My luck is phenomenal

BoonMonkey

BoonMonkey

BoonMonkey

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Joined
11 Jan 2012
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1,466
Location
Bedfordshire
Two weeks ago I finally passed my test. Since then I've been eager to get a car. So I went out on Friday with the hopes to get one. After searching around I found one I liked and within my price range!

Took it for a test drive and it was great, ran fine. Managed to drive it home with my dad leading so I knew the way. Anyways, drove it home and it was okay! Then, once I got home, my brother asked if I could take him to get his wallet that he left at his friends. "Sure", I thought, might be able to charge him for petrol!

Got there and back, no troubles at all. That evening I went over to my girlfriends like I usually do, but this time instead of getting the bus I drove, considering I have a car now! Once again, it was fine.


However. I decided on Sunday to take my girlfriend out as she was a bit nervous about getting in the car with me, so she could get used to it. Only wanted to go for a short journey. And it really was that. Managed to get about a mile from her house and then, typically, the car broke down. Called her dad out to see if he had any idea what to do. He couldn't see anything but did say "It doesn't sound like it's getting any compression", so, worst came to worst and I called my dad out who had to tow me home, only about 10 miles, but still not ideal. :(

Anyway, yesterday I called out the AA who told me the cam belt had snapped and the engine will probably need to be rebuilt due to damage done. "Great, more money..." I thought.

My dad, thankfully, knew someone from his work who rebuilds engines in his spare time, a hobby really, gets cars cheap and makes them roadworthy again!

Phoned him up and he came out. Started taking apart the engine there and then once he heard what was wrong. To our surprise, the cam belt was actually there. Still connected, however it looked like it had slipped. He tested it making it turn with a wrench, however it kept getting stuck. So, he proceeded to take apart the head, only to discover all 8 valves are, in his words, "******".

He said he will charge me £220 for parts and labour and he will fix it for me this coming Saturday.


Absolute horror story for my first car. :( Just want it to be working again!
 
Could've been worse...my first car dumped all its coolant in the passenger footwell on the way home from buying it. £500 bill for a new heater matrix.
Peugeot 306, if anyone was wondering.
 
I can assure you, you've got away very lightly there.

£220 is a very good price, if it's including all the parts you would expect to be done (head gasket and cambelt kit) you should have some cheap motoring ahead.
 
Did you buy the car from a garage or privately? If from a garage, you might be able to ask them to foot some/all of the bill, but would be a struggle no doubt...!
 
Ouch, what car is it?

£220 seems reasonable enough for the job, no doubt a garage would charge you a lot more. It's certainly not how anybody wants their first car to go within a week, but that bill is much better than having to inform your insurance company you've had a prang, like many of my mates when they first passed. ;)
 
If it was a garage that you bought it from, you definitely have the SoGA on your side if your story is correct. Otherwise, good price for the repair.
 
Private seller, unfortunately. It was himself who changed the cam belt he told us when we bought it. Fairly old bloke, said he used to be a mechanic!

My older brother (who hasn't seen it as he is up in Scotland) said that he didn't tension the belt correctly when he changed it, so we have tried to ring him up and let him know whats happened to see if he will help us out with a bit of money back considering it's his handy work that's caused it, but all calls go to voicemail. :(


@Theophany - It's a Renault Clio 1.2, 2001 model!
 
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BoonMonkey said:
Private seller, unfortunately. It was himself who changed the cam belt he told us when we bought it. Fairly old bloke, said he used to be a mechanic!

My older brother (who hasn't seen it as he is up in Scotland) said that he didn't tension the belt correctly when he changed it, so we have tried to ring him up and let him know whats happened to see if he will help us out with a bit of money back considering it's his handy work that's caused it, but all calls go to voicemail. :(


@Theophany - It's a Renault Clio 1.2, 2001 model!
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Unlucky mate :(
Maybe contact the seller and inform him, see what he says.
He's under no obligation to do anything but might help out, certainly if he said it was his work, not all private sellers are out to rip people off :)

Failing that £220 sounds reasonable from yer dads mate

EDIT: Missed the part where everythign going to Answerphone, is it a mobile?
I unfortunatley know that when some people sell cars they use a PAYG sim they get shot of it, the shadier part of 2nd hand cars :(
 
Nathan said:
rarely damages the pistons, maybe slight scoring but that ll be fine.
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This is the case, you can see a small mark on the pistons, however they are okay are should be fully functional!

I'm happy with the price for repairs, however it has basically made the car 1020 instead of 800 :( It sucks but such is life I guess!

E: Yeah, it's a mobile he's on. He did say on Friday he'll be out on his motorbike yesterday so maybe if I try again later I might get an answer! If not, we have his address! :p
 
Private Seller tbh, I doubt you'll get much more than a sorry from him.

It's highly unlikely that he sold it to you knowing the cambelt was faulty. It's not the sort of thing you sell a car on for really :p
 
I know you're probably feeling pretty down, but you're very fortunate that you have a family friend who is willing to do it for £220. A number of people on here spend that much per tyre.
 
ci_newman said:
£220 is a small motoring bill!
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this,

sounds like a world ending sum of money when you first start driving but in the grand scheme of things, a major service for most vehicles can cost more than double that.

glad wasn't anything more serious OP
 
I am glad my dads friend will be willing to do it for so little, but it's just sods law it happens!

But at least it will be up and running again on Saturday! :)
 
i always tend to find i appreciate my car a lot more when i have just dropped a load of cash on it :)

more so especially if you end up not having access to the car for a few days.
 
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