Not happy either!

[Copperman05]

Just got the car back from local garage after they removed and refitted a pressure pipe for PAS. After cleaning it noticed they have put the car on the lift and used the front wing bottoms as a jacking point, both plastic trims are now squashed and on one side the bottom of the wing has cracked. I'm not very happy.

Utter stupidity, you would think the plastic trim might give an indication that the area is not for jacking! Doh! Only had wings restored 18 months ago. Going to take it back tmro and demand they pay for Daytona to repair to former condition.

Nearside

I seem to remember someone else having a very similar experience? Seems you just cant trust anyone who doesnt know these cars.


Edd

 

[pauljmcnulty]

Ouch! That is annoying, and so simple to avoid. I guess you need to stand and watch whenever it's a non-specialist working on the car! []

 

[944 man]

Thats a piss-boiler Edd.

 

[nick9one1]

that looks nasty, I really feel for you!

I had a similar experience with my Alfa 156. I took it for new tyres and when I picked it up, both footwells were bent inwards where they had placed the jack underneath. I confronted them about it and they just said it wasnt them. I had no way to prove it unfortunately.

It was an easy fix though.. block of wood and lumphammer. Unfortunately your sills are more obvious and delecate than footwells!

Best of luck with getting them to pay for it. Hopefully the fact you had them repaird only 18 months ago will help your case.

 

[GlennS]

Gutted for you. I'd be spitting blood. I hope they do the decent thing and make right.

 

[OLD_ian]

When I changed the tires on mine I found a pdf online that showed where to put the jacks on a 944, also more importantly where *not* to put them. Printed it off and took it along with me to the garage that BlackCircles sent me to. The young guys at the garage - who'd not touched a 944 before - were appreciative that I provided them with that as they'd be the ones in trouble if anything went wrong.

ORIGINAL: pauljmcnulty

Ouch! That is annoying, and so simple to avoid. I guess you need to stand and watch whenever it's a non-specialist working on the car! []

 

[andy watson]

Sorry to see this Edd, I feel for you mate.
Good luck with the garage, although I think you may have a problem with not seeing it straight away, hope not

 

[PSH]

Truly sorry the see this Edd, unfortunately no one will treat your car as well as yourself. If you have any recent photos I'd take those with you, along with the invoice for the work done 18 months ago when you confront the idiots who did this heinous act. At least you then have some ammo when they say they didnt do it which I guarantee will be the case. I learnt the hard way many years ago when I had work done by a well known Porsche specialist to never let anyone near my car again. However I'm lucky in being able to call upon my sons help who's done all the work on my car since 2000 and it will be his expertise that puts my engine back together with some very serious power indeed. Oh and he's not an amature mechanic, it's his job along with his performance company for chipping all makes of cars, he'll do the mapping on mine when ready.

I wish you luck Edd

Pete

 

[Copperman05]

ORIGINAL: andy watson

Sorry to see this Edd, I feel for you mate.
Good luck with the garage, although I think you may have a problem with not seeing it straight away, hope not

Only got it back yesterday, the rust in the photo I think could look misleading but its been raining here for 48 hrs and new exposed steel rusts like anything...


Edd

 

[colin944]

I would have to say that your car has not been jacked up using the bottom of the wings.If they had done that the bottom of your wing would be up around the side repeater.I think if you investigate you will find that they have jacked the car up with a 2 post ramp with the feet on the box section in the middle of the floor at the front.This is a correct position for lifting the car on a 2 post ramp.I would say that they have not wound the feet of the ramp up far enough to clear the bottom of the wings and they legs of the ramp have crushed the wings slightly.I would also suspect that if you remove the wing trims you will find the the bottom of your wings are indeed rotten,this is very common on our cars and Porsche put so much stone gaurd and paint etc on the bottom of the wings that they can look and feel solid even when there is no metal left between the 2 outer layers of paint etc.The wings would never rust that quickly so the rust was alreay there before the wing got crushed.Remove the trim from the bottom of the wing and beat it back into shape and while you are there check the condition of the wings.

