MOT failure- what to do next?

BigDee2

I have a Toyota Carina E Hatchback, 1994, 2.0Gli with 102,000 miles which has failed its MOT on two items: a CV gator (outer) and a rear shock absorber.

I've had two quotes from garages but the cheapest was: £16 gator + £80 shocky + £100 labour = £196 +VAT = £235 inc VAT.

Mechanically the car is quite good for the age. The bodywork is good but two doors have dents. Four very good tyres. The car does under £2-3k miles a year.

I have serviced my other cars but not worked on the gators or suspension before and probably don't have any specialist tools. So I think it's a job I cannot do and will have to get someone to do it. The Haynes manual suggests only experienced DIY people do this repair work.

I have recently considered replacing the car but was waiting for the outcome of the MOT.

Seeing as the car can't be worth more than £400-500 or probably less, which is my guess, is it worth repairing and getting it back on the road? and maybe do this and sell it off within a couple of months? I'm confused and I don't want to be at a total loss here.

Thank you in advance.

jase1

£235 to put a known-good car on the road again for another year? Bargain.

Those faults are hardly anything you wouldn't face on any older car (or a lot of newer ones). It'd be a shame to scrap it over this.

gilbert_and_sullivan

Agree with Jase, keep that Carina as long as you can, you'll not find anything as durable/reliable again.

Neither of the jobs are difficult, might be worth buying a Hyanes for it and investing that labour charge in some decent tools, which you will still have when next needed.

You might be pleasantly surprised how cheaply you can buy the parts froma proper motor factor too, make sure that CV jointy gets repacked with CV/moly grease when the new boot goes on.

jim22

If the car is a good starter and runner then it has to be worth doing. Last year I took a fiesta p reg 1996 and they wanted £900 for mot. I sold it for spares or repair. Sad thing was it was a good runner. £500 of it was rust.

mikey72

gilbert_and_sullivan wrote: »

Agree with Jase, keep that Carina as long as you can, you'll not find anything as durable/reliable again.

Neither of the jobs are difficult, might be worth buying a Hyanes for it and investing that labour charge in some decent tools, which you will still have when next needed.

You might be pleasantly surprised how cheaply you can buy the parts froma proper motor factor too, make sure that CV jointy gets repacked with CV/moly grease when the new boot goes on.

Struts all round, so not quite so easy.

jase1

*Any* car is worth spending £200 to get past its test. You *will* add more than £200 to its value by doing so, so it's a no-brainer.

Even a Lada is worth a couple of hundred quid with full ticket.

BigDee2

Thanks to everyone for the feedback.

The car starts with no problems in all weather.
The engine and gearbox are very smooth and quiet.

I have a Haynes manual and had a look but felt it might be too much for me to take on, even with the right tools. I don't mind getting my hands dirty but the jobs seem a bit daunting. Hence the garage quotes.

So if I get the car repaired by a garage, would the repair work would be worth it even though I may not get much for it when I try and sell it?

Thanks again.

mikey72

It'll cost you a lot more to buy a replacement in a hurry, rather than look around for a bit.
It it's got an mot, and it's worth £400, you may only got £250 without, so again, it makes it worthwhile.

Hammyman

Rear shock is easy for a newcomer to do. CV gaiter isn't.

As for £80 for a rear shock absorber, thats at least £50 more than you should be paying for one.

societys_child

If you can use a spanner the shocker should be easy.

CV boot replacement is where the labour is but many garages now use these to avoid having to remove the joint from the shaft (just hub assembly to remove)

Even easier are the "split" CV boots that simply wrap around the shaft and have tongued and groove joint that you super glue together . . . was going to to get the slip over ones on the link but I just happened to have a split type, in a box with grease and clips and glue (had it years) so I tried it on my sons Focus. Not sure if it will last but it was sooo easy (have to take care not to get any grease on the joint before it's glued obviously) and it's lasted over 3 months so far.

Edit: oops that link is to the wrong size but you get the idea .. having another look .

2nd edit: Ok, if you look at his other items, he has all sizes, other sellers have them as well .

mikey72

Hammyman wrote: »

Rear shock is easy for a newcomer to do. CV gaiter isn't.

As for £80 for a rear shock absorber, thats at least £50 more than you should be paying for one.

Oh dear.

Rear strut isn't the same as a rear shock with a bolt at each end to replace, and if you can get one for £30 delivered, post it up for the op.