21 May 2020

Car servicing on the northside

| zagons
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Help needed!

My ageing saab blew up a few months ago – lack of oil (directly after a major service at a dealership which shall remain nameless) – which the mechanic refused to take any responsbility for.

It was the third place I had tried… The place before that had left some sort of plugs attached to our battery which resulted in a flat battery.

Starting to have some trust issues – and need some recommendations from rioters as to a good place for a major service on the northside (or city based).

If you’re looking for a service specific for your car, check out our article on the best car service centres in Canberra.

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Holy regurgitated thread batman!

In defence of Commonwealth Motors, they have serviced my car and fixed small issues covered by warranty without fuss. In some cases these small issues required several attempts to resolve because they were intermittent but eventually they were ironed out. I have been more than happy with their service. They have even followed it up with courtesy calls several days later to see if my car is running fine.

Now my car is out of warranty I have some choice of where I can get my car serviced but will probably cautiously remain with Commonwealth Motors.

I’ve reviewed work done by Advance Tech Automotive. Some good, some just lazy and unacceptable.

What is it about mechanics at main dealers? A mate many years ago had his Magna serviced at whatever the Mitsubishi dealer was in Philip back in the early 90’s and the cretins forgot to refill his radiator after a service. Some kms after he picked his car up, his engine blew.

Subaroo in Mitchell keep our old beasts going.

tylersmayhem said :

That big dealership in Phillip – a mate of mine went to work there, but didn’t last long because he had high standards. He told scary things about the very poor standards in the workshop.

Can someone have the b**ls to out this s**t company in Phillip. I’d hate to avoid all mechanics in Phillip becuase of just one moron company.

They are the only Saab dealership in Canberra, so not too hard to do the maths… 😛

I have used De Jong a few times, he is very good and really knows his stuff. Damn busy though, and can be hard getting a spot to have work done.

Ms Cheeky,

“Andrew at De Jong’s is the Saab hero, but busy. Advance Tech Automotive in Phillip do good work, but also very busy. They’re BMW specialists, but also look after japanese cars.

That big dealership in Phillip – a mate of mine went to work there, but didn’t last long because he had high standards. He told scary things about the very poor standards in the workshop.”

by this do you mean commonwealth motors had low standards or “Advance Tech Automotive” i am thinking of using advance tech on y next service and do not want to be ripped off.

Has anyone else used them can you please let me know what you think…

Ah yes, Commo’s.

So terrified of competition they threatened legal action unless De Jong’s removed their sign with the SAAB griffin from the front of their workshop.

tylersmayhem1:54 pm 10 Feb 09

muchas gracias zagons!

Commonwealth motors

tylersmayhem1:18 pm 10 Feb 09

That big dealership in Phillip – a mate of mine went to work there, but didn’t last long because he had high standards. He told scary things about the very poor standards in the workshop.

Can someone have the b**ls to out this s**t company in Phillip. I’d hate to avoid all mechanics in Phillip becuase of just one moron company.

Andrew at De Jong’s is the Saab hero, but busy. Advance Tech Automotive in Phillip do good work, but also very busy. They’re BMW specialists, but also look after japanese cars.

That big dealership in Phillip – a mate of mine went to work there, but didn’t last long because he had high standards. He told scary things about the very poor standards in the workshop.

+1 for Chris Hedges in Maryborough St Fyshwick. I don’t work anywhere near him anymore, so I don’t take my car there anymore. He is definitely recommended though.

I’m with overheard. Have recently started taking my car to CWC and they’ve been excedingly prompt, friendly and professional. very impressed!!

tylersmayhem9:05 am 10 Feb 09

harry,s auto care and steve kelo automotive ….both at belconnen have helped me with my racecar over the last few years…i/>

Sounds perfect for my Camry 😛 LOL

Madame Workalot8:50 am 10 Feb 09

Chris Hedges in Fyshwick. Absolute champion.

Stay away from a certain Subaru dealership in Fyshwick unless you want to replace your gearbox after a service. Also a large dealership with several stores on Melrose Drive in Phillip – useless.

Paul Whyte Automotive ftw

harry,s auto care and steve kelo automotive ….both at belconnen have helped me with my racecar over the last few years and both workshops are top notch……..i highly reccommend both of them

Darren at A&D Motors in Canberra 6280 9911 Avenue Fyshwick. Utterly trustworthy and reasonably priced. AND if you arrange a service far enough in advance they give you an old courtesy car for the cost of topping up a few dollars worth of petrol…

Third vote for Total traction Services, always do a great job on our cars, road and race

I went to my dealer for many years but have recently been put onto CWC Services Auto behind the War Memorial. They’ve had much to do as my car has been subject to two services, some other leak or ailment, plus my unfortunate meeting with Skippy last December, and they’ve been superb throughout. Going back tomorrow for more…. stuff.

C.W.C. Auto Services Pty Ltd

(02) 6247 3601
Quick St
Ainslie ACT 2602

or (02) 6247 5171

Clown Killer3:48 pm 09 Feb 09

My partner has a fetish for Saabs and has been using De Jong in Hume to service her cars for around a decade. He knows his stuff. The work’s exceptionally well done but not cheap (but I suspect thats more a function of fixing older european cars). I can recommend him.

Gungahlin Al3:35 pm 09 Feb 09

There’s a Saab specialist???
There’s a business plan that’s aiming for the moon.

