tigran
Club Retro Rides Member
In rust we trust. Amen.
Posts: 6,444
Club RR Member Number: 142
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Help needed for lass .... tigran
@tigran
Club Retro Rides Member 142
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Oct 26, 2006 14:10:00 GMT
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They're such bullshi**ers. vauxhall dealer tried to say that my overheating was a buggered headgasket (back when i knew jack about cars) "that would be 800 + VAT sir inc. skimming. I went off and tried a new thermostat, whaddyaknow it fixed the problem.
I only trust one mechanics place at 'home' and that's CAM's.
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1964 Rover P5 i6
1987 BMW 525e - The Rusty Streak
1992 Micra K10
2001 BMW E46 316i
2002 BMW E46 330Ci
2013 BMW F31 320d
2018 BMW G31 530d
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Oct 26, 2006 14:15:12 GMT
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i'd be tempted to ask for an itemised quote,listing parts and labour seperatley etc.if they are up to anything that should have them squirming in their nice corporate stealership chairs I agree - get the estimate in writing, then take the car elsewhere for a second opinion. Sounds like it's also worth informing Trading Standards & Renault UK's HQ |
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bstardchild
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 14,961
Club RR Member Number: 71
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Help needed for lass .... bstardchild
@bstardchild
Club Retro Rides Member 71
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Oct 26, 2006 14:22:45 GMT
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Summary of this thread
They aren't mechanics they are parts fitters
They can't diagnose a fault and pinpoint the cause
They just price up all the possible parts that could fix it and change em all
Along these lines - Lass at work had a problem with power steering noises on a ford Kack
Quoted £900 plus vat for a new pump and rack to be fitted at a dealership
Was it the pump or was it the rack - she/I/we will never know and sure as hell the "dealership" aren't gonna say either - fit both (flip the customer) not their money is it and the car is fixed so customer happy (credit card hurts tho)....
Used to make me very angry but now I just listen and nod - if I express any interest it ends up on my drive and I end up involved and have to fix it......... I spend too much on cars to be able to afford dealer prices for anything other than parts
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Oct 26, 2006 14:38:29 GMT
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Summary of this thread They aren't mechanics they are parts fitters They can't diagnose a fault and pinpoint the cause They just price up all the possible parts that could fix it and change em all so sad yet sooo true. my polo went back 12 times in 12 months for a loss of power, it never got diagnosed ,cos all they used to do was plug in the diagnostic computer and tell me " computer says nothing wrong" and basically accused me of being a liar and/or time waster.like i really want to drive 400 miles at an average speed of 40mph or was it cos the car wouldnt go any faster? an old friend is a vw MECHANIC so i went to see him.he knew what the problem was ,and that it wasn't on the diagnoistic circuit so wouldnt show up and that vw warranty wouldnt pay for it as they had no test to prove it was faulty.catch 22.i cant prove the fault,they cant disprove it. |
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Oct 26, 2006 14:56:00 GMT
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Update from garage - they didn't do a compression test, that would cost an hour labour (£65 ex VAT)
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Oct 26, 2006 14:58:55 GMT
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shag a dog.  It would take about 10 mins => £10 even at their disgraceful rates. |
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Last Edit: Oct 26, 2006 14:59:55 GMT by Mr_Bo11ox
1972 Fiat 130 1985 Talbot Alpine 1974 Lancia Beta Saloon 1975 + 1986 Mazda 929 Koop + Wagon 1982 Fiat Argenta 2.0 iniezione elettronica 1977 Toyota Carina TA14 BEST CAR EVER!!!!!!!! 1979 Datsun B310 Sunny 4-dr 1984 Audi 200 Quattro Turbo 1983 Honda Accord 1.6 DX GONE1989 Alfa 75 2.0 TS Mr T says: TREAT YO MOTHER RIGHT! |
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Oct 26, 2006 15:01:53 GMT
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Update from garage - they didn't do a compression test, that would cost an hour labour (£65 ex VAT) so its a guess then? |
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Oct 26, 2006 15:11:26 GMT
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tell them to curse word off!! simple  I once got done in for a HGF. About 8 years ago when I knew nothing about cars. Thing was, I knew it was as i exited the motorway in my Daihatsu Charade GTti in a cloud of white smoke that would put a fighterjet to shame. Took to garage, they said £400, 3days. Fine. Phone up 2 days later to see how things where going, they told me car was at another garage. Gave me addrss, and it was the dodgest garage going, proper poor, and my ntire top half of my engine was rested on the roof of my car, and then the guy started telling me curse word about it being and import engine (it wasant) as the head gasket was the 'wrong' shape (obviously the wrong type for a GTTi!!) Whet back the other garage and kicked up a big fuss, lots of swearing at the owner. And he did... nothing, but charged me £620 for the finished job and they never changed the oil even still had the mayo gunk in it. Car still over heated, I sold it, fingers still burnt but will never trust a garage, would rather mess it up myself that trust em and I would still save cash!!!  |
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Shortcut
Posted a lot
I won't be there when you cross the road, so always use the Green Cross Code.
