Mechanics grrrrrr!

bootylicious5, Jan 13, 6:13pm
Approximately 1 yr ago I had my car fixed at my local mechanics, it was the car alarm immobiliser, immobilising the car when I removed my battery. Anyway I asked mechanics to disable the alarm completely as I had broken the remote for it. A few hundred dollars later, all fixed and no probs until now when I removed battery again. The same thing is happening! So I phoned mechanics to ask them to look up my details and tell me what they actually did the first time (as I cannot locate receipt),well they looked up my name and have no repairs lodged for that whatsoever. Rather strange I think as they have my other repairs. Anyway I was hoping that they would have to immobilise alarm properly this time since they obviously didn't fix what I asked last time. Anything I can do!
jmma, Jan 13, 6:18pm
What car is it!
They may have sent it to an auto sparky.
Sometimes approx a year, turns out to be 3 or 4 years (o:
saxman99, Jan 13, 6:22pm
They may have outsourced the alarm work to a car alarm specialist, hence no record on their system.

It sounds like your alarm has a tamper feature which recognises battery removal and activates an immobiliser.The mechanic may not have known this.

As a year has passed I doubt you would have any luck with a claim to have the work done again free.

I would get an alarm specialist to remove (and probably replace) the alarm system.

Good Luck!
bootylicious5, Jan 13, 6:25pm
It's a 95 Mitsi Diamante
bootylicious5, Jan 13, 6:38pm
Last time I had work done there (2 months ago) I had my brakes repaired and was called to say car is ready come and pick up and it is $280. When I got there I was told that it was not ready and car was now $350 as they broke a wheel nut when removing wheel. I paid and collected car however do not trust them now as they obviously broke wheel nut when putting back on so lied to me then.
saxman99, Jan 13, 7:22pm
A wheel nut does not cost $70. They are taking you for a ride. Also any reputable mechanic who breaks something fixes it for free.
unbeatabull, Jan 13, 7:25pm
Depends on the context sometimes. Wheel nut + damaged stud + time of repair/replacing stud.

We get quite a few that have been corroded on, done up too tight, lost lock nut keys etc, through not fault of our own that we have no choice but to damage something to remove the wheel to carry out the repair. In these cases, we charge the customer. Obviously if we broke it ourselves through overtightening/wrong tool/procedures etc we would repair for free.
bootylicious5, Jan 13, 8:01pm
I wasn't sure where the fault lay so just paid and took car however if the wheel nut broke when removing wheel I would of been told of full cost when they rang to say car is ready to collect. When I arrived car wasn't ready and price had increased so they must of broke it when putting it back on. Also with the immobiiser repairs, even if they did send it to a sparky there should of been something on their books as they charged me for collecting car from my house etc. I asked them to totally disable alarm and thought that is what I paid for yet obviously they didn't as the alarm has gone off and same prob again. Oh well, i will find a new mechanics to give my business to now.
jmma, Jan 13, 8:12pm
Sounds like a good idea #8 if you don't trust your mechanic.
It pays to talk to them at the time of the event, most will answer your queries then, bit harder 2 months down the track.
unbeatabull, Jan 13, 8:49pm
Which is why we always wait until the car is parked up and finished outside before advising the car is finished and ready to collect!
intrade, Jan 14, 1:29pm
what car! might be the imobilizer from the engine computer thats locking it that can only be removed wit flashing the ecu. ah post 4 has it
90s mitsi dont know about them other then that most had there ecu die with infirior parts inside em and repaired with random not starting issues being normal for exaple on 90s chariots.
bootylicious5, Jan 15, 3:43pm
Omg, i phoned a mobile auto electrician I found on TM services and he came out and fixed the immobiliser problem for $40! Last time I took it to my mechanic it was a $200+ (can't remember exact figure). Wow, the sparky charges $55 +gst per hour, so $63.20 per hour and no callout fee. Awesome and what a massive saving I made by bypassing my mechanic.