Wednesday, January 25, 2006

finally new vs old points proven........

..... as we all know - old cars are easier to fix ( as long as the part is to hand ) than their newer brethren.
I've repeatedly extolled this virtue to those around me in my social and working life to the usual snorts and derision, 'My car never breaks down - it's new - etc.....' and other not so nice arguments for the plastic mobiles the planet is cursed with now.
Don't get me wrong - the engineering advances and engine technological improvements are astounding and I applaud those involved ( I have to, a couple of friends work for car design and engineering companies ) BUT - without the custom software or a plethora of small computers to switch in and out by the roadside you're easily stranded.
This point was driven home recently and again tonight...... a friend called - could I look at his car as it was stalling and wouldn't run properly over 2000 revs. It's less than a year old, just came back from a bodyshop and full service.......blah, blah, blah. I went over in the 2500 ( started first time after over a week AS USUAL ) and the car ran fine - he went home. Called again in the morning to complain whatever I'd done ( NOTHING TOUCHED! ) meant the car wouldn't start at all now. After I pointed out all I did was get in and start the car after it had sat for a while so couldn't have 'done' anything he got on to the garage it came out of recently. They've obviously now charged him a fortune for recovery and another look at the car - to find the recent 'service' technician ( read snot nosed punk on training ) had blown a module of the engine management by dropping some metal item across two of the contacts and shorting the chip inside. A long legal battle looms for him as he now tries to recoup his expenditure on hire car etc...... ( wife pregnant and hospital visits on cards ).
Tonight it was the girlfriends turn - she of the 'your old cars are nothing but trouble - you're always having to do something to them' etc... etc... ranting, called to ask assistance as her 'modern funky little box that was such a great deal' ( owned since new, less than 3 yrs old - fully serviced ) wouldn't start. I show ed up in the 2500 ( surprise surprise! ) and 'japcrap' as I call it - started immediately. I followed her home and it ground to a halt 200m from the front door - it'll start but immediately stalls again - so impossible to drive. After it cools I'll be able to move it ( auto ) but not far until I figure out what it is - or send it to the local jap specialist and see how many zeros this bill will end up with!
I'm off to cruise around in my 'old junk' and sort out some electronic ignition for the MK1. The MK2 is fine - the Alfa is also OK for now ( brakes will be done AGAIN soon ) and the DS awaits my tender angle grinder and a large amount of welding to previous sh*t repairs.
The preventitive servicing and standard checks have kept the fleet relatively reliable - although this argument is a major sour point at the moment........ but that's an entry for the other BLOG.

John

Wednesday, January 18, 2006

Two weeks - nothing major done

A couple of weeks setting up a businees - paperwork, phone lines, software etc... so not much time for cars. So of course they screwed me over.....

The Alfa decided that the re-con caliper I fitted was sh*te so locked it and I ground to a halt at the football match we were playing. I sorted the team, stood at the pitch ( suspended of course ) and was notified by a passer-by that the damn rear end was on fire! I put that out - and limped the car home, I haven't looked at it properly yet ( lack of garage! ) but am dreading what I'll find now....... must do it so I can return the duff caliper. BOLLOX!

The major hassle being moving the DS. Courtesy of the f*ckheads here in Brussels D*C*R ( easy enough to find out who they are then! ) I was offered the service ( all 20Km ) for €211 - so accepted and agreed a time of 5pm(ish). They then called Mon morning and stated that as the time had been changed ( not by me you understand ) the price was now €317!!!! Unable to find another company at such short notice I was screwed so swallowed the bitter pill and agreed. Typical of the f*cking useless ar*eholes here in Belgium. Customer service does't exist - they're doing you a favour taking your money whilst wasting your time and sometimes not even showing up.

SO

Driver calls 6.45pm - LOST! I go find him and he follows me to the car, then f*cks the front panel as he can't be bothered looking for a secure towing point - it was wet on the floor from raining so he was in no way getting down to look!

I sort that - and car is loaded. He then follows me to new place ( temp ) and proceeds to unload, the lip on the garage is too high so the car grounds. He offers advice on raising the car as he sorts the lorry - I again look under for a jacking point so I can raise the front end - I stand up to see the lorry disappearing in the distance. The car blocking the road 400yds from the main train station for Brussels! I proceeded to swear and stomp while sorting the car - bloody heavy on your own......

The b*stard recovery co. then call two days later "we've got the invoice in our truck - where do we post it?" to the response " You're f*cking joking pal, your ar*ehole driver f*cked off leaving me with the car dumped. I'll be in to see you manager - a refund will be demanded and I'll be taking it out on your truck and cars' paintwork if none is forthcoming" - I'm heading over tomorrow so I'll let you know........

Triumph-ville all quiet - but that'll change I'm sure.

Thursday, January 05, 2006

Another day aother problem.

Spent most of the other night out in the freezing cold trying to get the MK1 to play the game. I'd left it untouched for a while so my own fault I suppose, but an hour of fiddling, cleaning contacts, checking sparks and fuel supply and a major jump lead session had the old girl running. I then discovered the choke was siezed so the lump was determined to self destruct. To help it along - the radiator I fitted recently ( and was fine ) decided I didn't have enough on my plate and dropped it's coolant guts all over the floor. Another two required now as the Mk2 has always lost a miniscule amount since I repaired it 3 years ago.

The Alfa has been acting up in the handbrake dept. so I need to get under it again soon. I picked up the transaxle i stole from E-b*y and will be getting it built up and ready to go on asap.

Most worrying is the loss of my garage, a friend going back to blighty in 5 days - I sorted another place out but have learned in the last 24hours that I can't take over until Feb. There's no way I can leave the DS outside so I'm desperately overcoming the language barrier and hunting for another place. Fat chance!

MK2 had been left a while too, I returned the other day to find a flat - but this was vandalism. Swapped with the spare, eventually - the nightmare of location, street construction here and lack of ground clearance when sitting on the rim had me scratching my head a little. ( I've now discovered has a slow puncture! ) BUT - it just keeps going and going.........

Off to find a barn or something...........back soon.

John