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 Posted: Wed Nov 07, 2012 12:43 pm |
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Joined: Aug 04, 2011
Posts: 1343
Trade Rating: 0
Location: Swindon
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Not servicing a car is insanity. Yes for those who know nothing there is the risk of getting ripped off. However, not servicing your car imports the risk of a crash due to unexpected failure. Using the MOT test as your single service is, in my opinion, bordering insanity.
A good example of what an MOT will not spot but regular servicing will prevent:-
MOT test does not do any checking of brake fluid contamination (brake fluid absorbs water) - the MOT brake test is is a VERY short one putting little or no heat into the braking system. Find a long hill and spend time riding the brakes descending it behind a lorry and find out what happens when all that water in your brake fluid starts to boil. The MOT test will not get your brakes hot enough to show you but a long or repeated brake application will - it is very scary.
As a teenager my brother had little money and never serviced his car or changed his brake fluid. He still has scars today from the crash that was caused because the brake fluid boiled and his brakes failed - my physical scars are healed but I will always remember seeing my brother with blood pouring from his head like the taps were turned on.
You want to reproduce the crash just try going down Porlock Hill as fast as only a teenager can and suddenly without brakes before you get to the bottom.
It is so sad that people drive cars without getting them serviced thinking all is well and they are saving hard earned cash. The time you discover that it isn't is in an emergency situation or the one time you are rushing some where.
Extract from wikipedia:-
"Porlock Hill is a section of the A39 west of the village of Porlock. The road climbs approximately 1,300 ft (400 m) in less than 2 miles (3.2 km) up onto Exmoor: a very steep hill with gradients of up to 1 in 4 and hairpin bends. "
Rant and hopefully warning over.
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| Morris 1000, Austin 1100, Escort Mk2, Fiat Mirafiori, Alfa 33, Alfa GT Junior, Alfasud, Alfetta GTV (2x), Alfa 164 3.0 V6, Alfa 164 2.0, Alfa 75 V6, Alfa 156 2.4 (diesel remapped 200bhp), Alfa 147 GTA (3.6 295bhp), Alfa 159 (diesel remapped 245bhp 300ft.lbs @ 2500rpm)
Why isn't my daughter an Alfaholic? | |
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Last edited by kandlbarrett on Wed Nov 07, 2012 12:49 pm; edited 1 time in total
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Posted: Wed Nov 07, 2012 12:45 pm |
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Joined: Feb 08, 2010
Posts: 10151
Trade Rating: +12
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| kandlbarrett wrote: |
Not servicing a car is insanity. Yes for those who know nothing there is the risk of getting ripped off. However, not servicing your car imports the risk of acrash due to unexpected failure. Using the MOT test as your single service is, in my opinion, bordering insanity.
A good example of what an MOT will not spot but regular servicing will prevent:-
MOT test does not do any checking of brake fluid contamination (brake fluid absorbs water) - the MOT brake test is is a VERY short one putting little or no heat into the braking system. Find a long hill and spend time riding the brakes descending it behind a lorry and find out what happens when all that water in your brake fluid starts to boil. The MOT test will not get your brakes hot enough to show you but a long or repeated brake application will - it is very scary.
As a teenager my brother had little money and never serviced his car or changed his brake fluid. He still has scars today from the crash that was caused because the brake fluid boiled and his brakes failed - my physical scars are healed but I will always remember seeing my brother with blood pouring from his head like the taps were turned on.
You want to reproduce the crash just try going down Porlock Hill and attacked as fast as only a teenager can and without brakes before you get to the bottom.
It is so sad that people drive cars without getting them serviced thinking all is well and they are saving hard earned cash. The time you discover that it isn't is in an emergency situation or the one time you are rushing some where.
Rant and hopefully warning over. |
well said 
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Posted: Wed Nov 07, 2012 12:52 pm |
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Joined: Aug 04, 2011
Posts: 1343
Trade Rating: 0
Location: Swindon
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Now counting to 10 and deep breathing exercises to calm down.
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| Morris 1000, Austin 1100, Escort Mk2, Fiat Mirafiori, Alfa 33, Alfa GT Junior, Alfasud, Alfetta GTV (2x), Alfa 164 3.0 V6, Alfa 164 2.0, Alfa 75 V6, Alfa 156 2.4 (diesel remapped 200bhp), Alfa 147 GTA (3.6 295bhp), Alfa 159 (diesel remapped 245bhp 300ft.lbs @ 2500rpm)
Why isn't my daughter an Alfaholic? | |
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Posted: Wed Nov 07, 2012 4:46 pm |
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Joined: Nov 27, 2010
Posts: 11520
Trade Rating: +10
Location: What's it to you? ? ?
