Dealer Charging Multiple Times for Same Repair

immortalbjr on 11/03/2021 - 18:32

Had a problem with my light truck with the rear brakes just randomly/intermittently locking up hard as if you were slamming the brake pedal even when just trying to slowly brake. Thankfully it would only do it at low speed on rare times and could really only notice when the roads were wet but still obviously a major concern.

I took it to the dealer (Isuzu) 4 months or so ago and got charged $600 odd said something was apparently fitted incorrectly. Had a hard time believing it as ive had the truck for 5 years but no problem as long as its fixed I can let it go.

Month later it does the same thing and take it back, try charging me $600 again to "adjust" the brakes and for 4+ hours odd labour and said sorry, I've already paid for this to be fixed a month ago and was eventually told no problem, no charge.

Month later same thing, take it back and was told some other part was randomly winding itself on so they've replaced that and im good, no charge again.

Fine again for another month or so and starts doing it again. I dropped it off and now they're telling me they want $3500 to basically replace the entire rear brake system as "it has the incorrect brakes fitted". I've had the truck almost 6 years at this point and have never had any repair work done on the brakes, so again im having a hard time believing their reasoning. I asked if it has the wrong brakes how has the truck been fine for the past 5-6 years and why was it not picked up the first 3 times i had it in. Couldnt get any sort of a straight answer out of him.

I feel they are just at a loss and just want to replace the entire thing and cross their fingers it fixes the problem.

At the end of the day I need it fixed so i'll pay it, I've requested to at least be credited the initial invoice I was charged as it obviously didnt fix the issue.

I'm not after anyones personal opinion on the matter, but just curious if anyone has any personal experience if by rights/consumer laws do mechanics/dealers etc in general have the ability to just keep charging/miss diagnosing problems and passing it onto the customer? at no point was I told "this might fix your issue" I was just given an invoice and told my brakes were fixed. I highly doubt I have much of a leg to stand on but if anyone has had anything similar and taken it up with the ACCC or Fair trade id love to know how it went.

Automotive

Comments

  • Muzeeb on 11/03/2021 - 18:41
    +5

    as long as its fixed I can let it go.

    Isn't there a song about this?

    I'm not after anyones personal opinion

    That's not how these forums work.

    Can you try a different repairer for a diagnosis / quote?

    • immortalbjr on 11/03/2021 - 19:29

      I could but they would no doubt try charge me for their time diagnosing it even though its their 4th go at it and its not worth the hassle. Theres more local brake/clutch guys around but I figured if anyone could fix it properly would be the dealer.

      It wouldnt of been an issue had this been their initial response and quote, but after months of back and forth and already being charged for the job its a tad on the frustrating side.

  • pharkurnell on 11/03/2021 - 18:43
    +5

    Go elsewhere for your mechanical work.

    • immortalbjr on 11/03/2021 - 19:30

      Will be in the future.

  • Drakesy on 11/03/2021 - 18:47
    +1

    I'm no mechanic but it could be a failing ABS system or your brake regulator.
    Else your brake system may need a bit of an overhaul.
    How's the wear on the brake pads.

    As for the incorrect brakes fitted, sounds like BS unless they're fitting incorrect brakes from the factory (from your comments) in which case they're looking at a safety recall.

  • RiseAndRuin on 11/03/2021 - 19:12
    +1

    Did you get any (or all) of those explanations in writing by any chance?
    I have to say this is very similar to 95% of the interactions I have on a daily basis (not kidding).

    • immortalbjr on 11/03/2021 - 19:32

      Have 2 invoices, the first was the one I paid for the repair and the second invoice just has a nil charge but its just in writing to say it was fixed a second time, so yeah I have it in writing.

      • RiseAndRuin on 11/03/2021 - 21:25

        If you have evidence, I'd say definitely check with ACCC or Fair trade, or potentially have more than one mechanic check and put in writing what they "think" the issue is before paying $3500 to see if they tell you the same thing.

        When my car was still under warranty, the mechanics at the dealership would try to convince me to replace something every single time. The last thing the told me 2.5 years ago was that my battery was almost dead and had to be replaced ASAP as it would hold less than 10% charge. I haven't replaced it yet, and it hasn't failed once yet.

  • ratbag on 11/03/2021 - 19:24
    +1

    It sound to me like the Brake Proportioning Valve that decreases pressure to the rear is malfunctioning. This is from a Google search I just did:

    "Since the proportioning valve decreases the pressure sent to the rear brakes, the main symptom the valve is going bad is the rear wheels locking up when the brakes are applied. Furthermore, the wheels will lock up more easily on wet surfaces. The rear brakes may feel touchy when applied even gently."

    I'm not familiar with Izuzus but the valve is usually in the Brake Master Cylinder. With the situation you have described it is the first thing I would have checked.

    • immortalbjr on 11/03/2021 - 19:41
      -1

      Yeah sorry forgot in my initial post I actually had my normal fleet mechanic take a look at it and he replaced the master cylinder and that proportioning valve along with a few bits and pieces from memory. Had same issue was fine for a few weeks then came back so I just decided to take it to Isuzu to just try get it sorted properly.

      It is one of those difficult intermittent problems that comes and goes abit but any time ive had it over to Isuzu its been playing up, you would assume with their experience and size of staff there someone would of just been able to pin point it originally. I still dont think they actually know what the issue is if it plays up again after forking out this amount of money you can bet ill be after a full refund and ill just take it elsewhere.

