She failed the MOT :(

[C5Alan]

Well took the C5 into the garage today for the mot she failed it was a couple of stupid things like light bulbs, wiper blade, front brake pads and something with the anti roll bar the name has slipped me for now other side was well worn too and an advisory. Part of me wanted her to fail so I could sell and get something else but and part said I cant let her fail as don't want to see better the devil you know. Well she is booked in on Monday to get the work sorted a fresh MOT looks like she has made a space for herself, now the fun of what to do with her can start see my C5 mods thread.

[Peter.N.]

Probably an anti roll bar drop link, not difficult to change, you could probably do those jobs youself and save some money.

Peter

[C5Alan]

thats it drop links, yeah I could prob do it all myself but heading off on holiday next week and its so much easier to just drop the car off at the garage for the week and pick it up fixed with a new mot no hassle

[Napoleon]

This is the thing, isn't it? Many of us, me included, are not mechanics, and it's simply easier to get a mech to do the job.

Then again, I am very mechanically=minded, I do understand how most things work, but have no experience and/or not the facilities to do these sort of jobs.

Thirty years ago (yikes!) I thought nothing of part dismantling my motorbikes, and learnt loads through it, but now, well, hey ho, let the garage do it, and as long as the wallet can stand it, then, fine.

Got so much other stuff going on in my work life that can't fit looking after car in very much, beyond washing it.

[Citroenmad]

Your C5s failure list is not too bad, fairly simple things and you could say wear and tear items too. None of which are bad of expensive to change, so it shouldnt cost the earth

I do like to have a go at some repairs on my cars but if its a big job or something which I could screw up then I usually beach the car in a garage and trust someone with more experience. That said I dont trust many garages which is why I started to try and do things myself, most of which are successful

[Peter.N.]

I do all my repairs, with me its the money

Peter

[C5Alan]

I do most of the work myself normally just this time I'm happy to let them sort it £126 to get her sorted is nothing part labour and a retest how can you complain plus I won't have to get a spanner out when I have other things to do

When I started driving I couldn't chainge a wheel and everything I have learned including a full brake rebuild on the merc comes from reading the haynes maual (need to get one for the c5) and asking loads of dumb questions on owners forums picking the brains of more knowledgable people then returning the favour in the future.

[Peter.N.]

When I started driving in 1956 you had to be able to repair your own car to be able to afford to run it, there were very few teenagers with cars then, mostly TV engineers.

Peter

[Citroenmad]

Forums are a great source of knowledge and I have certainly got my more than my fair share of help from here. Most things are pretty easy to figure out and routine things I like doing. I like messing on and taking bits apart and putting them back together, so long as I know I can do it It does help slightly that my dad was previously a Citroen specailist Though I tend to muddle through without much help

[Peter.N.]

I have been running hydropnumatic Citroens for more than 25 years so have got to know most of their foibles but these Hdi engines are a whole new ball game so I'm on a steep learning curve now.

Peter

[citroenxm]

theres nothing to learn... they rarely play up!!

as for garages... garages do NOT mean they know more or are any better.. most except specialists do not want to work on hydro cars!!!

[Peter.N.]

[Citroenmad]

theres nothing to learn... they rarely play up!!

as for garages... garages do NOT mean they know more or are any better.. most except specialists do not want to work on hydro cars!!!

This is very true and why I trust only two garages

I had a car salesman telling me today that Im brave for running a Xantia. I said you don't know the half of it as this is no ordinary Xantia

[Jabo]

Too many people treat an MOT failure too seriously! You can fail your MOT because your headlight is not pointing exactly in the correct direction.
It's not a big deal.
Some minor work to get it to pass is not a reason to get rid of it!

[C5Alan]

Only reason I have ever got rid of a car that would fail an mot is if it would cost more than the car is worth to sort personally I would prefer a list of advisory's than a fail just as it mean I can sort them over the next 12 months rather than the next couple of weeks before the mot runs out

have to agree you cant trust garages especially when you get people like kwik fit saying we dont know what the prob is but would just replace parts until its fixed (or you run out of money - ok they didn't say this but you know it is implied) surprisingly I quickly walked away never to return

Does anyone know of a good Citroen specialist up this end of the country for those 'I have to do what???' to get it fixed problems