How's your week been then?
Posted by: Officer DBL on 08 November 2007
I thought it would be nice to have a thread where we could offload the trials and tribulations of the week. We could get issues off our chests, and maybe, just maybe, gain a few words of support from kindred spirits in return.
Here goes. My car was serviced and successfully put through the MOT in April. Since then it has been in and out of the garage as they have done their utmost to be completely ineffective in locating, diagnosing and providing a remedy to a persistent droning noise it has been making since the service. In the last three weeks they have replaced:
All four tyres
Front ns hub bearing
Both front track rods
Rear suspension ball joints and bushes
A complete front bumper
A complete front wing
The cause of the persistent drone has finally been attributed to the front tyres, and replacing them has fixed the problem. That is the good news. The rest is not so good.
The rear tyres had to be replaced as they had gone bald on the inside edge due to the rear suspension being worn; rear suspension which, whilst spotted at the service, was not picked up as an issue at the MOT. The garage advised I could leave the work until 2008 when it would be needed to pass the next MOT. In the meantime it would not cause any problems with the car. At all.
The track rods were replaced free of charge by the garage as they were embarrassed to admit that when the rear suspension was done and rear tyres replaced, they forgot to do the promised wheel alignment, so didn’t notice the seized track rod ends.
The ns hub bearing was replaced as the senior technician thought he could hear a rumble which he had misinterpreted as my persistent drone. The obvious solution here was not the corrective solution.
The replacement of the seized track rod ends corrected a steering wheel misalignment, but caused the persistent drone to be louder and the steering wheel to shimmy when braking. In frustration I took the specialist technician for a drive in the car to make sure he could hear the drone I was banging on about, and to experience the steering wheel shimmy.
The garage rang me on Friday to tell me they had solved the problems. A new set of front tyres was the solution, and both the drone and the shimmy had gone. Delighted I looked forward to picking up my drone free/shimmy free car. That was last Friday. I still don’t have my car back. Why? The eagle eyed amongst you may have noticed the mention of the new front bumper and wing earlier in the post.
When the garage was returning my car to the customer parking section having kindly washed it, another customer reversed into my car, demolishing the front bumper and wing. The garage said not to worry; they would put things right at their expense.
Today they rang to say my car was ready. The new bumper is nice, they said, and the wing is sorted out, they said. The new bits have fresher paint, they said, so they may look a little different to the rest of the car, they said.
I am now looking forward to an interesting conversation with the garage this evening.
Kind regards
Rob
Here goes. My car was serviced and successfully put through the MOT in April. Since then it has been in and out of the garage as they have done their utmost to be completely ineffective in locating, diagnosing and providing a remedy to a persistent droning noise it has been making since the service. In the last three weeks they have replaced:
All four tyres
Front ns hub bearing
Both front track rods
Rear suspension ball joints and bushes
A complete front bumper
A complete front wing
The cause of the persistent drone has finally been attributed to the front tyres, and replacing them has fixed the problem. That is the good news. The rest is not so good.
The rear tyres had to be replaced as they had gone bald on the inside edge due to the rear suspension being worn; rear suspension which, whilst spotted at the service, was not picked up as an issue at the MOT. The garage advised I could leave the work until 2008 when it would be needed to pass the next MOT. In the meantime it would not cause any problems with the car. At all.
The track rods were replaced free of charge by the garage as they were embarrassed to admit that when the rear suspension was done and rear tyres replaced, they forgot to do the promised wheel alignment, so didn’t notice the seized track rod ends.
The ns hub bearing was replaced as the senior technician thought he could hear a rumble which he had misinterpreted as my persistent drone. The obvious solution here was not the corrective solution.
The replacement of the seized track rod ends corrected a steering wheel misalignment, but caused the persistent drone to be louder and the steering wheel to shimmy when braking. In frustration I took the specialist technician for a drive in the car to make sure he could hear the drone I was banging on about, and to experience the steering wheel shimmy.
The garage rang me on Friday to tell me they had solved the problems. A new set of front tyres was the solution, and both the drone and the shimmy had gone. Delighted I looked forward to picking up my drone free/shimmy free car. That was last Friday. I still don’t have my car back. Why? The eagle eyed amongst you may have noticed the mention of the new front bumper and wing earlier in the post.
When the garage was returning my car to the customer parking section having kindly washed it, another customer reversed into my car, demolishing the front bumper and wing. The garage said not to worry; they would put things right at their expense.