Posts: 3,037
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Oct 26, 2006 15:15:08 GMT
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An hour to do a compression test! No way. However most main dealers only work in one hour units now so its an hour to put a dust cap on a tyre!
Bobbins to them. Take it to a local renner specialist. Their business depends on local people knowing that they know their stuff so you're more likely to get a proper diagnosis and treratment.
Reading this thread you'de thing head gaskets went every day! tyre a bit flat sire? I'm afraid it's the head gasket! Speedo broken? Head gasket!
gah!
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Last Edit: Oct 26, 2006 15:15:29 GMT by Shortcut
This space available to rent. Reach literally dozens of people. Cheap rates!
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Oct 26, 2006 16:39:15 GMT
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£400 sounds reasonable if the head gasket has gone, better than the £800 Renault were talking, but make sure its gone first. Clios can be funny buggers as far as the cooling system goes, when I`m buying them in I check for head gasket failure by doing the following: Make sure theres enough coolant in and that the fan hasnt seized, start the car up and leave it idling. (Having checked for oil in the expansion tank, there shouldnt be any) Keep an eye on the temperature gauge, and wait for the cooling fan to kick in (this should happen well before temp needle gets into red, but varies from car to car). If cooling fan kicks in at less than 100 degrees and theres nothing funny going on under the bonnet, no steam or signs that the car is boiling over, and the temperature starts to go down with the fan cooling it, then turn the heater on full blast. It should be roasting hot inside the car. If all this happens then head gasket failure is unlikely. If it boils its nads off then you could be looking at head gasket failure. If the temperature gets to the red without the fan kicking in then stop the test immediately and get the cooling fan looked at before you go any further. If you have never done this test before then make sure you are with the car the whole time and be ready to switch off should it start boiling up or the temp get too high. Incidentally cars with head gasket failure usually run rough, with poor idling and starting problems, and as you say pinking. although not always. Mayo in the oil can be just condensation but if its not there then I`d be suprised if the H G has gone. If the heater blows hot when the engine is up to temperature then I`d be very surprised if the H G has gone.
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Oct 26, 2006 16:53:19 GMT
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Problem with most dealers is that all repair jobs are based on set times. If it takes them less than that they make a bit more money, but they are normally based on worst case scenario.
It is possible for the head gasket to fail without causing any overheating problems though. The gasket can fail straight to the outside of the block. A friend of mine had a failure like that on his sunny, ran it like that for 5 years and topped it up once a fortnight. It just left a rusty mark down the front of the engine but never got hot.
Incidentally was this a petrol or diesel clio , if its a diesel I can understand it taking a bit longer to compression check it as they can be a pig to get the glow plugs out depending on the engine.
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Oct 26, 2006 17:35:57 GMT
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car dealer's go on the asumpsion you brought a new car (or newish second hand car) there for you know curse word all about cars there for you are fair game to be ripped off even further. the solution buy an old car or buy privately don't go anywhere near car dealers they are all scammers thats why i left the 4x4 garage i used to work for .
