my 1st visit to MrT

[Anonymous]

we have owned our three year old 2 now for 2 months, shortly after acquiring the car it developed a rattle which with much help from this forum was diagnosed as faulty accessory belt tensioner ( a known problem).

having some idea how much this was going to cost to get it fixed and with the constant worry of pre cat failure (will gut them eventually) we decided to take out the Toyota 2 year extended warrantee.

So with warrantee in place, I booked our 2 in at our local Mr T, I was told by the receptionist that I would be meeting Darren, and I informed her of the suspected problem and she reserved me a courtesy car.

Yesterday I took the car in and met Darren at 8.30, after a bit of face pulling while listening to the (quite noisy now) rattle he decided that it couldn't possibly be the belt tensioner and that he had never heard of that particular fault. I then inform him that lots of people in the owners club have and that I have actually seen a TSB detailing the fault. He then decides to take the car into the service bay to have a closer listen with some of his colleagues and asks me to wait in reception. After 15 mins Darren returns and we go back outside where the car is waiting, he then informs me and I quote: " we suspect its a faulty VVTI controller but we're not 100% sure so we suggest that you carry on using the car until it gets worse" I'm now starting to get slightly agitated (and thinking of getting him in a head lock) and informed him that this was totally unacceptable, and that my wife uses the car daily on her work run and we are definitely not going wait for the problem to worsen and for the car to fail whilst in use.

So after a bit of heated debate he agrees for me to leave the 2 there for the day for a closer inspection, I took the courtesy car and agreed to return at 5pm

"this is where it gets good"


About 4.30 I get a call from Darren who informs me he has some good news and bad news. The good news is that they have found the fault, "oh good, what is it", to which Darren reply's " errm its a faulty accessory belt tensioner"

What Joy!!

"and the bad news?" "Toyota recommends under no circumstances should the car be used until the fault is fixed"

Even better!!!

I now have the courtesy car until ours is fixed (parts not in stock) plus all work will be covered by the extended warrantee.

I will name and shame the dealer once the 2 has been repaired and collected.

[markiii]

Since it's in with them anyway, ad covered by extended warranty, I woudl seriously suggest you ask them to pull your 02 sensors and document teh condition of your pre-cats.

It's only 15 mins at teh most and will seriously help you in teh even that your engine does go.

[Bongo]

Would that check be covered by warranty (or extended) or be chargable?

I need to go into Mr T today book that to be done (forgot when i booked the rest of the work on monday  s:oops: :oops: s:oops:  ) and would like to know if i should expect a bill or press for it to be done on the warranty.

[Comer]

What a joke.  I know that your regular Toyota mechanic knows a lot more about the MR2 than many of us, but why do these service chaps dismiss your opinions out of hand.

All he had to do is check what you thought the problem was (for piece of mind) and then check what he thought the problem was.  

I'm sure it wouldn't have taken them too long and if he was correct then you'd have more faith in having your car repaired by Mr T.

I've got my 10k service coming up and I'm still getting the 'clicking' noise when turning the car on almost full lock at low speeds.  They have already made a 'modification' to the power steering pipes and that hasn't worked.  But I'm not confident it will get sorted this time either.  s:roll: :roll: s:roll:

[markiii]

What a joke.  I know that your regular Toyota mechanic knows a lot more about the MR2 than many of us, but why do these service chaps dismiss your opinions out of hand.

All he had to do is check what you thought the problem was (for piece of mind) and then check what he thought the problem was.  

I'm sure it wouldn't have taken them too long and if he was correct then you'd have more faith in having your car repaired by Mr T.

I've got my 10k service coming up and I'm still getting the 'clicking' noise when turning the car on almost full lock at low speeds.  They have already made a 'modification' to the power steering pipes and that hasn't worked.  But I'm not confident it will get sorted this time either.  s:roll: :roll: s:roll:

take the front centre cap coversfro teh strut tops off, if you can get to it, wipe out teh grease and associated shi that will be there, and regease.

[markiii]

Would that check be covered by warranty (or extended) or be chargable?

I need to go into Mr T today book that to be done (forgot when i booked the rest of the work on monday  s:oops: :oops: s:oops:  ) and would like to know if i should expect a bill or press for it to be done on the warranty.

yes and no.

I would phrase it that you are concerned that there may be an issue you need to have fixed under warranty. The initial check should be free, if they find nothing great, if they find something then the warranty claim will cover it.

I wouldn't expect to be charged for teh investigation of any potential warranty covered issue. Unless they found that the problem was such that warranty didn't coer it. then you may have a bit of a debate.

Perosnally, I f I was a servie manager I would count these quick checks, (and otehrs) as teh price of oing business, you need to keep teh customer happy.

I reported a noisy belt tensioner last year, a tech spent 30 mins witjhme listening and discussing, in te end they didn't agree it was teh tensioner
, (6 months later was done,but thats anotehr story) and I wasn't charged.


for teh record driving teh car with this problem isn;'t dangerous, as all teh tensioner does is look after the accessory belt. If it beaks your unlikely todamage anythig. But you may need a tow as your aternator would stop working.

[GSB]

Wierd, every time I've taken my car in for warranty work, I've never had a single argument. They've just taken the car and done the work. Even when I had a gearknob replaced!

[Comer]

Hmmm I've just realised an old mental note to take my car for servicing at Jemca, cheers Grant.

[kanujunkie]

Grant, which dealer?

[Anonymous]

FWIW I just had my 40k service done, and I got them to check my pre-cats, and this was reported as all being ok (at time of service of course!) on the service report, mine is under extended warranty at the mo, so no biggie if it goes

[GSB]

Jemca Metro in Tottenham.

Very helpful guys, particularly Peter Wick. Top chap indeed...

[kanujunkie]

cheers Grant  s:D s:D  i may have to change to them as mine gives poor service