Today they rang to say my car was ready. The new bumper is nice, they said, and the wing is sorted out, they said. The new bits have fresher paint, they said, so they may look a little different to the rest of the car, they said.
I am now looking forward to an interesting conversation with the garage this evening.
Kind regards
Rob
Just been given one of those 'panic alarm' keyrings as a safety precaution for work.
Managed to separate alarm from keys whilst getting out the car in a hurry this morning. The thing was woo wooing across the car park. Bugger.
Went to a lecture on Benzodiazepines without a hint of trouble. Decided afterwards to get a takeout coffee from the cafeteria. Went into the pocket of my long black top coat looking for change............ happened to separate 'panic alarm' from keys again. However, I have a hole in my coat pocket. Alarm again woo wooing disappeared into the lining of my top coat in the middle of the cafe. Took 5 minutes of Mr. Bean/John Cleese impersonations to get the fuffin thing out and silenced.
A 6ft 5in funeral director look alike with a penchant for Barrymore impersonations. Jeez
Didn't even get my coffee
Diccus
Managed to separate alarm from keys whilst getting out the car in a hurry this morning. The thing was woo wooing across the car park. Bugger.
Went to a lecture on Benzodiazepines without a hint of trouble. Decided afterwards to get a takeout coffee from the cafeteria. Went into the pocket of my long black top coat looking for change............ happened to separate 'panic alarm' from keys again. However, I have a hole in my coat pocket. Alarm again woo wooing disappeared into the lining of my top coat in the middle of the cafe. Took 5 minutes of Mr. Bean/John Cleese impersonations to get the fuffin thing out and silenced.
A 6ft 5in funeral director look alike with a penchant for Barrymore impersonations. Jeez
Didn't even get my coffee
Diccus
quote:Originally posted by Stevea:
Set up an automatic (security light sensor activated) sprinkler system in front of your doorway to operate when you are closed.
Will both wash the area for you and keep away the offenders. Similar systems have been used very effectively against taggers.
Steve
What a fantastic idea Steve
However, I don't know how long my windows would last given the inevitable onslaught from drunken and now wet revellers! Plus it would certainly be an interesting out of hours sales ploy...... soak prospective customers and then when they call in to complain - sell em a Hi-Fi 
Yaaaa!Ona different note, I was having fun earler in the week revelling in the sound and extra grunt provided by a nice new beautifully custom made manifold and exhaust system for "me wheels" (my plaything is a Lotus Sunbeam). However, a dampener was swiftly applied by fate........ The alternator light came on and so I had to make my way swiftly home before running out of battery....yes, it was dark, lights on etc.
I made it home though - phew! Just got to get the alternator fixed now.....
I think this could be a very good thread given a chance, and perhaps more equal helpings of the good, the bad, and the amusing.
TTFN
Peter
quote:Originally posted by BigH47:]
See the Sunbeams are still reliable as ever. My mate used to rally one his finish rate was about 50% and no crashes.
Nahh! I'm not complaining, it's the first alternator in 24 years of my ownership of the car........ and she still got me home In all that time I've only actually broken down on the road once and that was due to a faulty seal on a nearly new water pump.
Anyway, when one's had a crappy day and feeling low, I can just open my garage, jump in and start her up and go for a play - scare myself a little and then return home with a big smile on my face and in a much brighter mood - it always works for me, and let's face it, that's all that matters.
Kind regards,
Peter
Pretty good so far! 
Having dropped my mother off for a knee replacement operation last Tuesday, we were able to take her home last night. She only appears to need sticks for getting about now, rather than a walking fraim!
Apparently she'd been making good enough progress with her physio to be released. She does stairs too! Not bad for someone of 81.
She just told me that she was getting bored sitting about doing nothing..................!
TTFN
Peter
Having dropped my mother off for a knee replacement operation last Tuesday, we were able to take her home last night. She only appears to need sticks for getting about now, rather than a walking fraim! Apparently she'd been making good enough progress with her physio to be released. She does stairs too! Not bad for someone of 81.
She just told me that she was getting bored sitting about doing nothing..................!
TTFN
Peter
quote:
Ona different note, I was having fun earler in the week revelling in the sound and extra grunt provided by a nice new beautifully custom made manifold and exhaust system for "me wheels" (my plaything is a Lotus Sunbeam). However, a dampener was swiftly applied by fate........ The alternator light came on and so I had to make my way swiftly home before running out of battery....yes, it was dark, lights on etc.
Peter
Aah the late Henri Toivonen's first WRC win motor.
A friend used to run it's cousin, HS Chevette, which was also a hoot when it worked.
Jono