Repair or Not Repair that is the question?

warbo

Personally I wouldn't bother getting it fixed, no ABS isn't a huge issue, as you can provide similar braking yourself.

But if you insist on getting it fixed, this is a good point.

scheming_gypsy wrote: »

Did they say what the £600 was for?

If the Mitsubishi garage has used their diagnostic tool to find out what the issue is... then why do they need to do the work? the diagnostic tool has already been used, so if you can find out what work they're going to do, get an independent garage to fix it.

gmm30

Driving with no ABS might be okay, but presumably the ABS warning light will be lit, meaning the car will fail its next MoT.

As somebody said above, get the car along to a good diagnostic specialist - Mitsubishi forums are a good place to start. For example:
http://www.coltuk.org/phpbb3/viewtopic.php?f=21&t=12010

Main dealers normally have very little trouble shooting ability - they'll just start replacing expensive things until the problem goes away or you give up spending money. Especially with an older car like this, they'd rather have you tucked up in a newer car than clogging up the workshop with a tricky problem.

red_eye

cheghead wrote: »

My 05 Misubishi Colt has given me nearly 3 years trouble free motoring...until now.:mad:
It has an ABS fault and have been quoted posibly £900+ to put right!:eek:

Cars probably only worth about £1500 or so as a private sale. The garage has said they would consider p/x for £600 (may be negotiable) but that's against one for £4500.:(

I don't drive very far but really need a car to get about. Is it worth repairing or should I cut my losses and get rid now?

possibly £900 but really could just need the reluctor ring cleaning or even a new wheel sensor £40

forgotmyname

Maybe a cheap fix and the car will be back for sale for £1500+ or at the worst case a 2nd hand £100 ABS unit and a couple of hours work.

You can get it fixed cheaper than that.

Are you a member of the Mitsubishi forums?

Stooby2

Personally I wouldn't bother getting it fixed, no ABS isn't a huge issue, as you can provide similar braking yourself.

There's always one. No you can't.

A modern ABS system does far more than just cadence braking. Have a read up on what they do. When ABS first came in, yes it was a simple set up, but modern systems are far more responsive and do far more than a driver ever could - unless you can manage the braking to each individual wheel?

And it's also an offence to drive with a defective brake system :-

Con & Use Regs 1986

18.—(1) Every part of every braking system and of the means of operation thereof fitted to a vehicle shall be maintained in good and efficient working order and be properly adjusted.

So by advising the OP not worry about his ABS defect you're actually advising him to commit an offence. I would really suggest you don't give advice on these matters.

Wig

This is where buying a rare Mitsubishi becomes in hindsight not such a great idea. You can't go to scrap yards to get the bits you need.

That's why I will stick with the common as muck stuff, and that -for me- means a vauxhall, not only because I have a trade club card to use at their dealerships.

Wig

Stooby2 wrote: »

There's always one. No you can't.

A modern ABS system does far more than just cadence braking. Have a read up on what they do. When ABS first came in, yes it was a simple set up, but modern systems are far more responsive and do far more than a driver ever could - unless you can manage the braking to each individual wheel?

And it's also an offence to drive with a defective brake system :-

Con & Use Regs 1986

18.—(1) Every part of every braking system and of the means of operation thereof fitted to a vehicle shall be maintained in good and efficient working order and be properly adjusted.

So by advising the OP not worry about his ABS defect you're actually advising him to commit an offence. I would really suggest you don't give advice on these matters.

But you can remove the ABS system entirely and replace with standard brakes, but this in itself is a huge job.

Stooby2

And would invalidate your insurance and probably double (at least) your premiums on any other insurance - if any insurer would touch it.

Wig

It would not invalidate your insurance. You would have to inform an insurer of the modification. And you have plucked out of the air a completely random figure....well done.

Stooby2

Insurers are very picky about modifications to braking systems - you'd be lucky if your current insurer would allow the removal of an ABS system and would without doubt would demand an engineers report on the work done.

You'd need to fit a brake limiting system to prevent the rears locking, possibly a load sensing valve, work out what the current fail-safe split is and design and fit a suitable system. If you did all that yourself and an engineer deemed it safe then you'd still be looking at a huge hike in premiums as you'd removed a very important safety feature from the car.