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UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: dazmond on June 20, 2025, 08:00:18 pm

Title: Van service.....engine management light on...
Post by: dazmond on June 20, 2025, 08:00:18 pm
Van was in the garage for full service today....picked it up at 430pm just as the garage was closing....

Engine management light on all the way home(around 10miles)and temperature gauge was reading-40 before correcting itself after a couple of mins. As soon as I turn the van off and start it up again it reads -40 again before showing correct reading(30c)...

To say I'm angry is an understatement! The  full service cost me over £200 with VAT.  Oil filter,air filter and pollen filter replaced...

It's going straight back to the garage on Monday morning if it's not open tomorrow.

I've never had any problems before with any warning lights coming on.

Anyone else had problems after a service? >:(
Title: Re: Van service.....engine management light on...
Post by: Splash and dash on June 20, 2025, 08:32:27 pm
Van was in the garage for full service today....picked it up at 430pm just as the garage was closing....

Engine management light on all the way home(around 10miles)and temperature gauge was reading-40 before correcting itself after a couple of mins. As soon as I turn the van off and start it up again it reads -40 again before showing correct reading(30c)...

To say I'm angry is an understatement! The  full service cost me over £200 with VAT.  Oil filter,air filter and pollen filter replaced...

It's going straight back to the garage on Monday morning if it's not open tomorrow.

I've never had any problems before with any warning lights coming on.

Anyone else had problems after a service? >:(


Was this done by a main dealer or some other garage ? Never get issues like this using main dealers costs a bit more but worth it for the lack of hassle.
Title: Re: Van service.....engine management light on...
Post by: Slacky on June 20, 2025, 08:38:17 pm
Loose connection or dodgy sensor.

Calm down.
Title: Re: Van service.....engine management light on...
Post by: The Jester of Wibbly on June 20, 2025, 09:09:33 pm
Don't worry too much, just have quick look round the engine bay make sure everything is tightly closed and plugged in securely after top ups.  Probably just knocked a sensor loose.   
Title: Re: Van service.....engine management light on...
Post by: Splash and dash on June 20, 2025, 09:34:23 pm
Ime guessing they have used the diognostic port to re set the service indicator and that could have caused this issue it’s quite common in back street garages using cheap software programs
Title: Re: Van service.....engine management light on...
Post by: dazmond on June 20, 2025, 09:46:05 pm
Loose connection or dodgy sensor.

Calm down.

Still they shouldn't give your van back with a service light on....its unprofessional
Title: Re: Van service.....engine management light on...
Post by: KS Cleaning on June 20, 2025, 11:32:56 pm
Loose connection or dodgy sensor.

Calm down.

Still they shouldn't give your van back with a service light on....its unprofessional
Do yourself a favour, get a Ford dealership to do the servicing at a reasonable price and you get 12 months road assistance thrown in😉
Title: Re: Van service.....engine management light on...
Post by: Scottish Cleaning Service on June 21, 2025, 08:34:07 am
I have 4 on at the moment after changing the axle hub. My mate needs to cancel them but we are a bit busy at the moment. Usually a sensor unplugged so can't give a correct reading. When you pop in, they will come out and plug in laptop to tell them what's the problem and sort it there and then so hang about and say you need the van for work that day.
Title: Re: Van service.....engine management light on...
Post by: dazmond on June 21, 2025, 08:37:59 am
Van was in the garage for full service today....picked it up at 430pm just as the garage was closing....

Engine management light on all the way home(around 10miles)and temperature gauge was reading-40 before correcting itself after a couple of mins. As soon as I turn the van off and start it up again it reads -40 again before showing correct reading(30c)...

To say I'm angry is an understatement! The  full service cost me over £200 with VAT.  Oil filter,air filter and pollen filter replaced...

It's going straight back to the garage on Monday morning if it's not open tomorrow.

I've never had any problems before with any warning lights coming on.

Anyone else had problems after a service? >:(


Was this done by a main dealer or some other garage ? Never get issues like this using main dealers costs a bit more but worth it for the lack of hassle.

Local garage. I've been going there for years. Missus take hers there too. I would never take any vehicle to a main dealer. Never have,never would.

