darvey Posted September 21, 2012 Report Share Posted September 21, 2012 Hi, opinions or advice really appreciated on this.I took the Lupo to a hand car wash place near to me today and paid for an upholstery clean as it was mingin when i bought it last week.This included seats carpet and door cards.Picked the car up 4 hours later and when i arrived the seats were still wet but it looked like they have done a very good job. They had my car running with the heaters on and windows down trying to assist in drying it out.I took the car and parked it on the drive at about 1230, lowered the windows slightly but not lower than the wind deflectors just to aid in it drying out.I have just been out at 2000 to put the windows back up and to my shock i could smell burning plastic!!!!! I tried to operate the windows from the drivers door, however the drivers switch does not work and the passenger switch lowers the window no matter which way you operate the switch.I had a ferret about like a bloodhound and the smell also seemed to be coming from the drivers doorcard area. 2+2=4!!!After whipping the door card off the switches have burnt themselves out, had what looks like a mini fire and melted part of the loom and damaged the switch sorround and door membrane!I have taken a pic to upload shortly but what do you guys reckon i should do, im obviously going to front them tomorrow but i want to do it without going mental straight away.Im mega stressed/concerned/worried about it, ive been lucky the car never caught fire but its caused a few quids worth of damage. ive locked the car and disconnected the battery for now,Just to note the hand car was isnt a generic eastern european outfit, its owned and run by a couple of english women so im not concerned about them getting arsey with me and about 50 romanians turning up from nowhere! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darvey Posted September 21, 2012 Author Report Share Posted September 21, 2012 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silver! Posted September 21, 2012 Report Share Posted September 21, 2012 So what makes you think they are liable?You will need to get your facts straight and correct before you speak to them.Car electrics are shocking. I read a report about brand new cars across the price range, catching fire due to bad components.A replacement switch and a new pug, would sort that cheaply. Probably cut the plug and 6inches of the loom off a Lupo\Arosa at a local breakers. Cut your loom back to goos wire and crimp the sourced part on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darvey Posted September 21, 2012 Author Report Share Posted September 21, 2012 Well they have clearly got water into the switch for a start, they must have some sort of responsability.I know i could fix it with spares from a broken car but its not really the point.How should i approach them then? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Posted September 21, 2012 Report Share Posted September 21, 2012 You shouldn't.Just walk away and learn a lesson about being more careful where you take your car in future. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darvey Posted September 21, 2012 Author Report Share Posted September 21, 2012 "be more careful" suggesting i havent been?these are supposed to be a proffesional car valet / hand wash outfit that do this for a living and have been at their location for many years. Thay aint some fly by night shoddy outfit.Why shouldnt i go round and air my concerns?Im not looking to kick off or get into a massive row, just discuss my thoughts with them and perhaps get some of the money back i shelled out for the valet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Defcon5 Posted September 21, 2012 Report Share Posted September 21, 2012 Well they have clearly got water into the switch for a startWhat you can't prove didn't happen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GTIChris Posted September 21, 2012 Report Share Posted September 21, 2012 If you do inform them of the damage but receive nothing at least it might alert them to their crap procedures and save somebody else's car in the future.And these places rely on word of mouth alot of the time,which you might have to remind them of Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darvey Posted September 21, 2012 Author Report Share Posted September 21, 2012 If you do inform them of the damage but receive nothing at least it might alert them to their crap procedures and save somebody else's car in the future.And these places rely on word of mouth alot of the time,which you might have to remind them of That is the point im trying to get at. Im not gonna go beserk but also im not gonna just get it fixed without saying anything. Who knows they may even be very amicable about it. If i dont go i wont know! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silver! Posted September 21, 2012 Report Share Posted September 21, 2012 I wasn't saying don't approach them, just be polite and make yourself understood about what you think caused the problem, 'cause to be fair, that is what it is; your thoughts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skezza Posted September 21, 2012 Report Share Posted September 21, 2012 I do suggest approaching them, but as you can imagine, because it burnt out on your drive and not their forecourt, they pretty much have blissful ignorance so it will depend how they act. It's definitely worth telling them though, while I agree with Silver! that some car's have an appalling reputations for electrics, this does seem a little bit coincidental. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoeA Posted September 22, 2012 Report Share Posted September 22, 2012 You should go down and let them know. You also really should be careful just because something seems genuine and professional doesnt mean it is. Ive had to pick up the pieces caused as a result of poor workmanship and quality control from many reputable car cleaning outfits near me.Problem you have, and its not your fault. But your average person will see a nice, family run, tidy car care place (with nice signs) and assume they do a good job. Yes, they may have good reputation locally, but some people have different ideas of what is a clean and a professional job than others Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoeA Posted September 22, 2012 Report Share Posted September 22, 2012 Prime example would be dealership valeting. In my experience, often just yobbos who get handed a nice spinny polisher and told to attack a car. 15 minutes and a **** load of buffer trails later, an audi s4 bonnet is ruined and needing some work by me.You hand someone well presented idiot a wetvac and they'll piss water everywhere if they don't really think about the fact that they are cleaning sensitive areas in the car with plenty of water. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scotty_82 Posted September 22, 2012 Report Share Posted September 22, 2012 Live and learn and take your business else where, that will hit then harder than moaning at them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darvey Posted September 22, 2012 Author Report Share Posted September 22, 2012 *UPDATE*Well i had a chat to them this morning when they were quiet with nobody around and they were mortified. They were very apologetic and couldnt have been nicer. Unfortunately the owner wasnt around so ive left my details and she will be in touch to "sort something out" Cant say fairer than that, thats all i wanted was an apology and some aknowledgement of their poor attention to detail.As for the repairI took the switches apart and it was burnt out inside and full of moisture; sort of what i was expecting.I have been to a breakers and aqiuired a replacement loom from an arosa so shouldnt be too tricky to repair, just need a new switch now! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darvey Posted September 22, 2012 Author Report Share Posted September 22, 2012 Spliced in the new part of the loom and tried it out, Fuse had blown but swapped it over from passenger side and hey presto got the blighter working!!Happy ive managed to close the window at last, now i just need me a switch from VW on monday and a fuse 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skezza Posted September 24, 2012 Report Share Posted September 24, 2012 Sounds like you're almost finished with the fix then Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IDGM Posted October 4, 2012 Report Share Posted October 4, 2012 Did you take the car here?[media=]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HjBK_e3KWmQ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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