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Rover 75 Dealer.

1307 Views 10 Replies 6 Participants Last post by  mike med, 
M
Just thought I would share a recent very disappointing experience with a local Rover dealer. I had a clutch plate replaced under warranty, on collection I noticed the following. 1/ A pair of pliars had been left under the bonnet. 2/ The gear knob was loose, it twisted an inch in either direction. 3/ The steering wheel was not aligned straight when driving in a straight line. So I took it back, they were sorry for the oversite of the pliars, they tightened the gear knob and according to the Service Manager had also adjusted the stearing wheel. I drove off, the stearing wheel had been adjusted but sadly it was now misaligned the other way!!. I took it back yet again. The mechanic tested it and said that the computer readings confirm that the road wheels are aligned and therefore they could not adjust the stearing wheel without adversly affecting the tracking.I said firmly that when I took the car in for the clutch the stearing wheel was straight,but they wouldn't have it, they stated that the stearing isn't touched whilst changing the clutch and suggested that I give it a go for a few weeks and see how I get on with it. I drove away disgruntled, during the 2 miles trip home the air bag failure light came on. When i got out of my car, I noticed that my hands were black with grime, it took swarfega to get it off, my trousers had marks on them which were quite clearly oil based and I can honestly say i was bloody angry. I complained to the Director, I complained to Rover. Yes they eventually sorted the air bag light and offered me a free valet! but someone was missing the point. What an inferior service, Iv'e had a fair few cars over the years which necessitated a variety of contacts with dealerships but never have I had one that doesn't appear to care about customer satisfaction or the quality of their workmanship. I have never had the experience of a mechanic getting into my car without taking precautions and clearly not giving a toss for the bloke who owns it. The stearing wheel remains misaligned!!!Does anyone have any ideas about the stearing wheel ?
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C
Steering wheel being skewed to one side is because, to adjust the tracking you have to do it equally per side (each track rod end)

If you only adjust one side, (or inequally adjust both) you get this squint steering wheel.

A half competant mechanic can adjust steering so the wheel is straight. To let you understand it's not rocket science, when adjusting my 420's steering I managed to do it (I have correct optical alignment gauges) and keep the wheel straight.

Poor service indeed!!


CAM
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R
I'd have presumed the steering column would be in the way when removing the engine, just a guess mind, sure someone will confirm later.

Had your car been in to this dealer before Mike ?
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S
I don't think the wheel would have been taken off for a clutch change.
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R
I agree, I meant that if they disconnected the steering column from the rack whilst doing the clutch, they've probably put it back without checking steering wheel alignment.

(thats of course if the column is indeed in the way)
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C
Bet you've got to remove a tie rod to get the box out! (don't know for sure)


CAM
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M
Dealers are a bunch of idiots, and i would say - no offence if there's any dealers among us, but I'm afraid this is my opinion.

I think this is going to far, people are cheated and have to stick to 'professional' opinion as 'God's own word'.
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M
RichK said:
I'd have presumed the steering column would be in the way when removing the engine, just a guess mind, sure someone will confirm later.

Had your car been in to this dealer before Mike ?
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No, but it's the nearest one. The next is 17 miles away, which is where I will take it in future. With regard to removing the engine, the Service Manager said that they Dropped the gear box out the bottom of the engine compartment but this did'nt involve messing with the steering.I suspect I need to speak to someone who has replaced a clutch, to get a better understanding of what's involved.I get the impression that the Service Manager is unable to effectively communicate the technical aspects of his job!!!
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The steering rack is unbolted from the front subframe, the subframe is removed so the gearbox can be lifted out from the bottom. Sometimes there can be a slight steering goemetry change due to a build up of tolerences when the subframe is bolted back in on its 6 mounting and the steering rack on another 4 mountings. This will have caused the steering wheel to be slightly out.
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R
That looks like your answer Mike!
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X70WER said:
The steering rack is unbolted from the front subframe, the subframe is removed so the gearbox can be lifted out from the bottom. Sometimes there can be a slight steering goemetry change due to a build up of tolerences when the subframe is bolted back in on its 6 mounting and the steering rack on another 4 mountings. This will have caused the steering wheel to be slightly out.
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Thank's for the information, at least the Service Manager will think I know what I'm talking about when I take it back, hopefully for the last time with this particular dealer. Mike.
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