Always check!!!

[bunsen Member Find all posts View Profile Close bunsen]

I had just finished washing the Prado, and decided to check under the bonnet to see if there was anything that needed attending to. The first thing I noticed was a small bit of dried coolant residue near the radiator cap, then as I cast my eye over to the other side of the engine bay I noticed the oil cap was off :shock: It was lying neatly in a gap near the fuse box.

I had the Prado serviced about a week ago, so it was straight onto the phone to them asking how much a new Prado engine was :evil: I've got them to re-do the flush and change (I'm mechanically incompetant), and will start to look for another mechanic.

I suppose the reason for the post, aside from the general vent, is to warn others that get someone else to service their pride 'n' joy, to double check the handy work. I've read of similar experiences, but never thought I'd be a 'winner' in this lottery :evil:

[Snaga Wishing I was lost Find all posts View Profile Close Snaga]

Re: Always check!!!

Lucky you picked that one up when you did :x
Did it drive any differently?

Haven't had anything like that happen (yet) but I did notice a rattle many years ago coming from the engine bay of my old Celica... the RACQ man had looked at it the night before (wouldn't start) and kindly donated a screwdriver for my tool box ... looks like an expensive one too :P It would have been an expensive exercise if it had of fallen from it's perch... just off to the side of the fan :shock:

[Bear Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Bear]

Re: Always check!!!

I had just finished washing the Prado, and decided to check under the bonnet to see if there was anything that needed attending to. The first thing I noticed was a small bit of dried coolant residue near the radiator cap, then as I cast my eye over to the other side of the engine bay I noticed the oil cap was off :shock: It was lying neatly in a gap near the fuse box.

I had the Prado serviced about a week ago, so it was straight onto the phone to them asking how much a new Prado engine was :evil: I've got them to re-do the flush and change (I'm mechanically incompetant), and will start to look for another mechanic.

I suppose the reason for the post, aside from the general vent, is to warn others that get someone else to service their pride 'n' joy, to double check the handy work. I've read of similar experiences, but never thought I'd be a 'winner' in this lottery :evil:

Bunsen, I'm not very mechanically competent either - but leaving the oil cap off for a week would seriously concern me; as would coolant near the radiator cap. Hopefully some of the mechanics on this site will be able to advise you of any potential problems and what course of action you might take - in the meantime, I would be carefully documenting all that has occurred. Including the number of ks travelled from time of the service till you discovered the mistake. Having done this, I would consider logging your complaint ...

Did you check the oil and coolant levels before you contacted the mechanic? Thinking on it; the oil filler is a long way from the tappets.


Good luck with it

Bear

[waylib Member Find all posts View Profile Close waylib]

Re: Always check!!!

Same thing happened to me a few months ago.
Just after Chris bought his Surf I decided to have it checked over by someone with a bit more mechanical knowledge than me and was told that all it needed was a radiator flush. As they were very busy, the mechanic said that he would get his apprentice to do the job under his supervision. I had driven about 1km down the road after collecting it when I had a feeling I needed to check the radiator cap so pulled over and there it was sitting nicely on top of the battery and the engine covered in coolant. Needless to say the machanic got an earful after the 5 minute walk back to them and it was sorted out very fast.

[lofty Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close lofty]

Re: Always check!!!

Gives me the shits this sort of thing. Crap service that probably cost a packet. :evil:

Well done for picking up on it, hopefully b4 any long term damage.

[mav Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close mav]

Re: Always check!!!

Many years ago I had my Valiant Charger serviced at the Valiant dealership in Nowra. I got the call to come and pick it up as the service was finished and she was all set to go. Well I drove out of the service dept and about 50 metres down the road and noticed the temp guage was above redline. Eeeek! I shut it down and walked back to the service dept, the guy comes and takes a look - woops forgot to put oil back in after draining the engine. :x They filled it up with oil and took it back to give it a very thorough check over for damage, luckily there was none.

[Dieselman Member Find all posts View Profile Close Dieselman]

Re: Always check!!!

Many years ago I had my Valiant Charger serviced at the Valiant dealership in Nowra. I got the call to come and pick it up as the service was finished and she was all set to go. Well I drove out of the service dept and about 50 metres down the road and noticed the temp guage was above redline. Eeeek! I shut it down and walked back to the service dept, the guy comes and takes a look - woops forgot to put oil back in after draining the engine. :x They filled it up with oil and took it back to give it a very thorough check over for damage, luckily there was none.

