If only everything in life were as reliable as...

[mjb]

If only everything in life were as reliable as... a 406

Coming home from work in my Golf this evening, and all of a sudden it started to blow. Got home, crawled under and a short section of factory-welded pipe has come apart from the back of the cat Say what you will about French car reliability, but I've not had a 406 fall apart on me... especially a few days before it's MOT is due

It looks like a quick session with a mig welder will fix it, so I've got a local mechanic I trust on the case which is a shame as I enjoy working on cars and needed an excuse to buy a welder, but my ankle prohibits this at the moment. Ah well

At least I still have the coupe to get about in



Damn Germans

[Doggy]

Alles klar - Herr Burke, your volkswagen ist allergisch to autos Peugeot,*
Das VW, sneeze und das katalysator und auspuff habe separated under the strain.
This cannot be consider a fault - Volkswagen does not approve the use of alternative fuels,
(garlic, onions, camenbert, beaujolais, {nouveau or otherwise}, escargot, cognac etc. etc.
Schnapps, sauerkraut und kartoffeln are permitted up to a maximum of 5% as approved to DIN EN 14214

*(as are Audis since last Le Mans )

[Welly]

Auspuff? I prefer eggsauce

Eggsauces, or auspuffs, don't really fall into the fault catagory (a bit like tyres) they are kind of expected to rust, blow, fall off - it's happened to us all at some point. Your Glofs auspuff is probably the original in fact diesel eggpuffs last a lot longer than petrols cos they don't produce as much condensation withing the tubing.

Hopefully your guy can frig it up again without too much trouble, oh and good luck with the MOT!

Did you know that MOT's are becoming much more stringent soon? (2011??) will cost about £75.00 and the car will be subjected to a 'shaking' rig to reproduce bumps in the road to assist the tester in finding faults with shockers and sussy. There's other stuff too, my mechanic was telling me recently

[steve_earwig]

Does it include lifting it 20 feet in the air with a crane and dropping it?

[Welly]

Well the test includes 'thrashing the knackers off it' so I don't see why not.

[steve_earwig]

"I'm pleased to say your car has passed"

[steve_earwig]

[highlander]

Government unveils new standard equipment requirement for MOT test centres across the UK:

[mjb]

Government unveils new standard equipment requirement for MOT test centres across the UK:

Is that to simulate a 20 minute drive through Wolverhampton?

Eggsauces, or auspuffs, don't really fall into the fault catagory (a bit like tyres) they are kind of expected to rust, blow, fall off - it's happened to us all at some point. Your Glofs auspuff is probably the original in fact diesel eggpuffs last a lot longer than petrols cos they don't produce as much condensation withing the tubing.

Nah, it's a manufacturing fault not a wear thing - a welded joint decided to break :/ Doesn't look that old either... Grr

[turbolag]

Did you know that MOT's are becoming much more stringent soon? (2011??) will cost about £75.00 and the car will be subjected to a 'shaking' rig to reproduce bumps in the road to assist the tester in finding faults with shockers and sussy. There's other stuff too, my mechanic was telling me recently

He's pulling your plonker.

[Welly]

Did you know that MOT's are becoming much more stringent soon? (2011??) will cost about £75.00 and the car will be subjected to a 'shaking' rig to reproduce bumps in the road to assist the tester in finding faults with shockers and sussy. There's other stuff too, my mechanic was telling me recently

He's pulling your plonker.

No, he charges extra for that

[kevtherev]

Did you know that MOT's are becoming much more stringent soon? (2011??) will cost about £75.00 and the car will be subjected to a 'shaking' rig to reproduce bumps in the road to assist the tester in finding faults with shockers and sussy. There's other stuff too, my mechanic was telling me recently

another back door tax on the much maligned british motorist.
whitehall official- " how can we get all the old cars off the road and get the owners of said cars paying rip off ved based on made up emissions data??? hhmmm

[Edited to fix quote - Teamster]

[mjb]

More fun. Was driving it down the motorway the other day, went to overtake something so put my foot down, and.... nothing. Ziltch. Nada. Damn thing would not accelerate past indicated 75mph "sh*t" I think... turbo's gone No warning light or message though, oh no that'd be far too easy

Dodgy throttle pot? Stamp on the pedal a few times, nothing. Got off the motorway, still no boost, killed and restarted the engine, and it sprung back to life... until the next time I hit 70mph... ARGH! Stupid German crap!

At least I know it's the ECU killing the turbo, not going to be a boost leak or mechanical problem, so looks like I'm going to have a nice fun game of "hunt the dodgy sensor/solenoid". Anyone fancy a sweepstake? I think I'm going to guess at the MAF... (or a clogged air filter - haven't looked yet )


Then when I've sorted out my dad's tubbyless tubby, and my coupe, I can have a go at finding out what the hell's knocking when transitioning between +ve and -ve torque on the wheels... and fix the rear windscreen washer... and fix the rear bootlock... and stop the centre console falling apart... and replace the a/c condenser and pump (thank god it's got a sunroof!)... and replace the PAS pump... and take the F***ING BUMPER OFF TO CHANGE A F***ING HEADLAMP BULB... and fix the fuel filler cap release motor... and replace the sun visor clip that's broken AGAIN... and... cambelt

[sirwiggum]

German cars aren't as reliable as the general public have been brainwashed to believe.

I have seen many colleagues with BMWs, VWs, Seats etc. have major issues with their cars, while my Citroens were always reliable (and hopefully the 406 if the correct fuel filter housing ever arrives).

As for the MOT, Northern Ireland has had the shakedown rig for about 8 years now.

http://www.dvtani.gov.uk/vehicletesting ... Inspection

Last time I took my Xantia on it it rested on it's belly afterwards, took a minute for it to compose itself.

[mjb]

such a royal pain to work on them though... i mean, having to take the bumper off to change a headlamp bulb? WTF?!?!?