The world of used cars - Page 8

**Dropped52** · December 6th, 2018, 10:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scoundrel

It is written in English and it is grammatically correct and in good syntax. But in my mind I am reading Swahili. Electrics are really not my forte.

Haha it's not for everyone. I fix cars for a living, take it to a good shop where your at and ask them to do that.

**scoundrel** · January 26th, 2019, 01:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scoundrel

The MOT will fall due again next month, so I will need to book her in at my local branch of Dracula Independent Motor Workshops. If she passes the MOT without incident then she gets an annual service...

I had the MOT test this morning and (slightly to my surprise) she passed. The tester commented darkly about a slight engine noise, but when I listened it is the same noise she has been making ever since I bought her. I am now just shy of 9,000 miles of use and out of mild curiosity I checked the tyre tread - still at least 5mm. On that basis (they mostly start with 8mm when brand new) I reckon there's another 9-10,000 miles of road use to go.

Sadly I just can't afford umpteen hundreds of pounds for a full service now, and that will probably have to wait until the summer. But I am having an interim service done - engine flush, oil and filter change and air filter change. That won't hurt anything and at £140 I can just about bear it. Also, I rewarded her for passing by giving her a one-a-year wash and wax.

**otokonomidori** · January 26th, 2019, 04:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scoundrel

The tester commented darkly about a slight engine noise, but when I listened it is the same noise she has been making ever since I bought her.

oil and filter change and air filter change. That won't hurt anything and at £140 I can just about bear it

Tell him to fuck off - engine noises aren't part of the MoT !

I change the oil and the plugs and air filter myself, brake pads or discs too - I only use garages for stuff that requires a younger man and/or a hoist.

I've got a VAT free arrangement with my local garagiste !

**scoundrel** · January 26th, 2019, 08:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by otokonomidori

Tell him to fuck off - engine noises aren't part of the MoT !

I change the oil and the plugs and air filter myself, brake pads or discs too - I only use garages for stuff that requires a younger man and/or a hoist.

I've got a VAT free arrangement with my local garagiste !

Plugs and air filter I can consider, but under no circumstances will I jack up a car and lie down underneath it, which is what I would need to do to let out the oil from the sump. Not even on my own land would I do this and ten times never on the side of the road, when it would take only one fool touching my car when trying clumsily to park behind it, in order for me to be transferred to the next plane of existence.

I'll let the garage deal with it.

**otokonomidori** · January 27th, 2019, 02:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scoundrel

Plugs and air filter I can consider, but under no circumstances will I jack up a car and lie down underneath it, which is what I would need to do to let out the oil from the sump. Not even on my own land would I do this and ten times never on the side of the road, when it would take only one fool touching my car when trying clumsily to park behind it, in order for me to be transferred to the next plane of existence.

I'll let the garage deal with it.

Quite right ! The pathetic jack that comes with a car is pretty useless. I wouldn't work on a car at the roadside either. Better safe than sorry

I've got ramps and axle stands for those sort of jobs.

**scoundrel** · September 14th, 2019, 10:08 PM

A new thing arose a couple of weeks ago on my latest trip up North to look after my Mum while my sisters were off gallivanting in Greece. The gearbox became unwilling to engage first and second gear and reverse - not all the time, but with distressing frequency and generally at traffic lights or when starting the car on uphill slopes. Some very dark speculation on my part about how expensive this could be.

Just this once, Dracula Independent Motor Workshops has done me proud. It turned out to be a slack linkage cable which needed to be tightened, and they didn't even charge me for it - said it took three minutes and I'm a regular customer.

I wonder how long this good fortune can last.

Estreeter · September 22nd, 2019, 01:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scoundrel

I wonder how long this good fortune can last.

How's that gearbox now

**scoundrel** · September 22nd, 2019, 05:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Estreeter

How's that gearbox now

So far it is working normally again but I have not yet been on another long trip. Sometimes the car does absolutely nothing for a month or longer, and then it does about 450 miles in two days.

**CallMeMaybe** · September 22nd, 2019, 06:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Estreeter

How's that gearbox now

Holy shit, I just had a flashback of my ex. He was a bit of a "gearbox" too lol.

I drove a Tercel that was held together with duct tape but wouldn't fail me. No airbags.

Now I have a Lincoln Navigator with 30 (embellishment for comparison) airbags.

**chris chunt** · October 2nd, 2019, 04:23 AM

Just about to embark on a motorway trip in a jalopy I've just bought.
Before I leave do you think there's enough tread on this tyre ?

September 14th, 2019, 10:08 PM	#76
scoundrel Super Moderator Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: England Posts: 26,237 Thanks: 162,397 Thanked 278,475 Times in 26,182 Posts	A new thing arose a couple of weeks ago on my latest trip up North to look after my Mum while my sisters were off gallivanting in Greece. The gearbox became unwilling to engage first and second gear and reverse - not all the time, but with distressing frequency and generally at traffic lights or when starting the car on uphill slopes. Some very dark speculation on my part about how expensive this could be. Just this once, Dracula Independent Motor Workshops has done me proud. It turned out to be a slack linkage cable which needed to be tightened, and they didn't even charge me for it - said it took three minutes and I'm a regular customer. I wonder how long this good fortune can last. __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

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October 2nd, 2019, 04:23 AM	#80
chris chunt Vintage Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 2,805 Thanks: 7,946 Thanked 36,406 Times in 2,765 Posts	Just about to embark on a motorway trip in a jalopy I've just bought. Before I leave do you think there's enough tread on this tyre ?