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Oct 26, 2006 17:50:51 GMT
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I'm a mechanic and have seen a couple of diesel clios of that age with the head gaskets leaking coolant down the back of the block, no test would show this, compression or any other.
perhaps a head gasket leaking coolant would explain the coolant being almost completely water if it has been only topped up with water it would have been diluted.
Paul
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Oct 26, 2006 18:34:56 GMT
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Reading this thread you'de thing head gaskets went every day! tyre a bit flat sire? I'm afraid it's the head gasket! Speedo broken? Head gasket! gah! hahahahahahahahaha! ROFLMAO! your so right! at work we have just "rescued" a bmw 528i for being diagnosed head gasket/engine. bmw say it squirts water from the plug holes, there is no evidence that they have even touched the car. we've driven the car 50 miles now, through traffic and on the open road, and it will not overheat. turns out that it weaps the tiniest amount of coolant out of a bung on the bottom of the radiator, like 0.1 litres per year. £1500 quid for a new gasket from bm's or 90p + labour for fitting an o-ring from us. ridiculous. and its not gender based who they screw, this is a 30 something wanna-be-hardcase with "codrington bad boys" on the bottom of the number plate. main dealers could suck a golf ball through a hose pipe  |
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Seth
South East
MorrisOxford TriumphMirald HillmanMinx BorgwardIsabellaCombi
Posts: 15,538
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Oct 26, 2006 18:45:53 GMT
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Shocking if they are as scamming as implied but I've never dealt with any main dealers and only a couple of recommended specialist garages so have no knowledge in that area) Sorry to take this slightly away for the topic but I noticed while reading the banter between Keefy and Peaches that he is located in Arlesey and she's located in "Beds" - plural.    |
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Follow your dreams or you might as well be a vegetable. |
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Oct 26, 2006 20:15:39 GMT
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ive worked in a dealership for four large franchises for 5 months now. theres about 9 mechanics and 4 apprentices. we've done 2 headgaskets since i started, funny enough, both on vauxhalls. and we havent charged anything like that for the work (in saying that the zafira needed skimmed and rebuilt, twice!) its absolutely ridiculous, a complete coolant change is about £4 of coolant and 10 minutes labour! Without a compression test they are chancing it mucho seriosuly and should as said be notified to renault UK and trading standards. sickens me, really does. luckily i don't let that curse word happen here go to a garage with a pre-1990 car or oddball/enthusiast car pre-1999 |
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Oct 26, 2006 20:32:31 GMT
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Why is a coolant change charged seperately from a head gasket change when the coolant is drained anyway to remove the cylinder head?!!
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Oct 26, 2006 20:39:51 GMT
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thats insane...........burn it and buy something old and simple
cost me £50 in labour to get my clutch changed that was 4 hours work and engine out jobby
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 once again rocking with 1117cc and 4 gears! |
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Oct 26, 2006 21:52:22 GMT
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£400 sounds like a hell of a lot to get a head gasket done.
Last one I had done was on an Alfa 33 8v - complete with almost impossible to remove heads and 2 cambelts.
Was charged £224 all-in to change the gasket, skim the head, refit 2 new belts and change the oil.
However, it doesn't actually sound like the HG has gone from the posts in this thread.
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Prius T-Spirit, Alfa 156 Sportwagon, Alfa 75 TSpark Veloce, Mazda MX-5 1.8iS
Honda VFR750FT, Ducati 750SS, BMW R100RT, Hongdou GY200
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Oct 26, 2006 23:32:52 GMT
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The issue here is not that main dealers are nobheads, (They can all be nobheads - Main dealers, independant dealers, little garages or indeed private sellers) or that £400 quoted by the other bloke is too much (its probably about £100 over the going rate, not many people will do you a head gasket on anything other than something really simple like an 8 valve Cavalier for much less than £250), it`s that the head gasket on this particular car may well not have failed, which needs establishing.
But to be honest at 4 years old the car is out of warranty and theres no point taking it to the main dealer for anything as its all gonna be charged at at least triple the price of an honest independant.
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It would take about 10 mins => £10 even at their disgraceful rates.
