39 replies to this topic

[Jacko-lah]

Model: Mayfair 998 standard
Year: 1988
Description of problem (please be as in depth as possible):

So the garage who worked on my mini and fitted new CV joint wheel bearing, and drive flange, Phoned me up 24 hours after bringing it back to ask if I'd like them to come around and give me the wheel nut that they didn't fit. And when I firmly explain that I'm very very angry, because I'm pretty sure that they put 4 on for a reason, they try to tell me that it's okay because a saxo has 3 wheel bolts.



Any non-standard parts that might be involved with the problem? Minilite style 12 inch alloys

So I remember the conversation a week ago where they told me I had to source the drive flange (No idea why but hey go with the flow). I also remember the mechanic telling me that he had problems with a wheel nut because they have stainless steel covers on and this one was damaged so his socket was stuck to the nut. and I distinctly rememeber saying, "well that's okay I have a selection of sockets"

Anyway they start telling me that they can't modify the nut by removing the cover, and I'll have to get a new one. I said "come and get the car, find a nut that fits and deliver it back as Mr Issigoniss intended. If you have to buy a new nut so be it"

Anyway it's back on my drive with what looks like the old nut without the stainless cover.

Which isn't a problem because some of the nuts have them and some don't and I'll take them all off and put them with the wheel brace, just in case.

So I have a technical question ? How stupid are some people ? And an attitude question ? Am I right to be really well and truely pissseed off ?

Edited by Jacko-lah, 22 December 2010 - 03:05 PM.

[Tommyboy12]

You do need four for maximum safety. However im not one to talk. I stripped the thread on one of my studs so im running three nuts on one of my wheel. I just keep a check on my other three.

[james962]

Some saxo's have 3 nuts as standard, but are evenly spaced and designed to run on 3.

As to releasing your mini back to you with only 3 nuts, this is unacceptable. What if you was to have an accident??



edit: I would never run a car with a missing wheel nut. IMHO, i don't care if I torque them up every 5 minutes, not worth the risk you put to yourself or others

Edited by james962, 22 December 2010 - 03:10 PM.

[Jacko-lah]

You do need four for maximum safety. However im not one to talk. I stripped the thread on one of my studs so im running three nuts on one of my wheel. I just keep a check on my other three.

That's a risk you've chosen to take, that I didn't choose to take, and I wouldn't take. Which is why I'm angry. I don't play Russian Rollette and those risks I do take I like to know that I'm taking them. If it was life and death, maybe I'd borrow one off the back wheel, but at least it would be my decision.


Would the car pass an MOT like that ? I'd like to think not.

[L400RAS]

Some saxo's have 3 nuts as standard, but are evenly spaced and designed to run on 3.

As to releasing your mini back to you with only 3 nuts, this is unacceptable. What if you was to have an accident??

Yup, this relates to uneven stress distribution. For the sake of less than £1 per nut, buy / get he garage to buy one.

[Jacko-lah]

What if you was to have an accident??

I'd be dead and my wife would murder the mechanic and go to prison and my kids would be left to fend for themselves.

[Jacko-lah]

Yup, this relates to uneven stress distribution. For the sake of less than £1 per nut, buy / get he garage to buy one.

They tried to tell me they would have to get one from Rover and it would cost £20 . And yet there was nothing wrong with the old one, apart from that it was attached to the mechanics socket, and they forgot to fit it.

[L400RAS]

Standard Rover nuts? - read the description of these easily getting stuck in a 12-point socket...
(OK, price is mre than £1 as i first thought - but not anywhere close to £20 as your garage quoted...)

Edited by L400RAS, 22 December 2010 - 03:23 PM.

[sonikk4]

In the event of an accident and the assessor saw the vehicle with missing wheel nuts he would have every right to say the car is not as per manufactures specification and void the the insurance. Sounds harsh but as previously mentioned the car was designed with four wheel nuts per wheel so that is what is required for safe driving.

Citroen Saxo is not a Mini so totally ignore that stupid comment, sounds like a right bunch of cow punchers. I know of another large chain of garages in Cambs who did the very same thing with a friends car. In this case they could not find the locking wheel nut key so rather than ring my mate they got the locking nuts off the car, did the service and then rang him to say the car was ready for collection. When he arrived they then told him what they had done and said they had ordered a new set of locking nuts and it would be ok to drive the vehicle home.

His comment was "Ford designed the vehicle to have five nuts per wheel so four is not sufficient" He dug his heels in and said he will not accept the vehicle back until all wheels had five nuts per rim. In the end after much arguing he got a courtesy car from them until the new nuts arrived.

It shows if you don't give in especially if the garage is blagging they will have to cede defeat and sort the vehicle out.

[Jacko-lah]

Standard Rover nuts? - read the description of these easily getting stuck in a 12-point socket...
(OK, price is mre than £1 as i first thought - but not anywhere close to £20 as your garage quoted...)

Cheers for that.

You see I knew that they were ******* taking. I'll print that out and ram it somewhere.

[L400RAS]

as previously mentioned the car was designed with four wheel nuts per wheel so that is what is required for safe driving.

Exactly. If Rover figured out that 3 nuts were sufficient, would they have spent the money on every car putting an additional nut on every corner?

[Chris_R]

If a "mechanic" isn't able to get a stuck nut out of a socket he's not fit to call himself a mechanic let alone be let loose on customers cars

[Jacko-lah]

It shows if you don't give in especially if the garage is blagging they will have to cede defeat and sort the vehicle out.

I'm beginning to believe that I've got 'Sucker' tattooed on my forehead. I'm a very easy going person, and am NOT a perfectionist, but that's no reason to try it on.

They made a mistake, forgot to put the nut on because they were trying to get the car out of the workshop, and when they realised they attempted a ******* and bull story, to try to cover it up, and when I dug my heals in they kept digging. A quick, "I'm really sorry, we've cocked up and failed to fit a wheel nut and we'll come now and fit it and here's a free car wash" would probabally have been enough to placate me, because I'm a soft touch, but it was the attitude that ******* me off.

[Jacko-lah]

On a related note, does anyone know a garage that specialises in old BLMC/Austin Products such as the mini in North Merseyside L37 to PR8 ?

[Cooperman]

I wonder what would have been the outcome if you had agreed to take the car subject to them giving you a letter, on their headed paper, confirming that they had released the vehicle with only 3 wheel nuts and that they confirm its safety in that condition and agree to fully and comprenhensively indemnify you and your insurers for any and all loss or damage to you and any 3rd party should this cause any losses.