Are garages CRAP?

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boristhespie
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Post by boristhespie »

It's not just garages.

My boiler is on the blink. Kept breaking down. Got British Gas out three times. First guy changed something, blaming that. The second guys said it was something else, which wasn't available and the third guy said it wasn't that but a bit of grit in the pilot, which he restarted after blowing through it. The pilot went out two day later.

We happened to have left so for that cold snap we had zero heating and frozen pipes when we got back.

Got in another plumber relit pilot, despite being told that it would go out again and that there was more to it. He took 10 minutes and charged 45 quid.

Refused to come back when pilot went out without us paying another 45 quid.(we never complained) so still without heat or hot water, so far since October, on and off (mostly off). Going to call out another plumber (if we can get one-burst pipes make more cash) and we will pay another 45 quid for the guy to relight a pilot which wont stay on.

So Garages are not the only sector to have such a laissez-faire attitude to taking cash off of you.

I thought dealers were specialists and therefore would be able to pinpoint a reasonable major fault, but to say wait for the head gasket to go is a tad knackered way of thinking.
C'est pas possible!
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Post by Peter.N. »

There are no doubt some very good and concientoius mechanics about if you can find them, more likely in rural areas like here. I would trust my local garage implicitly, but don't as I do all my own work, there are at least two other independents I would also reccomend, all working from farms.

I don't have this problem as I have always repaired my own cars, but in order to be able to do that now you have to run something made in the mid '90s, and it just so happens ....

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Post by boristhespie »

How did you teach yourself and how do you deal with big jobs?
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Post by Xaccers »

boristhespie wrote:How did you teach yourself and how do you deal with big jobs?
For me it was taking things methodically and logically, consulting the BoL and hoping it was telling the truth, oodles of help from Citrojim, and the wealth of knowledge from members of this forum.
Mix into that neccessity due to lack of funds and it's amazing what big jobs you can do without needing to go to a garage.
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Post by Peter.N. »

Sort of worked my way up. I started in the '50s with my first car, a pre war Prefect, if I had a problem I asked and watched, within the first year I had repaired the gearbox twice! I couldn't afford to pay so had no option.

Cars were of course very simple then but as they got more complicated I got more experience and between 1960 and and 1985 did a number of diesel conversions, using mainly Perkins 4/108 engines and Va--hall gearboxes. I think I did ten all told in vehicles as diverse as a viva and Granada estate, I rebuilt the gearboxes using wide ratio gears and overdrive to make some quite useful cars at the time, while doing all this I was earning a living as a TV engineer - if only I had that energy now. :(

After I drove my first diesel CX I didn't find it necessary to do any more as I had found the ultimate diesel of the time, I soon found my way round the CX and then the XM. I don't work as quickly as I used to but as I am retired and have several cars on the road I dont have to.

So that is the answer to the dilemma, anyone care to join me?

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Post by handyman »

Boris, I think you will find that dealing with things mechanical is not just experience but aptitude. After all, I am sure there are many on here that can take things apart. The real skill is putting it all back together, with no bits left over!! :shock: and it working when you turn the key.

We will be in a real desperate situation in this country, when we do not train enough mechanical engineers or technicians to meet the needs of consumers. For the work they do, engineers are a sorely underpaid lot, I know :cry: , and that follows on all the way down the scales to the lowly fitter.

Pressing keys and watching things on a screen goes no way to compensate for hands on skills acquired in the workshop.

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Post by HDI »

boristhespie wrote:It's not just garages.

My boiler is on the blink. Kept breaking down. Got British Gas out three times. First guy changed something, blaming that. The second guys said it was something else, which wasn't available and the third guy said it wasn't that but a bit of grit in the pilot, which he restarted after blowing through it. The pilot went out two day later.

We happened to have left so for that cold snap we had zero heating and frozen pipes when we got back.

Got in another plumber relit pilot, despite being told that it would go out again and that there was more to it. He took 10 minutes and charged 45 quid.

Refused to come back when pilot went out without us paying another 45 quid.(we never complained) so still without heat or hot water, so far since October, on and off (mostly off). Going to call out another plumber (if we can get one-burst pipes make more cash) and we will pay another 45 quid for the guy to relight a pilot which wont stay on.

