help please

Synergietom · Post by **Synergietom** » 16 Dec 2010, 15:38

hi all as many of you may remember i recently let my xantia go to a friend who then had to pay out for a new clutch she managed to get a decent pruce of £250 however on the way back yesterday it decided after half a mile that it wasnt going any further and spat oil everywhere including into the header tank when i finally got to her and took a look it looked as though someone had drained the sump and poured the contents directly into the header tank ( no creamy stuff ) so if the gasket has gone it whent spectacullarly right there and then.
The clutch specialist agreed to collect the car and have a look to see what they could do but are now just confirming the problem ( there is oil in the water ) and are refusing to even bring the car back so i was wondering if anyone would be so as to collect it for me and trasnport it the 5 miles back to my house as i dont have a trailer to collect it myself.
I know this is a big ask but im sure i could manage to more than cover the fuel costs and i know i should really be asking on the fcf couriers page but as this one gets read more frequently and i only have untill tomorrow to collect before they put it on the main road with no tax i thought i would try here first
Thanks guys
Tom

Post by **RichardW** » 16 Dec 2010, 16:29

Can't help with the transport I'm afraid

, but it sounds like the oil cooler has let go.

Deanxm · Post by **Deanxm** » 16 Dec 2010, 16:36

yep i would second that, the oil cooler is definatly the cause here not the head gasket.

D

Synergietom · Post by **Synergietom** » 16 Dec 2010, 16:38

in fairness i originally thought it was the head gasket but ive been told that if the oil pick up pipe is blocked it can cause back preasure to pop the oil seals and when we picked the car up originally the warranty sheet had a list of problems oil seals being one of them ( a bit strange since the only thing they do is clutches ).

Deanxm · Post by **Deanxm** » 16 Dec 2010, 16:44

If the oil pickup is blocked it will loose oil pressure, none of the oil seals are under pressure apart from the head gasket and the oil filter/cooler seal, the strainer has nothing to do with oil leaks at all, im not sure what they are trying to get at here, other than money.

D

naffa · Post by **naffa** » 16 Dec 2010, 17:36

Out of interest can I ask which clutch people you used?
PM me the answer if you'd prefer not to put it on the open forum.

Thanks Nathan

citronut · Post by **citronut** » 16 Dec 2010, 18:40

are you sure they didnt put oil into the coolent for some devious reason,

regards malcolm

Chris570 · Post by **Chris570** » 16 Dec 2010, 18:43

what are the symptoms of "not wanting to go anywhere"

if the oil drained out into the coolant via the HG you'd have had plenty of warning. Did the oil light come on?

if the engine hasnt seized why not put oil in it to get it shifted again.

also you'll be hard pushed to find someone to get that shifted on the cheap as its got no tax both axles have to be off the ground.

citronut · Post by **citronut** » 16 Dec 2010, 19:02

you can tow a none taxed car with one axle of the ground,

or you can usualy hire a trailer for not much dosh

HDI · Post by **HDI** » 16 Dec 2010, 19:19

This may be of help.

http://www.frenchcarforum.co.uk/forum/v ... hp?t=33625

citronut · Post by **citronut** » 17 Dec 2010, 08:17

HDI your not sudgesting he scaps it are you

regards malcolm

HDI · Post by **HDI** » 17 Dec 2010, 10:28

Nope, they also do recovery and car transport work and are in his area

Synergietom · Post by **Synergietom** » 17 Dec 2010, 15:28

hi guys thanks for the response sorry i couldnt get back any quicker.
Malcolm this was one of my first thoughts but after checking dip stick i found there is no oil in the sump allthough if this is the case it wouldnt take much to drain the sump.
Chris 570 no the oil light didnt come on
naffa the garage is called A1 clutches in tipton i dont mind naming them if it means others are going to avoid using them ive allready heard a few horror stories about this place since wedensday,s little adventure.
D thanks for the info mate if i do manage to get the car back ill be checking the oil cooler first i think but ill still take the sump off if just to clean it out properly before putting any fresh oil in.

Synergietom · Post by **Synergietom** » 17 Dec 2010, 17:39

Result !!!!!!! the garage agreed to drop the car off at mine for a fee of £25 ok not the best result they could have done it for free as theyve just had £250 off us for the clutch but still my beloved Kelly is home now just to find the source of the oil and fix it.
Ill keep this thread going and let you guys know how i get on ill be taking a closer look in daylight on sunday.
Thanks for all your help guys and please do keep posting any suggestions theyre allways welcome.

naffa · Post by **naffa** » 17 Dec 2010, 19:29

Hi mate I had a bad experience with A1 clutches about 5 years ago when I owned a Fiat Ulysse. It was only after I had used them that I heard all the horror stories too.
I will never use them again and always advise folks away from them.

Since my experience my next door neighbors son went to work there, he left as he couldn't believe their work practices and wanted no part in it.

I hope that you get things sorted and If I had known you were that local to me and that it was 'fast eddie' @ A1, I would have towed the vehicle for you myself.

Nathan[/i]