What should I do?

[fryer99]

Hi all.

I'm wondering what I should do. I've had problems with my alternator (vented on this forum a few times!!). Heres the story!

June / July 09 my SID started displaying the message 'battery not charging'. The battery eventually went completely dead and I had to bring it to my mechanic. He (correctly) diagnosed a faulty alternator and recommended it be replaced. I agreed because having done some research I discovered that the Denso alternators used by Saab cannot be successfully repaired. We decided that he would repalce the alternator with another of the exact same model (part no etc). I paid for the job and left happy that my car was now fixed.

Sept 09 I started to get the same SID message and went to start my car one morning and it would not start. Jumped it, brought it back to the mechanic and he diagnosed a banjaxed battery. Said that because the alternator had broken down, it would have damaged the battery and so I needed a new one. I bought a new battery and installed it and was on my way again.

Sept 09 A while later I got the same dreaded message on the SID again. I brought the car back out to the mechanic who diagnosed (another) faulty alternator. I said to him that its strange that it should go again so quickly and he agreed. I said that at least it would be under warranty and he could get it replaced free of charge, he again agreed. I asked him if there could be an underlying problem causing the alternators to blow, he said that sometimes you just get faulty hardware and that replacing it again was the way to go. I was happy with his thinking so went along with it, paid him for his time and was on my way again with another new alternator and less faith in my Saab.

Dec 2009 SID message again. Very annoyed to say the least. Called the mechanic and he said that it was probably due to the excessively cold weather at the time. I took this to be a plausible explanation. He suggested I replace the battery I had bought in September. I decided against it this time, i had spent enough on this problem and throwing new parts at it obviously wasn't working.

I started to ask a few questions and discovered there is a local mechanic that claims he can repair Saab Alternators...

Since that time until now I've purhased a car battery charger and, when I came home from work, I removed the battery and put it charging overnight in order to get it to start the next morning.


I eventually brought the car back to my mechanic. He said he'd have to take a look at it. I got a call from him a few days later to say that the alternator was beyond repair and I needed a new one. I said that I already knew that and that the last one was still under warranty so just get it replaced again. Then he tells me that there never was a new alternator installed in the first place. He had been bringing the alternator to get it repaired even though he charged me for a new one. I said to him that as far as I was aware there was a new alternator installed in the first place and then again in September, and that I had already paid for one. I said that the car needs a new alternator, that Denso alternators cannot be repaired. He said that to go to the local Saab garage would set me back over 700 euro. He said the can get the exact same alternator for less than half that. I told him that as long as it was new, was a denso, had the same gm part number as the one he was taking out that he should go ahead and get it..

Now I have the car back. Alternator looks new but I am 90% certain its not a Denso. Have not paid the mechanic yet. I told him I want an invoice with the make, model, part number and serial number of the alternator, when it was installed and who installed it and then I will pay him. I have the cash waiting for him. He has told me he can't get those details, said it was a cash deal. I said that even if he got me the box it came in and an invoice from him, I don't care what amount he puts on it. he can't do that either.

Considering I have already paid for a new alternator that was never installed and have had 9 months of hardship and completely lost faith in the car because of it, should I pay him again?

Sorry for the long winded rant but i'd like to know what other peoples views are. everyone I've said it to so far has told me not to pay.

thanks for reading!!!

[petej04]

Report him to trading standards as he sounds like a rip off merchant and certainly don't give him anymore money. If he cannot give you an invoice or part number then it sounds like another o9f his bodge jobs.
People like that give tradesmen a bad name [expletive deleted]!

[Mussey2]

Do you have any receipts etc?

If not it's only your word against his as to what was agreed with regard to replacement/repair.

How much did you pay for the initial work?

May be cheaper to cross the border and get a new VX alternator!!

Mr Linear.

[baxlin]

What a sorry tale, and moreso because of your comment that you have lost faith "in the car". I can't offer any suggestions, other than what has been said, and to try the CAB.

Malcolm

[Paul B]

Certainly don't pay him again and I would say that he's had enough chances to fix it. Take advice and if there is a small claims court in Ireland you may be able to claim your money back as he's been fraudulent if you have proof that he charged for a new alternator but had a substandard repair done instead.
I think that the alternators are standard across the GM/FIAT range on the 1.9 engine so you needn't only go to a Saab dealer if there are none local.

