VEHICLE REPAIRS IN WEIPA

[kingchevy]

Heading for the Cape..? Then odds are that you’re bound to break something. Such bad luck can turn your well-planned adventure into a disorganised disaster. At Weipa Auto Electrics we cater for all the unknowns that can happen on the road. We stock a full range of replacement parts to suit most vehicles: from starters and alternators to fan belts, spotlights and communication equipment. We also offer every aspect of mechanical work from brakes to suspension and, of course, we can complete a full service for your vehicle. But what if you can’t make it to us…? No worries, mate. Our breakdown service can make it to you. If we can’t fix it then we can tow it. Weipa Auto Electrics is also Weipa's RACQ representative. This enables us to cater for all RACQ members breakdown needs. So if you need anything when you’re in the Weipa area – give us a yell. Our qualified staff can help get you out of strife. Weipa Auto Electrics – we’re like Superman … just with A bigger cape

[cookie]

well it must be busy up there now, do you sell tyres, how far do you travel, radius from wiepa, not that i will need you i drive a nissan, ( hope i dont ), but i am looking for a set of tyres.

[kingchevy]

for the racq I travel from archer all the way to bramwell road house including lockhart and aurukun. tyres I can do but to be honest by them outside I can't compete on pricing of tyres with the freight component on top cheers sam.

[bingham]

did i miss your contact number?

no offence but hope i dont see you in june! well in the racq truck anyways

[geoffjy]

For the RACQ, just ring 131111 and if you are in his area of operation, he will come out. What car do you drive?

[bingham]

Got a an 02 delica hi top and traveling with an sang yong ute and a tata????

Joking thank good ness, we got 3 patrols, 1 xprado and a defender going...
i'm in a patrol,

got full round of spare shocks tyres belt hoses and fair few tools etc... i would consider us well organised but you never no we could certainly be on the phone at some stage!!

[geoffjy]

Dont laugh. I had a couple of 2wd wicked camper vans pull into the centre last year. I wonder if the hire compnay know where they were taking them.

[bingham]

the old shaggin wagons with "Dont laugh your daughters probly inside" painted beasts....

that a fairly good effort 2 of them making it that far.... think the bond would be long gone if they caught, but allot buy them as opposed to hire now also with a gauranteed buy back. So in this case its on there own head... but funny if hired!

[outbackjack]

Hi all, I am moving to Weipa. Whats the hourly rates up there for mechanics?

I have 2004 Tribute which is due for the 100k Major service. So if there is not much difference in price I will get it when I arrive in Weipa, otherwise will get it done before.


Any thoughts on a Tribute surving around Weipa, going camping/fishing on the weekend?

Cheers

[wayno60]

Mate get as much done at home as you can and take your own spares...

A mate of mine went up in a disco and broke something and had to wait 3 weeks for it to come from syd. He was pretty well set up and could have camped anywhere but they wont allow that and he had to stay at the caravan park....

He jokingly thinks that the local mechenic and ol mate at the van park work in together....

[geoffjy]

Hopefully it should be better than what they charge up here. The local mechanic charges $117 an hour.

[outbackjack]

Hell,


I have a mate who is a mechanic, he is a good mechanic, I am not saying that just becuase he`s my mate. But he is good.

We where talking today about a business venture somewhere together.


I guess where you are it is expensive to set up and live etc, work only 6 mths of the year.

But at that rate it could be 182k a year plus in income.

I was thinking of setting up a small communications/IT business in Weipa part time. Not sure yet. I will wait until I get there. There are I am sure others doing it.

[ant]

When I lived in Weipa, I always found the guys at Weipa Mobile repairs to be good for both the cost and the service.
I still drop in and say G'day when I am up there and it is like I have never left the place.

Most of my servicing is now done at Smithfield Auto just on the north side of Cairns. Gary and Louise are top people and their service is excellent.
Both businesses I can highly recommend.

[gupatrol02]

i'm in wepa at the moment and need you to have a look at my ute, ive developed a vibration and a clicking noise from both front wheels when in 4wd. Can you please msg me back if you get this. Cheers Shane.

[geoffjy]

RACQ is located at Evans Landing. Turn onto Evan's Landing Road then take the first right. Follow this around and about halfway along on the right is the RACQ.

[dizne]

Hi all,

I took my 4x4 to Weipa Auto & Electrical earlier this year because I suspected a leaking aircon system and while they had the car for the day I asked them to replace the oil and filter.

Well, the aircon job was no dramas, and I thought the service was no dramas also, but they managed to put my oil filter on WITHOUT the gasket!!! Hmmmm?!

I had also asked them to check my clutch, as it's been feeling like it needed some lube or something (I'm no mechanic).

