Advice Needed: My VW Polo Broke While at The Tyre Shop!

Lajmmacleod on 04/12/2019 - 17:48
Last edited 04/12/2019 - 17:54 by 1 other user

Hi All,

I took my car in yesterday for a new set of tyres at Large Tyre Chain and while they were moving it the car apparently got stuck into reverse. They have since taken it to a mechanic at the auto elec shop behind their store and he managed to get the car out of reverse but there are still some obvious problems with the gear box, in particular with the shifter that will definitely need further repairs.

The car is a 2010 VW Polo GTI, manual, 115,000km. I've never had issues of this nature before and the car is overall in good condition.

This is the sequence of events:

  • 8:40am 3/12/19 Dropped car at tyre store, gearbox functioning normally (reverse/etc all fine).

  • 12pm~ 3/12/19 Receive call from tyre store saying that they put the car on the hoist (one movement driving forward), changed the tyres, dropped the car and reversed back towards the shop entrance where the car then became stuck in reverse. They couldn't get the car out of reverse so they pushed it back into the shop and gave me a call. They told me about what happened and asked if I had experienced the same before, and to discuss what to do next. We agreed they would have the mechanic next door have a look and have him identify the problem at no cost.

  • 5pm~ 3/12/19 Called store and the car still hadn't been moved to the mechanic as he was busy, but they would get on it in the morning.

  • 12:39pm 4/12/19 Called store, they had pushed car to the mechanic and he was looking at the car.

  • 2:04pm 4/12/19 Tyre store called back and said that the mechanic had gotten the car out of reverse, but that the gearbox still didn't feel right. The mechanic apparently spoke with a friend who was a VW specialist and they are saying that the gearbox is most likely due for an oil service and that it should fix the issues.

  • 4:45pm 4/12/19 I went to collect the car but asked to inspect before settling the bill. The shifter is very clearly broken / much different from before. Gears no longer cleanly select, the entire H pattern has moved downwards, and gears at not separated cleanly like normal. He wasn't able to tell me what the mechanic had done, but was happy for me to talk to mechanic. I went around to the mechanic's shop but he was finished for the day. I went back to the tyre store and told him that I wasn't comfortable to collect the car until I had more information and could make an informed choice. He was a bit flustered but was ok with this. He mentioned that he had actually paid the mechanic to fix the reverse issue that occurred so far.

  • Tomorrow morning I'm going to go and talk to the mechanic and find out what happened, and try to understand what is broken, or what he did to fix the car. I personally feel like it's a shifter linkage issue, or worse. If it was just an oil service issue like they are suggesting then I wouldn't expect to see any physical changes with the shifter or selecting gears.

Ultimately, there are two possibilities:

  • 1) This was going to happen anyway and it was just poor timing for the tyre shop, or

  • 2) They aren't telling the whole truth and did something which caused the issue.

So far they have done all the right things and I was clear in thanking him for handling it well, and admit that it might just be poor timing. My question is, what are my rights now and what should I do to be certain that it wasn't the fault of the tyre shop?

Would really appreciate any collective wisdom that OzBargain can throw my way..

Thanks everyone!

Automotive Volkswagen

Comments

  • npc on 04/12/2019 - 18:02
    +2

    It is really hard to break manual transmission. You can check the CCTV/dashcam recordings (if there are any) and a change of odometer reading (if you have the initial value) - this will help to prove or eliminate the tyre shop responsibility.

    I'd be looking at the cords that are connecting the shifter and gearbox. Maybe they are stuck somehow or got disconnected. You are lucky it's not DSG:)

    Edit - also check for the damage underneath the car from the car lift.

    • ajmmacleod on 04/12/2019 - 18:13

      Thanks npc! I'll ask about the CCTV for the shop, great idea. I'll also check the shifter linkage myself and have a quick look underneath.

  • spackbace on 04/12/2019 - 18:02
    +5

    They aren't telling the whole truth and did something which caused the issue.

    Given the tyre shop would see much better cars come through their doors every day, and they're generally always on show, I highly doubt there's much they could do to cause that sort of damage. Unlikely they're doing FWD burnouts in the carpark… Likelihood is just bad timing

    • ajmmacleod on 04/12/2019 - 18:11
      +1

      While I don't disagree, perhaps the tech who moved it was inexperienced with manual cars and crunched the gears, or forced the reverse lockout mechanism, or did something else similarly silly while moving it. I do think what you're saying is the most likely explanation - but how can I be certain?

      Thanks for the feedback!

      • dcep on 04/12/2019 - 18:12
        +1

        next time put dashcam on

        • Euphemistic on 05/12/2019 - 08:40
          +1

          Because a view out the windscreen will tell you what happened to he gearbox?

      • Euphemistic on 05/12/2019 - 08:39

        What is the reverse lockout mechanism? I’m not familiar with VW gearboxes.

        It’s possible to damage that sort of stuff but you’d have to be a complete numpty to do it. More likely that the pet was on its way out already and the workshop just pushed it over the edge.

  • s1n1ster on 04/12/2019 - 18:20
    +5

    Damage can be caused by improper mounting on the hoist. Check under the car for damage.
    From memory the gearbox on the Polo is near the mounting points.
    I had a similar experience with a tyre shop by damage caused by improper mounting on the hoist.
    Only difference was, I was there to witness it.

    • ajmmacleod on 04/12/2019 - 18:21

      Ouch! Good call though - thanks for the information, I will definitely check.

    • brendanm on 04/12/2019 - 19:25
      +1

      The gearbox on a polo is nowhere near the sill.

  • Muzeeb on 04/12/2019 - 18:33
    +1

    they had pushed car to the mechanic

    How exactly did they push a FWD manual car stuck in reverse?

    Does the clutch still disengage the gearbox?

    • ajmmacleod on 04/12/2019 - 18:46

      I guess as long as the gearbox still spins (ie, the gearbox isn't the cause of the lockup) then the clutch should disengage the gearbox fine and allow it to be pushed. This is an interesting thought though!

      • Euphemistic on 04/12/2019 - 20:53

        They may also have wheel dollies so they can move cars in any direction in the workshops.

    • ssquid on 05/12/2019 - 17:25

      How exactly did they push a FWD manual car stuck in reverse?

      Really hard.

  • brendanm on 04/12/2019 - 19:24

    Sounds like an issue with the shifter assembly or cables rather than the gearbox itself.

  • Danstar on 05/12/2019 - 06:54

    If you're 100% sure (and truthful) that the transmission was fine before taking it in, I reckon they used a someone to move your car who isn't experienced driving manual and stuffed it up and trying to shift blame to unknown sources.

  • [Deactivated] on 05/12/2019 - 14:35

    check that an engine mount hasnt collapsed and is causing the driveline to tilt. failing that if the gearstick is lower than normal get them to op the shifter boot up and check the retainer/s for reverse lockout are still in place. i have had transporter vans detach the lockout on the gear lever and the whole stick goes up and down in the floor.

  • eciuj on 06/12/2019 - 11:46

    I doubt the gearbox itself has failed. Likely the linkage cables, actuator, or busted mounts. See if you can trace the everything from the gear selector, linkages and actuator to see if anything is broken.

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