 

[simkin911]

ORIGINAL: colin944

I would have to say that your car has not been jacked up using the bottom of the wings.If they had done that the bottom of your wing would be up around the side repeater.

Agree with that.

ORIGINAL: colin944
I would also suspect that if you remove the wing trims you will find the the bottom of your wings are indeed rotten,this is very common on our cars and Porsche put so much stone gaurd and paint etc on the bottom of the wings that they can look and feel solid even when there is no metal left between the 2 outer layers of paint etc.The wings would never rust that quickly so the rust was already there before the wing got crushed.

Not sure about this as I'd like to think that the wings would have been properly repaired using new metal at the body shop just 18 months ago.

Notwithstanding this, I'm gutted for you as you have been clearly lavishing time, money and love on your car.

 

[colin944]

going from the photo i would say that rust was in there already.Any weld will rust unless you treat it before and imediatly after you you are welding in the repair.Unfortunatley most body shops don't do this and that is why repairs burst back through the paint in a very short time.

 

[944 man]

ORIGINAL: nick9one1

I had a similar experience with my Alfa 156. I took it for new tyres and when I picked it up, both footwells were bent inwards where they had placed the jack underneath. I confronted them about it and they just said it wasnt them. I had no way to prove it unfortunately.

You dont actually have to prove it though and conversely; they cant prove that they didnt. Its a civil matter and a convincing argument is all that it would take to win. Simply replying 'no I didnt' wouldnt be enough.

 

[repsol]

what a shame mate as a mechanic myself 2 post ramps are crap for cars unless the guy using it takes serious care ( i did btw) but ive seen so many cars with bent sills etc due to lack of care this is clearly damage done on the ramp go back and see what they say most places will fix it if you point it out but looks like some rust in there before damage as well

 

[Copperman05]

Took it back to the garage today, to be fair to the owner he has been honest and has offered to pay for any work quoted by Daytona, he told me that as it was the first time I'd used him, he would like to think it wasnt the last (not sure about that!).

Now off to Dave at daytona to look at the damage...

Edd

 

[nick9one1]

Youve got a point there, I forgot civil courts make judgements 'on the balance of probability'

ORIGINAL: 944 man

ORIGINAL: nick9one1

I had a similar experience with my Alfa 156. I took it for new tyres and when I picked it up, both footwells were bent inwards where they had placed the jack underneath. I confronted them about it and they just said it wasnt them. I had no way to prove it unfortunately.

You dont actually have to prove it though and conversely; they cant prove that they didnt. Its a civil matter and a convincing argument is all that it would take to win. Simply replying 'no I didnt' wouldnt be enough.

 

[GlennS]

ORIGINAL: Copperman05

he has been honest and has offered to pay for any work quoted by Daytona, he told me that as it was the first time I'd used him, he would like to think it wasnt the last

Seems entirely fair [] I always say that anyone can make a mistake, it's how they go about rectifying it that's important.

 

[andy watson]

ORIGINAL: Copperman05

Took it back to the garage today, to be fair to the owner he has been honest and has offered to pay for any work quoted by Daytona, he told me that as it was the first time I'd used him, he would like to think it wasnt the last (not sure about that!).

Now off to Dave at daytona to look at the damage...

Edd

Nice one, that is good news hope you get it all sorted soon Edd.
Mistakes happen we are all human, if he is true to his word then I think I would have no worry using him again.

 

[Copperman05]

Re rust appears this has happened since the damage as its bent and exposed new metal, as stated the wing bottoms are only 18 months old and they are still very much solid, personally I dont see how they could have rusted inside like that when the outside is still perfectly intact. Dave at daytona knows his stuff and they are pretty good when it comes to bodywork and the like.


Edd

 

[944 man]

If the wings are coming off Edd, then this could be a blessing. Whilst theyre in there they will have the opportunity to deal with any corrosion on the inner wings around the bulkhead and the cost to you will be minimal, as the garage will be covering the removal and re-fitting labour.


Simon