other folks f**k ups!!

[steve_k]

don't you just love putting right the f**k ups that previous "mechanics" have done?

just been to a mates to have a look at an oil leak on his m20.
he told me it was leaking from the back of the sump next to the gearbox.

got under the car, took the inspection bowl off & lo & behold i am greeted by the source of the leak,

he had the sump gasket replaced by someone else a while back because i couldn't get to do it for him,

well who ever did it made a right balls up.
most of the bolts on the rear were loose (only just finger tight) one of the two right at the back (hardest to get at straight) was missing & the hole was a complete mess which i've got to drill out & either retap for a bigger bolt (M7) or helicoil for a new m6 bolt, one of the corner ones had been drilled out & fitted with a helicoil,

he's yet to tell me who did the "work" but when he does i might pay them a visit for a word or two,

told him what i'll need which includes a new sump gasket, some m10 & m6/7 helicoils & plenty of tea & bacon sarnies & of course payment,

going to be doing the work next week,

don't you just love someone else's f**k up's!!!!

[steve_k]

Well after having a good look it would appear that the corner bolt (one with a knackered helicoil) will be needing a timesert fitting so I can bolt it back up,

On one of the missing back ones will simply need to be tapped for a new bolt.

Fingers crossed it goes nice & easy.

[Satan]

Where there's blame there is a claim........... I'd fuck the other men over royally....

[steve_k]

Il be having a few words when I finally find out who did the work.

Just does me how they could balls up such a simple task.

[Foe]

Il be having a few words when I finally find out who did the work.

Just does me how they could balls up such a simple task.

Agree, maybe you should point him to the zone too!!!
Plenty of good advice here for him and maybe he won't cock up the next E30 he "services".

[steve_k]

Il be having a few words when I finally find out who did the work.

Just does me how they could balls up such a simple task.

Agree, maybe you should point him to the zone too!!!
Plenty of good advice here for him and maybe he won't cock up the next E30 he "services".

It wasn't the owner who did the work it was a supposed "mechanic" who I wouldn't trust with a Fisher price tool set. I found out he's a stance cock so that tells me a lot.

The cars owner doesn't do social media but I will point him towards this place.

[fixedwheelnut]

Il be having a few words when I finally find out who did the work.

Just does me how they could balls up such a simple task.

Agree, maybe you should point him to the zone too!!!
Plenty of good advice here for him and maybe he won't cock up the next E30 he "services".

It wasn't the owner who did the work it was a supposed "mechanic" who I wouldn't trust with a Fisher price tool set. I found out he's a stance cock so that tells me a lot.

The cars owner doesn't do social media but I will point him towards this place.

'Stance Cock' you would think he would be bloody good at sump changes by now

[Cloggy Saint]

I've had my car for over 20 years so get to put right my own f**k ups.

[boiliebasher]

It wasn't the owner who did the work it was a supposed "mechanic" who I wouldn't trust with a Fisher price tool set.

That cracked me right up!!!

"Wouldn't trust with a Fisher price tool set" hahahaha!!!

[steve_k]

I've had my car for over 20 years so get to put right my own f**k ups.

the owner is partially disabled so i do a lot of work on his cars.

[steve_k]

Agree, maybe you should point him to the zone too!!!
Plenty of good advice here for him and maybe he won't cock up the next E30 he "services".

It wasn't the owner who did the work it was a supposed "mechanic" who I wouldn't trust with a Fisher price tool set. I found out he's a stance cock so that tells me a lot.

The cars owner doesn't do social media but I will point him towards this place.

'Stance Cock' you would think he would be bloody good at sump changes by now

it gets worse, he's into hondas not vw's

[steve_k]

It wasn't the owner who did the work it was a supposed "mechanic" who I wouldn't trust with a Fisher price tool set.

That cracked me right up!!!

"Wouldn't trust with a Fisher price tool set" hahahaha!!!

he'd probably do himself an injury

[martauto]

I found out he's a stance cock so that tells me a lot.

I`m from the north so you will have to explain this one please ??

Mart.

[Satan]

I`m from the north so you will have to explain this one please ??

Mart.

Bit like High Wycombe.........

[steve_k]

I`m from the north so you will have to explain this one please ??

Mart.

Tilty wheels, car drop on its chassis rails, pointless addenda etc.

[martauto]

Mart.

[Foe]

Il be having a few words when I finally find out who did the work.

Just does me how they could balls up such a simple task.

Agree, maybe you should point him to the zone too!!!
Plenty of good advice here for him and maybe he won't cock up the next E30 he "services".

