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Interesting days
Oct. 7th, 2007 01:30 amYesterday's update was brought to you by "I forgot to pair FlipStart to the network" and "tired".
So more info!
First of all, much shuffling of stuff and running about, magazine finished, Whitby cottage paid for, and bought the new car - it's a 1996 Mitsubishi Delica Space Gear Jasper 2800TD. Current names are "Corky" (Because it's a short bus), "Baby" because it doesn't fit in the corner, "Super Happy Fun Bus" because of the mad Japanese name, and "IMMAGONNAEATJOO", which is what I gleefully declare as I bear down on smaller cars. Which is pretty much everything else on the road.
It seats 8, has mad centre seat that converts into a bed, sideways or facing seating, is automatic with on-the-fly 4x4 and is pushing 7ft tall, and therefore won't fit under some height restrictors or trees.
The drive down was uneventful aside from noting the consumption is quite poor, the speedo is over-reading by 12% and the mileage covered is equally out. One of the huge foglights is faulty due to wiring, but I now have all interior lights working and stereo almost behaving. It's getting a Kenwood TV when I can afford it (so... well, one day).
Mechanically it needs a good service but no major issues have surfaced, and this pleases me. It will get the private plate done before Whitby I expect.
Having collected and insured it Friday, I failed to get Direct Line to fax cover evidence to me despite them saying they would. Went to post office, said "I insured it this morning", and to my shock the usually very strict staff agreed that the postal strike would result in an unreasonable delay, and taxed it.
Today, up early and took Jen's Golf for repairs, then the dump (disaster; car wouldn't fit, resulted in hour drive across city and FOUL temper on my part because they wouldn't let me carry two bags and a cardboard box. Cunts). QL meeting, was okay, most QL stuff seems to be about running QL apps on PCs which frankly doesn't interest me at all.
Driving back was near the garage, so popped in as I wanted to get interior bulbs from Halfords (no LED ones in stock in the right size). Bloke meets us outside - I've parked beside Jen's car and up from an identical Delica!
"We've been trying to call you".
Uhoh.
Uhoh indeed. Apparently, they managed to undo the 9 year old suspension mounting bolts from the subframe captive nut, but when they refitted the bolt, the captive nut "fell out and went into the subframe". Which means the car cannot be driven, and needs a new subframe.
Okay. This bolt is one of four holding the wishbones that take all the forces of the suspension to the car. I can understand it not coming out. But a new one failing to go in? That's sheer hamfisted stupidity. I suspect they've tried to reuse the bolts which are likely to be stretch bolts anyway, and have got it crossthreaded, and have used the airtool to try and tighten a crossthreaded bolt, ripping the nut from the subframe.
The fix is to replace the subframe. An expensive part taking many hours to replace and involving disturbing a LOT of the car's parts - brakepipes, lots.
They weren't stupid enough to argue when I suggested that they will be accepting responsibility for this. I think had it been most of their customers, it would be "because the car is so old and it happens". I know it doesn't happen. I know that if the nut was going to break free it would be when undoing it.
Trying to decide if they can be allowed to do this themselves or if it goes to VW and they get the bill.
Sunday will be for relaxing and visiting Cheltenham :) Then Monday, Thomas Dolby, then back to Hawick.
Pictures of the van soon, but my cameraphone stinks. I haven't brought my laptop so I'm managing to not feel like working, though I think instead I'm going to be making Nationwide very, very unhappy indeed.
There is a reason I favour main dealers for car work; they have manuals and they have a profile which means they mess up, they'll fix it. But Jen's had no problems with Nationwide and I'm surprised they messed up a wishbone swap - it's the sort of thing they are there for. I suggested their quote was fine for the job. I don't think they're up to subframe swaps.
Ironically, when I spotted the other Delica there, I'd said "Oh, they've done one, I guess they can do the oil change." The Delica belongs to a mechanic there. He claims to have paid less than I did, but only £200, and his Delica is filthy inside, broken, has paint and filler problems. Feel quite good about this one :)
So more info!
