Disappointment, Despair, Disbelief, Anguish and agony at the hand of Finn Auto Diagnostics

 Historical overview of poor workmanship and unsanctioned works on HWL 276 EC — D Govender Port Elizabeth--
The Hello Peter website enables long messages as set out below in the replies  so herewith find my experience. 

Dear Port Elizabeth vehicle owners below is a factual outline of my experience at the hands of Finn Auto and Diagnostics, 30 First Avenue, Walmer Port Elizabeth. I have chosen deliberately not to voice my disdain for their incompetence or reference the absolute disregard for engaging a client prior to “investigating” components that were not faulty. You make up your own mind. 

May 2025 At the end of May 2025, I took my car went in to the Finn Auto Repair and Diagnostic facility for the 180 000 km service. All was well and the various service notifications i.e. service due, change filter etc. no longer flashed after the service. The vehicle worked fine. In preparation for a long journey (fishing trip to PSJ), I needed to have the cambelt change actioned. It my personal mentality to prep my vehicle for long trips. All my previous services were with NISSAN EC. Finn offered a competitive price hence I did not see an issue, it was straight matter, cambelt change only.   
A date was arranged with Johan service advisor: 
Cambelt Change 
On 30 June 2025, I took my car to Finn Auto repairs and Diagnostics for a cambelt change, I was dropped off at work by the technician, who later drove the vehicle to the workshop. The job was expected to take two days. •            On the 30th of June, the afternoon/evening, I got a call informing that the car won’t start. •            They (Molly) enquired about an immobiliser or tracker facility on the car. •            The vehicle does not have a tracker or immobiliser. •            This was known to them as the car was in their care on 28th May 2025.  01 July 2025 On the 1 July 2025, a follow up was done and I was told the car is still not starting and there may be an issue with Electronic Control Unit (ECU). I was a tad surprised as the month before that the same company did not find any issues with the ECU as per their own diagnostic testing, when the car went in for 180 000km service. My vehicle has been diligently serviced by the Nissan EC group since its purchase (records available).  02 July 2025 I followed up on the 2 July 2025, vague responses were given on the matter. 
03 July 2025 On the 3 July 2025, I popped around to collect a document that was in cubby of the vehicle. It was when I noted that the cubby had been dismantled and the entire wiring that sits under cubby was on the passenger side of the vehicle. I DID NOT record this photographically (regrettably). It was when I was advised of a faulty component in the ECU and that this was affecting the of the vehicle ignition/starting. 
A problem that never existed before.
It was at this point that is became apparent that the ECU was being investigated or was already investigated. This investigation of the ECU was done WITHOUT my approval. I enquired if they double checked the cambelt settings and they stated the technician was qualified. In my humble opinion being qualified is not the same as being experienced. This opinion was stated to Molly and Stephan.   

04 July 2025 On the 4 July, I went in again to document the opened/dismantled  cubby, I had advised the Finn Auto of my intent to visit. Upon arriving, everything was “in place”, the cubby was fixed etc. It was, at this point, that I engaged Budget Insurance to advise them of the matter. The insurance agent Mr Herbert Machebele (herbertm@tihsa.co.za), engaged the Finn and co. It was confirmed that the opening of the ECU and checking components, the stripping of the cubby and other activities were done without the clients knowledge or permission. These communications have been recorded.  For the RECORD There were NO ENGINE warning lights on or flashing on the dash of the car, photographic evidence as captured by Finn and Co service administrator (Molly) is available. After much toing-froing it was concluded that the thermostat housing needed to be changed as diagnosed by Finn and Co. This was covered by the warranty insurance.  The ECU matter remained unresolved. A second-hand ECU was secured from JHB allegedly, and that was fitted, and the vehicle was allegedly working.  

24 July 2025 I then get a message below (italicized text) from Molly the service administrator on 24 July 2025, that stated there an ERG fault, with the additional comment that the error may have been there prior to me bringing in the vehicle as the engine light remains on.  

