news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7945395.stm
(video news)
The economic downturn is turning some ordinary motorists into mechanics with one garage in Norfolk actively encouraging people to service their own cars.
Mark Worthington reports from Watton near Thetford.
Sounds like a great idea to me, probably a health and safety risk assessment nightmare!
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It's not a new idea - in fact it was featured on TV several years ago.
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My mum told me about this, my initial thought is how do they get round health and safety? Also I bet it costs quite a bit it may not work out that much cheaper depending on the job which needs doing.
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Are you allowed to charge yourself for unnecessary work which you haven't done ?
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I hope it doesn't encourage anyone to do something beyond the level of their competence. There's no telling what cars there are on the road which are death traps resulting from DIY servicing/repairs.
Edited by L'escargot on 17/03/2009 at 07:18
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A little knowledge can be dangerous. As said, it could be lethal if the work is beyond the competence of the person doing the work. I do most of my own servicing(time allowing) but in the past I have been called upon to rectify other peoples cock-ups.
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I don't doubt that in general there might be health and safety issues (getting the car on the ramp, dropping a spanner on your toe etc) but which bits of routine servicing could have lethal results?
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I read once about a motorcycle service centre on the outskirts of Amsterdam where space strapped city dwellers can rent a service bay, complete with ramp and tools by the hour, and can work on their bikes in dry, spacious, safe conditions with all the tools they are likely to need available to borrow or hire.
An experienced "floating" motorcycle mechanic is available for advice, or can be hired (by the half hour) if they need help with anything. It's very popular with city dwellers who rarely have a garage or workshop at home. I think it's a fabulous idea, and could work here, but the health and safety / lawsuit aspect would be a living nightmare in this country.
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but which bits of routine servicing could have lethal results?
Anything to do with the brakes?
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OK, so Nobby the floating mechanic double checks any work done on the brakes. People who want to work on their own cars are going to do it anyway. It seems a pity that by providing a safer environment with advice on hand and proper tools, the balance of respsonsibility suddenly seems to shift from the individual to the provider of those facilities.
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I'm surprised the govt hasn't stepped in yet and made it an offence, punishable by a fine, to carry out any work of a mechanical nature on your vehicle unless you hold certain certificates in relation to motor mechanics, i.e like the laws relating to working on your own electrics in your home ( Part P ) I think it's called. What a missed opportunity for the nanny state.
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... i.e like the laws relating to working on your own electrics in your home .. >>
Do you mean: www.partp.co.uk/consumer/consumer_diy.asp
"Can I Carry Out DIY?
Yes. Anyone is entitled to carry out electrical installation work in dwellings. "
Edited by jbif on 17/03/2009 at 10:01
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If it were mine, the thing that would concern me most would be the implications of some fool dropping the 4-post lift on himself. I think control of the lifts would have to be in the hands of a paid employee. They - rightly - come under LOLER sfaik.
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Maybe if you created it as a 'club' where 'members' are equally responsible, it would help with the litigation aspect. A bit like an extreme sports club.
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>>Can I Carry Out DIY?
Yes. Anyone is entitled to carry out electrical installation work in dwellings. "
Yes, but most things have to be checked by a qualified electrician and a certificate issued and not many electrians will put their name to something if they can't see all of it.
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Doesn't sound like a good idea to me. Surely people who are trying to earn an honest living out of the motor trade are having a hard enough time at the moment. I also agree with others that say the concequences of allowing this to happen could be dire to inexperienced "have a go" types.
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Yes, but most things have to be checked by a qualified electrician and a certificate issued ... >>
Proof for this statement?
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Ask your local council - they will do it for you, if you like - for a fee. You can't DIY thay.
It's simpler to work on the "Don't tell 'em!" principle.
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>> Yes but most things have to be checked by a qualified electrician and a certificate issued ... >> Proof for this statement?
tinyurl.com/dg9gso
tinyurl.com/ck5fxm
There are some things you can do, most you can't without the work being checked.
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This idea goes back a few years - see tinyurl.com/dxady5
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I found this:
www.okdiy.co.uk/motor/motor.htm
Apparently it's being going for nearly 30 years.
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Surely the way around this is for the car owner to become an employee the day he wants to work on his own car? little health and safety briefing before they start? Bill at the end of it, and then his wages deducted, end figure still the same?
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Anyone know how much it would cost? I would like to be able to ramp the car up for an oil and filter change, provided it was a tenner or so (and somewhere to put the old oil), but that's not going to be viable if there has to be someone standing by.
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Anyone know how much it would cost? I would like to be able to ramp the car up for an oil and filter change provided it was a tenner or so (and somewhere to put the old oil) but that's not going to be viable if there has to be someone standing by.
I agree with this. Just about anybody can change the oil and filter.
I would, but my car's on a sloping driveway, the only other option is the main road outside.
I'm sure I could find somewhere to do it but then there's getting rid of the old oil.
If the facilities were there, with a proper four post lift or hole in the ground I could easily do it.
Any other work? I'd pay someone who knew what they were doing!
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I'm sure I could find somewhere to (oilchange) but then there's getting rid of the old oil.
Your local council recycling centre.
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I remember this idea back in the '70s.
Several places set up - I don'trecall any surviving for very long.
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Your local council recycling centre.
Yes, but it's finding something to put it in and then transporting it there. I'd rather not, but the main problem is crawling under the car to change the filter and drain the old oil.
I'd rather pay someone at the moment who has the correct facilities.
I could always do what my dad did growing up and pour old engine oil on the open fire in our front room............. ;-)
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>> Your local council recycling centre. >> Yes but it's finding something to put it in and then transporting it there. I'd rather not but the main problem is crawling under the car to change the filter and drain the old oil.
Simple, you drain your old oil out into a large washing up bowl, put new oil in engine and put old oil in the container that your new oil came in.
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Then put it in a bin bag and the dustbin - for direct recycling - stops the inside of the bin wagon rusting too...
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.. I'd rather pay someone at the moment who has the correct facilities. .. >>
Kwikfit and National do oil+filter change for less than retail cost to buy the parts/oil.
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That's why I use National's Ormskirk outlet - excellent service and attention to detail. Even cheaper if you book online..:-)
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theres nowt like" do it thy sen" for piece of mind as bellboy would probably have put it
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