What I'm miffed about mainly is they should of test driven my van after the service and this would obviously show up straight away. It smacks of rushing and cutting corners....

By the way I've never had this problem ever after a service before. Hopefully it'll just be a quick case of resetting my service light..seems odd my digital temperature display is showing-40 every time I start the van before slowing going back to ambient air temperature. Then it's fine until I turn my engine off again.
Title: Re: Van service.....engine management light on...
Post by: dazmond on June 21, 2025, 08:40:36 am
I have 4 on at the moment after changing the axle hub. My mate needs to cancel them but we are a bit busy at the moment. Usually a sensor unplugged so can't give a correct reading. When you pop in, they will come out and plug in laptop to tell them what's the problem and sort it there and then so hang about and say you need the van for work that day.

I'm certainly not taking a day off work. I'll pop in on Monday afternoon after I've done my scheduled work.
Title: Re: Van service.....engine management light on...
Post by: dazmond on June 21, 2025, 08:48:14 am
(http://www.cleanitup.co.uk/smf/1750491885_Screenshot_20250621_084407_Photos.jpg)

I took it for a run  last night and the temperature rectified itself after a few mins (but while it's reading minus temperatures the air con won't work). The engine management light stayed on and won't go off.
Title: Re: Van service.....engine management light on...
Post by: dazmond on June 21, 2025, 09:32:08 am
I've just disconnected the battery for an hour which should reset everything. If that doesn't work it's back to the garage
Title: Re: Van service.....engine management light on...
Post by: dazmond on June 21, 2025, 01:18:58 pm
(http://www.cleanitup.co.uk/smf/1750507650_Screenshot_20250621_120653_Photos.jpg)

Fixed both issues myself this morning!🙂👍

This electrical plug wasn't plugged in after they changed the air filter(it was dangling underneath) so this has solved the -40 temperature display issue.

As for the engine management light being on I put my hand inside the fuel hole and pushed the fuel valve a bit(my van doesn't have a fuel cap) and this has turned it off....I remember having a similar problem years ago with a different van and I just replaced the fuel cap which solved it!😎

I'm a very happy man!

I'm not impressed with the garage though so I will still phone them on Monday and tell them....it could of been the young lad who I noticed was working there with the main mechanic. Its a basic rookie error though on their part.....
Title: Re: Van service.....engine management light on...
Post by: Perfect Windows on June 21, 2025, 01:43:20 pm
Keep using your local garage, Daz. They've made a mistake, that's all. If you've used them for years they'll be keen to keep your business so they'll be very careful in future.

Main dealers can do a substandard job and charge what they like as there'll be another customer along in a minute. They have a steady supply of fresh fish walking in the door. Small, local garages simply have to look after their customers.

Many years ago the consumer association sent cars with specific set up faults into main dealers and local grease pits. Locals performed better and charged less.

Most importantly, glad you're sorted.

Vin
Title: Re: Van service.....engine management light on...
Post by: Scottish Cleaning Service on June 21, 2025, 03:21:24 pm
Near exact same thing happened to me. My mate unplugged a hose when he was fixing my van and never noticed it. I got home driving at 25mph as it was connected to the turbo I think. Anyway, opened the bonnet and had a look around and saw it, plugged it in and all fine. Next day I saw him and showed him what had happened. He said he must have dislodged it when changing the power steering pump. You don't want to fall out with mechanics because you never know when you might need one.
Title: Re: Van service.....engine management light on...
Post by: Slacky on June 21, 2025, 06:20:24 pm
Loose connection or dodgy sensor.

Calm down.

Still they shouldn't give your van back with a service light on....its unprofessional

It’s a mistake. We all make mistakes.
Title: Re: Van service.....engine management light on...
Post by: Splash and dash on June 21, 2025, 06:47:16 pm
Loose connection or dodgy sensor.

Calm down.

Still they shouldn't give your van back with a service light on....its unprofessional

It’s a mistake. We all make mistakes.