Anyway, I pick the car up and they tell me I need a NEW clutch AND a new clutch CABLE! About $1,000 worth they informed me! Fair enough, I think to myself, but I might just get a second opinion.

Oh, and they told me I needed the front and back brakes overhauled for even more dollars!!! I thought that was strange ... read on.

Well, I took the car off to the Weipa Service Centre (BP Servo in town) for a second opinion and was told that my clutch is fine and my car DOESN'T EVEN HAVE A CLUTCH CABLE, so they were trying to rip me off AND sell me a part that doesn't even go on my car!!! Hmmmm?!

Also, Weipa Service Centre themselves had repaired my FRONT brakes only a couple of months prior and confirmed that, after Weipa Auto telling me I needed a complete brake overhaul, both my FRONT and BACK brakes were fine! Hmmmmm?!

It was also the Service Centre that found the (heavily) leaking oil filter - thank god (the one Weipa Auto installed without a seal!). Hmmmm?!!!

Look, I've tried to keep my anger and frustration at ALMOST getting ripped off by Weipa Auto and Mechanical out of this post and just stick to the facts, and I think I've done that pretty well.

I also hope that others make of this experience what they will ... buyer beware, and all that.

I'm sure they're not always dodgy ... but the day I was there SOMEONE certainly was being DODGY and SOMEONE certainly wasn't thinking (re: the missing oil filter seal!).

Also, I can't believe that:

a) Weipa Auto NEED to be dodgy to make $; and
b) they offer this sort of service and can still survive in a small town?!

Obviously, I'll be back to the Service Centre ... NOT to Weipa Auto & Mechanical!

End rant/

Cheers,
Diz

[ant]

Thanks Diz,
Sounds like you did the right thing and got a second opinion.
Have to admit, that is the first negative I have heard from that particular business and it makes me wonder why they would do what you claim.
Like anything, a second opinion is the safest way to go.
Lucky my wife didn't do that before we got married though!!

We recently got a second opinion on a septic system for our rental property and it saved us over 15k!!!

[kingchevy]

Hi all,

I took my 4x4 to Weipa Auto & Electrical earlier this year because I suspected a leaking aircon system and while they had the car for the day I asked them to replace the oil and filter.

Well, the aircon job was no dramas, and I thought the service was no dramas also, but they managed to put my oil filter on WITHOUT the gasket!!! Hmmmm?!

I had also asked them to check my clutch, as it's been feeling like it needed some lube or something (I'm no mechanic).

Anyway, I pick the car up and they tell me I need a NEW clutch AND a new clutch CABLE! About $1,000 worth they informed me! Fair enough, I think to myself, but I might just get a second opinion.

Oh, and they told me I needed the front and back brakes overhauled for even more dollars!!! I thought that was strange ... read on.

Well, I took the car off to the Weipa Service Centre (BP Servo in town) for a second opinion and was told that my clutch is fine and my car DOESN'T EVEN HAVE A CLUTCH CABLE, so they were trying to rip me off AND sell me a part that doesn't even go on my car!!! Hmmmm?!

Also, Weipa Service Centre themselves had repaired my FRONT brakes only a couple of months prior and confirmed that, after Weipa Auto telling me I needed a complete brake overhaul, both my FRONT and BACK brakes were fine! Hmmmmm?!

It was also the Service Centre that found the (heavily) leaking oil filter - thank god (the one Weipa Auto installed without a seal!). Hmmmm?!!!

Look, I've tried to keep my anger and frustration at ALMOST getting ripped off by Weipa Auto and Mechanical out of this post and just stick to the facts, and I think I've done that pretty well.

I also hope that others make of this experience what they will ... buyer beware, and all that.

I'm sure they're not always dodgy ... but the day I was there SOMEONE certainly was being DODGY and SOMEONE certainly wasn't thinking (re: the missing oil filter seal!).

Also, I can't believe that:

a) Weipa Auto NEED to be dodgy to make $; and
b) they offer this sort of service and can still survive in a small town?!

Obviously, I'll be back to the Service Centre ... NOT to Weipa Auto & Mechanical!

End rant/

Cheers,
Diz

Hey Micheal,

In reagards to you're comments I have a few replys to what you have said

A) You supplied the parts for the service you're self and from the lenghty discussion I have had with my employees the gasket was missing from the filter before we fitted it. In no way does this make it any better that we fitted the filter without the "O ring" it is company policy at my workshop to smear fresh oil on the o'ring before fitting up new filters. So we should have picked up on the o'ring missing. The employee in question has had a very stern talking to about this procedure.