It wasn't the owner who did the work it was a supposed "mechanic" who I wouldn't trust with a Fisher price tool set. I found out he's a stance cock so that tells me a lot.

The cars owner doesn't do social media but I will point him towards this place.

I did mean the guy who did the work not the owner.

[Satan]

Mart.

Christ, at least I supply photos......

[steve_k]

Well I thought I'd better update this.

Managed to get one of the bolt holes cleaned up & a new bolt in place, namely the one right at the back of the sump (one of the most awkward to get to with the gearbox still in place)

Got it all cleaned up & now has an m7 bolt in place.

The other one on the outer drivers side edge is going to be a bit more difficult.

When I removed the bolt that was there it had the remains of a helicoil still on it.

Took a lil pick & cleaned the hole out to find yet another helicoil in there.

Looks like I'll be using a self tapping threaded insert in that hole & with an m6 or m8 bolt to hold it all in place.

But the owner made me laugh, he said why didnt I fill the hole with something like milliput/belzona & leave it to cure for a day or two the drill/tap it then refitt the bolt?

Never heard of doing it that way but apparently it's an old trick used on boat engines if they strip a bolt hole out.

If all else fails I might just try it.

[Satan]

So ,who ever buys the car in the future will find it bodge to the moon and back, sheeeeesh

[flybynite]

Wurth do an oversize time-sert that they call a "big-sert". generally used when a helicoil has failed however I have done a couple of 'temporary' repairs using steel-repair epoxy, tapped and threaded, that are still going strong.

[steve_k]

Wurth do an oversize time-sert that they call a "big-sert". generally used when a helicoil has failed however I have done a couple of 'temporary' repairs using steel-repair epoxy, tapped and threaded, that are still going strong.

i've seen the wurth "big serts" before, the price of the insert aint to bad but the price of the fitting kit puts me off, hence possibly using a self tapping insert (cheaper & no messing around with drill, taps, etc),

i've used them before on the engine mounts for a "race" 2.2 pinto in the past & they never failed.

as for the steel repair epoxy, i've never heard of using it but i've had a look online & it seems a few folk have done it & swore by it,

as i say all the other bolts are in, good & snug, just that one on the rear right side thats the problem.

just waiting on the inserts coming before i decide which route to take.

[steve_k]

well i've managed to get it all fixed yesterday.

decided to go the long way & remove the sump to give me a clearer view of the hole i was working with,

got it all cleaned out, tapped, & used a 3/8th coarse thread bolt, but had to put a thick washer under the bolt head because of the "ridge" on the corner of the sump meant i couldn't get the bolt all the way in, also used some high temp thread lock to stop it backing out (doubt it will as it's in good & tight).

while i was there i ran a tap into all the other bolt holes to make sure they were clean,

i replaced the crank scraper & used some wynns instant gasket between the scraper & the block (only had one gasket to hand & didnt fancy trudging down to ecp for another) & a new gasket between the scraper & sump (same as on mine), got all the bolts back in (brand new ones) all tightened up properly,

left it till today to let the instant gasket go off/cure, put some fresh oil in it this morning, let it settle then fired it up,

so far so good, no leaks so it looks to be fixed.

i've told my mate that next time he needs anything doing to wait till i'm free & i'll pop over & get it done for him, save any more hassle & badge jobs from other folk.

[Gert_8]

Well done Steve!

[rix313]

Thankfully I don't have to work on road cars often but even slowly digging through my cars I find all sorts of wonders that other monkeys have deemed acceptable It is quite horrifying what some people find acceptable.

[steve_k]

Thankfully I don't have to work on road cars often but even slowly digging through my cars I find all sorts of wonders that other monkeys have deemed acceptable It is quite horrifying what some people find acceptable.

tell me about it,

some of the "fixes" i've seen over the years of either working on cars ive bought or friends have owned is shocking.

[HJ1981]

Join the club, the PO of my car was very good in terms of tackling issues, always giving the car in for repairing leaks and what not.

He spent €3,000 in the last year, replacing the head, front seals, water pump, all belts, oil pan, rear subframe bushings etc.

Guess what? the shop that did all the work, should be arrested. I ended up re-doing everything myself. The waterpump looked 10 years old, one of the front seals were leaking, the cylinder head was installed incorrectly causing oil to leak onto the block AND it was not torqued down properly (took me two fingers on a breaker bar to undo the bolts) and the list goes on.

I contacted the PO, he could not believe me till i sent him the photos. Thing is, as someone who pays a shop, there is no way in hell you can tell if these parts were replaced, until you "dig in" and check yourself.

