I know it seems that I have a bit of a bee in my bonnet about “Saab Approved Service Agents” and have mentioned it on various forums. But I have just received a call from a (non-Approved) Saab specialist to say that the reason that my aircon has failed is a hole in a badly fitted pipe. It has rubbed on the bodywork and worn through.
The aircon pipework was replaced two years ago, along with replacing the auto gearbox pipes. The work was done at a Saab Approved Garage. The original failure was down to the pipes being in the wrong place, along with broken clips, etc., and rubbing together. The only time any work was done in that area was when the Hirsch intercooler and airbox were fitted in 2008 by the local Saab main dealer.
So, the main dealer faults that I found when checking the aircon two years ago...
Badly damaged aircon pipes needing those pipes and the gearbox cooling pipes replacing.
Pollen filter fitted without the foam seal, and cover refitted with only two of the six or seven screws needed, and the filter looked as if it hadn’t been changed at the last service.
On another occasion, after a service at the same main dealer, the wheel bolts came loose within 15 miles.
Two years ago at a Saab Approved garage, it now appears that the already broken aircon pipes were wrongly fitted and have failed again. This was the garage that fitted the MAF meter the wrong way around when putting it all back together.
I spoke to an Orio staff member at a Saab get together a year ago, and asked what standards a Garage had to meet to obtain “Saab Approved” listing. I was told that the only requirement was that they had to be VAT registered, and they had to show that they were financially sound enough for them to open an account with Orio for parts supplied. There is no requirement for a garage to show any technical ability, or meet any quality standard. So there are no checks carried out on work done. No technical audits or anything like a “mystery shopper”.
Would I be right in thinking that most customers taking their car to a “Saab Approved Service Agent” would expect that the garage was technically competent and knew how to fix a Saab?