| yes I did, it ranged from a small outfit in Plaistow who done the job
and charged 11 quid , to a big outfit called the London tyre warehouse
where who were just a plain bunch of ripoff artists who wanted 1028.xx
and not even fix the problem . There was camera in the bonnet lid the
filmed the whole lot. From the mechanics discussing how they ripped
customers off to one mechanic breaking the radiator mounting can
claiming it was damaged in an accident. When confront the guy denied it
all and offered to explain what all the damage was. The tune changed
when the garage owner found out. The mechanic was sacked and I'm sure
done their buisness a bunch of good. That's it in short, some places
charged a bit over the odds but they have set times to do jobs and
thats what you get charged in a main dealer, even if it takes less than
the book time. Well worth a watch , but nothing I didn't already know.
I was less than impressed with the trading standards guy.
Garry
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| Having spent ten minutes looking for the right place to put this note -
I just can't be bothered....so..
I have (had) a Fiat Uno 903cc. Third gear went the other week, and then
I had a little excursion down some tram lines whilst trying to avoid
some closed off road barriers - consequently I bent the front wheel.
Well, I thought, I've got to stick her in a garage for the front end
and gear box so I might as well change the engine for a 1300 as well!
I telephoned the local Belgian Fiat people and asked if it could be
done.."No probs, mate - we've a 1300 fiat uno engine right here - luvly
it is!"......and so begun the incredible story.
First phone call revealed that although the engine fits - it doesn't
fit all too well and some mounting plates would have to be ordered.
Fair enough, i thought.
Second phone call revealed that the gearbox was different cos my car
was a Right Hand Drive and the engine was from a Left Hand Drive car -
now please don't call me stupid but what a load of old tosh that was.
The only thing that should be different would be linkage stuff. Anyway
they said it wouldn't cost much more so ok.
Third phone revealed that they wanted to see me. So I popped round and
low and behold....the engine they were trying to squeeze in was a 1300
Regatta engine (FIAT) and although they had managed to get the thing
in, the drive shafts were incompatible. They couldn't use the regatta
drive shafts as the front end would have to be stretched sideways by a
foot.
After a right ear-ringing from me in my bestest french slang they said
they would try a 4 speed 1100 gearbox from another engine and they were
confident it would work. When I asked them if they had heard of the
phrase "Looking up the tech data before opening the tool box" they
replied with a gaelic shrug "Pah!"
I've now said that if it wont work then they will have get a FIAT 903
Gearbox and stick my Original engine back in - for no extra cost.
I just can't believe that a so called 'Mechanic' can stuff-up so bad!
The story continues.....
Shaun.
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| Now see, H'anus, had you listened to wise old Lozzer when he told you
that it would be nothing but trouble and wasn't worth the effort, none
of this would have happened. I learnt, many, many years ago, to leave
working stuff well alone on cars. You should've got the gearbox fixed,
and left it at that.
HtH, Laurie.
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