But it’s not acceptable it went in for a service with no lights on and comes out after with them on that’s like us making the windows more dirty after cleaning them than they were before we started and charging the customer. I would also be spitting sparks about this , shows a total lack of quality control .
Title: Re: Van service.....engine management light on...
Post by: dazmond on June 21, 2025, 08:56:12 pm
(http://www.cleanitup.co.uk/smf/1750507650_Screenshot_20250621_120653_Photos.jpg)

Fixed both issues myself this morning!🙂👍

This electrical plug wasn't plugged in after they changed the air filter(it was dangling underneath) so this has solved the -40 temperature display issue.

As for the engine management light being on I put my hand inside the fuel hole and pushed the fuel valve a bit(my van doesn't have a fuel cap) and this has turned it off....I remember having a similar problem years ago with a different van and I just replaced the fuel cap which solved it!😎

I'm a very happy man!

I'm not impressed with the garage though so I will still phone them on Monday and tell them....it could of been the young lad who I noticed was working there with the main mechanic. Its a basic rookie error though on their part.....

Found out this is the MAF sensor plug that had not been connected!👍
Title: Re: Van service.....engine management light on...
Post by: Scottish Cleaning Service on June 21, 2025, 09:09:42 pm
Loose connection or dodgy sensor.

Calm down.

Still they shouldn't give your van back with a service light on....its unprofessional

It’s a mistake. We all make mistakes.


But it’s not acceptable it went in for a service with no lights on and comes out after with them on that’s like us making the windows more dirty after cleaning them than they were before we started and charging the customer. I would also be spitting sparks about this , shows a total lack of quality control .

If it was my mate mechanic and you went in trying to make a point then he would tell you not to come back again. He is very busy and makes mistakes but will try and help anyone. When one is busy, working 6 days a week then he makes mistakes. Maybe because I'm 59 and understand its hard running a business and don't like burning bridges.

If I was you then I would leave it and text and say, the sensor was left unplugged, so plugged it back in and everything fine now. He will thank you and probably look after you the next visit. 😉 That's the way I rock.
Title: Re: Van service.....engine management light on...
Post by: Splash and dash on June 21, 2025, 09:25:53 pm
Loose connection or dodgy sensor.

Calm down.

Still they shouldn't give your van back with a service light on....its unprofessional

It’s a mistake. We all make mistakes.


But it’s not acceptable it went in for a service with no lights on and comes out after with them on that’s like us making the windows more dirty after cleaning them than they were before we started and charging the customer. I would also be spitting sparks about this , shows a total lack of quality control .

If it was my mate mechanic and you went in trying to make a point then he would tell you not to come back again. He is very busy and makes mistakes but will try and help anyone. When one is busy, working 6 days a week then he makes mistakes. Maybe because I'm 59 and understand its hard running a business and don't like burning bridges.

If I was you then I would leave it and text and say, the sensor was left unplugged, so plugged it back in and everything fine now. He will thank you and probably look after you the next visit. 😉 That's the way I rock.

I certainly wouldn’t be using a guy like that to work on any of my vehicles, i expect them to do what ever and get it right first time , we can’t go into a house fire and walk over a body and say ooh well I’ll get it right next time , it’s totally unacceptable and a totally avoidable situation they clearly haven’t test driven the vehicle or even looked at the dash  lights , it’s not rocket science .
Title: Re: Van service.....engine management light on...
Post by: Perfect Windows on June 21, 2025, 09:34:01 pm
I'm just glad that,not once in fifteen years of cleaning, have I ever made a mistake.

I've never been called back for missing the entire front of a house - no, not me. Nor have I ever cleaned the back of the wrong house. I've never just plain messed up one or all the windows and been called back. I've never broken or damaged anything. I'm perfect. Just like everyone should be at all times.

Vin
Title: Re: Van service.....engine management light on...
Post by: AuRavelling79 on June 21, 2025, 09:34:39 pm
Loose connection or dodgy sensor.

Calm down.

Still they shouldn't give your van back with a service light on....its unprofessional

It’s a mistake. We all make mistakes.


But it’s not acceptable it went in for a service with no lights on and comes out after with them on that’s like us making the windows more dirty after cleaning them than they were before we started and charging the customer. I would also be spitting sparks about this , shows a total lack of quality control .