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| kandlbarrett wrote: |
You want to reproduce the crash just try going down Porlock Hill as fast as only a teenager can and suddenly without brakes before you get to the bottom.
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Porlock is bloody steep 
Didnt he try & aim for one of the escape lanes?
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| Toyota C-HR GR Sport 2.0 Hybrid with JBL & Alcantara packs. | |
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Posted: Wed Nov 07, 2012 4:59 pm |
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Joined: Sep 12, 2012
Posts: 383
Trade Rating: +3
Location: Flintshire, North Wales
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jus change brake fluids every 2 years, or use a brake fluid checker as i did today, my brake fluid boils at 198 when Dot4 fluid needs to be atleast 150 so im all clear  took me 5mins
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Posted: Wed Nov 07, 2012 5:52 pm |
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Joined: Aug 04, 2011
Posts: 1343
Trade Rating: 0
Location: Swindon
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MrBSI: it was 35 years ago and not so many escape lanes then; also as nothing more than a kid (17 years old) and me egging him on thinking he was just messing about (I was only 16) he thought he could make the bend(s). The Vauxhall VX490 (remember them) wasn't a pretty sight having rolled and no seat belts, no airbags and almost no safety cage - well not one that wasn't badly corroded we didn't fair well. The 13" gash with stitch scars across the top of his head is now revealed in all its glory as he is balding. His shoulder blade smashed into 6 pieces meant that he gave up his electricians apprenticeship because he couldn't and still can't raise his right arm above his head.
dan_mu: if you know how to check fluid then you are not likely to skimp on servicing and probably know enough to do it yourself. Also the boiling point is a good test but i have seen cars where the reservoir has been topped up and that looks good and tests good but the fluid in the callipers is like tar - if you change regularly you will be fine but those relying on MOT to spot danger will not get that and be unwittingly risking a lot..The post had drifted into not servicing your car and saving money by effectively relying on the MOT to spot defects and only doing the minimum. My original post was just intended as an example of one of the many thing that an MOT doesn't effectively test and is waiting as a trap for an emergency situation to let you down. There are several others but ICBA to explain them here.
Anyway this is not about brake fluid, sorry for hi-jacking the thread, please can we go back now to OP and how much the MOT failure is going to cost.
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| Morris 1000, Austin 1100, Escort Mk2, Fiat Mirafiori, Alfa 33, Alfa GT Junior, Alfasud, Alfetta GTV (2x), Alfa 164 3.0 V6, Alfa 164 2.0, Alfa 75 V6, Alfa 156 2.4 (diesel remapped 200bhp), Alfa 147 GTA (3.6 295bhp), Alfa 159 (diesel remapped 245bhp 300ft.lbs @ 2500rpm)
Why isn't my daughter an Alfaholic? | |
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Last edited by kandlbarrett on Thu Nov 08, 2012 3:14 am; edited 1 time in total
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Posted: Wed Nov 07, 2012 8:17 pm |
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Joined: Jul 26, 2012
Posts: 85
Trade Rating: 0
Location: London/Worcester/ Grimsby
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Interesting thread. But we have to accept not everyone is interested in mechanics but they still need a car. Agreed its important to service vehicles for lots of reasons, safety, economy and reliability, but people just arent that bothered or have no idea even to do basic checks that would pull up and issues.
Maybe there's a market for a pit stop type place that does the tyre kick and oil dip for you and lets you know? like a car wash, drive in have a wash and then you drive past a few guys who do level checks and stuff?
Maybe we should do a vid and put it on Utube on how to do basic checks and what to look for? Maybe there is. Maybe 206info should organise a school day at a meet for newbies or people wanting to learn??
Just ideas...happy to help if i can....or bore people riggid.
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Posted: Wed Nov 07, 2012 8:34 pm |
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Joined: Jul 26, 2012
Posts: 85
Trade Rating: 0
Location: London/Worcester/ Grimsby
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There are videos on how to to do basic checks...saturday mechanic is one. Its american and I dont like some of what he says or what he doesnt do or tell you .
Maybe we should do our own one!
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Posted: Thu Nov 08, 2012 1:54 am |
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Joined: Aug 17, 2011
Posts: 908
Trade Rating: +18
Location: welshpool, mid wales
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Watch wheeler dealers, i learned some stuff off there. Im no mechanic and have never done any engineering in college, and i can strip an engine and rebuild it and strip brakes ect ect. I have learned from tv programs and books.
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