Advice dealing with my garage /labour charges

I recently broke my bike by washing it too thoroughly.

Original problem post: http://forums.sv650.org/showthread.php?t=213306

Basically took it into a garage in the end because when trying to get it to a mates for help it didn't make it all the way so I dropped it off at my local garage.

I just picked the bike up and they said:
''Investigated running fault, found drain holes in front and rear cylinders blocked. Cleared drain holes blow out spark plug area and fitted new spark plugs (customer supplied)''

I got charged £50 for the pleasure but when riding home i still have running issues exactly as before :S I am going to drop it back round tomorrow but should i be expecting another bill or did i just pay £50 to pick up a bike with exactly the same fault as before and it should be looked at still under that first charge?

I don't have the cash to go in multiple times and get charged multiple times when it is a trivial/common fault all you guys would probably just fix at home. How do I approach this?

Oh also does £50 sound fair for starters?

You should try speaking to them and say the fault is still present. What is the best course of action? Might cost you a set of plugs though!

Give them a chance to fix it first. Did they test ride it? Was the fault present at idle?

Well yeah I called them as soon as I got home and have arranged to take it back in the next day. I gave them a set of plugs and they have already been changed.

I was just wondering if most garages let you off with the charges if they say they have fixed it charge you and it turns out they haven't?

I have never been responsible for my own vehicle before so not sure what to expect or what I can 'get away with' in terms of a revisit. Put it this way i'm not happy being £50 lighter but no better off that's my point really.

[Kenzie]

I would be surprised if they charge you as they have not fixed the issue. If it were my place I would apologise, sort it out and have a stern word with the guy who did the work!

[Sid Squid]

Why are you asking us? Your business was with the shop - talk to them.
You've spent money and you're not happy with the outcome, this is no different from any other transaction.

If you described the issue and how to replicate it to the mechanic, then it's up to them to confirm the issue has been resolved within reason. Getting up to the sixth gear is pretty within reason.

If more work does need to be put into it then, I'd still suggest you expect to pay more. They may have resolved some potential problems with the bike, they may not have been relevant to your immediate problem, I 'd expect to be paying the difference or a strong discount on what the new total comes to.

Fair enough I just figured if they spend another hour on it today that'd be another hours labour regardless of weather they got paid the day before or not.
I didn't really fancy upsetting the guy who's looking after my precious by trying to pull a fast on on them so to speak especially if I was in the wrong.

As you say though just like any other transaction I've forked the cash and I'm not satisfied. So I'm the one in the driving seat.

[Bibio]

if the bike was running fine before you 'washed' it then it could be a number of things like water in connectors or as many have said water in the fuel.

i would start by adding some 'dry fuel treatment' to stabilise the water in the fuel if there is any. next up would be a case of tracking down which connector is 'wet' and drying it out.

you really should not run any vehicle if it is not running properly as you could do more damage.

I'll stick some dry fuel treatment in today. I am betting its water in the fuel as its random and I got a funny fuel smell today when I got to work and the garage has checked all the other common problems but the tank hasn't been drained/treated.

I am avoiding using it and only riding to get it to from the garage etc so took it in to work to go to the garage round the corner after.

Went to Halfords to pick up some dry fuel treatment which I saw online from some known brands. They don't stock or (or knew it existed).

They had fuel injector cleaner but reading the back this wont do what I need. Is this something I should be using reguarly anyway?

It just so happens that after leaving Halfords empty handed my bike was fine!... Took it for a stint up and down the motorway using as many different gears/revs as I could to test and the problem only presented itself one teeny tiny second in 5th at 9000 going about 110 just a lil jolt. I rode for 30 mins no problem and this morning no problem.

Is it a bad idea to ignore it and hoped its just fixed itself or should I still search for an issue?