[steve_k]

Join the club, the PO of my car was very good in terms of tackling issues, always giving the car in for repairing leaks and what not.

He spent €3,000 in the last year, replacing the head, front seals, water pump, all belts, oil pan, rear subframe bushings etc.

Guess what? the shop that did all the work, should be arrested. I ended up re-doing everything myself. The waterpump looked 10 years old, one of the front seals were leaking, the cylinder head was installed incorrectly causing oil to leak onto the block AND it was not torqued down properly (took me two fingers on a breaker bar to undo the bolts) and the list goes on.

I contacted the PO, he could not believe me till i sent him the photos. Thing is, as someone who pays a shop, there is no way in hell you can tell if these parts were replaced, until you "dig in" and check yourself.

that's one of the reasons i'm always weary about buying a 2nd hand car,
i normally buy them off someone i know who does the work themselves.

but even then you can get caught out.

[HJ1981]

Join the club, the PO of my car was very good in terms of tackling issues, always giving the car in for repairing leaks and what not.

He spent €3,000 in the last year, replacing the head, front seals, water pump, all belts, oil pan, rear subframe bushings etc.

Guess what? the shop that did all the work, should be arrested. I ended up re-doing everything myself. The waterpump looked 10 years old, one of the front seals were leaking, the cylinder head was installed incorrectly causing oil to leak onto the block AND it was not torqued down properly (took me two fingers on a breaker bar to undo the bolts) and the list goes on.

I contacted the PO, he could not believe me till i sent him the photos. Thing is, as someone who pays a shop, there is no way in hell you can tell if these parts were replaced, until you "dig in" and check yourself.

that's one of the reasons i'm always weary about buying a 2nd hand car,
i normally buy them off someone i know who does the work themselves.

but even then you can get caught out.

As i said, there is no way in hell, anyone who gives their car to any shop or anyone to check the "details" of the work (the waterpump, timing belt, front seals, installation of the cylinder head etc) unless one really digs in and checks first hand. I am also fortunate to have personally worked first hand on an 1988 Porsche 944 and a 1986 944 Turbo, where i also removed the head, did the waterpump, belts, replaced the turbo etc, so i did plan to "dig in" at some point, just did not expect to do it so soon after the PO sent the car for the work. The amount of rubbish work from some "pro" shops is apparently still going on even in Germany.

[Ukhozi]

As a mechanic, as in "one who works on machines" not a 'fitter'. I have worked on everything from mopeds to racing scooters and cars to army recovery trucks with 16 gears and I am properly qualified in many areas over the past 58 years.

I hate it when customers know best. typical example.

Seat Ibiza 1600, cutting out on downhill braking. OK ran diagnostics and it says fault on transmission speed sensor', the bugger you can't get to without lifting the oil filter housing out of the way. so I changed it and also visually checked the sensor (engine speed) on the cam pulley.

TWO WEEKS later she 'stalls' it joining the main road and starts ranting about how she and her son were nearly killed etc. no such luck, but anyway, she took it to a "Proper garage" and they ran the same diagnostics I have and found 'engine speed senor faulty'., the one on the cam that was OK two weeks earlier, totally different fault, so they changed it and all well since.

Of course according to her it was the same fault and I didn't do a "proper job", amplified by the garage 'rubbishing me' which is something I NEVER do. (and I didn't get paid either).

NO! It was TWO separate faults on two sensors a fortnight apart,,,, but try telling her that and of course my name is mud.

Scooter owner, keeps cutting out, hard to start.

I check compression and it was really low, so checked valve clearances, bit too tight so adjusted, still not too good so head off to find valve seats a bit pitted, so I re-cut them, ground in the valves and all good. rode it around for an hour, stop started, all OK.
A MONTH LATER she complains the battery is flat, can't start it, my fault, bad job etc. she had not started it since I finished it by the way, just stood there.

Back and fixed it, changed the battery as the old one was buggered by then and checked it over, petrol stank so cleaned out fuel system and carb', all good again. rode it about, stop start, perfect, another month later she is back, starts but cuts out after a few minuets, OK, sounds like a bad HT coils, had quite a few on Chinese machines, in fact on the buggy tours they carry a spare. Not been able to access the scooter since and in the meantime I am getting slagged off AGAIN!.

I could write a book about this stuff. Like the Austin A35 owner who came in every Saturday morning to have the hub caps lined up with the winged A upright and could not be told about different speeds around corners.

[martauto]

I could write a book about this stuff. Like the Austin A35 owner who came in every Saturday morning to have the hub caps lined up with the winged A upright and could not be told about different speeds around corners.

Mart.