Eventually, the phone call came. I have a valve which is sticking open when it should be closed. Phew, that was a relief. Sounds like a simple enough job. What a stupid thought…
The valve, as far as I can tell, exists to release pressure somewhere so that the car can’t do more than 30 mph and accelerates slightly more slowly than me on my way to the salad aisle. It’s part of the system that is there to guard against engine malfunctions. Thirty years ago we didn’t have such things as far as I know. I have certainly never experienced this after many years of driving diesels. This is slightly annoying.
There is, it seem,s no underlying fault. just a sticking valve.
Yes, the safety system has activated itself in the absence of a fault, and is itself the fault. Are you with me so far? The VW Passat I previously owned did 247,000 miles without an engine fault. This one has done a third of that and developed a major fault in the system designed to protect my engine from major faults. This is one step along from programmed obsolescence and one step on from sanity.
They will need to put it up on a special lift, which is currently in use for the next three days, and dismantle the front sub-frame. You can only get to the valve after some major work. So much for German engineering. Who thought it was a good idea to put the valve there?
A part I don’t need, jammed open when it shouldn’t be, and concealed behind many hours of spanner work. This is looking like a triumph for stupidity and a very large bill for labour. Cancel the cautious optimism of the last post.
It’s tempting to let go with a good old moan and a session of “Why me?” but I have better things to do, including eating the last of the Christmas cake.
Let then historical record show that in the day before our third lockdown became law (I believe they will pass it tonight, I passed the time by moaning about garages and cars (an eternal subject for conversation if ever there was one) and eating cake (ditto).
Sorry to hear about the car having a more complex problem that you could have expected.
That’s life. It might not be too bad, and if it is there’s no point worrying. 🙂
😊
How many mechanics does it take to change a modern car’s light bulb?
Sore point. I had to go to the garage to get my last one fitted – awkward position and arthritis meant I couldn’t change my own. Bloody ridiculous. To be fair, they didn’t charge me.
Did you get your phone?
Yes, I’m fully phoned up again thanks. Going to find my old address book and write it all down.
My phone backs up to my computer. If yours does you could just print it out
Can you hear that sound? It’s me laughing at the idea of backing up a phone to a computer. I don’t even know what it means. Pen and paper for me I’m afraid. 🙂
😉😆
Yes, I can feel your pain regarding essential car parts being located in places requiring half the car be taken apart. It is very annoying.
I’ve had a few Citroens – famous for their inventive solutions to problems they caused by their own bad designs. 🙂
Even on my 1993 Subaru Impreza, the battery must be disconnected (to keep the air bag from activating) and the dashboard has to be taken apart to change dash lights out. Other than that, not too bad.
I hope that you have ample savings! Everything costs a fortune in the car repairing business these days. You could always throw away your car and buy a new one. It might be cheaper.
I bought the best car I could afford at the time, as my VW experience was good last time I had one. This one has not been so good and I wish I’d bought an old banger as I probably would throw it away and start again.