chadr
Well-Known Member
I had my track rod ends done a while ago and since then have been meaning to get the wheel alignment done on the truck as the steering was pointing at 11 o'clock at the straight-ahead. One thing or another got in the way - you know what I mean - and this kept getting put back to the end of the to-do list.
I was looking around on Saturday to see if there were any places near me open on the weekend and up popped Halfords who have opened a Autocentre about 1/2 mile away from my house - they had availability the next day (Sunday), so I booked (against my gut instinct) and paid for it all online. My appt was for 1pm next day and I was directed to drop the vehicle off in advance.
So Sunday arrives and after a pleasant morning chewing the fat with fbnss (Nick), who dropped by for a coffee and a dozen cinnamon rolls
, I drove round to Halfords about 12:45 - there was only one guy on reception and he looked at me as if I'd landed from another planet. I said I was the "1pm wheel alignment" - once he was over the apparent shock of an actual customer, he printed and completed a form, which when he handed it to me, I realised, was for another customer and vehicle completely. OK, in fairness it was also for a Toyota - albeit an Auris and any other similarities ended there.
He then proceeded to tell me that it wouldn't be 1pm but "probably after 2pm" as they already had a car in the bay - now given that they close at 4pm on a Sunday, I did have some reservations but because it was so close to home, I thought "what the hell", explained that the steering wasn't straight, left the keys with the guy and walked home.
I got a call about 2:30, to say all done - so I walked down and truck was parked out front. I walked in and the guy on reception handed me the keys, saying that the paperwork was in the truck. So I got in and checked the paperwork - they had entered the truck into their system as 70 series and the wheel size etc was set as 15" etc.
I went back inside and showed the guy on reception their mistake and that they had (probably) used the wrong settings for my truck. The guy's response was basically that the tech would have set it according to the what was "right" for my vehicle, despite what was entered on the form. (Now, in my experience, on the few occasions I have watched the wheel alignment done - the tech enters the vehicle details into the system and it tells the tech what the correct/factory settings are - not the other way round).
Anyway by this time, I knew my Sunday roast was getting cold and as per the quote "Never argue with stupid people, they will drag you down to their level and beat you with experience" - I thought I'll write-off the £30 and file under "Avoid at all costs".
However as an added bonus, previously due to the steering point at "11 o'clock", the bottom of rev counter side of the instruments (RHS) were obscured by the steering wheel boss. Following the "alignment" it now points at "1 o'clock", so now the bottom of the speedo side (LHS) is obscured.
So, if nothing else, for £30 I've been given a slightly different perspective!
Live and learn.
I was looking around on Saturday to see if there were any places near me open on the weekend and up popped Halfords who have opened a Autocentre about 1/2 mile away from my house - they had availability the next day (Sunday), so I booked (against my gut instinct) and paid for it all online. My appt was for 1pm next day and I was directed to drop the vehicle off in advance.
So Sunday arrives and after a pleasant morning chewing the fat with fbnss (Nick), who dropped by for a coffee and a dozen cinnamon rolls
, I drove round to Halfords about 12:45 - there was only one guy on reception and he looked at me as if I'd landed from another planet. I said I was the "1pm wheel alignment" - once he was over the apparent shock of an actual customer, he printed and completed a form, which when he handed it to me, I realised, was for another customer and vehicle completely. OK, in fairness it was also for a Toyota - albeit an Auris and any other similarities ended there.He then proceeded to tell me that it wouldn't be 1pm but "probably after 2pm" as they already had a car in the bay - now given that they close at 4pm on a Sunday, I did have some reservations but because it was so close to home, I thought "what the hell", explained that the steering wasn't straight, left the keys with the guy and walked home.
I got a call about 2:30, to say all done - so I walked down and truck was parked out front. I walked in and the guy on reception handed me the keys, saying that the paperwork was in the truck. So I got in and checked the paperwork - they had entered the truck into their system as 70 series and the wheel size etc was set as 15" etc.
I went back inside and showed the guy on reception their mistake and that they had (probably) used the wrong settings for my truck. The guy's response was basically that the tech would have set it according to the what was "right" for my vehicle, despite what was entered on the form. (Now, in my experience, on the few occasions I have watched the wheel alignment done - the tech enters the vehicle details into the system and it tells the tech what the correct/factory settings are - not the other way round).
Anyway by this time, I knew my Sunday roast was getting cold and as per the quote "Never argue with stupid people, they will drag you down to their level and beat you with experience" - I thought I'll write-off the £30 and file under "Avoid at all costs".
However as an added bonus, previously due to the steering point at "11 o'clock", the bottom of rev counter side of the instruments (RHS) were obscured by the steering wheel boss. Following the "alignment" it now points at "1 o'clock", so now the bottom of the speedo side (LHS) is obscured.
So, if nothing else, for £30 I've been given a slightly different perspective!
Live and learn.
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