All up, the service and brakes changes, I paid over a grand.

                Surely I shouldn't hear that kind of noises on a car that just came out of the mechanic

      • crentist on 27/05/2020 - 20:38
        +10

        Maybe it's your attitude. Your elevated sense of entitlement. Your air of "It wasn't me but I want heads to roll!!!" Karen disposition…

        from this?

        Fixing the start button should cost absolutely nothing but I would have liked someone to tell me that it happened.
        Accident happened, and I had to find out later.

        That's what I thought, but since no one came to tell us "hey, someone broke your start button"
        I thought maybe an apprentice?

        what heads? seems like they just want it fixed, and are mostly annoyed that they werent told about it
        you seem more annoyed at OP than OP does at the mechanic

        and gotta say, you repeatedly italicising you to tell them why they broke it themselves and that you dont like their attitude and you dont care any more because you dont get paid to put up with pedantry…
        ..is pretty damn Karen

  • Cain0z on 27/05/2020 - 20:00
    +3

    They might not have tightened up the callipers when they did the break. or even the wheel nuts. check your wheel nuts are tight and also check to see if you can move the calliper when its cooled down a bit.

    I have had the wheel nut happen to me. The wheel came off while driving.

    • Nuclearvodka on 27/05/2020 - 20:02

      Far out that's scary.

    • DashCam AKA Rolts on 27/05/2020 - 20:13
      +1

      when they did the break

      FTFY "when they did the break brakes"

      • randomusername2017 on 27/05/2020 - 21:34
        +5

        Mechanic went on a break and left the apprentice to do the brakes…

  • Cheeper on 27/05/2020 - 20:14
    +3

    I am assuming it is a dealership?
    In typical fashion they will most likely deny breaking anything and put the onus on you to prove elsewise.
    Most of those places employ unskilled workers or 1st yr apprentice mechanics to service your car and strange things happen.
    The quality of the service is of no concern, the $$$s are.
    After this find a reliable local mechanic to service your car or have a read up on DIY.

    • Nuclearvodka on 27/05/2020 - 20:18

      You're assuming right, it was a dealership.

      Funny though, they charged more than a local mechanic, I would assume you would get better service, they know the cars they sell.

      To be honest, the broken button is annoying, more for the principle.
      It would cost under $50 to replace it, if it bothers me too much and they refuse to fix it I can always do it myself.

      But the noise is definitely a concern.

      I shouldn't hear a noise after the car was taken for a service and had the brake pads changed.

      • ShannonN on 28/05/2020 - 02:08

        So are you saying that you drove the car home (x klms) hearing a weird and worrying noise without going straight back to the dealer after driving a klm?

        Doesn't sound like it was that unusual or loud if you just kept driving?

        • Nuclearvodka on 28/05/2020 - 07:57

          Thanks for your constructive comment.

          But nope, not what I said.

          I picked the car up, had the music on, did not notice the noise straight away.
          By the time I heard the noise, turned the music down, it was too late for me to take to the mechanic.
          I am doing this first thing this morning.

          • ShannonN on 28/05/2020 - 10:54

            @Nuclearvodka: Thanks for the clarification as the original post said nothing about (loud) music masking any possible rattle, creak or noises when you drove home

  • [Deactivated] on 27/05/2020 - 20:51
    +1

    Nah will be $500

    • Nuclearvodka on 27/05/2020 - 22:09
      +1

      I found the part online for under $50

      • [Deactivated] on 28/05/2020 - 08:03
        +7

        $450 labour

  • sh0gun on 28/05/2020 - 08:16
    +1

    Loud rattling coming from the car is not standard procedure for a brake pad change. Nor for any normal servicing really.

    They should fix the start button. After driving something for a few years and the fact that you noticed it straight away suggests that it was damaged by the shop.

    Karen jokes aside, you should ask to speak with the service department manager and explain the issues. If they are a decent dealership they will fix it without too much arguing.

    Unfortunately with mechanics, like many services, you have to go on a case by case basis in regard to their quality of work and price vs performance. You don't always get what you pay for but sometimes you do. I would suggest that if you still have a warranty on the car then try another Skoda dealer for you next service/maintenance job. If there is no warranty, any competent independent shop can do basic servicing. Sometimes with the smaller shops, it is only one guy with years of experience and the job doesn't get handed off to the apprentice/young bloke.

    Good luck!

    • Nuclearvodka on 28/05/2020 - 09:22
      +3

      I called first thing this morning.

      They were really nice and will take the car in tomorrow morning 7.30

      They will replace the button and look at the noise.

      Did not have to Karen it, they knew straight away what I was referring to.

      • brendanm on 28/05/2020 - 09:57
        +2

        Pretty shitty they didn't mention it when you picked it up then.

  • dpark88 on 28/05/2020 - 09:37

    What car is this?

    Most cars have floating brake calipers that have an anti-rattle clip. This is often not put back on by subpar and potentially dodgy mechanics (happened to a friend who took her car in to Midas).

    It can be very annoying to put back on, depending what car you have, so I imagine they might just have been lazy.

    My take: they intentionally don't put it back on. Whilst annoying, your car will still brake fine, but it's an easy way for them to get you back in and spend hundreds, if not thousands, on unnecessary 'repairs'.

    The clip itself is around $10-$20.

  • Peck on 28/05/2020 - 10:14
    +1

    I suspect that a lot of service centres are using apprentices

  • rufus001 on 28/05/2020 - 12:01

    WOW!!! There's a whole bunch of Karen's in the comments.

  • Nthhawke on 29/05/2020 - 09:15

    Where did this happen? Which State and dealership?

    • Nuclearvodka on 29/05/2020 - 09:56

      QLD
      Brisbane City Skoda

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