Help in understanding recommended repairs for car

mouche

Thanks colino - I hope so too. The question for us is - can we afford another car? The answer is no, not unless this one is ready for the scrap. Currently, autotrader values it at £1,975 and it is still perfectly driveable so I don't think it is ready for the scrap just yet.

There was fairly universal agreement on the thread that a cambelt replacement is necessary so that is the only work we have commissioned. They are changing the aux belt and the water pump for not much more cost than just the cam belt.

It may not fix the misfiring problem at which point we will have to take further decisions. But replacing the cambelt will cost roughly that amount in my area (rang round a few garages at random) so it's a starting point.

AdrianC

OddballJamie wrote: »

Go the council for a fair test.

I have to say that my personal experience differs from the site accepted wisdom on that. I used a council test centre precisely once, quite a few years ago. I was made _very_ unwelcome by the staff, and a rather large list of totally unwarranted fails was handed me (I'm not a pro mechanic, but I am a reasonably skilled and experienced amateur).

Strangely enough, not one of them even got an advisory the following day elsewhere.

Yes, I could have complained to VOSA. Life, to be frank, is too short.

They clearly didn't want to deal with me, but were compelled to by the conditions of their testing status. That's fine. I was perfectly happy to humour them by never using them again.

Joe_Horner

AdrianC wrote: »

They clearly didn't want to deal with me, but were compelled to by the conditions of their testing status. That's fine. I was perfectly happy to humour them by never using them again.

That's the part of "council testing station" that a lot of people don't realise. No doubt in some areas they genuinely encourage private motorists but for many of them it's just something they "have to do". They don't have to worry about loss of business, or lack of recommendations, because their core business is safe. For those places, the "tester's discretion and judgement" element of the test can be a really useful tool for making sure people never come back.

Far better to find an honest local garage - despite rumours, they do exist!

closed

might prove cheaper to go by taxi/bus

£705/2000 miles = 35p /mile. not including all the other things you're paying for

if safety is critical, tyres/brakes/wipes usually come far further up the priority list than a cambelt, misfires can be many things, leads/plugs/blockages - a £10 plug in obd reader may give you a clue.

OddballJamie

Call me crazy but this could end up costing more than swapping the engine.

If I had to guess the EML problem I'd go for the rusty core plugs being the cause, there's a common problem on that model of Fiesta that the washer jets leak and can cause misfires. That's were I would start, there's no much point in changing the belts if you can't stop the misfire.

If it was me I'd consider letting it go, but I doubt you would get anywhere near £2k the way it is. The mileage you do, you could get some cracking low mpg motors cheap.

BeenThroughItAll

OddballJamie wrote: »

If I had to guess the EML problem I'd go for the rusty core plugs being the cause

Sorry, but rusty core plugs = EML? Seriously?

You know a core plug is just basically a metal disc used to 'plug' the hole where the metal 'core' was poured into a mould, right?

OddballJamie

BeenThroughItAll wrote: »

Sorry, but rusty core plugs = EML? Seriously?

You know a core plug is just basically a metal disc used to 'plug' the hole where the metal 'core' was poured into a mould, right?

There's quite a lot about it on various forums, seems to be a common issue on that engine

http://community.preloved.co.uk/forums/discussion/36405/fiesta-2004-engine-problem.html

http://www.rac.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?8617-03-Fiesta-Cat-Failure-please-help!

http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?t=69467

mouche

Just a final update in case anyone is interested. Our old garage (Mazda dealer in Greater London Zone 6) changed the cambelt, auxbelt, water pump and coil pack for £635 including VAT. The jerking problem is now gone and the car runs as smoothly as it ever did. The smell is also gone.

We are very happy with the result and price and very grateful for everyone who has responded to this thread. You have saved a pair of novices a lot of money. Money that we can now put towards buying a replacement car in a few years time. Thank you all.

OddballJamie

mouche wrote: »

Just a final update in case anyone is interested. Our old garage (Mazda dealer in Greater London Zone 6) changed the cambelt, auxbelt, water pump and coil pack for £635 including VAT. The jerking problem is now gone and the car runs as smoothly as it ever did. The smell is also gone.

We are very happy with the result and price and very grateful for everyone who has responded to this thread. You have saved a pair of novices a lot of money. Money that we can now put towards buying a replacement car in a few years time. Thank you all.

On the flipside, you've added a couple of hundred quid to the cars value and made it easier to sell in the future by getting the cambelt done. Don't lose that receipt

fivetide

mouche wrote: »

Just a final update in case anyone is interested. Our old garage (Mazda dealer in Greater London Zone 6) changed the cambelt, auxbelt, water pump and coil pack for £635 including VAT. The jerking problem is now gone and the car runs as smoothly as it ever did. The smell is also gone.

We are very happy with the result and price and very grateful for everyone who has responded to this thread. You have saved a pair of novices a lot of money. Money that we can now put towards buying a replacement car in a few years time. Thank you all.

To be fair, givent he miles you do, I'd run this one until the wheels fall off now.

Cambelt should be good for another five years at least so if you can get out a give it a good drive once in a while and let it get properly hot/give it some revs then there is no reason it won't serve you well.

Better the devil you know and all that!