Mr Clutch M.O.T's

[Diabolical]

I used Mr clutch to have my clutch replaced Xantia TCT I supplied the clutch they fitted it, total cost £400 did a cracking job in 4 hours I would definitely use them again.
Oh I should add they forgot to plug Orange abs plug in.

[flying clutchman]

Mr clutch is (or used to be) a franchise operation, which meant that they're basically as good or bad as their manager/franchisee. Most of them in the London area have dissapeared, and I suspect the surviving ones have had to be decent to remain in business. They used to make their money in the early days (70's)by fitting their own brand recon clutches. These proved to be rubbish and I can't imagine they'd be doing this on modern cars. (they wouldn't work) It's easy to criticise specialist sections of the motor repair industry, but the simple truth is that it's impossible for anyone to be up todate on all aspects of all makes. The small local garage prospered in an era when most people drove british made cars of simple design. I've had plenty of customers who've been to local garages for clutch problems who've found that they're just not familiar with some of the obscure issues that occur on some models. It's ok if you've got a Citroen or an Alfa because they'll be an independent specialist nearby. But if you've got a Ford or a Renault or suchlike there's no such luxury. Anyway, I think I've rambled off the point, I can't see that it's a problem going to Mr.C for an MOT. What's the risk? Your'e not asking them to rebuil your engine!

[Xaccers]

When I first started driving I used to take my car to a recommended local garage. Every 6000 mile service my 205 needed new brake lines as they were pitted and new CV boots. EVERY SINGLE TIME!
Dad was paying as I wasn't working at the time and he'd recommended the garage.
With my 2nd 205 it had a fuel leak out the top of the tank, it took them 3 goes, charging me every time to find the leak and it turned out they'd been looking in completely the wrong place having ignored the symptoms I'd given them (It leaks only when the tank is full, with diesel pouring onto the ground right next to the tank).
When they started coming up with excuses as to why they couldn't give me the old parts they had supposedly replaced and couldn't explain why my brake lines were getting pitted so often, I stopped using them and started doing my own work.
Always be weary of people recommending garages, they may not know they're being ripped off or the work done is shoddy.
Unless the person recommending a garage actually knows what they're talking about, ie could do the work themselves but for some reason are unable, then I treat every garage as potential charlatans, especially as I knew a Land Rover mechanic who'd brag about all the corners he'd cut to get more jobs in through the day.
This is why genuine mechanics, independent or not, are worth their weight in gold. For instance by Jim's is a F1 tyre place, basically the same as KwikFit/ATS but they do have a chap there who knows what he's doing when it comes to tracking/wheel alignment, and they've yet to screw up a wheel change on any of my cars so I'll keep using them.

[flying clutchman]

Exactly. It's more about the staff than the company!

[MTND]

For the small amount of money were talking about saving maybe the cheapest is not always best!!!

I find Trust is the biggest word that come's into my head with anything on my pride and joy!
I'm very happy to pay the £45 I was charged by Duxford Motor group, they are thorough but know old Citroens so will not fail a car for something that is alright

Passed this year ok with no advises

Mark

[addo]

Xac is on the money.

Last week, we were assisted by a bloke working out the boot of a Vectra after his workshop folded (this is the backhand of internet shopping; it destroys marginal businesses). Intelligent, could see the problems and knew how to approach a solution - even though he'd never worked on one of these items before. Measured up shims, laid everything out in order and it made a real difference. Yet if you generalised about mobile mechanics working out the back of scruffy cars, he'd have not managed a look-in.

There's a Kwik-Fit type place near me, and similarly they have a couple of perceptive staff - you only get treated like a mushroom if you're passive to the point of being unhelpful.

[Citroenmad]

I have three garages which I almost trust, that number is getting smaller though!

One does my MOTs, one does the more common but larger jobs which I dont want to do (cambelts mainly) and another is a local Citroen specialist who I have had do jobs which they would have done before.

But on the whole, I do everything myself. I just wish I had a tyre fitting rig and wheel balancer, then I would be sorted


I have used the local Ford dealer for MOTs in the past, as they did do them for £20 a pop. I never had a problem with them, though they used to pick up odd things. One car I took ahd a tiny dink in one door, just off someone opening their car door onto mine. They put dent in door on the MOT form! There cant have been anything wrong with the car to pick up on a very slight bodywork defect

[stevestix8]

Hi All,

Good responses everyone. Obviously alot of people out there have varying opinions about how these 'cheaper' m.o.t. places compare to your local reliable mechanic. I have used both before and my local mechanics has never let me down. They do good work and at least one of them has some reliable knowledge about Xantia's. The trouble is the price. Compared to Citroen themselves my local garage are usually alot better for price. Compared to places like Halfords and Mr Clutch the m.o.t. prices are usually double. I have done alot of the work to my car myself which is both better for my knowledge of my car and my money.

