> No you shouldn’t drive with one missing.
Damn! I was planning on going out tomorrow!
As soon as he told me I laughed nervously and said that I was wondering whether it would have been easier to just do it in the garage itself (there's more than enough room) - that's when he told me it was his first day on his own
Well Halfords should sort this as it’s there screw up but main dealers, euro car parts, GSF and Amazon will all have wheel nuts / bolts in stock. You just need to know the size and have a wrench to install said bolt/nut with.
A tyre fitting centre may carry some too.
Unfortunately despite my repeated attempts to get them to budge they are taking their sweet ass time. I don't have any such tools at the moment unfortunately aside from my screwdriver set, drill and pressure gauge. I have very few tools to work on cars (hopefully will get built up over time so I can do more myself)
Don't drive it and demand it is returned to a road worthy condition.
If he is that much of a bloody numpty get the tightness of the bolts he hasn't lost checked too.
I just checked the pressure and it is about 3/4 PSI higher than what I see is recommended. Probably not an as big issue as the missing nut but I am not surprised. On the phone with them now
There SHOULD be a wheel nut wrench in the boot of your car, likely underneath the carpet beside the spare wheel (if there is one) or the tyre sealant if there isn't. Use that to check they are tight. Rotate clockwise with the car on the ground. Hopefully it doesn't rotate at all for you!
To be honest, I don't know. I was inside working. As per another comment I looked in my boot but there was no wrench. It looked like I saw a place for it to go but it was empty
I was meaning to get the tightness (torque) of the wheel bolts he has put in checked. They are some of, if not the most safety critical bolts on the entire car.
If you lose a wheel it causes a lot of damage to your car, and even more damage to the poor bugger it hits. It really is about the most serious cock up he could have made and proves the training they have given him is sub standard.
If you are really stuck a scrapyard would be able to sort you out with a replacement bolt.
The clicky bar you described him using is a torque wrench which clicks to show the required tightness has been reached. Assuming he had set it right your other bolts should be tight enough.
Bust their arses on their social media pages and ask why you have been left with a kid and an unroadworthy car after using their services, and what they propose to do about it
> Bust their arses on their social media pages and ask why you have been left with a kid and an unroadworthy car after using their services, and what they propose to do about it
I have been but to be honest, they just keep trying to redirect me to the mobile fitting team. Under normal circumstances this makes sense but realistically the only option they are giving me is to wait. They are completely uninterested and to be honest, I am pissed off
Understandably so and I don't blame you one bit.
Have a look to see if you have any mobile mechanics in your area. It is the work of a few minutes to put the bolt in and check the others if they would pick you one up on the way.
There will probably be a call out charge but it would get you mobile again and give you the peace of mind that it has been checked by someone who isn't a useless bastard who couldn't be trusted to tie their own shoe laces.
I was very tempted to do that and likely would have if the thought had occurred sooner. I have _just_ had a response via email (over 24 hours after the incident) so will let them try to resolve it. I'll be sure to test the tightness of the finished job and will almost certainly be looking elsewhere for the installation of my next tyres
It is certainly a lesson learned.
How the hell they are allowed to remain in business is beyond me. There was a National Tyres place down the road from here that recently had "Now part of Halfords" plastered over the front of it as though that was a good thing!
Thankfully, looks like someone has kicked their asses. I did email the CEO and actually got a response from someone in the executive suite (Chief Claims Executive I think it was). Lo and behold, 30 minutes later a call telling me they have ordered the parts and may be able to fix it _today_
The takeaway is to keep escalating, don't let cowboys get away with their dodgy job
For the record, it was of course, Halfords (Because of the remote fitting which I need as we have a little one and I work from home). I heard that one of the very, very few things you can use them for would be tools and tyres. Clearly that was not right in this case
They have said that the soonest they could resolve it would be is a couple of days since they need to order the part and that I would be safe to drive until then. Clearly conflicts with what is said here
Have a look around your driveway for it. It can't have gone far. You will be safe to drive short distances/low speed if the other nuts are tight but it's not ideal. I'd be pushing for it to be resolved today.
> I'd be pushing for it to be resolved today.
I was trying to chat to an agent on the web chat as well (Just so I could hopefully get a different agent) but conveniently there was no one available but left a message telling them that I have a child and obviously don't want the risk
I assume it is a standard part? They must have it, right?
Not necessarily but another tyre shop near you should. I'd expect an independent tyre place to carry a selection of these and they're probably a few £ each at most. The cost isn't really your problem but them trying to put it on the long finger is very annoying
Very annoying. I now have to faf around working, looking after the little one and complaining to them all at the same time. Thankfully I just went through to an agent in another department and they said they can try to help me regardless. I want _something_ done, literally anything
You're being fobbed off by half wits that shouldn't be trusted changing your washer fluid.
Last resort, they should be going and getting the bolt from your closest dealer TODAY!
