The problem I had was that my battery was continually going flat, and was told that I had to replace the battery by the dealership – I did question the dealership as it just didn’t seem like the correct problem / resolution – but the dealership insisted it was the correct diagnosis – as I have been to the dealership many times before I had trust that this would be the resolution to the problem. Furthermore the service technician stated that if the battery does run flat again I should simply jump start the car.

I drive home from the garage with my wife (who incidentally is pregnant), we drove about 30 miles it was dark and I was on a country lane – and the car stopped and wouldn’t start as the battery had completely drained – I had no lights or hazards in a country road with my pregnant wife. The rescue services took several hours to come and take us back home.

I returned the car back to the Jaguar Dealership on the following Monday and explained that I was very unhappy considering the assurances I had that the car was fixed.

Jaguar then held onto the car for 3 days, I have no other car and had no courtesy car. I received no proactive updates from the dealership I was chasing them continually for updates as I needed my car desperately as we had hospital appointments concerning the pregnancy.

After chasing and no expectation management of how long the diagnosis would take they informed me on the Monday that the cigarette lighter was malfunctioning and was causing the battery to drain, and that furthermore they still needed the car as they thought there may be other electrical issues. On the Tuesday, they rang me and stated the car needs further diagnostics and this will cost £400. I challenged this because I was already told the problem was the battery and had paid for it to be replaced, despite this I had agreed to pay a lesser figure of £300 to carry out the diagnostics.
Later on Tuesday, the dealership rang back and stated they found the problem; which was an electrical cable fault coming from the alternator and they have fixed it within the £300, however they then stated the car also needs a new alternator which would cost me a further £498 (including the diagnostics that would be £798). I then agreed a total price of £600 and they assured me all the work would be completed and the car back to normal.

On the Wednesday after chasing the garage the dealership informed me that the car was fixed and ready to collect, at which stage I was relieved that this saga had come to an end. To my total dismay and disbelief, after paying the money and collecting the car, when I started it, a warning message came up and stated restricted performance. I immediately went back into the garage and advised them of the problem.

The Service Manager then spoke to me and stated that the turbo had gone on the car; understandably I was very disappointed and lost for words, the manager told me that he couldn’t tell me of this particular problem earlier because the electrical problem had to be fixed (in fact it was me that discovered this issue no one had proactively informed me of this new issue).
I then complained to Jaguar UK (and the dealership) and explained the problem; they then looked into this and suggested they would get the car repaired on good will and I would have to make a small contribution. However they later stated, due to the age of the car, I would have to pay £1200 to get the car repaired.

What do you think guys???

 

Sounds like a combination of dealer stupidity (the reason your battery wouldn't charge/was draining was probably a bad alternator all along...), and bad luck, at the same time. Is the dealer screwing you over? ... I'm sure they're just idiots not criminals. Stay away from that place and warn your friends.

-John

 

Sukki - no names but is this the Jag dealer in Northampton?

It sounds fairly typical of the ineptitude found at the main dealers. They simply don't seem to care unless your dropping in to pick up your new 80k motor. Unless you've got a warranty (and even then they try and get out of that!) I would never go to a main dealer when there are so many good independents around.

That said, £1200 I would think is a good price from a main dealer for a new Turbo fitted.

 

I wouldn't touch a main dealer with a barge pole, or indeed my own pole!
The Jaguar technicians are generally qualified to NVQ (Not Very Qualified) level and are next to useless in my limited experience. Having said this, most single marque franchised dealerships are equally poor.
As stated above, find a respected and recommended independent garage and halt the rip offage..

 

Thanks guys for that. I suppose this is what I get for going with the cheaper option of a main dealer. The specialists in Northampton area are a lot more expensive that the main dealer.

Beavis - This was the the main dealer here in Northampton. Have you had similar problems with them??