Monkeys, hairy a**ed, idiot monkeys!!!

[mikeonb4c]

As mentioned in my post on coolant stuff I also did the rear axle oil seals pre-MOT which I booked for Wednesday.

Got to K***F** ( I know, but it's across the road from where I work) at 4.45 after the van had been there since 8.30 for it's 3.00 test and there's a group of so called mechanics standing around the bongo with the bonnet open, engine running, rad fans running, coolant all over the floor trying to fill the header tank with plain water from a wtering can.

Some how (all I got was garbled water came out and shoulder shrugg type responses) they had managed to empty the header tank. As the seats etc. were not disturbed, I think they had inserted the oil temp probe into the header tank to give correct temp for emissions test and had shot the coolant out.

So I administered 'admonishments' about not calling me / reading the big yellow notice under the bonnet about coolant topping up / changing / two temperature gauges / audible and visible low coolant alarm and had to bleed it out myself whilst listening to whining about how it's not their fault and how they know best and this hose should be hot and this should be cold etc. etc.

But it shows what has been reported on this forum that cooling problems experienced after a visit to the garage for a non coolant issue are very possible.

Had I not arrived to intervene and sort it all out and they had managed to cover it all up then I would have surely overheated on the way home and K***F** would have denied all knowledge.

Recorded delivery letters sent branch and head office already.

Good! What a sorry tale. Kind of sums of the nonsense that seems to be a prominent feature of life today. Hard to blame the monkeys - its the organ grinders that need a good slapping.

[Mike Jill and Emily]

Good job you got there when you did

Sadly I would not trust K***F** to do anything other than a puncture repair. I get the impression the guys they have get the minimum training possible (ie, this is a hammer, this is a spanner and this is how to screw as much money as possible out of the punter.

If anyone would like to correct me on any of these comments I would be ;leased to be proved wrong

[Dolly1]

That old saying rings true, "If you pay Peanuts you will get Monkey's apply" sad but true..

[apole]

Hi Nick,

Lucky you were there, I had one with the same company earlier in the week which put me right off.

Smart for 2, air con top up. Went down to local KF, asked if they could do, yes no problem. Have you done these cars before, yes loads. OK so you know where the valves to connect to are and how to get at them, yes.... So I sit there in the waiting room and watch on as they look in the rear of the car, in the end they come back and ask where they are.... I'm thinking should I just go but decide if I can monitor then it's worth continuing.

I tell them that I will only continue if I can show them the connectors and watch everything, in the end they agree. I tell them like pretty much all cars I know the AC rad is up front, they then ask how the bonnet opens !!! (it doesn't have one). So I take the front panel off, show them both connectors and watch then connect the machine. I watched the test and ensured they had the right model (2 types with different specs), then when it was all up and running I left and watched from a distance.

Man they are really pretty stupid tbh. To say all overconfident yeah we've done loads when you haven't. OK a small smart is very different in many ways and much harder to find things/work on but it's not rocket science either.

To me, many chain companies are taking over that generally employ people without the skills, training or common sense. OK some do have some good people around but that isn't the norm.

Like you I bet they would have either messed around haplessly until something broke, or more likely given up, told me they'd done it and taken my money.


Lesson here is stick with companies that have a good reputation, normally the smaller ones. OK sometimes they can't match the chain rpcies but IMO it's worth it every time.

Anyway, gladit's's all okay, could have been a bad outcome. I hope (but doubt) you'll get a meaningful response from the head office.

[helen&tony]

Hi
These nincompoops are almost certainly highly trained personnel with a degree in Media Studies...save 3 packet tops from Krispy Krunchy Brekky, send 3 pounds 99 pence, answer 3 questions on Coronation Street, and receive your postal qualification and hat. I firmly believe that monkeys would do a better job!!! The thing that amazes me is where do these firms find 'em? I had an absolutely stunning UNMARKED VW Scirrocco...an absolute classic...until it had a problem needing the engine moved a bit. In order to take the bonnet off, the wiper arms were removed levering against the bodywork with a ****ing pick-axe by the look of it. One show-stopper turned into a dented car with 2 lovely dents by the wiper spindles.....If only I had noticed before I drove home.
I am convinced that some of these chumps should have a licence to cross the road, and only then under supervision...which probably rules out the parents. The major problem is that the English language, with so many beautiful words, has now been reduced to 3 words: Football, Lager, and Crisps, interspersed with grunting sounds like ug and urgh...I have heard this simplistic communication in an off-licence, and asked the manager if she understood what they said...."barely" was the answer.
Sadly, these two-legged sheep get to go on "Work Experience".......on poor old Nick's car...sorry to hear your tale Nick
Cheers
Helen

[splash2]

Monkeys, hairy a**ed, idiot monkeys!!!

That's very unkind to monkeys. I'd be very interested to see the results of your letter of complaint!

[waycar8]

Monkeys, hairy a**ed, idiot monkeys!!!

That's very unkind to monkeys. I'd be very interested to see the results of your letter of complaint!

dont hold your breath, had a full set of avon 18" tyres fitted to my old focus, they wouldnt balance up and kept going flat, there chimps excuses ranged from, its common with the ford focuses (bearing in mind in had 18" momo alloys on not standard alloys), to not going to try refit and balance your tyres mate because it must be your alloys that are bent.

Any way took it to a local tyre garage, refited all the tyres and balanced for 40 quid, never had problem since, (well apart from the wife playing chicken with the corners of the curbs, so took the alloys off for my mate to refurb and some scrote nicked em out of my garden before my mate picked em up

Anyway my complaint to head office came to zilch, they said that there chimps are trained to the highest standard and that it must have been my wheels that were buckled

[madmile]

Many of the big companies seem to work on the basis of spending all the money on advertising and image, but very little on people who are competent enough to do a good job and take account of variable circumstances. So when you turn up with something out of the norm, they just cant deal with it, but their training and all the management bull they are taught, lets them give the impression to the average guy that they are more than capable of doing the job.
Mostly its very far from the truth.

[oxfordpaul]

personally i think you would get better garage services from KFC

[dobby]

Many of the big companies seem to work on the basis of spending all the money on advertising and image, but very little on people who are competent enough to do a good job and take account of variable circumstances. So when you turn up with something out of the norm, they just cant deal with it, but their training and all the management bull they are taught, lets them give the impression to the average guy that they are more than capable of doing the job.
Mostly its very far from the truth.

I completely agree, a bit like the building industry

[Mike Jill and Emily]

personally i think you would get better garage services from KFC

You might find that the KFC staff are better trained and know more about cars than the KK lot

They would probably be good at changing wishbones

[technophobe]

Proves yet again how useful the forum is and that it is essential to do some research first about recommended garages and even ask them when you turn up if they know what they are doing. Any doubt drive on by.

[francophile1947]

I think it's the same with all of the large service chains
I'm lucky because I know a mechanic at my local KF and he is Saab trained by a main dealer. Most of the workforce were actually trained properly but, the problem is that they get a lot of their money from productivity bonuses and therefore tend to do the job as quickly as possible. He reckons that you're safe enough with a routine service, but wouldn't recommend them for anything out of the ordinary - unless it was on a "common" car