Ian says garages never change the timing belt and wait for it to get worn out, leaving car owners out of pocketHe continues: “Many mechanics won’t advise their customers that the belt needs changing. When they come in here, I ask them, 'Have you had your timing belt changed'?
He continues: "They don't do it because they need to get the car off that ramp. A lot of garages will say they have changed it when they haven't.“There is no way you can spot that you’re being overcharged unless you go to another garage,” Ian says.“I’ve got a lovely customer who has been going to their main dealer. They got the hump, came to me, and they were much happier.
“Then you see the state of them. The problem with main dealers is when they do a service, they’re only changing the oil and filter. They’re not doing a full service. Recent studies have shown a huge percentage of car owners have no clue about the basics of car care such as checking the bonnet or changing the oil.
"I see cars that are leaking with oil, tyres that are gone, and things like wiper blades that don’t clean the screen properly - that’s another failure. It’s about safety for people and other road users.