KoolTech Posted February 27, 2014 Posted February 27, 2014 One of the worst days for me, I have no idea about cars and not much (any!) money to fix it if something is wrong. Wish me luck!
LoyalHeretic Posted February 27, 2014 Posted February 27, 2014 "May the force be with you. Always." 1
Disaster Posted February 27, 2014 Posted February 27, 2014 Just dazzle with them with a few words to make it seem you know everything about cars. Words like "flywheel generator", "fuel capacitor rods", and "power mobility sensor" usually do the trick!
Garacesh Posted February 27, 2014 Posted February 27, 2014 Just dazzle with them with a few words to make it seem you know everything about cars. Words like "flywheel generator", "fuel capacitor rods", and "power mobility sensor" usually do the trick! Just tell them about how any repairs they need to make would interfere with the time circuits, destabilise the flux capacitor and probably make it difficult to get that hover conversion you were looking at done. I'm sure they'll understand.
Tesla Posted February 27, 2014 Posted February 27, 2014 Just tell them about how any repairs they need to make would interfere with the time circuits, destabilise the flux capacitor and probably make it difficult to get that hover conversion you were looking at done. I'm sure they'll understand. Just in time for Nov 5 2015
unixman_again Posted February 27, 2014 Posted February 27, 2014 In the words of Cpl Jones, "Don't panic!". If you have a reliable garage, they will be able to fix any problems and cheaply too. I have had several wrecks over the years, Yugo 45, Lada Samara and Vauxhall Corsa and I've been seeing the same "little man" for years. He has always managed to keep them on the road. Five years ago, I took the Corsa in and he said it would pass that year, but next year would be a struggle, so I had a year to think about want to do. I got a new Kia Picanto with the govt scrappage scheme. I take this to the same place, rather than the main dealer. The main dealer want £350-£400 for a full service and MOT and the place I go to did it all for £200. The main dealer does wash the car as part of the deal but it's a damned expensive wash if you ask me!
CAM Posted February 27, 2014 Posted February 27, 2014 Is you Kia still under warranty? I think mine is which means I need to take it to a dealer instead of the mechanic I used for decades or the warranty voids.
Griff Posted February 27, 2014 Posted February 27, 2014 Its nearly always about a trusted garage....on many occasions I have actually said to the garage I literally have X amount of money for this so if its going over that price you need to let me know because I won't be able to afford it until I get paid. It was over X maybe once in 4 years and the garage rang me to tell me and actually offered to let me pay the rest of the cost the month after which was pretty awesome. I have my service coming up with Ford they want £180 just for a service which I think is scandalous?? but I don't really have a choice as it has to be serviced at main dealer for next 2 years because its new.
Andrew_C Posted February 27, 2014 Posted February 27, 2014 Best bet is to find an ex-main dealer mechanic who has gone out on his own. But not with a car you want/need to keep the warranty up on I'm afraid. Kia are offering 100000 miles, but I'd bet it has to be serviced by them!
sted Posted February 27, 2014 Posted February 27, 2014 Is you Kia still under warranty? I think mine is which means I need to take it to a dealer instead of the mechanic I used for decades or the warranty voids. they arnt allowed to dictate that as long as the parts used are genuine and you have a vat receipt (or something like that) they are not allowed to force you to use a main dealer at least thats my understanding
HarryMonkey Posted February 27, 2014 Posted February 27, 2014 Took mine for its test just before Christmas. I was a bit apprehensive as I hadn't had the car long so knew little of its history. (54 plate Mondeo). I knew there was a sidelight bulb out and so there was a failure point there but I just wanted to know what else it was going to fail on. I also knew a tyre was getting low. They passed the car after replacing the side light and rear number plate light (free of charge), an advisory on the tyre and charged me £35 . I will definitely be going back there again and have recommended them to my colleagues. A good mechanic is worth his weight in gold.
Tesla Posted February 27, 2014 Posted February 27, 2014 @HarryMonkey, where did you take it too? If you don't mind my asking.
