What do you think?

[caloubear]

My puma went into our local garage for a service today. They phoned Bill and said it also needed two new front alloys and two new lower suspension arms – when I spoke to them to find out what they were on about, apart from calling me ‘madam’ constantly at the end of every sentence, he told me they would be an automatic MOT failure (MOT not due until March 09) and the inner rims were oval and could easily be seen when on the ramp. I asked if it would have affected the handling etc and he said yes it would. So I told him I had had no problems with handling etc, I bought it with a new MOT in March and had not had any accidents at all so couldn’t understand how it could have happened – he said it must have had a bump of some kind since its last MOT (like I wouldn’t have noticed running into a kerb or something!) Anyway, he got me so wound up and angry at his insistence that I must have kerbed it or something and calling me madam constantly (I did in the end tell him how patronising I was finding it and asked him to stop) that I said I would get Bill to ring him back.

If this is as bad he says it is wouldn’t I have problems with the steering? It drives perfectly straight, no pulling to one side in the slightest. Also there is no uneven wear on the tyres and they do not go down and need pumping up at all. And as it hasn’t been involved in any accidents with me it could have been like this when I bought it and if so how did it get it’s MOT? Also, if it is as bad as they say, should I even be driving her??

:?

 

[Dal]

If you could see it was oval when up on a ramp, then surely the car would be vibrating like mad when you were driving along? The tyre won't make up that much in 'out-of-roundness' would it?

If it's not in for it's MOT, then say 'thanks for the advise' pay the service and get another opinion elsewhere.

If it were as bad as they said, you'd be vibrating along like a good'un.

Sounds like they were fishing for work to me.

 

[Cherie]

My first reaction that doesn't involve expletives? They're trying it on. But if you're in any doubt, get a second opinion.

As you've said, you would have noticed if something that major was wrong with your car.

 

[caloubear]

Thanks. That is what I thought too, left it as just the service, collect it back tomorrow. Letting Bill go fetch it so I don't punch the patronising bloke who thinks I wouldn't know if I had hit anything!

Am hoping it is ok - I need it for the weekend!

 

[Cherie]

Unfortunately, some garages still seem to be working under the impression that women drivers know absolutely nothing about cars.

 

[Dal]

If it needed 2 lower wishbones and 2 new alloys, due to some 'bang' then
1. You'd have noticed it as you ran up the 12" kerb at 30mph,
2. The shocks might have come through the mounts into the engine bay,
3. Well.. don't need a 3 as the first two are so brilliant :lol:

Go get the car yourself and give them a slap. It'll make you feel better

 

[red]

Get it back and compare them to this:

If the shape matches then you may need new wheels & tyres!!

Else I agree with all said.

 

[caloubear]

thanks all - will let you know what I find when we get her back!

 

[XIIVVX]

I've never heard of a wheel going 'oval'

If you hit a kerb or whatever it tends to fold the rim at that point, not a nice, symmetrical oval deformation.

Taking the piss is my verdict.

I think I might be tempted to go to a tyre specialist and get the wheels balanced, watching as they do it.

You'd pretty soon see if there was any problem, and wheel balance costs bugger all.

 

[Neil]

Surely if you had 'oval' wheels, the ride would be rather lumpy? Sounds like a load of crap to me - could be worth a second opinion?

 

[caloubear]

Bill went and fetched my puma back toady. He had a look and says it is obvious when the car is on the ramp that the passenger suspension arm is obviously damaged and the drivers side less so. The passenger wheel has 2 damage spots, it seems to have had 2 points of impact and curved the inner rim inwards and is obviously distorted and needs replacing immediately. The drivers side has slight damage. The garage says it they seem to have been weighted heavily which would mask any problems with the driving.

I just want to cry.

 

[Dal]

:shock:

If you've not knowingly done it, I'd go and have words with where you bought it from as that MOT wasn't worth the paper it was written on.

 

[crystalpuma]

Hmm if this is all true then is the MOT illegal? If you are damn sure the damage hasn't occurred since the MOT then you should have some comeback I would have thought.

 

[Dal]

Trouble with MOT's Is it's the opinion of the tester on the day. And proving it happened before the test? Tricky.

 

[crystalpuma]

Yes true, and probably not worth the extra stress!

 

[caloubear]

The damage hasn't been done since the MOT, which was just before I got it. Notonly cos I know I havn't had any kind of bumps but also cos the garage says the wheels have been weighted to compensate. Proving it is a different matter. Just know I have no car so no meet for me this weekend!

 

[Dal]

:noseblow:

 

[Jasper]

When I bought my Puma, I had a slight vibration at about 70mph and I thought it would be best to get them balanced.

To my dispair I had the same problem as you have, with both inner rims slightly buckled.

Luckily I picked up a set of 4 alloys from Ebay for £100 (always handy to have a couple of spares).

But at no time was it dangerous to drive.

Hope it's better soon.