If it was my mate mechanic and you went in trying to make a point then he would tell you not to come back again. He is very busy and makes mistakes but will try and help anyone. When one is busy, working 6 days a week then he makes mistakes. Maybe because I'm 59 and understand its hard running a business and don't like burning bridges.

If I was you then I would leave it and text and say, the sensor was left unplugged, so plugged it back in and everything fine now. He will thank you and probably look after you the next visit. 😉 That's the way I rock.

I certainly wouldn’t be using a guy like that to work on any of my vehicles, i expect them to do what ever and get it right first time , we can’t go into a house fire and walk over a body and say ooh well I’ll get it right next time , it’s totally unacceptable and a totally avoidable situation they clearly haven’t test driven the vehicle or even looked at the dash  lights , it’s not rocket science .

Even the blue light services make mistakes. To say not is a dangerous mindset.
Title: Re: Van service.....engine management light on...
Post by: Slacky on June 22, 2025, 02:52:52 am
Loose connection or dodgy sensor.

Calm down.

Still they shouldn't give your van back with a service light on....its unprofessional

It’s a mistake. We all make mistakes.


But it’s not acceptable it went in for a service with no lights on and comes out after with them on that’s like us making the windows more dirty after cleaning them than they were before we started and charging the customer. I would also be spitting sparks about this , shows a total lack of quality control .

I suspect the phrase 'customer profile' would be floating through the mechanic's head after any conversation whinging about it.
Title: Re: Van service.....engine management light on...
Post by: Scottish Cleaning Service on June 22, 2025, 09:12:12 am
Loose connection or dodgy sensor.

Calm down.

Still they shouldn't give your van back with a service light on....its unprofessional

It’s a mistake. We all make mistakes.


But it’s not acceptable it went in for a service with no lights on and comes out after with them on that’s like us making the windows more dirty after cleaning them than they were before we started and charging the customer. I would also be spitting sparks about this , shows a total lack of quality control .

If it was my mate mechanic and you went in trying to make a point then he would tell you not to come back again. He is very busy and makes mistakes but will try and help anyone. When one is busy, working 6 days a week then he makes mistakes. Maybe because I'm 59 and understand its hard running a business and don't like burning bridges.

If I was you then I would leave it and text and say, the sensor was left unplugged, so plugged it back in and everything fine now. He will thank you and probably look after you the next visit. 😉 That's the way I rock.

I certainly wouldn’t be using a guy like that to work on any of my vehicles, i expect them to do what ever and get it right first time , we can’t go into a house fire and walk over a body and say ooh well I’ll get it right next time , it’s totally unacceptable and a totally avoidable situation they clearly haven’t test driven the vehicle or even looked at the dash  lights , it’s not rocket science .

In the end it all comes down to what type of person one is. You are obviously a stiff person and little flexibility. I on the other hand is a flexible person. It all sounds like the apprentice done the job and the mechanic failed to check the inside of cab.

You know in the fire service we make mistakes all the time due to distraction. Filling pump with diesel and get a turn out. We all jump in the pump and away we go. We get back and the driver forgets to log the diesel the pump took and put the diesel cap on. On the weeklies, another crew notices 50 litres have went missing. What do they do? Report it and get management involved or look back and notice a day that no diesel was taken. What we do is put the missing 50 litres in that day. Happens all the time and at every station when I was in the service.

But I'm a mature 59 year old and have alot of experience in human behaviour. Someone complains to me about their windows and I clean them again. When they complain again I tell them to find someone else and have no contact with them. Reason being, I have too many customers now and don't need their work.
Title: Re: Van service.....engine management light on...
Post by: dazmond on June 22, 2025, 10:31:23 am
The thing is its not just the carelessness of not plugging the maf sensor plug back in is it?

It's obvious they've not greased the hinges on my van doors or checked tyre pressures,all this is ticked on the vehicle service sheet. Its BS.

Have they even checked the condition of the suspension,brakes,etc?who knows?

They've obviously NOT taken it for a test drive and that is also ticked on the service sheet....

I bet they quickly changed the oil and filter,air filter and cabin filter and just parked it up....