You couldn't have picked a better car to have that happen too - tough as nails those old Valiants


Bunsen
On the other matter of the oil cap, did it actually loose any oil out the top???
The coolant may have been spilt by someone topping up the radiator perhaps.

[bunsen Member Find all posts View Profile Close bunsen]

Re: Always check!!!

On the other matter of the oil cap, did it actually loose any oil out the top???
The coolant may have been spilt by someone topping up the radiator perhaps.

No, luckily no oil had been lost. There was a small bit near the filter, but I guess that was from when they replaced the old one. With the coolant, that's exactly what the mechanic said, that someone had spilt a bit while topping up.

When I took the car back, they were working on a nice looking XB GT Falcon, so I guess other car lovers trust these mechanics :?:

[IRON-PAWW Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close IRON-PAWW]

Re: Always check!!!

I think that as profit margins begin to get squeezed, mechanic shops try and pump more vehicles through the system to get more paying customers at the end of the day. Apprentices are called upon to do more and more as the mechanic shops try to find ways of bringing in that little extra. I suppose at the end of the day you can't blame them. Usually I try to remember to pop the bonnet after a service and certainly keep a good eye on my temp gauge. Something I usually do anyhow.

Years ago we rented a Hilux ute. The guys at the yard checked it over and gave it the all clear. My father went about 300km in it and thought he could smell a bit of a strong oil smell so he pulled over to check it out. Well what a mess! The guys at the hire yard had not put the oil dipstick back in and hot oil had been spraying all over the engine bay the entire trip. Didn't seem to affect it though. Just topped the oil at the next servo and gave it back to the hire yard next day. Mess and all!

[Dieselman Member Find all posts View Profile Close Dieselman]

Re: Always check!!!

On the other matter of the oil cap, did it actually loose any oil out the top???
The coolant may have been spilt by someone topping up the radiator perhaps.

No, luckily no oil had been lost. There was a small bit near the filter, but I guess that was from when they replaced the old one. With the coolant, that's exactly what the mechanic said, that someone had spilt a bit while topping up.

When I took the car back, they were working on a nice looking XB GT Falcon, so I guess other car lovers trust these mechanics :?:

If no oil came out I would not be too worried, it would only have dust in there if the cover was dry (as long as you didn't spray it with water). If you where still concerned just get them to screw a new filter on and it should be ok. I would not be too stressed about the coolant spill - they must not have washed it after the service.

Even good mechanics can make the mistake of leaving a filler cap off - we all have our bad days :wink:

[bunsen Member Find all posts View Profile Close bunsen]

Re: Always check!!!

Even good mechanics can make the mistake of leaving off a filler cap - we all have bad days :wink:

I understand, and luckily nothing bad has resulted.

I drove past the place this arvo, and there was a shmick looking Torana parked outside, so as I said, there must be some trusting clientele there.

[Guest Close Guest]

Re: Always check!!!

Let me add wheels to the list of "you didn't do what!" when it comes to servicing... fond memories of the day a service tech of a certain Holden dealer in Brisbane northside forgot to do the wheel nuts up on all four wheels beyond finger tight :shock:. So much for their quality control (maybe that's what happens when Holden services a Ford :twisted:.

I didn't really need to discover this at 120 on the Warrego Highway :?. Needless to say I always check after any wheel change now.

[mjrandom Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close mjrandom]

Re: Always check!!!

Let me add wheels to the list of "you didn't do what!" when it comes to servicing... fond memories of the day a service tech of a certain Holden dealer in Brisbane northside forgot to do the wheel nuts up on all four wheels beyond finger tight :shock:. So much for their quality control (maybe that's what happens when Holden services a Ford :twisted:.I didn't really need to discover this at 120 on the Warrego Highway :?. Needless to say I always check after any wheel change now.

Hmmmmmmm, wonder if it was the same dealer as below :?: :?: :?: :?: :?:


viewtopic.php?f=22&t=4779

Can you pm me the dealer's name? I wasn't going to bother following it up but if it turns out they have a track record I will call (wont mention your info) and impress upon them their duty of care. :x

[pajames2 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close pajames2]

Re: Always check!!!

I didn't really need to discover this at 120 on the Warrego Highway :?.

Isn't the Warrego Highway a 100 zone :wink:

[Guest Close Guest]

Re: Always check!!!

Umm... maybe :wink: