Had Enough Now...

[133_Ads]

Twingos gone back into Lookers Renault Chester this week for the clicking noise that they haven't fixed the last two times it has been in (before the warrenty had expired (27-01)). Just had a phonecall off of Renault UK (Alexander Stewart), who then told me that they have sorted the issue and now they are charging me £68.42 (after an 80% contribution from RUK), They are replacing both of the Track Rod arms (as there is apparently excessive play) even though they replaced one the other week!!! They can't be charging for the one they've already replaced surely?

I can't understand how they can possibly charge me for this as they haven't fixed the issue that was raised 2 months before the warrenty expired!

Fuming...

 

[singlespeed]

Making some contribution to it should give you ownership of the parts, therefore you would have the years waranty on the work. As the waranty on any fully covered waranty work expires with the waranty on the rest of the car. Although it still should have been fixed the last time

Track control arms... lower wishbones and the common failing which most peeps had replaced free under waranty
Track rod end... The ball joint ends of the steering, which attach onto the hub carrier upright
Inner track rod end... The rods which come out the end of the steering rack and have the TRE on the end

 

[133_Ads]

Yeah i understand that Neil, throughout the whole issue i have always been told that no charges will be passed onto me even if it goes out of warranty, but when i have spoke to them today because they have replaced something else i am now being charged?

Another thing that isn't being fully explained to me is that if the noise continues after i have had to pay for this work to be done, should i be charged again for any future work?

This is for the Clicking noise coming from the front. I still think that the noise is coming from the steering rack and starts off being at full lock, but after a long journey it does it more often and louder...

 

[sam666]

Yeah i understand that Neil, throughout the whole issue i have always been told that no charges will be passed onto me even if it goes out of warranty, but when i have spoke to them today because they have replaced something else i am now being charged?

Another thing that isn't being fully explained to me is that if the noise continues after i have had to pay for this work to be done, should i be charged again for any future work?

This is for the Clicking noise coming from the front. I still think that the noise is coming from the steering rack and starts off being at full lock, but after a long journey it does it more often and louder...

surely because the problem occurred in the warranty period and they failed to fix the problem after you notifying them in the warranty period they should pay all cost ?

 

[Daveyb133]

Adam.

My car had two steering racks and a steering collumn under warranty for a similar kind of issue. Mine was because it would make a slight noise when moving left or right past centre. Say when parking, had it on full lock left, then change to full lock right, when going past centre it would make a noise and u had to turn it slightly harder to get it past if that makes sense? Also the wheel would sit slightly to the left no matter how many times i had the tracking done but the car wouldnt drift left. If u want my reg for ruk and my case let me know

 

[133_Ads]

surely because the problem occurred in the warranty period and they failed to fix the problem after you notifying them in the warranty period they should pay all cost ?

That's what i thought, but because apparently they have replaced things in the past (even though it didn't sort the problem), they are charging me for it...

Adam.

My car had two steering racks and a steering collumn under warranty for a similar kind of issue. Mine was because it would make a slight noise when moving left or right past centre. Say when parking, had it on full lock left, then change to full lock right, when going past centre it would make a noise and u had to turn it slightly harder to get it past if that makes sense? Also the wheel would sit slightly to the left no matter how many times i had the tracking done but the car wouldnt drift left. If u want my reg for ruk and my case let me know

Cheers Davey, in mine the steering is fine it just clicks really loudly on half turn left after a 30 minute journey, after a longer drive (to work which is over an hour) you can feel it clicking through the steering very lightly...

 

[singlespeed]

What have they replaced?

 

[Dazza1]

Funny how they found the problem as soon as the warranty ran out

 

[sam666]

Funny how they found the problem as soon as the warranty ran out

exactly what i was thinking

 

[133_Ads]

What have they replaced?

It had it's MOT in August (when i bought the car as i refused to buy without it) At the MOT they replaced both Track Rod ends then apparently

The last two times it has been in for the work they have replaced:
11-1-13
2 x steering arms
2 x bottom arms
1 x top engine mount (different issue)
14-1-13 - 15-1-13
Steering Correction Unit? (apparently something right behind the steering wheel)

 

[singlespeed]

What have they replaced?

It had it's MOT in August (when i bought the car as i refused to buy without it) At the MOT they replaced both Track Rod ends then apparently

The last two times it has been in for the work they have replaced:
11-1-13
2 x steering arms
2 x bottom arms
1 x top engine mount (different issue)
14-1-13 - 15-1-13
Steering Correction Unit? (apparently something right behind the steering wheel)

Funny how they found the problem as soon as the warranty ran out

exactly what i was thinking

Thing is, I wouldn't bet on it. Also, what was that about the lower wishbones apparently being better quality now than they used to be if they have only lasted a month (if thats what they are replacing now) :evil:
If your paying for them, ask for the originals back, or atleast to see the apparent wear

I presume the steering correction unit would be the clockspring assembly, which has ribbon contacts for the steering wheel functions/airbag electrics and also centering switches for cancelling the indicators and probably giving a null steering signal to the ecu... Guessing the stalks come seperately.

It kind of sounds like they are replacing bits in the hope of curring it sooner or later :?


Pull the storage tray out from the dash (easy to do in a few seconds, just get a plastic card in the gap and work it loose once you can get a finger under it) With that out and getting your head in there and under the dash, you should be able to hear where the click is comming from, maybe even feel it but mind your fingers getting nipped or maybe even burnt as the steering motor could get hot with use... Kind of what I'm thinking if its in the dash, as it takes a while to warm up and the clicking to start.

 

[133_Ads]

Neil, i don't think it is the Bottom Arms they are changing, been told its the Track rod arms, Could they mean the inner track rod ends?

Just spoke to a few people (including a mate who works for Honda Service) and they've all said that as the job was brought in before the warranty has expired i shouldn't be paying a penny as they haven't sorted the issue out... the way i understood it, they are trying to make me pay for the work as they have replaced things in the past, whether they have sorted the problem out or not but that's not their fault basically...

 

[133_Ads]

Pull the storage tray out from the dash (easy to do in a few seconds, just get a plastic card in the gap and work it loose once you can get a finger under it) With that out and getting your head in there and under the dash, you should be able to hear where the click is comming from, maybe even feel it but mind your fingers getting nipped or maybe even burnt as the steering motor could get hot with use... Kind of what I'm thinking if its in the dash, as it takes a while to warm up and the clicking to start.

I will try that when i pick it up on saturday Neil, going to request a test run before i sign anything as if it's still making the noise i am not taking the car back.

Seriously thinking of taking a loan out to pay this off and buy another car now...

 

[133_Ads]

These guys at Lookers Renault Chester a joke! Went in to pick it up today and found out the work they have done is replacing the ball joints... They only replaced them 4 weeks ago!!! And now they've charged me for it!

Worst thing is they haven't sorted the issue! When i spoke to someone the other day they told me they have found the issue and they were sorting it, now they are saying they found another issue and that's what they sorted! Fuming is not the word, RenaultUK better be ready for Monday morning cos i know i will!!!

 

[JoeRS133]

They really are clueless when it comes to Twingo's aren't they?

Toomey didnt realise they had to do a wheel realignment after removing subfrane.

My reaction to getting my car back with the steering wheel on the piss was not a good one i can tell you!

 

[133_Ads]

Spoke to RUK yesterday and also today.

Yesterday (11-02-13):
Hadn't recieved a phone call all day so i decided to ring them at 5pm, spoke to the guy who's looking after my case, he told me that he had not rang due to getting in touch with Lookers Renault Chester, who had told him that i had rang to thank them for the work and the noise had stopped... Which i had not, i did ring them but only to tell them they can't fix anything and question to why i had been charged again for Ball joints...

Today (12-02-13):

Just spoke to him again, he told me that he has spoken to the Branch manager who informed him that the work that was carried out was to replace the ball joints as there was excessive play in them and the rubber was perished (now surely if they replaced them 4 weeks ago this shouldn't be the case...), The branch manager has assured him that he will be there to watch them inspect the vehicle and make sure they are not cutting any corners when it goes back in again on Friday, i will also be requesting a log of the technicians reports and reports of what work has been carried out in the past...

Rant over... ish

 

[Rob_McLav]

This is scary as if they have cut corners working on ur or someone else's car and it malfunctions at speed it could kill some one.

 

[gavin-h]

It had it's MOT in August (when i bought the car as i refused to buy without it)

So you bought it 3 years old and got 6 months warranty from the dealer at that point, right?

This isn't the original manufacturer's warranty we're talking about then?

In those circumstances, I'd happily pay the 68 quid and walk away smiling that RUK had covered the other 80% :idea:

 

[singlespeed]

In those circumstances, I'd happily pay the 68 quid and walk away smiling that RUK had covered the other 80% :idea:

quite rite, but they were only replaced a month ago and the fault hasn't been fixed anyway

 

[gavin-h]

Fair point!