The catch that needs to be dodged with these cheaper m.o.t.'s is that you have to get the work done by them if it fails. If you take the vehicle away you could pay twice.

The Mr Clutch advert says there is no commitment to get the work done by them and you will not pay more to get it retested (on the things that failed).

I have fixed an annoying light problem this weekend. I replaced a bulb about a month ago. Then in the last week the same bulb went again. I took the fitting apart in the engine compartment and found that the clip was not holding the electrics block to the rear of the light fitting. I refitted with clip and now the lights are all working. It is ready for the m.o.t. now.

I do have a problem though that I was wandering if anyone has any info on. It is not critical for the m.o.t. but I would like to solve as the rest of the car is all working well. About 2 weeks ago my internal fan stopped stopping. Usually the fan would come on (usually on auto) then the fan would cut out. It is not doing this now. I have lost control of the fan speed. I can't stop it or make it any stronger. I can control the temp of the air (the slider switch) but the air speed flow does not change or stop whatever I do. I have narrowed this down to either the switch or maybe some sensor but am guessing. This happened to anyone else?

Thanks

Steve

[Xaccers]

You know, in all my years of motoring I have never seen a reduced price mot with the condition of having any work done by the same garage.

If the fan is blowing only full blast then the transistors have had it.
Search for transistors and you'll find the relevant thread

[stevestix8]

Hi all,

Thanks for responses.

Have looked for these transistors (fw26025a1) and not many places have them. RS components and maplins didn't have them. I looked at europarts and 24/7 parts and they didn't have any.

I found on ebay a Citroen blower fix kit. see link:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/320995843641" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;? ... 1423.l2649

This kit is ideal, he supplies along with the good high quality heat glue, the 2 x 30amp transistors which are better than original 20amp trannys.

I will be fitting tomorrow but am confident this will solve my problem.

Then I am taking it for the m.o.t on Friday at the Mr Clutch in Bristol.

Thanks,

Steve

[rory_perrett]

£16 is not bad for a working fan again. Transistors on their own can be found on ebay for around £5 each.

Rory

[Hell Razor5543]

I think that the best thing to do re Mr Clutch is to find out locally how good (or bad) they are. I personally will never use them, as after they "sorted" the clutch on my previous Xantia all sorts of problems arose, destroying my trust in the car. As she was 'old' (not really, 2000 X reg), there was no way to prove it was down to the "work" done on it. I have (since) heard other sob stories about that branch that I wish I had heard before I used them.

[stevestix8]

Hi,

Thanks for responses. Fixed it. Took the unit off and then apart. We drilled out the rivets and removed as much solder as we could. With some prising the transistors popped out. I used a fair amount of heat paste (fix kit) replaced with the fix kit transistors and resoldered. Put small bolts and screws (fix kit) and all went back together well. I tried the fan before putting back in housing and all working. I put it back together and all seems fine. I did a pre mot on it aswell and the drive back was the best its been for a while.

Am off to Bristol tomorrow is booked in at the Bristol supercentre.

Steve

[stevestix8]

Hi,

Just an update to say I had the M.O.T yesterday at the Mr Clutch in Bristol. All seems fine with the mot. It is £21.00. It did fail on some small things (6 items on lights) I have had as an advisory on previous years that the direction indicators rear were both discoloured. So was not suprised it failed on these. ( I am told these are just amber 501 bulbs) The side repeater was incorrect colour also.

It failed on 7 items. The first 6 are all connected to lights, headlamp aim to low and new bulbs needed. The 7 point was the offside front brake is binding. When I replaced the front pads about a year ago, I noticed that 1 of the pads had worn more than the others. I thought I had fixed this when I put the new pads on. Obviously not. He said when the car was supported he tried to roll the wheel and there is some binding there (prob on caliper).

It passed on everything else. What I was told was that if it had of failed on pads or discs then it would cost another £10 for retest. As there is no problem with brakes and there is just some binding happening I will not be charged any extra for retest in next 10 working days.

Has anyone got any suggestions on how to fix this binding? Or should I just get another caliper? Also I have found the side repeater and direction indicator bulbs on ebay. There seems to be different types so will remove mine to confirm the new ones match. I believe they are the amber 501's.

Thanks for advice,

Steve

[Hell Razor5543]

Is it possible that the handbrake cable is the cause of the binding? Where it passes through the loop by the hub carrier it can get worn down to the inner armour, and then water gets in and causes the cable to rust and bind. It did on Gracie, and when I replaced both secondary cables the problem was resolved.