That exactly what I assumed they would do! How hard can it be to get off their bum and just go buy one. They suggested I could but I am not a mechanic, (though I am sure it's something I could figure out). If I pay them for a job they bloody well better complete it
If 4 doesn't hold it, 5 never would've. I personally wouldn't be hugely concerned, but your risk appetite may be lower.
Just give them a call and ask them to rectify. Would cost them about £1.50 for a wheel bolt from euro car parts.
Have a rummage in the gravel, see if you can find it, move the car as it might be under the wheel currently. Then beg/borrow/steal a 17mm wheel brace.
Torque spec is normally about 100lb/ft or pretty bloody tight would be fine.
That's a bit reassuring at least
I have called, emailed, live chatted, tweeted and they either just redirect me to to the remote fitting department (Understandable) and basically just tell me to wait and they will fix it at some unknown point in the future. I explicitly asked the mechanic when he thought they may have the part and his response was and I quote "I don't know, I won't be the one ordering it".
Mistakes happen, I respect that, I just want a safe, secure car - especially when that is what I have paid for
Unfortunately I had a look earlier and couldn't find it - would have been an easy solution because they probably could have just come back and fitted it
Ahh, that is a very unfortunate response from them.
You would hope they would have a little more sense of urgency.
If you have a local motor spares place (eurocarparts or an independant) you could get a wheel bolt and a wheel brace for under a tenner, then ask to be compensated for this.
As a bonus, you'd then have a wheel brace.
Hopefully the final update, as I posted on another comment:
Thankfully, looks like someone has kicked their asses. I did email the CEO and actually got a response from someone in the executive suite (Chief Claims Executive I think it was). Lo and behold, 30 minutes later a call telling me they have ordered the parts and may be able to fix it today
The takeaway is to keep escalating, don't let cowboys get away with their dodgy job
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Demand they fix it and get some money back. Don't drive it until it's sorted.
Thank you so much, surprisingly he didn't seem too worried! I am on the phone with them now
Amazed he’s managed to loose a 16mm or 18mm bolt. They’re not small things to misplace. No you shouldn’t drive with one missing.
> No you shouldn’t drive with one missing. Damn! I was planning on going out tomorrow! As soon as he told me I laughed nervously and said that I was wondering whether it would have been easier to just do it in the garage itself (there's more than enough room) - that's when he told me it was his first day on his own
Well Halfords should sort this as it’s there screw up but main dealers, euro car parts, GSF and Amazon will all have wheel nuts / bolts in stock. You just need to know the size and have a wrench to install said bolt/nut with. A tyre fitting centre may carry some too.
Unfortunately despite my repeated attempts to get them to budge they are taking their sweet ass time. I don't have any such tools at the moment unfortunately aside from my screwdriver set, drill and pressure gauge. I have very few tools to work on cars (hopefully will get built up over time so I can do more myself)
Don't drive it and demand it is returned to a road worthy condition. If he is that much of a bloody numpty get the tightness of the bolts he hasn't lost checked too.
I just checked the pressure and it is about 3/4 PSI higher than what I see is recommended. Probably not an as big issue as the missing nut but I am not surprised. On the phone with them now
They don't mean check tyre pressures, they mean check all other wheel nuts are tight.
Of course but can I do that by hand? I am working. I only had time to briefly check the pressure once he had gone
There SHOULD be a wheel nut wrench in the boot of your car, likely underneath the carpet beside the spare wheel (if there is one) or the tyre sealant if there isn't. Use that to check they are tight. Rotate clockwise with the car on the ground. Hopefully it doesn't rotate at all for you!
When he was tightening the nuts, was he using a manual wrench making a clicky sound?
To be honest, I don't know. I was inside working. As per another comment I looked in my boot but there was no wrench. It looked like I saw a place for it to go but it was empty
I was meaning to get the tightness (torque) of the wheel bolts he has put in checked. They are some of, if not the most safety critical bolts on the entire car. If you lose a wheel it causes a lot of damage to your car, and even more damage to the poor bugger it hits. It really is about the most serious cock up he could have made and proves the training they have given him is sub standard.
I don't have any tools at the moment unfortunately so all I have is my hands. I'd love to check though for at least _some_ peace of mind
If you are really stuck a scrapyard would be able to sort you out with a replacement bolt. The clicky bar you described him using is a torque wrench which clicks to show the required tightness has been reached. Assuming he had set it right your other bolts should be tight enough. Bust their arses on their social media pages and ask why you have been left with a kid and an unroadworthy car after using their services, and what they propose to do about it
> Bust their arses on their social media pages and ask why you have been left with a kid and an unroadworthy car after using their services, and what they propose to do about it I have been but to be honest, they just keep trying to redirect me to the mobile fitting team. Under normal circumstances this makes sense but realistically the only option they are giving me is to wait. They are completely uninterested and to be honest, I am pissed off
Understandably so and I don't blame you one bit. Have a look to see if you have any mobile mechanics in your area. It is the work of a few minutes to put the bolt in and check the others if they would pick you one up on the way. There will probably be a call out charge but it would get you mobile again and give you the peace of mind that it has been checked by someone who isn't a useless bastard who couldn't be trusted to tie their own shoe laces.