It smacks of cutting corners and its not good enough. It cost me £205 too where an interim service is around £150.
Title: Re: Van service.....engine management light on...
Post by: Perfect Windows on June 22, 2025, 11:57:17 am
Hi Daz,

I hadn't read your posts in detail but if you've found several undone jobs, I take back my "we all make mistakes" posts - a quick read made me think it was just an unplugged sensor, my error.

That's deliberate misrepresentation and I'd be tempted to ask for the cash back then move on to someone recommended to you.

Vin
Title: Re: Van service.....engine management light on...
Post by: dazmond on June 22, 2025, 02:19:44 pm
I've had a good,thorough inspection of the van this afternoon and they have indeed greased the driver/passenger door hinges (but not the rear doors)the oil and filter have definitely been changed as well as air filter and cabin filter so apart from the MAF sensor being left unplugged it seems they have done the service (albeit without test driving it or doing a full diagnostic check AFTER the filters have been changed which have been ticked off on the service sheet as being completed)

The tyre pressures have been ticked off too as reading 34,34,34,34 which obviously is BS as mine are 45 on the rear and 38 on the front due to carrying a lot of weight.

My thoughts are the young 'apprentice' in the garage has hurriedly done the service and cut a few corners....

The garage has a good reputation so I will be phoning them tomorrow just to point out clearly and precisely that the MAF sensor was left unplugged and I've sorted the issue myself and leave it at that.

Maybe he's aware of the young apprentice not pulling his weight or cutting corners but it needs pointing out because this is his garage's reputation at stake and it's really basic,simple stuff that shouldn't happen in relation to a vehicle service.
Title: Re: Van service.....engine management light on...
Post by: robert mitchell on June 23, 2025, 04:17:21 pm
Loose connection or dodgy sensor.

Calm down.

Still they shouldn't give your van back with a service light on....its unprofessional

It’s a mistake. We all make mistakes.


But it’s not acceptable it went in for a service with no lights on and comes out after with them on that’s like us making the windows more dirty after cleaning them than they were before we started and charging the customer. I would also be spitting sparks about this , shows a total lack of quality control .

If it was my mate mechanic and you went in trying to make a point then he would tell you not to come back again. He is very busy and makes mistakes but will try and help anyone. When one is busy, working 6 days a week then he makes mistakes. Maybe because I'm 59 and understand its hard running a business and don't like burning bridges.

If I was you then I would leave it and text and say, the sensor was left unplugged, so plugged it back in and everything fine now. He will thank you and probably look after you the next visit. 😉 That's the way I rock.

I certainly wouldn’t be using a guy like that to work on any of my vehicles, i expect them to do what ever and get it right first time , we can’t go into a house fire and walk over a body and say ooh well I’ll get it right next time , it’s totally unacceptable and a totally avoidable situation they clearly haven’t test driven the vehicle or even looked at the dash  lights , it’s not rocket science .

Are you really trying to tell people that in your career as a firefighter , you have never made a mistake ? If so i dont believe you .

If his garage had made a mistake that could kill him or cause an accident , i might get your point but everyone in every job , sometimes makes mistakes.
Title: Re: Van service.....engine management light on...
Post by: deeege on June 23, 2025, 05:04:12 pm
Sounds like shoddy work to me Daz. I’d be looking at finding yourself a new garage that you can trust.
Title: Re: Van service.....engine management light on...
Post by: Splash and dash on June 23, 2025, 05:08:02 pm
Loose connection or dodgy sensor.

Calm down.

Still they shouldn't give your van back with a service light on....its unprofessional

It’s a mistake. We all make mistakes.


But it’s not acceptable it went in for a service with no lights on and comes out after with them on that’s like us making the windows more dirty after cleaning them than they were before we started and charging the customer. I would also be spitting sparks about this , shows a total lack of quality control .

If it was my mate mechanic and you went in trying to make a point then he would tell you not to come back again. He is very busy and makes mistakes but will try and help anyone. When one is busy, working 6 days a week then he makes mistakes. Maybe because I'm 59 and understand its hard running a business and don't like burning bridges.