.
That sounds like the thermocouple or high temperature cutout switch.
Plumbers and heating engineers (engineers in the loosest possible sense in my experience !) are another bunch to avoid !
I maintain and repair my own heating too !!
Which boiler do you have ?
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Post by boristhespie »

Worcester 2.24 electric (it is old)

First guy from BG replaced thermocoupler. The second guy said it was the overheat thermost, the third (their boss) said it was none of these but a blocked pilot) £160, £160 third one was free. Last plumber said it was probably a draft, match lit and £45.

May end up getting new boiler, but like car, hate spending money I will have to borrow on a hunch.

really lucky that pipes froze but didn't burst. Amount of people with burst pipes is horrendous. I guess thats some good luck for me.
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Post by handyman »

HDI, I'd be a little bit circumspect about offering advice about gas equipment on this forum, as you could put yourself in an awkward position with regards to the Gas Regulations, which can be deemed as a criminal offence. Anybody dealing with gas equipment must be qualified and registered with CORGI or whatever the new body is called now.

As Boris has no knowledge or training in gas equipment, if he attempts to tamper with the boiler, he could not be seen as competent and could risk putting his own and others lives at risk. Not a matter to be taken light-heartedly.

Boris, if you need to find a competent heating engineer, contact the regulatory body in Scotland and ask them for the names of registered engineers in your area, then get a quote or estimate of charges before you get them to do the repairs. If they fail to deliver, you can then complain to their registering body.

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boristhespie
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Post by boristhespie »

It was only a discussion. I would never touch my boiler KABOOM!! and know the law, problem is too many of us feel the same way about cars. We would be too scared to try and fix things ourselves.
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Post by HDI »

handyman wrote:HDI, I'd be a little bit circumspect about offering advice about gas equipment on this forum, as you could put yourself in an awkward position with regards to the Gas Regulations, which can be deemed as a criminal offence. Anybody dealing with gas equipment must be qualified and registered with CORGI or whatever the new body is called now.

As Boris has no knowledge or training in gas equipment, if he attempts to tamper with the boiler, he could not be seen as competent and could risk putting his own and others lives at risk. Not a matter to be taken light-heartedly.

Boris, if you need to find a competent heating engineer, contact the regulatory body in Scotland and ask them for the names of registered engineers in your area, then get a quote or estimate of charges before you get them to do the repairs. If they fail to deliver, you can then complain to their registering body.

Handyman
The information was provided to possibly help with a diagnosis of the fault.

BTW , Boris , if the thermocouple and overheat cutout have been replaced it really only leaves the gas valve.
Now using '00 Xantia LX HDI, pov spec :(
My past Citroens :-
'00 Xantia SX HDI, now dead due to accident :(
'99 Xantia HDI 110 Exclusive, RIP :(
'97 Xantia TD SX
'96 Xantia TD LX
'96 ZX TD
'89 BX TD
'88 AX GT
'79 CX2400 Pallas (scrapped :( )
& a couple of Peugeots !
Peter.N.
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Post by Peter.N. »

I run oil and solid fuel, so far I haven't been outlawed from installling or maintaining them, but I suppose its only a matter of time.. :( :?
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Post by spider »

Xac wrote:
boristhespie wrote:Mix into that neccessity due to lack of funds and it's amazing what big jobs you can do without needing to go to a garage.
I have no garage and no driveway (just roadside parking) , although that did not stop me doing my own XUDT head gasket, water pump etc at the side of the road :D , I just had a couple of hours each day at it till I was done (did not really take long anyway)

I used to work in a garage although only doing fast-fit type stuff, I could still recall some annoying customers (and some stories I've heard from other places too)
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Post by lexi »

Not disagreeing with gas regulations etc...........but I am wondering if I can still light my own coal fire with sticks an all OR.....must I look up Yellow pages for an Arsonist :shock: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
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Post by Xaccers »

spider wrote: I have no garage and no driveway (just roadside parking) , although that did not stop me doing my own XUDT head gasket, water pump etc at the side of the road :D , I just had a couple of hours each day at it till I was done (did not really take long anyway)

I used to work in a garage although only doing fast-fit type stuff, I could still recall some annoying customers (and some stories I've heard from other places too)
Jim and I replaced Cassy's head when one of the journals got damaged out in the road.
It did mean a few "interesting" late night conversations with passing local drunkards.
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