First of all, much shuffling of stuff and running about, magazine finished, Whitby cottage paid for, and bought the new car - it's a 1996 Mitsubishi Delica Space Gear Jasper 2800TD. Current names are "Corky" (Because it's a short bus), "Baby" because it doesn't fit in the corner, "Super Happy Fun Bus" because of the mad Japanese name, and "IMMAGONNAEATJOO", which is what I gleefully declare as I bear down on smaller cars. Which is pretty much everything else on the road.
It seats 8, has mad centre seat that converts into a bed, sideways or facing seating, is automatic with on-the-fly 4x4 and is pushing 7ft tall, and therefore won't fit under some height restrictors or trees.
The drive down was uneventful aside from noting the consumption is quite poor, the speedo is over-reading by 12% and the mileage covered is equally out. One of the huge foglights is faulty due to wiring, but I now have all interior lights working and stereo almost behaving. It's getting a Kenwood TV when I can afford it (so... well, one day).
Mechanically it needs a good service but no major issues have surfaced, and this pleases me. It will get the private plate done before Whitby I expect.
Having collected and insured it Friday, I failed to get Direct Line to fax cover evidence to me despite them saying they would. Went to post office, said "I insured it this morning", and to my shock the usually very strict staff agreed that the postal strike would result in an unreasonable delay, and taxed it.
Today, up early and took Jen's Golf for repairs, then the dump (disaster; car wouldn't fit, resulted in hour drive across city and FOUL temper on my part because they wouldn't let me carry two bags and a cardboard box. Cunts). QL meeting, was okay, most QL stuff seems to be about running QL apps on PCs which frankly doesn't interest me at all.
Driving back was near the garage, so popped in as I wanted to get interior bulbs from Halfords (no LED ones in stock in the right size). Bloke meets us outside - I've parked beside Jen's car and up from an identical Delica!
"We've been trying to call you".
Uhoh.
Uhoh indeed. Apparently, they managed to undo the 9 year old suspension mounting bolts from the subframe captive nut, but when they refitted the bolt, the captive nut "fell out and went into the subframe". Which means the car cannot be driven, and needs a new subframe.
Okay. This bolt is one of four holding the wishbones that take all the forces of the suspension to the car. I can understand it not coming out. But a new one failing to go in? That's sheer hamfisted stupidity. I suspect they've tried to reuse the bolts which are likely to be stretch bolts anyway, and have got it crossthreaded, and have used the airtool to try and tighten a crossthreaded bolt, ripping the nut from the subframe.
The fix is to replace the subframe. An expensive part taking many hours to replace and involving disturbing a LOT of the car's parts - brakepipes, lots.
They weren't stupid enough to argue when I suggested that they will be accepting responsibility for this. I think had it been most of their customers, it would be "because the car is so old and it happens". I know it doesn't happen. I know that if the nut was going to break free it would be when undoing it.
Trying to decide if they can be allowed to do this themselves or if it goes to VW and they get the bill.
Sunday will be for relaxing and visiting Cheltenham :) Then Monday, Thomas Dolby, then back to Hawick.
Pictures of the van soon, but my cameraphone stinks. I haven't brought my laptop so I'm managing to not feel like working, though I think instead I'm going to be making Nationwide very, very unhappy indeed.
There is a reason I favour main dealers for car work; they have manuals and they have a profile which means they mess up, they'll fix it. But Jen's had no problems with Nationwide and I'm surprised they messed up a wishbone swap - it's the sort of thing they are there for. I suggested their quote was fine for the job. I don't think they're up to subframe swaps.
Ironically, when I spotted the other Delica there, I'd said "Oh, they've done one, I guess they can do the oil change." The Delica belongs to a mechanic there. He claims to have paid less than I did, but only £200, and his Delica is filthy inside, broken, has paint and filler problems. Feel quite good about this one :)
