help advise needed

jamiecoysh · 13-12-14, 12:06 AM

hi all

just a follow on regarding the problems ive been having regarding my power steering hose

After finally getting to end of the problem ( which isn't right, but as close as im going to get ) was wondering if I might have a chance of going after the hydraulics place that has caused me all these problems and un-necessary expense?

to sum what has happened ( sorry if this is long

)

My hose started to leak and after trying to locate a new/2nd hand part failed.

Took the hose to a hydraulics specialist in Paignton who cut out my old hose and installed a new hose onto my old connectors at a cost of £50 ( which I haven't/refused to pay for)

Paid garage to remove old hose take to hydraulics place re-fit and supply new fluid.

Car making orfull noise upon reving engine and turning steering

By this time hydraulics place had disposed of my old pipe

garage had back ( no charge ) and checked obvious problems ie low fluid air etc - nothing found.

Removed hose and returned to hydraulics place to check hose - no problem found ( at least to them )

Re-fitted hose no change

Took car back to garage to remove hose again so it could be taken to another hydraulics place in Newton Abbot

Drove to Newton ( 10 miles ) left hose with them and they thought that the pipe had the restrictor integrated into the connector so assumed it was fine and that the hose should be ok.

Drove back to newton following day ( 10 miles ) to collect pipe and return to garage.

In-fairness I asked them not to fit the pipe as I told them nothing had been done but there was break down in communication and was re-fitted.

After help from everyone on here and audifans.net ascertained that there is a restrictor located in the centre of the pipe and should have been cut out of old pipe and inserted into new pipe ( all car power steering have one of these ) .

Pipe removed again and returned to newton abbot to have restrictor fitted ( they couldn't guarantee whether this would cure the problem as they were guessing the restrictor size but were fairly certain they could quieten down the noise

This pipe cost £30

re-fitted pipe and is quieter but not 100% and tonight I have found somewhere that will sell me the pump,rack,hose,return hose and bottle for £47, which im not going to have to buy and then pay again for this pipe to be fitted.

I was wondering if I have a case to get the hydraulics place in Paignton to fit the bill for some of the expense due to their incompetence. The place in newton said if I had gone there they would have removed the restrictor and put it in the new pipe

I haven't had the bill from the garage, but im not looking forward to it and its not their fault and I cant expect them to work for free

cheers

Hanuman · 13-12-14, 12:14 AM

You could try, but without the old bits, you'll be lucky demonstrating anything, and they'll ask what you specified. If it isn't clearly defined, you'll have a hard time.

Lessons learned. Never throw the old bits away until the new bits are shown to be working ok.

Welcome to old/classic car ownership

Ringmaster · 13-12-14, 12:25 AM

Would most likely cost you more than you could recover if you were to follow the legal remedies available to you anyway.....

Just chalk it up to experience mate...

jamiecoysh · 13-12-14, 12:29 AM

that's all good but this is going to be an expensive lesson learned

if I was a few quid - ok fine, but I don't think im going to see any change out of £200 - £250 and that is only the garage charges!! not including the £30 for new hose and ive just paid £20 for a 2nd hand hose from someone on the internet.

the hydraulics place disposed of the old pipe

and I have invoices for everything done and a break down of the garage charges and the place in newton said they would supply a detailed explanation of why the pipe was there and what work they have done.

so pushing £300 for what was supposed to be a simple job

and im going to have to pay to have this pipe fitted when it arrives and also assuming theres not damage to the rack, pump etc at the end of it

Ringmaster · 13-12-14, 12:56 AM

OK mate, go for it. Sounds like you can provide enough detail to demonstrate the new pipe you had made was not fit for its purpose and the firm who made it should have known better, so you can fall back on the Sale of Goods Act (section 14 me thinks).

Try your local CAB for some free advice at first. They may point you in the direction of the Small Claims Court if approaching the pipe firm fails, and give you an idea of costs and what you can hope to recover. Trading Standards may even be able to help......

13-12-14, 12:14 AM	#2
Hanuman Trickster Classic Audi Club Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Heckling from the cheap seats, Phnom Penh, KoW Posts: 7,010	You could try, but without the old bits, you'll be lucky demonstrating anything, and they'll ask what you specified. If it isn't clearly defined, you'll have a hard time. Lessons learned. Never throw the old bits away until the new bits are shown to be working ok. Welcome to old/classic car ownership __________________ I wish they would keep the damned Chinese away now that I can go home, so that I can enjoy Fish amok and a draught Angkor

13-12-14, 12:29 AM	#4
jamiecoysh Grown up member Join Date: May 2013 Location: Torquay, Devon Posts: 119	that's all good but this is going to be an expensive lesson learned if I was a few quid - ok fine, but I don't think im going to see any change out of £200 - £250 and that is only the garage charges!! not including the £30 for new hose and ive just paid £20 for a 2nd hand hose from someone on the internet. the hydraulics place disposed of the old pipe and I have invoices for everything done and a break down of the garage charges and the place in newton said they would supply a detailed explanation of why the pipe was there and what work they have done. so pushing £300 for what was supposed to be a simple job and im going to have to pay to have this pipe fitted when it arrives and also assuming theres not damage to the rack, pump etc at the end of it Last edited by jamiecoysh; 13-12-14 at 12:31 AM.

13-12-14, 12:25 AM	#3
Ringmaster Senior Member Classic Audi Club Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 1,333	Would most likely cost you more than you could recover if you were to follow the legal remedies available to you anyway..... Just chalk it up to experience mate...

13-12-14, 12:56 AM	#5
Ringmaster Senior Member Classic Audi Club Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 1,333	OK mate, go for it. Sounds like you can provide enough detail to demonstrate the new pipe you had made was not fit for its purpose and the firm who made it should have known better, so you can fall back on the Sale of Goods Act (section 14 me thinks). Try your local CAB for some free advice at first. They may point you in the direction of the Small Claims Court if approaching the pipe firm fails, and give you an idea of costs and what you can hope to recover. Trading Standards may even be able to help......