RAC Inspection

A question about : RAC Inspection

Hello All,

I need an advice as to what can be done about the following incident:

I bought a car: Ford Fiesta 1.4 Zetec 2009 model. Prior to buying, as I don't know anything about the cars, I got an RAC inspection done. It was a basic check which costs around Ј99. The car was checked and report was sent to me.

Apart form some minor issues, it all looked OK, so I went ahead and purchased the car. Car was purchased on the 24th January. After about two weeks of buying the car I noticed that the screen washer wasn't working. Initial thought was that there was no water in the screen wash bottle so I went to top it up. As I was pouring water, it started to overflow and black slimy stuff started to come out.

I called RAC to find out if the screen washer wiper were checked or not as they promise 218 points check and one of them is to check the washer wipers. I was told that, Yes, it was checked but the fault must have been introduced after the check. There is no mention on the report that what 218 points were checked. I spoke to this guy and he kept on insisting that the fault is introduced after the check. I asked for the supervisor and he said that the RAC policy is to speak to the customer service but not their supervisor. I tried going through another avenue but ended up with the same guy.

So, the question I have is, how can I find out what has been tested? How can I speak to someone else but this guy? What else can be done?

Thanks in advance.

Best answers:

• Its a Ј12? (aftermarket pump) part that can fail at anytime. Just flush the tank and change it and move on.
  There is a filter on the pumps inlet that can clog up.
• Hi
  Thanks.
  It really bothers me that after paying them I don't get the service and then they have attitude problem. Well, it will be first and last time I will be using RAC and warn others of them.
  As I said I don't much about the cars, but I think it is not only the bottle but the line is clogged up. So I will have to get all of that replaced.
• Thanks, I will give it a shot.
• I think you need to be realistic about the test report.
  Ј99 probably buys you about an hour of the guy's time, in which he apparently does 218 checks. It's entirely possible that he tested the screen-wash it worked. What he won't have done is delved into the innards of the engine bay to check the tank.
• The pump may actually spin. But the plastic filter can clog and that starves the pump of water so it runs dry.
  If you keep trying the pump it ruins the rubber inside. Been there and done that, although it spins when you press the button, it doesnt pump any water.
  A new pumps cheap enough.
• I think a lot of posters are missing the point. The RAC and AA, "inspections" are an expensive waste of time that they simply wont stand by and their terms and conditions are excellent examples of how chancers work.
  An expensive lesson OP, far better to do a proper HPI and get a check over by a friendly, trusted mechanic than pay for one of those tick-lists.
• Thanks all for your replies.
  I agree with Colino. Lesson learnt. Will never use these cowboys again. It is a day time robbery and they get away with this by employing some idiot on the front line to not own anything. Makes me really angry.
• Is there anything else wrong with the car?
  Isn't it possible that the mechanic pulled on the wash/wipe, and some water was sprayed on the window, so it gets a tick..
  As others have said, he was probably with you for 1 hour?? Frankly id be happy if they ignored the wash wipe completely but spent time checking that the wheel bearings were sound, brakes were good, the gearbox doesn't have faults, engine runs at correct temp and speed. etc etc
  You chose to spend the least you could on an RAC examination, now you are chirping that they didn't check EVERYTHING.
• Or, more realistically, if he hasn't caught something as basic as a windscreen washer, what else, if anything, has he checked or inspected for my Ј99?
• Yes, a good mechanic is the best route, but Ј99 won't get your trusted good indy to travel for up to several hours then inspect and report in full on a car, that would be Ј200 minimum as it would probably take him most of the day.
  You paid for a basic checkover, you got one, if the only problem with the car is some slime in the washer bottle you haven't done too badly at all.