      • Presence on 12/03/2021 - 08:36

        So you've had another mechanic playing with it too? This changes the whole situation.

        • immortalbjr on 12/03/2021 - 23:15

          Thanks for the downvote champ.

          It doesnt actually change anything. I've had my main fleet mechanic that works on several of my machines and other vehicles I own have a look and replace a bunch of parts that "fixed" it for the short term and soon as it started up again I just took it into Isuzu to (try) get sorted. My mech knows his stuff but I didnt want to hassle him with this type of problem so just let the dealer sort it this time around.

          I dont care about the money I can make that back, im more pissed ive had it in there 4 times and already paid to have the issue resolved originally. I have 3 months of work lined up currently I would lose more money by wasting time taking the truck to several different people trying to get a cheaper quote than just paying and getting on with it, my question was if anyone had any success with the likes of ACCC in the past.

  • AndyC1 on 11/03/2021 - 19:43
    +1

    I would take it to a specialist brake place that only do breaks.

    • spackbace on 11/03/2021 - 20:17
      +9

      that only do breaks.

      He did, that's why it's now broken

      • bloom on 11/03/2021 - 21:17
        +2

        Maybe if they weren’t always on break they could figure it out 🤣

      • AndyC1 on 12/03/2021 - 09:18

        You need to read the post again. "I took it to the dealer (Isuzu)" is not a specialist brake place.

        • Euphemistic on 12/03/2021 - 10:00
          +2

          It seems the spelling issue went over your head.

  • Hithere on 11/03/2021 - 19:47
    +1

    I would take it to a specialist brake place that only do breaks.

    Either that or a specialist that only does brakes /s

  • deme on 11/03/2021 - 19:53
    -1

    I'm not after anyones personal opinion on the matter,

    Thread has been locked (Requested by OP)

  • netjock on 11/03/2021 - 21:06
    +1

    I dropped it off and now they're telling me they want $3500 to basically replace the entire rear brake system as "it has the incorrect brakes fitted"

    From the factory? Ask them which vehicle's brakes are fitted. If it is a Mercedes you might get a better replacement.

    Incompetence of the dealer is astonishing. Factory mechanic training is pretty bad these days. The computer basically does the diagnostics and spits out what needs to be done. If for some reason the computer can't diagnose or comes back inconclusive you need to pay not just for the whole new system replaced so the computer can read the problem maybe also pay for the computer while you are at it.

    I'd suggest you might have got a lemon. Hope you have the paperwork and dealer on the record.

  • AlienC on 11/03/2021 - 21:30
    -3

    Hate and love to be that guy but stories like these is why I only take the train and bus.. the occasional taxi if I am feeling fancy and want to treat myself but yeah cars and vehicles make no sense to me if you can public transport it.. only exception I can think of is if you have a really good removalist business or do full time uber etc to offset costs but cars are expensive man..

    • subywagon on 11/03/2021 - 23:08
      +1

      Stories like this is why I taught myself to work on cars. I really enjoy it these days and save thousands. It's not as difficult as you may think and there's heaps of info online and in repair manuals. It just comes down to how much spare time you have though. At the very least if I don't have time to work on it I can tell if the mechanic is ripping me off.

      • AlienC on 12/03/2021 - 01:20
        -2

        True.

        Like with anything in life I had to make a cost vs benefit analysis and I figured investing time into cars or any vehicles at this point in time was not worth it unless I become some like high end luxury sports car mechanic or salesman or something or work in the mines on dump trucks and need to service and repair them.

        So basically money.

        I ended up deciding to spend the extra time on ozbargain and video games lol.

        • Hardlyworkin on 12/03/2021 - 07:57
          +4

          AlienC, how is single life?

          • AlienC on 12/03/2021 - 18:44
            -1

            @Hardlyworkin: It's got its ups and downs.

            Sometimes mostly up sometimes mostly down ;)

            But for the most part it's hardly working.

    • EightImmortals on 12/03/2021 - 07:29
      +1

      I'm guessing you live in a capital city?

    • Presence on 12/03/2021 - 08:38
      +1

      This guy owns a light truck. Safe to say that it's for work!

    • immortalbjr on 12/03/2021 - 23:09
      +1

      Let me know when I can load up 10 ton of machinery and tools onto public transport and ill sell my truck.

      • AlienC on 13/03/2021 - 18:40
        -1

        Just find a job that does not require all that maybe as an option? Just saying.. income and expenses

        • immortalbjr on 14/03/2021 - 15:47

          Over the course of a year the incomes much more than the expenses and its all good :) otherwise no one would be doing it. Im only a small business with maybe 300k of equipment but it all more than pays for itself otherwise I wouldn't own it.

          But that wasnt the real question I was asking, still no one has actually answered it.

  • subywagon on 11/03/2021 - 23:06
    +4

    Complain directly to Isuzi, not the dealer. Dealers get in a lot of shit and will bend over backwards once you get the manufacturer involved.

    • immortalbjr on 12/03/2021 - 23:08

      Not a bad idea actually didnt think of that. Might be worth a quick email never know what may come of it. Thank you

  • Headless on 12/03/2021 - 09:27
    +1

    Went to an ultratune in Perth, they told me my brake pads needed replacing - When I told them the car was 6 months old I got a blank stare, I've never been back since…

    • immortalbjr on 12/03/2021 - 23:16
      +1

      I would never bother taking anything to the likes of Ultratune, Kmart mechanics etc.

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