Vocal Voices

my car's MOT that is. Took it in on Saturday and it failed for two reasons (faulty breakline and tyre problem). I took it back today for fixing and MOT retest and £220 later my car is legal once more.

I shouldn't complain really - my car is 11 years old and hasn't had a good service in quite some time and the reasons it failed had nothing to do with the engine. But still - ouch..... and sigh

I feel for you ria. My car is 11 years old and it sailed through it's MOT. However over the last week it has started to act like a truck with a mini engine in it rather than a very powerful and fast car. As I'm not at home with my local friendly garage and €35 per hour labour rates, I changed the plugs and air filter myself. Which did nothing. I will change the MAF (airflow control sensor), which I got from ebay for £50, myself.

However if that fails then I'll have to find a cheap garage to diagnose the fault. My reading says that it is likely to be one of several things, each one more expensive than the last. My own experience in the field says it can be fuel or electrical. It's unlikely to be serious mechanical as it performs perfectly when not under load.

BTW I used the cheap ASDA tyres for my car. Cheapest tyres for my car, otherwise, are £110 per tyre....

I'm hoping, as you must be, that my car does not now become a money sink with problem after problem. I've had the car since it was 3 years old and the only MOT failure it's ever had was the numberplate. Oh and the exhaust is original too.....

We try to look at cost per year, so ours is quite good on that basis

Mine failed its MOT today. Although it wasn't unexpected.

It needs new anti roll bar linkage in the nearside and offside rear and a new nearside steering gaiter. (I'm reading it off the certificate that's sat in front of me - I don't know anything technical about it).

However, we are not expecting it to be at all expensive to fix. It is due to go off to the garage on Monday to be done as that was the earliest they could fit it in for me.

My car is due it's MOT tomorrow.

On Sunday night some little darling decided to try to steal my wing mirror. After snapping the unit he realised it had to be unbolted from the inside and unless he was prepared to break into the car and strip down the door panel, etc he couldn't get it (in a flash of enlightment he came back last night and took the actual mirror part, which he could have bought online for less than a tenner). I've just ordered a new unit, which a friend will fit, for £83-Honda wanted at least twice that.

I know I also need my anti roll bar linkage done. I've priced this and National Tyres can do it at almost a third of Honda's price.

Hopefully there wont be too much more to be done(tyres, brakes, etc were all done during the year).

On the plus side my insurance company legal services has finally issued a writ against the insurance company of the guy who wrote off my car two years ago. All the other people who had cars damaged that night have had their claims settled so hopefully mine will be soon. This means I will get out of pocket expenses, excess and increased insurance fees returned to me plus my insurance will half overnight.

meriad wrote:my car's MOT that is. Took it in on Saturday and it failed for two reasons (faulty breakline and tyre problem). I took it back today for fixing and MOT retest and £220 later my car is legal once more.

That's not too bad really Ria when you consider my 3 year old car had its first ever MOT and a service which together cost me just short of £150 NOT at the dealer either