If I was you then I would leave it and text and say, the sensor was left unplugged, so plugged it back in and everything fine now. He will thank you and probably look after you the next visit. 😉 That's the way I rock.

I certainly wouldn’t be using a guy like that to work on any of my vehicles, i expect them to do what ever and get it right first time , we can’t go into a house fire and walk over a body and say ooh well I’ll get it right next time , it’s totally unacceptable and a totally avoidable situation they clearly haven’t test driven the vehicle or even looked at the dash  lights , it’s not rocket science .

Are you really trying to tell people that in your career as a firefighter , you have never made a mistake ? If so i dont believe you .

If his garage had made a mistake that could kill him or cause an accident , i might get your point but everyone in every job , sometimes makes mistakes.


Yes we all make mistakes but a light on the dash should easily be seen , they clearly hadn’t test driven the vehicle after saying they had so a blatant lie , how can you trust they have done everything else ? Also what if they had had the wheels off and forgotten to tighten them up and wheel came off  and caused a fatal accident, are you going to say oh well we all make mistakes. It’s simply unacceptable to service  a vehicle and send it out with fault light showing end off .
Title: Re: Van service.....engine management light on...
Post by: dazmond on June 23, 2025, 07:06:37 pm
Phoned garage first thing this morning and the receptionist answered. I basically told her the name of the mechanic and my reg. He's a new guy so I bet he got a bit of a rollicking.

I've never had a problem with their service before and both me and the missus have used them for many years now and told her so.
Title: Re: Van service.....engine management light on...
Post by: NBwcs on June 23, 2025, 07:30:17 pm
Loose connection or dodgy sensor.

Calm down.

Still they shouldn't give your van back with a service light on....its unprofessional

It’s a mistake. We all make mistakes.


But it’s not acceptable it went in for a service with no lights on and comes out after with them on that’s like us making the windows more dirty after cleaning them than they were before we started and charging the customer. I would also be spitting sparks about this , shows a total lack of quality control .

If it was my mate mechanic and you went in trying to make a point then he would tell you not to come back again. He is very busy and makes mistakes but will try and help anyone. When one is busy, working 6 days a week then he makes mistakes. Maybe because I'm 59 and understand its hard running a business and don't like burning bridges.

If I was you then I would leave it and text and say, the sensor was left unplugged, so plugged it back in and everything fine now. He will thank you and probably look after you the next visit. 😉 That's the way I rock.

I certainly wouldn’t be using a guy like that to work on any of my vehicles, i expect them to do what ever and get it right first time , we can’t go into a house fire and walk over a body and say ooh well I’ll get it right next time , it’s totally unacceptable and a totally avoidable situation they clearly haven’t test driven the vehicle or even looked at the dash  lights , it’s not rocket science .

Are you really trying to tell people that in your career as a firefighter , you have never made a mistake ? If so i dont believe you .

If his garage had made a mistake that could kill him or cause an accident , i might get your point but everyone in every job , sometimes makes mistakes.


Yes we all make mistakes but a light on the dash should easily be seen , they clearly hadn’t test driven the vehicle after saying they had so a blatant lie , how can you trust they have done everything else ? Also what if they had had the wheels off and forgotten to tighten them up and wheel came off  and caused a fatal accident, are you going to say oh well we all make mistakes. It’s simply unacceptable to service  a vehicle and send it out with fault light showing end off .


We cant be 100% sure the light was on when it left the garage. I had all sorts of problems with sensors with my car last year and each time i had it looked at, i picked the car up myself with no light on but either by the end of the journey home or the next morning, there was a warning light back on. Dazs light may have been off when the mechanic had finished testing it, then come on the next time it was started up. This was a main dealer (mine) and i ended up going back 4 times, it was ridiculous, in the end the top mechanic took me to one side and said he'd basically re mapped it so i wouldn't get any more sensor problems. Sensors can be a nightmare, more trouble than the problem they're supposed to be identifying.
Title: Re: Van service.....engine management light on...
Post by: dazmond on June 23, 2025, 07:36:35 pm
Loose connection or dodgy sensor.

Calm down.

