Your fleet running reports

[Mito Man]

That would make sense and I do remember that you usually fit new thermostats when you buy a car. Thanks.

[integrale_evo]

Did an oil change on the merc at the weekend. Have been a little worried as it has a chocolate balance shaft sprocket engine and has been throwing a very occasional cam sensor warning, although a different code to the usual eating the pulley one.

No visible signs of any metal in the oil or filter which is nice.

Also found a dead mouse sat on the undertray I had to remove to get to the oil drain.

Mito threw a multiair fault code the other day, first time since august which is a bit random, had been a couple of times a month up until then. Meh. It’s also starting to look a bit scruffy, Italian paint isn’t a patch on older German stuff.

Might be decision time on both of them at some point this year.

[John]

I had the Fiat Ducato based motorhome serviced yesterday which included the timing belt. It's due every five years and there is an argument as to if the water pump should be changed or not. Many garages just change it as that is what the customer wants but the garage I used plus some Fiat garages say it isn't needed and can last the life of the engine but is always inspected. It's a big old lump of a water pump too and seems to include quite a large piece of the engine casing.

I took the gamble and stayed with the original pump

[DeskJockey]

The friction pad on the O/S rear handbrake has indeed come loose and rotated with the wheel until it got stuck.

Mechanic was meant to come look at it tomorrow morning, but rang this afternoon (while I was furthest from home on my regular running route) asking if he could come round now.

The wheel now moves freely, but with no rear brakes, so it'll have to be transported to the garage. That's for tomorrow.

[DeskJockey]

Zoe is back with new friction pads and handbrake pistons on both sides. One of the pistons didn't retract fully, so the friction pad was dragging on the hub. Be interesting to see if it noticeably increases the range.

Replaced the boot struts on the Galaxy as they were getting tired. They didn't open up fully and the slam when you shut the boot was getting louder suggesting the struts had lost some strength.

10 minute job start to finish, and the boot now opens a good couple of inches higher, faster, and equally closes less violently.

[GG.]

Mileage milestone hit in the RR today. Completely randomly noticed it just as I parked up.

[mik]

Mileage milestone hit in the RR today.

[DeskJockey]

Replaced the driver's side sun visor in the Galaxy. Two minute job, but now it stays in place.

One of the new boot struts is not working as it should. Was fine when I fitted it, but the day after it was making a grinding noise as if it isn't moving freely, and stopping halfway. So, have ordered a new one and will return the bad one.

[Simon]

Merc:

Washed it. Not technically 'report worthy', it hasn't been washed since the garage did it in Jan '24, so over a year. It was FILTHY. Easily the dirtiest any car of mine has ever got. The moss was everywhere. I had to snow-foam it twice to shift the worst of it. It's still not perfect (the paintwork needs a lot of correction) but at least it's not embarrassing anymore. 2 young kids really affect the time you have to do shit like this.

Yeti:

Took the airbag, steering wheel and shroud off yesterday to access the clock-spring, just to check the part number. Confirmed that it's still a £400 part from Skoda, although I'm at a loss to see how it needs coding if replaced, as it's just a ribbon cable in a plastic donut. Anyway, I've ordered just the ribbon cable part for £90 or so from ebay. It's an 'official VAG part', as opposed to the number of Chinese aftermarket parts at £75 a pop. Worth paying the £15 extra or so. That'll likely arrive in a few days and I'll take it all apart again on the weekend to repair it.

[speedingfine]

S Class had a bit of a fit at the weekend. It appears to be losing coolant. The check coolant light came up on the dash and it is now blowing only cold air through the heater despite putting more coolant in it a couple of times. Temp has risen but not overheating. Yet. Been using it for short journeys because the Yaris is also out of action, seems it doesn't like it!

[Ascender]

@GG. Can't be coincidence with that mileage.

Still driving around with yellow tape on the window as OPC have finally confirmed they can fix it in mid-March so have asked the one in Perth to see when they could do it.

I'd been having a (first world) grumble about the lack of comfort access on the Dakar until I realised this week it does have it after all. It just works differently from the BMW one and I guess it might be better as it won't just open and unlock the car if you're within x number of metres of it. You have to make a specific move to the handles to lock/unlock.

[integrale_evo]

Have ordered a care package for the mito - carpartsinmotion on eBay are included in the “chilly20” 20% off code which ends on eBay at midnight.

Thermostat with temp sensor
Timing belt, tensioner + waterpump
Aux belt + tensioner
2x front arb droplinks

Grand total, £120. Pretty pleased with that will be a weekend chore. Didn’t bother with a waterpump last time I did the belt, because I don’t pay myself Labour, as long as its not leaking and spins smoothly I can change it myself later if I need to. However, as it’s closing in on 100k, and I’ll loose some coolant doing the thermostat, I will stick one in and do a full coolant flush.

Just thought, should probably do the oil while I’m there, best get a filter ordered

[16vCento]

Took the Golf for a service today, needed a AC condenser as it was leaking and they said rear discs and pads.

Condenser was under warranty, service as per service plan, discs and pads were on me (if I chose for them to do them, which I did not ).

How much do you reckon, rear discs and pads on a practically brand new Golf GTE which they said were 'corroded'?

[jamcg]

Took the Golf for a service today, needed a AC condenser as it was leaking and they said rear discs and pads.

Condenser was under warranty, service as per service plan, discs and pads were on me (if I chose for the tondo them, which I did not ).

How much do you reckon, rear discs and pads on a practically brand new Golf GTE which they said were 'corroded'?

£450

[16vCento]

Up!

[nuttinnew]

£750.

[integrale_evo]

I’ve no idea, but something would have to be pretty special for me to feel happy about spending £250+ on rear disks and pads

[Sundayjumper]

£300 parts plus 2 hours’ labour @ £200 ph = £700.

[16vCento]

£704.50

Discs are about 80 each, pads are about 90 for the set (from VW).and 10 quid of bolts.

They're also like new, just had a bit of surface corrosion as they don't really get used

[Sundayjumper]

£704.50

What's their labour rate, out of interest ?