B) In regards to the clutch issue we were asked to report on the clutch feeling heavy. The reason we have come to the conclusion the clutch was faulty was the failed the slip test I have a description written by my workshop foreman. (he has over 30 years in the industry)

(We checked the clutch "operation" as asked and using the normal practise of engaging 4th gear, applying the park brake and attempting a drive off, found the clutch to be slipping excessivly, IE poor clamp force usually caused by a worn out plate, requiring a new clutch kit to be installed (maybe some don't understand how to test a clutch for proper clamp force/wear?)

C) In regards to the brake issue on the job card it was printed that the rear brakes were the ones with the issue somehow that has been translated onto the invoice as front and rear, but the original repair order refers to the rears not the fronts. I think my workshop manager has interpreted it as been both because of how badly the vehicle stopped. Again my workshop foreman wrote a explaination.

(Re: the brakes, there is a far more important aspect to brake service and repair and that is 'does the car generate enough brake force to stop within a safe distance? In the case of you're vehicle the answer is 'NO' we road tested the car and the braking was at best POOR and at worst A DANGER to the driver and other members of the public!! Having brake friction material thickness within spec does not guarantee 'FINE' brakes.)

D) To explain why you were told the vehicle had a clutch cable came about after my workshop manager and my workshop foremon discussed what was wrong with the heavy clutch pedal you mentioned when dropping the car off they came to the conclusion that it must something to do with the "clutch cable been sticky" remeber this is before they have looked at the vehicle. and to top that all off they have written the wrong year model on the job card when processing the vehicle in the system so my workshop manager has got a quote for a clutch cable not realising that it was a hydraulic system. it was a very simple mistake it was not us "TRYING TO RIP YOU OFF"
I take that comment very personally I have lived in weipa for 6-7 years and I can tell you right now that In a town this small if that was the way I run my business I would not last. I am very proud to say I am and honest person with very high morals and that every customer that comes through my door will not be lyed to and "Ripped off" as you put it. Also I have been operating for 5 years this should be proof enough in a small town.

Well to top this all off I have added the original Repair Order in bitmap form for you to look at so you know that I am not lying about anything I have written here. Micheal please understand it was not me or my companys intention to cause you any grief and for the record we payed for you car to have a new filter fitted at weipa service centre to try and help compensate for what we had done. We pride ourselves in been a professional workshop we meet Rio Tintos Pre Qualification process as well as been ISO safety rated we run computerised Repair Orders that would Rival Dealerships, Also I personaly have The latest Factory training on Toyotas. And the only workshop in town with the newest scan tools and equipment for diagnosing the new common rail vehicles. To top all this off we are the contracted service provider for RACQ. And the only DUNLOP super dealer in 1000kms.
As well as been a very big supporter of the local comunity including the fishing comp, Major prize for the SES raffle, and donation of time and equipment to clean un naprunum day just to name a few things we do around town.

My workshop foreman wrote a lot of this reply and has asked me to make sure I add his final paragraph of the essay he wrote me on you're vehicle.

(Before denegrating a legitimate business that is working to and above the repair standards of the motor repair industry one needs to first get there facts in order and aquire proper knowledge of the systems to wich he/she refers to (obviously not the case here) we agree totaly with 'buyer beware' but in this instance one should be very astute in who they are being aware of 'dodgy', we wonder who that may be.
In response to you we have many satisfied customers that will not go anywhere else in town as they have become tired of the general low standard of workmanship, this is how we make our $ proffesional service and fair pricing is exactly how we survive in a small town. Finally we are all human and from time to time make unintentional mistakes, perhaps the writer is a 'perfect' human being that does not?

Well that is all I have to say on the subject but I would like to send an invite for you to respond if that suits you also I would like to send an open invite for anyone to come and inspect out facility. As you can see we take what we do very seriously and are not a backyard workshop and I plan on running my business for a lot of years to come in weipa and I hope see you around town or out bush enjoying the beautiful place we call home.

Cheers Sam

Managing Director

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y198/toychevy/SAVE0011-1.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y198/toychevy/SAVE0012-2.jpg

[dizne]

Hi Sam,

Thanks for your honest and very professional reply.

It goes along way to repairing my faith in your business and your staff.

Hope to see you around Weipa in the years to come also.

Cheers,
Mick

[kingchevy]

Hi Sam,

Thanks for your honest and very professional reply.

It goes along way to repairing my faith in your business and your staff.

Hope to see you around Weipa in the years to come also.

Cheers,
Mick

No dramas mate I hope you can understand that we really care alot about what we do and hope we can someday make it up to you.

cheers sam

[Geoffsa]

I hope Dizne (Mick) has learnt a lesson from this, that you don't put a business reputation at risk publicly without firstly giving them the chance to explain the reasons behind whatever the issues may be.

I never take any notice of these statements for the very reason that a public forum should never be used to run a business down unless there is creditable evidence supplied.

Just my two bobs worth, and good to see it has been sorted out fairly quick.

regards,

Geoff.