I finally got my car back today after more than 6 weeks at the mechanics shop and now have to get a new air bag module. This started 6 weeks ago when I took my car into Autos of Europe to have as few oil leaks repaired and a new steering rack installed. I ended up having the engine resealed, steering rack installed, 30,000 mile service and a few other miscellaneous items done. After parting with a lot of money I headed down the road only to discover the air bag light was on. I took it back and after they had it for two more weeks, they did not know what was causing the light to stay on. They then took it to a local Porsche dealership to have it diagnosed on one of their machines. It turns out I need a new air bag module to the tune of another $750. To make a long story short, I tell them I will split the costs, but they say they will only reduce the price by $50. I tell them forget it and I went and picked the car up today. Has anyone installed one of these? Would this have been corrupted performing any of the above work?

 

Bluecab,

Sounds like Autos of Europe definitely are at fault here. While removing the module shouldn't cause a problem (i've had mine out a few times - don't ask!), if the problem wasn't there when you went in, it shouldn't be there when you pick up the car. They should foot the whole bill in my opinion. Did you pay by credit card? If so I would contact them and see if they could help.

Is this the standard 4 spoke airbag? If all else fails I sell you the wheel and airbag for less than $300. I would try and find someone locally that would be willing to let you swap in their airbag just to make sure that it really is the problem. Be careful working with\removing the airbag. Disconnect the battery and let it sit for a while (>20 minutes) before doing anything. There are two hex screws on the back that hold it onto the wheel. Once they are loosened pull the airbag off and disconnect the red wire.

Hope some of this helps.

Matt

 

First of all, these people should have the right equipment to diagnose your car,they "diagsose" it as the module been at foult , they got paid for replacing it, they should foot the bill, before anything you should take the car to a competent shop/dealer and see for yourself that this indeed is the problem, then go back with your evidence and start giving them hell, afterwards, run, Forrest, Run, they seem that they are very incompetent and are after your money, imho, cheers, Sonny.

 

A few comments:

First, being a shop owner I can tell you that stuff just does happen when you have the car that has nothing to do with the services you are performing. There is nothing I can see from the repairs (other than taking a ridiculous amount of time) that would lead me to believe they would be at fault for your airbag module. I have had CEL lights come on after doing completely unrelated work (like a bad O2 sensor after bleeding brakes). I had a Turbo in the shop for a suspension job that we had not even started, and the slave cylinder just let go and leaked clutch fluid all over the floor during the night. This can happen at anytime to these cars, and sometimes it will happen at a shop. Sometimes it is just a coincidence.

Now on the bad side, they should have a way to diagnose your car. Taking it to a dealer means they do not have the proper tools. Also here, the control module is only $333 LIST. I have installed these, and it also only takes maybe a half hour to an hour to change (under dash in console ahead of the switches, but can be accessed and changed without fully removing console). So $750 is kind of out there.

So from your descriptions, I would not have a warm and fuzzy feeling about the shop in general, but I would be hard pressed to see a way that they may have be liable for the problem.

 

I am a homebuilder and so I know about things going wrong with no one around to explain what happened. After spending as much money with them as I did, I thought we both would take a hit, but they did not see it that way. So they lost my business and I will continue to smear there name.

 

sounds like you dropped a lot of $ on them (i'd guess 5 figures); i think they should have come up with something better than a $50 discount. if my mechanic had to take my car anywhere for furthur diagnostics he wouldn't be my mechanic anymore.

 

I do agree that since your car was there for an extended period of time, I would have tried a lot better to have gotten your issues resolved. First, trying to overcharge was a really bad move and second giving the $50 discount is just an insult. Who was this in St. Louis? I know a couple of shops there and have had good relations with competant mechanics and owners.

 

The shop was Autos of Europe, Boris is the owner. Is this air bag control module only available from the dealer and is it okay to drive with the light on?

 

It's okay to drive, just don't hit anything. Your call on that one.

Call up Sunset Imports (800-346-0182) for a good price. No affiliation, just a satisfied customer. Airbag repairs are tricky, and failures are not well rewarded -- careful.

 

The air bag module can have problems if the car is started with a battery charger on hi charge. Yet, I've heard of people leaving a battery charger on while starting and had no problems. I'm not saying anyone did anything wrong with your car. I remember a general " Will repair any car " type shop do this, and the air bag module needed to be replaced as a result.
But I want to point out that I agree 100% with viperbob. It would seem that without proof, there really isnt much you can do. There is always a chance they did not do anything that caused this problem.
( please, nobody keep a battery charger on while starting a car)

 

If they forgot to lock the steering wheel straight when they replaced the rack wouldn't they have to remove the steering wheel and pull the airbag to recenter the airbag contact unit position? And if they left the battery connected when they did that...

 

Listen they did work on the steering system and when the car left the shop one of the components of that system was not working (when it was working orginally). I think they should pay the bill. It would be different if all they did was rotate the tires or repaired just the oil leaks.

When I had my 84 911 Targa, my high beam switch broke. Took it to the dealer (yeah not a smart move I agree). When I picked up the car the Service advisor was joking with me about how hard it was to get the steering wheel off. Sure enough when I went to drive it the steering wheel was loose. I took it right back (i drove it a block). He told me "it's within specs". We had a little disagreement since it wasn't loose when I brought it in. Over the next week it loosens up to the point where I thought it was going to fall off. I take it back, tell them to replace the bearings etc.

I pick up the car the next week and he hands me a bill for about $1k. I was a little more upset. It was a problem they created, why should I pay? We actually had to get a regional rep involved to solve it. My whole point was it wouldn't have happened if I didn't take it there, they obviously damaged the bearings and most of all if they were damaged why didn't they replace them the first time it was in the shop? They let me drive out of the shop with a potentially life threatening condition! The regional rep agreed with me. No cost out of pocket and the next service for my car was free.

Lastly the shop should have never let the car leave with the airbag light illuminated. Plus they didn't tell you there was a problem? Was it on the receipt they gave you? If the airbag would have gone off, you would have had a nice lawsuit. A repair order/receipt is a legal document. They should have made you sign off on a receipt indicating that you agreed to drive it with a faulty airbag module.

Matt