Miscbrah Posted February 27, 2014 Posted February 27, 2014 What car is it? Year, fuel, engine etc... What were the advisories last MOT?
HarryMonkey Posted February 27, 2014 Posted February 27, 2014 @HarryMonkey, where did you take it too? If you don't mind my asking. MoTest in Newport Pagnell. Cant recommend them highly enough.
southhamster Posted February 27, 2014 Posted February 27, 2014 I always reckon it's worth cleaning the metal beast before an mot and check all the lights yourself first. Oh and make sure the wiper blades are Ok. Good luck!
sted Posted February 27, 2014 Posted February 27, 2014 I always reckon it's worth cleaning the metal beast before an mot and check all the lights yourself first. Oh and make sure the wiper blades are Ok. Good luck! i just do light check every time a bus stops behind me at a set of lights nice reflective surface and easier than testing in the garage as your already at the controls
Oaktech Posted February 27, 2014 Posted February 27, 2014 I have a few things I keep an eye on, and keep on top of all year. I never send my car for a service, it's just too much money, but it gets oil and filters at the prescribed intervals. Lights (all present and correct), Wipers(not smearing, not falling apart), Washers (bottle full and pointing at the screen), Hazard switch illuminating correctly, No warning lights on dash, All tyres correctly inflated and well within legal limits - including spare, and not scrubbing. No frays on seat belts and if you have seatbelt warning lights that these go out, Brake discs, no rusty portions, no grooves. Hand brake - park on a hill and make sure it holds. Keep an eye out for obvious rust and have it dealt with if it occurs. Basically, doing this has meant i've never had really bad news from a garage as the expenditure is spread out over the year in £50-£100 chunks.
Andrew_C Posted February 27, 2014 Posted February 27, 2014 If you don't have a tame garage, and want a really honest MOT (and are prepared to pay the full whack) try your local bus garage, council depot, or similar. Many of them have MOT accreditation and will do general public tests, but won't do repairs so have no incentive to take the urine. 1
unixman_again Posted February 27, 2014 Posted February 27, 2014 (edited) they arnt allowed to dictate that as long as the parts used are genuine and you have a vat receipt (or something like that) they are not allowed to force you to use a main dealer at least thats my understandingThat is correct. I have a letter from Kia confirming this. Seven year warranty on my Kia. Not quite as good as Vauxhall but OK. I think the only time it has to go back to the main dealer, is if there is a recall. Mine has had one, for the petrol filler. Edited February 27, 2014 by unixman_again
Oaktech Posted February 27, 2014 Posted February 27, 2014 If you don't have a tame garage, and want a really honest MOT (and are prepared to pay the full whack) try your local bus garage, council depot, or similar. Many of them have MOT accreditation and will do general public tests, but won't do repairs so have no incentive to take the urine. +1 to this... Also worth seeing if your local car hire place does them too.
Earthling Posted February 27, 2014 Posted February 27, 2014 My elder daughter's partner runs a large, mainly fleet-based, servicing, MoT and repair workshop in Luton, so I have no worries in that regard, other than the cost of genuine BMW parts. My younger daughter's boyfriend (of 3 years) is a Central Heating engineer, so no worries on the heating and plumbing front. My son's girlfriend is training to be a teacher. Two out of three isn't bad, I suppose. Good Luck with the MoT, always a worrying time, but not for me.
CAM Posted February 27, 2014 Posted February 27, 2014 So if I check with the garage that he uses genuine parts I can get him to do the usual pre-check service and fix up before the MOT?
rad Posted February 27, 2014 Posted February 27, 2014 Also you can request for all your old parts to remain in the vehicle, that way you know if they have replaced them or not!
difinity Posted February 27, 2014 Posted February 27, 2014 As above, as long as they use genuine parts you do not have to take it to a main dealer to get your car serviced in warranty. And having worked in both a small independent and a main dealer. The independent garage gives a far better service. Wheels off regardless of the mileage.
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