Email from Molly “I have attempted to reach you by phone without success and have yet to receive any feedback regarding my previous email. I would like to confirm that I ordered the thermostat housing, which is scheduled to arrive tomorrow, the 25th of July 2025. In the meantime, we have successfully fitted and coded the Engine Control Unit (ECU), and the vehicle is now starting as expected. However, the engine light is on and experiencing the EGR fault.  Our team is in the process of diagnosing the issue, but initial findings suggest that the error may have been present prior to our recent work. Looking forward to your response.”  

06 August 2025 I went over to the facility and engaged Stephan the service manager and I was told the ECU that they secured is reading or looking for a “valve” sensor that the Qashqai 1.5 DCi does not have and hence the engine light now is on. Their technical guy/service provider who is dealing with ECU is trying figure it out. 

I requested they engage Nissan EC for assistance as they (Finn) seemingly being flummoxed on this matter.  06 August 2025 An email was sent to RMI complaints office, NMBM to Peter peter.vanmosseveld@rmi.org.za  expressing my frustration with Finn Auto.  

08 August 2025 Mr Van Mossveld (Peter) advised that the ECU that was secured from Johannesburg was incorrect and they (Finn Auto) were now securing another ECU to “fix” the car. The various comms from the Finn Auto as stated were vague up to this point.  

14 August 2025 Finn was contacted, with the following email note “ Dear Molly It is now ten days later and not a word from Finn Auto, great customer service. Please that as it may, Peter of RMI (EC) was engaged and he advised me on the matter which seemingly Finn Auto presented to Peter. The storyline did differ greatly from what you said to me and what Stephan said to compared to what was stated to Peter”  

The response from Finn was as follows: “Good day Please accept my sincere apologies for the delay in providing an update. The ECU specialist initially diagnosed that a replacement sensor was required to resolve the warning lights issue. We received the sensor earlier today, and the specialist has since completed the necessary work. The technician is currently in the process of reassembling the vehicle. Once reassembly is complete, we will conduct a thorough test drive to ensure that everything is functioning as expected. I will provide you with a comprehensive update tomorrow once the testing has been successfully completed”  I queried the re-assembly point and was emailed the following response from Molly “Good day, the covers and the ECU.”  Up to this point/ date, Finn Auto has not given proper feedback on the matter.  Stephan and Molly are like two opposing forces each with a different hymn book. Different and contrasting stories. This usually the case when people make up responses on the heart beat and cannot recall what was stated originally.  

14th August 2025 I advised Finn Auto, I intend taking the matter to Office of Consumer Protector.  

15th August 2025 I was advised the car was ready. The following was found to be wrong with the car: ·       The turbo is non functional ·       The cruise control is non-functional ·       The vehicle kept slipping into a safe mode. 
 Oh and it had a stop start system error that flashed
The best part was they had "forgotten" to bolt in on of wheel nut on the front right tire. 
Why one unlocks the tires for an ECU remains a mystery that only Finn Auto's service manager Stephan can answer.·       On a N2 stretch, the vehicle drop from 90km to 40 in matter of secs, despite accelerating. Nissan EC proposed  a new battery as the vehicle has been standing for 45 days (30 June 2025—15 August 2025 at Finn Auto). 

The final straw was on 26th August 2025, when the vehicle was totally disabled by the ECU. 

Currently Nissan is trying sort the problem out and it was confirmed was that the second hand ECU installed by Finn Auto Diagnostics is disabling the vehicle. NISSAN EC has confirmed that the ECU installed by Finn Auto was not talking to the car at all.
The original ECU was opened without my permission as the clamps show they have been interfered with.   

DEAR FINN AUTO When you read this and you will, you will note that I presented a factual break down of events. To date you have denied me the access to the Job Card for the vehicle. 
I require such so NISSAN EC can actually undo the damage and get the car functional again, as a minimum one would have thought that would be common courtesy from your side. You have denied me the access to the details of the ECU specialist. You have yet to avail the findings of the ECU specialist. Before you reference the Guarantee/Warranty of the service, you team deliberately drafted the invoices to exclude the ECU matter from the primary service invoice i.e. the cambelt change. I will never place my vehicle in your hand ever again as your facilities maybe 5 star rated on paper, but those stars in my opinion should be converted to meteors as your technicians have literally destroyed once fully functional vehicle. Goed Koop is Deur Koop.  I dare you to respond to this review in a formal communication, you have my details on the system via the vehicle registration number.