C8 🆚 Heatwave, Heatwave winning/won...

[Rp0thejester]

So we had a heatwave, no problem, the car can handle it. WRONG!!!! Driving to pick my daughter up from school I lost acceleration and heard a hissing noise, I pulled over, popped the bonnet and just normal engine noise even when revving, so I carried on. Next day same issue but constantly hissing and very poor acceleration, managed to limp home. Car engine was heating up so quick the fans kicked in and I couldn't locate the hissing noise. I figured I burst a pipe and was loosing air somewhere but couldn't figure out where exactly. I blanked off the egr and then it became apparent it was hissing after the turbo, the big cloud of smoke from the engine gave it away. So I waited till Sunday night and limped to my local garage (who are very experienced) when less people are driving on the road. Tonight I got a call from them saying they can't fix it and to take it to a specialist.

Plus point, my local specialist is the Chevronics Centre in Hitchin!!!! So I'm going to limp there tomorrow completely unannounced and see how good they really are. Hopefully I can get a few decent photos of some of there classics. I just hope they can fix her.

[the-termin8r]

I don't know if that's something the heatwave would have caused specifically. My guess would be a turbo hose or something. Or worst case maybe a cracked exhaust-side "casing/body"? Did the mechanic say what was wrong with it or why they couldn't fix it?

Either way, I can vouch for Chevronics, I've used them loads. Interesting coincidence, I actually work in Letchworth LOL.

[Rp0thejester]

No, they didn't say what the fault was. I'll give them the benefit of the doubt and say their to busy to do it. It's very labour intensive on the C8 as you can't get to the back of the engine without removing half the car. I was going to get them to do the belts as well as they were there. But ha ho, let's see how Chevronics do.

I live in Letchworth, so if you've seen a dark grey C8 it was me.

[the-termin8r]

Ah that's fair. I'm the maniac in the black C5 X7 saloon haha.

[Rp0thejester]

I've never been to Chevronics before so I'll report back tomorrow on the first time customer experience.

[the-termin8r]

How'd it go? What's the damage?

[Rp0thejester]

Unfortunately I couldn't get there today but I'm booked in for Tuesday. They sounded pretty knowledgeable, the comment I got when I said it was a C8 was " oh, that's quite rare". So it gives me some confidence that they know what their doing.

[the-termin8r]

Interesting that the C8 is rare to them. I suppose they're used to seeing the traditionally rare boats. I actually saw a BX 4TC a few visits ago. I knew they were rare but didn't realise how ridiculously rare. Only 86 were bought by people (worldwide, not just the UK), who knows how many are still around. Had I known that I probably would have taken a sneaky photo.

[Rp0thejester]

I think they class it as rare when there's less than 1000 left, currently 690 left in the UK. Now Zeldeaths Trabant is a unicorn 1 of 1 in the UK in that colour.

[the-termin8r]

Had a bit of a gander myself, 3L X7s are currently sitting at 31 if the numbers are to be believed.

[mickthemaverick]

On the rarity subject my MX3 is one of only 3 taxed and mot'd 1.6 models left! No wonder no enquiries since I listed it for sale!