Second had car tips

bitsnbytes

andygb wrote: »

I would say that a hairline fracture is a crack, and usually something which will only show up when the cylinder head has been removed and stripped down. A special dye is used to coat the cylinder head, and it will clearly show any cracks (fractures).

Actually I got a call from the service centre and apparently there is no hairline fracture just that it has gone soft (whatever that means). He said it should be ok to drive for now but with a big BEWARE :rolleyes:

andygb wrote: »

Before the service did you notice any loss of power, or any coolant loss, or did the temperature gauge show the car running hot? Was there a lot of white smoke coming out of the exhaust, or did you notice a creamy substance on the inside of the oil filler cap?
Andy

Did notice loss of power, but none of the other symptoms. Not sure about coolant loss but the temp gauge did not show anything out of the ordinary.

harveybobbles

Inactive wrote: »

So why bother asking, it sounds like " Dealer Speak " to me, poor old motor dealer ..

I'm just saying that everyone is quick enough to slag us dealers off, but you'd be surpeised how many private joe public people can lie too.

I valued a Merc E270 a few weeks back. the guy was wanting out of it as his wife "found it too big...". But when I asked if I could start it up he started to go all funny on me. Then it was in the way of our workshop, so I said I'll just move it out of the way, he went even more strange...

Anyway, as I started it up it was misfiring like hell with all sorts of warning lights on... He said "OH it was this morning..."

bitsnbytes

harveybobbles wrote: »

I'm just saying that everyone is quick enough to slag us dealers off,

TBH, it was you that started the slagging. Remember, those who live in glass houses...

goldspanners

bitsnbytes wrote: »

Actually I got a call from the service centre and apparently there is no hairline fracture just that it has gone soft (whatever that means). He said it should be ok to drive for now but with a big BEWARE :rolleyes:

Did notice loss of power, but none of the other symptoms. Not sure about coolant loss but the temp gauge did not show anything out of the ordinary.

sounds like the dealer think your a bit soft. they have condemned £2800 worth of work on your car without properly testing and diagnosing it,saying the cylinder head has "gone soft" ive never heard of that explaination before.
get it to an independant garage to properly diagnose it.

bitsnbytes

goldspanners wrote: »

sounds like the dealer think your a bit soft. they have condemned £2800 worth of work on your car without properly testing and diagnosing it,saying the cylinder head has "gone soft" ive never heard of that explaination before.
get it to an independant garage to properly diagnose it.

I guess I am when it comes to matters I don't have a clue about But I've taken advice and arranged an appointment with another garage. Keen to see what they think. Will post back here on what they say

Thanks for the tip :T

andygb

Like Goldspanners, I have never heard the term "gone soft". I wonder if you could get the dealer to put the fault in writing and give you a proper estimate for the problem and the work required to put it right.

dudenstumpy

To go from needing £2800 worth of work to being " OK to drive now" sounds like a massive money saving to me, well done for coming here for advice.

Should your independant find no fault , or a fault that can be repared for a few hundred pounds, then I think you should help out other owners in your area ( with little mechanical knowledge like yourself ) by naming the original Garage.

Now that your are "OK to drive for a while" this may allow your independant to source a cheap used cylinder head.