[fryer99]

Thanks for the advise. I got a call from him looking for his money again this morning. told him that I was not happy paying him cash for a job that I've already paid him for with no written proof as to what work was done, what parts were used and if there was even new parts used. He said that it was unfair to go back to where he got the alternator and ask for a reciept as he got it at a 'good' price because it was a straight cash job. I said I don't care what amount is on the reciept, I don't even want a reciept, just some written proof as to what work was done. He then said that he could give me a receipt from himself but that he would be losing the 'few pound' he made on the job. I nearly lost the cool with him completely.

Anyway, he arrived at my office looking for money with a reciept for the amount I owed him, his details are not on the reciept, all thats written on it is my name, 'denso alternator' supplied and fitted, the date and amount.

I asked him for the box the alternator came in and my old one back. he had conveniently thrown both away. All he could tell me was that it came in a yellow box.

Initially he priced the part in the local saab dealership for 750 eur. I told him I coud get it cheaper either straight from denso or from opel. He then said he could get the same one (Denso, same GM part No), fitted and all, for 350 eur. that was back in July. I priced a refurb job - which he obviously had done - and it costs 150 euro to the man on the street. he was making 200 eur on me if I didn't have any more problems. It cost me 300 euro today... I should've just went to the main dealer in the first place! At least I know never to go back to this 'mechanic' again...

I still have a nagging doubt every time I go to the car hopinig it will start. And worry when I stop at traffice lights if it will cut out and not start again (which has happened a few times). The worst thing about it is I love the car and now realise that it was not because of the car i was having the problems but still worry that it will happen again.

[fryer99]

Thanks for the advise. I got a call from him looking for his money again this morning. told him that I was not happy paying him cash for a job that I've already paid him for with no written proof as to what work was done, what parts were used and if there was even new parts used. He said that it was unfair to go back to where he got the alternator and ask for a reciept as he got it at a 'good' price because it was a straight cash job. I said I don't care what amount is on the reciept, I don't even want a reciept, just some written proof as to what work was done. He then said that he could give me a receipt from himself but that he would be losing the 'few pound' he made on the job. I nearly lost the cool with him completely.

Anyway, he arrived at my office looking for money with a reciept for the amount I owed him, his details are not on the reciept, all thats written on it is my name, 'denso alternator' supplied and fitted, the date and amount.

I asked him for the box the alternator came in and my old one back. he had conveniently thrown both away. All he could tell me was that it came in a yellow box.

Initially he priced the part in the local saab dealership for 750 eur. I told him I coud get it cheaper either straight from denso or from opel. He then said he could get the same one (Denso, same GM part No), fitted and all, for 350 eur. that was back in July. I priced a refurb job - which he obviously had done - and it costs 150 euro to the man on the street. he was making 200 eur on me if I didn't have any more problems. It cost me 300 euro today... I should've just went to the main dealer in the first place! At least I know never to go back to this 'mechanic' again...

I still have a nagging doubt every time I go to the car hopinig it will start. And worry when I stop at traffice lights if it will cut out and not start again (which has happened a few times). The worst thing about it is I love the car and now realise that it was not because of the car i was having the problems but still worry that it will happen again.

[Paul B]

Without his name it has dubious effect as a "receipt"
I suggest you go to a GM main dealer and have them check the alternator out. If it's good you'll have peace of mind, if not you'll have evidence of fraud and you could bring in the police.

[quinophex]

Tell him that the problem is that you can't pay him as your accountant needs a receipt for information relating to taxes.... or the other option is say "what alternator, what are you talking about...?".

That's simply outrageous that he charged you again for any of this! Where I worked we'd always do the job again for *free* and give a *free* loan car as long as the part was still in warranty (generally that means 1 year for non-genuine, 2 years for genuine SAAB) although we'd generally tell people they had to have a genuine part to get this warranty from us. If there was a huge price difference in the price between genuine/pattern then we'd be more flexible on this.

The only time you'd not get a warranty covering the labour would be if you supplied your own parts and/or diagnosis, if you did that then you were simply paying us to fit something to your car, if it didn't work then it was your problem and we'd charge again to take it off etc.

[scouse]

I certainly wouldn't pay him again, your more understanding than I am, I went ballistic over the fact my car never had bluetooth fitted when they said it did, I think I would have battered your " mechanic " by now!!!