Still they shouldn't give your van back with a service light on....its unprofessional

It’s a mistake. We all make mistakes.


But it’s not acceptable it went in for a service with no lights on and comes out after with them on that’s like us making the windows more dirty after cleaning them than they were before we started and charging the customer. I would also be spitting sparks about this , shows a total lack of quality control .

If it was my mate mechanic and you went in trying to make a point then he would tell you not to come back again. He is very busy and makes mistakes but will try and help anyone. When one is busy, working 6 days a week then he makes mistakes. Maybe because I'm 59 and understand its hard running a business and don't like burning bridges.

If I was you then I would leave it and text and say, the sensor was left unplugged, so plugged it back in and everything fine now. He will thank you and probably look after you the next visit. 😉 That's the way I rock.

I certainly wouldn’t be using a guy like that to work on any of my vehicles, i expect them to do what ever and get it right first time , we can’t go into a house fire and walk over a body and say ooh well I’ll get it right next time , it’s totally unacceptable and a totally avoidable situation they clearly haven’t test driven the vehicle or even looked at the dash  lights , it’s not rocket science .

Are you really trying to tell people that in your career as a firefighter , you have never made a mistake ? If so i dont believe you .

If his garage had made a mistake that could kill him or cause an accident , i might get your point but everyone in every job , sometimes makes mistakes.


Yes we all make mistakes but a light on the dash should easily be seen , they clearly hadn’t test driven the vehicle after saying they had so a blatant lie , how can you trust they have done everything else ? Also what if they had had the wheels off and forgotten to tighten them up and wheel came off  and caused a fatal accident, are you going to say oh well we all make mistakes. It’s simply unacceptable to service  a vehicle and send it out with fault light showing end off .


We cant be 100% sure the light was on when it left the garage. I had all sorts of problems with sensors with my car last year and each time i had it looked at, i picked the car up myself with no light on but either by the end of the journey home or the next morning, there was a warning light back on. Dazs light may have been off when the mechanic had finished testing it, then come on the next time it was started up. This was a main dealer (mine) and i ended up going back 4 times, it was ridiculous, in the end the top mechanic took me to one side and said he'd basically re mapped it so i wouldn't get any more sensor problems. Sensors can be a nightmare, more trouble than the problem they're supposed to be identifying.

It was on from the moment I started the and because the MAF sensor was unplugged!
Title: Re: Van service.....engine management light on...
Post by: Splash and dash on June 23, 2025, 09:48:53 pm
Loose connection or dodgy sensor.

Calm down.

Still they shouldn't give your van back with a service light on....its unprofessional

It’s a mistake. We all make mistakes.


But it’s not acceptable it went in for a service with no lights on and comes out after with them on that’s like us making the windows more dirty after cleaning them than they were before we started and charging the customer. I would also be spitting sparks about this , shows a total lack of quality control .

If it was my mate mechanic and you went in trying to make a point then he would tell you not to come back again. He is very busy and makes mistakes but will try and help anyone. When one is busy, working 6 days a week then he makes mistakes. Maybe because I'm 59 and understand its hard running a business and don't like burning bridges.

If I was you then I would leave it and text and say, the sensor was left unplugged, so plugged it back in and everything fine now. He will thank you and probably look after you the next visit. 😉 That's the way I rock.

I certainly wouldn’t be using a guy like that to work on any of my vehicles, i expect them to do what ever and get it right first time , we can’t go into a house fire and walk over a body and say ooh well I’ll get it right next time , it’s totally unacceptable and a totally avoidable situation they clearly haven’t test driven the vehicle or even looked at the dash  lights , it’s not rocket science .

Are you really trying to tell people that in your career as a firefighter , you have never made a mistake ? If so i dont believe you .

If his garage had made a mistake that could kill him or cause an accident , i might get your point but everyone in every job , sometimes makes mistakes.


Yes we all make mistakes but a light on the dash should easily be seen , they clearly hadn’t test driven the vehicle after saying they had so a blatant lie , how can you trust they have done everything else ? Also what if they had had the wheels off and forgotten to tighten them up and wheel came off  and caused a fatal accident, are you going to say oh well we all make mistakes. It’s simply unacceptable to service  a vehicle and send it out with fault light showing end off .