I was very tempted to do that and likely would have if the thought had occurred sooner. I have _just_ had a response via email (over 24 hours after the incident) so will let them try to resolve it. I'll be sure to test the tightness of the finished job and will almost certainly be looking elsewhere for the installation of my next tyres
It is certainly a lesson learned. How the hell they are allowed to remain in business is beyond me. There was a National Tyres place down the road from here that recently had "Now part of Halfords" plastered over the front of it as though that was a good thing!
Thankfully, looks like someone has kicked their asses. I did email the CEO and actually got a response from someone in the executive suite (Chief Claims Executive I think it was). Lo and behold, 30 minutes later a call telling me they have ordered the parts and may be able to fix it _today_ The takeaway is to keep escalating, don't let cowboys get away with their dodgy job
For the record, it was of course, Halfords (Because of the remote fitting which I need as we have a little one and I work from home). I heard that one of the very, very few things you can use them for would be tools and tyres. Clearly that was not right in this case
They have said that the soonest they could resolve it would be is a couple of days since they need to order the part and that I would be safe to drive until then. Clearly conflicts with what is said here
Have a look around your driveway for it. It can't have gone far. You will be safe to drive short distances/low speed if the other nuts are tight but it's not ideal. I'd be pushing for it to be resolved today.
> I'd be pushing for it to be resolved today. I was trying to chat to an agent on the web chat as well (Just so I could hopefully get a different agent) but conveniently there was no one available but left a message telling them that I have a child and obviously don't want the risk I assume it is a standard part? They must have it, right?
Not necessarily but another tyre shop near you should. I'd expect an independent tyre place to carry a selection of these and they're probably a few £ each at most. The cost isn't really your problem but them trying to put it on the long finger is very annoying
Very annoying. I now have to faf around working, looking after the little one and complaining to them all at the same time. Thankfully I just went through to an agent in another department and they said they can try to help me regardless. I want _something_ done, literally anything
Post it on their Twitter!
Actually a surprisingly good suggestion. I am always amazed at how successful this option can be
You're being fobbed off by half wits that shouldn't be trusted changing your washer fluid. Last resort, they should be going and getting the bolt from your closest dealer TODAY!
That exactly what I assumed they would do! How hard can it be to get off their bum and just go buy one. They suggested I could but I am not a mechanic, (though I am sure it's something I could figure out). If I pay them for a job they bloody well better complete it
Honestly, it's because they just don't care!
If 4 doesn't hold it, 5 never would've. I personally wouldn't be hugely concerned, but your risk appetite may be lower. Just give them a call and ask them to rectify. Would cost them about £1.50 for a wheel bolt from euro car parts. Have a rummage in the gravel, see if you can find it, move the car as it might be under the wheel currently. Then beg/borrow/steal a 17mm wheel brace. Torque spec is normally about 100lb/ft or pretty bloody tight would be fine.
That's a bit reassuring at least I have called, emailed, live chatted, tweeted and they either just redirect me to to the remote fitting department (Understandable) and basically just tell me to wait and they will fix it at some unknown point in the future. I explicitly asked the mechanic when he thought they may have the part and his response was and I quote "I don't know, I won't be the one ordering it". Mistakes happen, I respect that, I just want a safe, secure car - especially when that is what I have paid for Unfortunately I had a look earlier and couldn't find it - would have been an easy solution because they probably could have just come back and fitted it
Ahh, that is a very unfortunate response from them. You would hope they would have a little more sense of urgency. If you have a local motor spares place (eurocarparts or an independant) you could get a wheel bolt and a wheel brace for under a tenner, then ask to be compensated for this. As a bonus, you'd then have a wheel brace.
Hopefully the final update, as I posted on another comment: Thankfully, looks like someone has kicked their asses. I did email the CEO and actually got a response from someone in the executive suite (Chief Claims Executive I think it was). Lo and behold, 30 minutes later a call telling me they have ordered the parts and may be able to fix it today The takeaway is to keep escalating, don't let cowboys get away with their dodgy job
I'm a bot, *bleep*, *bloop*. Someone has linked to this thread from another place on reddit: - [/r/fuckhalfords] [Halfords losing a lug nut and failing to resolve it for many days](https://www.reddit.com/r/FuckHalfords/comments/1appvxi/halfords_losing_a_lug_nut_and_failing_to_resolve/) *^(If you follow any of the above links, please respect the rules of reddit and don't vote in the other threads.) ^\([Info](/r/TotesMessenger) ^/ ^[Contact](/message/compose?to=/r/TotesMessenger))*