November 2002
I know it's my own fault and I deserve a good kicking for doing it.
I had my cambelt changed by a 'back street' - though recommended - outfit
that resulted in me needing a new engine just 600 miles later.
It looks like my claim in the small claims court will be successful
but as the garage has few assets it will be a moral victory only.
At the risk of stating the obvious, here is my new years resolution list
in no particular order.
1 Never deal with a garage who isn't VAT registered
2 Never deal with a garage who isn't a registered company
3 Always pay by credit card
4 Always find out the full name of the proprietor before any work is done
5 Others I have yet to think about.
The cost of my new engine was about £3000 and had it been much more
then it would have been a toss up between fixing it and towing it to the
breakers.
Another thing, modern cars are complex and expensive to fix so before you
let a friend/relative/neighbour loose on it just consider what would happen
if the engine goes pop because of what they?ve done.
Happy motoring
Chris
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What is it with these?
One on the M23 yesterday, one on the M20 and two on the M25 today.
Do they try to drive them like cars in the wet? Do they fall asleep - all these were early morning. Is it the foreign trucks?
The way you see them tailgating in the wet I suppose we're lucky there are not more. Do the rozzers EVER do anything about dangerous truck driving? Read more
The driver uses the same tacho disk for his shift whatever number of vechicles he drives. There is space on the rear of the tacho disk for additional vechile details and milages. Therefore the police can still check on the drivers hours.
Took Metro 1,4Li Auto in for M.O.T yesterday. Passed with no problems. However back at the desk this am filing copy of Emissions Test Results noticed HC figures steadily declining over five year period. as per so:-
02 = 27ppm
01 = 3lppm
00 = 54ppm
99 = 67ppm
98 = 63ppm
What conclusions to draw from this and why is it happening?
Happy Motoring Phil I Read more
'Government initiative' bit of a sine qua non. Thought myself might be use of low sulphur petrol but it was the same tester and same machinery for last four years.
Phil I
See the excellent article on the news page on this site.
FWIW beware gizmo-ridden vehicles which don't have fundamental instrumentation such as low coolant, low oil level, engine over-temperature.
So we can assume that satnav, aircon, and colour-coded cupholders will naturally lead on from advanced engine state instrumentation? Think again.
And our eco-friendly, lean-burn common rail powerplant won't use oil like a Morris Marina as it's so "advanced? Oh dear. Not so.
And this is "progress"?
Yes, sure, company car drivers should check these things regularly. But having been a "high-mileage road warrior" for around eighteen years, I can assert that "life ain't like that". And I credit myself with a bit of mechanical sympathy.
This rant comes out of bitter experience with a company Mazda 323.
A super car. Agile and willing. One would assume that it had at least what my old Pug 405, six years older, had in terms of warning devices. Such as separate engine over-temperature and low coolant warnings? No, sir, No, ma'am.
Take one slightly tired and semi-distracted driver. Contraflow shenanigans. One very sharp stone. One very exposed radiator. One deceptively under-equipped vehicle. A rapid loss of coolant. One cooked engine.
Ah yes, the leasing company were all for sending me the bill. Or sending it to the company who would send me the bill. £5K++, either way.
I argued with Mazda that, in my opinion, their car was under-equipped to alert the driver to a developing mechanical crisis.
I understand that they paid up.
rg
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Mark
Look at www.warrantydirect.co.uk , the link is at the end of HJ\'s article.
It does exactly what it say's on the tin!
the16v.com/media/video/other/ultimatechainsaw.asf
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These are my own opinions, and not necessarily those of all Toads. Read more
The v8 model is just what I need to cut up the balsa wood for my next model aircraft. I'm not sure about running it in the dining room, though!
;-)
Ian Cook
Frightening reading!
Pity he didn't mention which cars needed their oil levels checking every 300 miles or so! Anyone any ideas which manufacturer recommends this inthe handbook? Read more
A short while ago someone posted a query regarding the oil pressure warning light was taking a long time to go out. I mentioned that I had the same problem with a customers car that day. Well it appears that the problem is down to the pressure relief valve on the oil pump getting sludged up and not seating to get the oil pressure up on startup. Not too much of a problem from cold but once up to temperature the oil light would remain on for anything up to 30 seconds or until you gave the engine a good rev. A phone call to Forte technical suggested this was the problem, probably caused by the extended service intervals modern cars are subjected to. They suggested a long engine flush, oil change and a dose of Top End Treatment (TET). This TET is formulated to quieten noisy (gummed up) hydraulic lifters and I have found it to be very effective. The flush and oil change helped but the problem was still evident. Added the TET and took it for another run....BINGO!!!. Oil light goes out instantly on hot start. Next oil change...6 months or 6000 miles madam! Read more
A range of Forte products is available at my nearest Vauxhall dealer's parts dept, so they're not trade only. I won't name the dealer because they're rubbish in other depts!
A company is importing my new car for me. The car will be in the country in the next day or two but the certificate of conformity has been sent by mail and is unlikely to be here before Friday.
If it is sent off to the DVLA with my insurance certificate on Friday they won't get it until Monday. When the DVLA send my V5 and tax disc (hopefully Tuesday) the tax will be from 01/11 so can I get away with picking it up on Saturday and should I be worried about cameras that can read my registration and are linked to the DVLA to check for tax?
To me this seems like a crazy process where you have to insure your car for a period that you can't drive it (the time taken by the DVLA). I'm not trying to avoid paying tax but I feel I could get penalised if I pick it up on Saturday.
Has anyone else been in this situation and where do I stand legally? What is likely to happen to me if I get pulled over - I know there are a few members of the police who contribute to this forum so I'd appreciate your opinions.
Thanks Read more
If Plod stops you for Excise offence you will have bits and pieces to explain your position. Assuming it is PC Attila and he report you it is not an offence covered by FPN (except fail to display - has any body been done for this?) He will submit DVLA Form CLE2/6 to Swansea which outlines where and when you were stopped and brief explanation. DVLA then check their records by which time you will have been given a Licence so NFA.
I presume the people with the VRM reading equipment will go through a similar exercise.
Not adviseable to use on a road even for the shortest duration in November and then take out Licence from 1.12. Big trouble.
DVD
Ok, after takin my car to an MOT, it failed, so far they got £236 including the MOT test that is, and it could be more yet, i got a ford escort encore, 45k miles, the bill could go up more, for example, the brakes at the back might need fixing, but he said that might be just coz its wet, so is it worth it or not? the car is 1991. Read more
I am not sure, but I tend to think you are correct.
Tattes - this thread is locked. You need to e-mail me to confirm that you/this thread are genuine.
If you haven't e-mailed me within a few days, I shall assume that it & you are not.
Mark (RLBS)
Moderator at Work
mailto:mark_moderator@honestjohn.co.uk
Just got my renewal quote. Up 18.86%. I rang to ask why and was told, no reason except that rates had increased...
Is 18.64% reasonable? Read more
New quote for Mrs madf reduced costs from £130 to £91... (Saga).
Ha! Saga wouldn't insure me - said I drove too many miles a year (15,000+)!
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Paul. It's French nonesense.
Metrication will never catch on you know. If the kids are playing up how can you say, "You'll thrash them to within 25.4 millimetres of their lives". Now behave you lot and go and play in the back metre! It'll NEVER catch on.