We cant be 100% sure the light was on when it left the garage. I had all sorts of problems with sensors with my car last year and each time i had it looked at, i picked the car up myself with no light on but either by the end of the journey home or the next morning, there was a warning light back on. Dazs light may have been off when the mechanic had finished testing it, then come on the next time it was started up. This was a main dealer (mine) and i ended up going back 4 times, it was ridiculous, in the end the top mechanic took me to one side and said he'd basically re mapped it so i wouldn't get any more sensor problems. Sensors can be a nightmare, more trouble than the problem they're supposed to be identifying.


No the light would have been on when he picked it up as the maff sensor wiring was disconnected that always throws up a light as soon as you start the engine
Title: Re: Van service.....engine management light on...
Post by: NBwcs on June 23, 2025, 10:11:24 pm
Fair enough, im no motor expert, just going off my own experience.  I bought a car for its reputation for reliability but still ended up in the garage multiple times to sort sensor problems out when there was actually nothing wrong with the engine itself. Very frustrating. And some of these sensors are a mental price.
Title: Re: Van service.....engine management light on...
Post by: Scottish Cleaning Service on June 24, 2025, 10:04:44 am
Easy way for all of use to remedy this. When we pick our vehicle up from the garage and a warning light comes on when we start the engine then we turn off the engine and go back into the garage. They will come out and see what we are talking about. Once one drives off then the garage will ask why did you drive off with the warning lights on. We need to be patient in life, when we rush nothing seems to go right.

Good Post, we will need to try and remember this every time we need the van fixed.👍
Title: Re: Van service.....engine management light on...
Post by: Splash and dash on June 24, 2025, 05:17:49 pm
Easy way for all of use to remedy this. When we pick our vehicle up from the garage and a warning light comes on when we start the engine then we turn off the engine and go back into the garage. They will come out and see what we are talking about. Once one drives off then the garage will ask why did you drive off with the warning lights on. We need to be patient in life, when we rush nothing seems to go right.

Good Post, we will need to try and remember this every time we need the van fixed.👍


But we shouldn’t have to do this let’s just reverse this a muinit, when you have cleaned a customer s windows how would you feel if the customer said let me just check every window is ok ,before you leave you would feel insulted and rightly so , we shouldn’t have ti be checking that a mechanic has done the service right ,if something obvious like the maff sensor hasn’t been re connected  that’s an easy spot , as the light on the dash will tell you so , but how do you know that they have checked the  brakes and that the class and discs  are ok , or that they have changed the oil  filter that’s impossible to tell the oil may have been changed but you can’t see the oil filter so you just have to trust that they have done it . Mercedes , BMW ,Porsche will actually send you a video whilst they are servicing the vehicle showing the oil filter , air filter pollen filters and wheels removed and brake pad condition so you can see for yourself they are doing  the job .
Title: Re: Van service.....engine management light on...
Post by: dazmond on June 24, 2025, 06:09:09 pm
Easy way for all of use to remedy this. When we pick our vehicle up from the garage and a warning light comes on when we start the engine then we turn off the engine and go back into the garage. They will come out and see what we are talking about. Once one drives off then the garage will ask why did you drive off with the warning lights on. We need to be patient in life, when we rush nothing seems to go right.

Good Post, we will need to try and remember this every time we need the van fixed.👍

The garage was shutting on a Friday evening. He shut the gate as soon as I drove out so it was too late
Title: Re: Van service.....engine management light on...
Post by: Spruce on June 24, 2025, 09:05:44 pm
Personally, if you have had good service from them before, then I would continue to use them.

Next time the van goes in for service, remind them to do the job properly this time, not like last time.

Always check their work before you leave. Check the dip stick. Is the oil clean, has the oil filter been replaced if yours is a screw on type you can see?

Ask for old parts, discs and pads for example, to be returned to you. Do a quick brake master level fluid check. Has the windscreen washer bottle been topped up? Is there enough water in the header tank?

Also write down the mileage of your van when you drop it off at the garage.

If they don't do the job properly the second time, then it's time to look for another garage.