Pommy bastard3:29 pm 09 Feb 09

I’ve never had a bad deal out of Marcus and the boys at the Hawker Shell/K-Mart garage. Helpful, obliging and good quality.

Oh, and for a good, honest service, the garage at the Haig Park end of Braddon, the one with the big car wash, is very good. Not fancy, but they do a decent job.

The Saab specialist in Canberra is a chap by teh name of De Jong in Hume. He loves the things. If you have specific problems, or just want the car serviced by someone who knows every little bit of a Saab, take it to him. Hume’s inconvenient though.

Thanks for all your comments and advice – I rang Total Traction in Belconnen and they were really nice and seemed quite knowledgeable about my Saab – will let you know how I go!

As to the name of the place that destroyed my engine, I don’t like to name names, but let’s just say that it was in Phillip, and it was big, and I am never going back there.

jube_V8Fairlane_235kw1:47 pm 09 Feb 09

Left Canberra a year ago, but Promotive in Belco were very good, a little pricier than average though. Also try Caltex Kaleen mechanics – straight up and down, no mess around.

Gungahlin Al1:47 pm 09 Feb 09

Gungahlin Auto Group – good service, clear explanations, heads-up on upcoming issues, one-stop approach even if he has to outsource (probably a nice little earner for him, but who cares when you are time-poor?).

Underneath the car wash centre off Gundaroo Drv.

luther_bendross1:42 pm 09 Feb 09

Melba Motors +1. Took my (older) Scooby Doo in there pre-Christmas for a new clutch. Quick, very informative, competitive prices. There’s no receptionist as such, I dealt straight with the mechanics. I will go there again.

colormonochrome1:18 pm 09 Feb 09

I’d also like to know who to stay away from in Belconnen – zagons, where did you go?

tylersmayhem1:08 pm 09 Feb 09

Mick @ Melba Motors in Belconnen. Specialises in MG’s, Jags and the like but took the same care with my 1995 piece of crap Corolla.

I have also had Mick recommended and he’s done a small job for me. I asked him to give me a quote for some bigger work, but he never bothered to call me back. So I haven’t used him again.

Mick @ Melba Motors in Belconnen. Specialises in MG’s, Jags and the like but took the same care with my 1995 piece of crap Corolla.

http://www.melbamotors.com/

I’d definitely recommend Ron and his sons at the Caltex Servo in Lyneham. I’ve been taking my cars there since I learned to drive. They are friendly, don’t do things that aren’t required and go the extra step for their customers.

Another vote for Stuart Elliot. We’ve been getting our cars service there for nearly 20 years. Never had a problem with them.

tylersmayhem12:30 pm 09 Feb 09

For those with a Toyota, steer clear of the Belconnen dealership garage at all costs.

I recommend Caltex at Lyneham. Good, no nonsence, service.

I used to take my car to Mitchell Service Centre and they were always polite and helpful. They would call you before performing any major work and would let you know how it is going. I still get my rego checks done there. For repairs, I now take my car to the Holden dealer in Phillip as I have a new car under warranty.

If you can possibly do it yourself then that is the best option. Service people have left WD-40, spanners, screwdrivers, and even a hand drill under the bonnet of my cars over the years.

Once I took my Nissan to the Nissan Dealership and asked them to find out why it wasn’t starting properly. They actually told me there was nothing wrong with my car. They wanted to charge me $80 for that information, so I took the manager out to the car, put the keys in and turned them. Not-surprisingly it didn’t start, so of course the manager was embarrased and I didn’t pay. Later I looked on the net, talked to some mechanic friends, then fixed it myself (it was the AAC valve for the mechanics out there). The dealership closed down several months later.

This is the link to choice magazines review of service centres.
http://www.choice.com.au/goArticle.aspx?id=106318&title=Car+servicing+centres

Personally I have found the K-mart service guys surprisingly good. I have been using them (differrent places & 3 cars) for about 3 years and have had no weird tools under the bonnet, no grease marks on the leather, no bullshit repairs that didn’t need to be done.

I’ll second Total Traction in Belco.

TheScientist11:09 am 09 Feb 09

braddon service center (behind the caltex on lonsdale)
nrma approved (so nrma members get ~10% off labour costs)
they’ve taken good care of my magna, but a friend of mine wasn’t impressed on a pre-purchase inspection they did. they can be very busy and take a while to get a booking though

city car care i think does a good job, but they’re quite pricey.

and if an oil service was included in your checkup at the dealer, and the reason it lost oil was because of the filter or bung being reinstalled poorly, then you can get them to fix it

VYBerlinaV8_the_one_they_all_copy11:04 am 09 Feb 09

Dealerships generally do only an ok job at best, as they are full of apprentices. For basic servicing it’s ok, but even then you need to check their work.

Experience suggests that finding a smaller place where the head mechanic owns the business gets better results.

proofpositive10:59 am 09 Feb 09

at a dealership which shall remain nameless

Name and shame so no one else goes there and suffers the same fate.

Stuart Elliott Automotive Pty Ltd
(02) 6259 2541
Clarey Cres, Spence, 2615, ACT

Top bloke, top job done everytime.

Total Traction, Belconnen.

Two brothers who don’t advertise as word of mouth is enough and has been for seven years now.

I’d love some suggestions on this topic too! My partner’s car was serviced a couple of months ago and has already got brake and clutch problems among other things…

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