Omega Owners Forum
Chat Area => General Car Chat => Topic started by: Marie on 26 January 2013, 22:51:58
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well today we swapped cars.
i went out for a drive to lincoln all is well and cars nice and quiet.
he metioned yesterday that the valves are shot on two tyres and cant put air in so i thought id be helpful and get all 4 valves changed and wheels balanced.
only place i could find was a halfords auto centre well they are only doing the wheels so id thought it would be okay. BOY WAS I WRONG.
goes to pick the car up after 1 1/2 i never normally leave the cars alone at a garage i watch and wait heres my first mistake but i said id take shane to toy r us and my friend for a coffee thought it would all be okay.
picks the car up and as im paying for her the guy mentions that the exhaust is blowing.
Arh Mrs R when we drove your car in we noticed your exhaust was blowing"
"OH OKAY it was fine when i parked up, where abouts from and how bad"
" the flexi joint has broken"
" really is that repairable"
" no its not you need to replace the whole cat"
" Thats strange as i had the mid section changed last week as well as passing the MOT"
" it might have been fine during the MOT"
" Surely they dont fail just like that"
" yes they can do"
" How loud is she"
" loud"
" turn the radio up loud and keep the windows closed loud"
" id reccomend it"
i pay the bill and go to the motor now i have two very tired cold and wet children who just want to get home and a freind who cant stand the cold (medically) who i really need to get back.
i turn the motor over and she dont sound that loud so i thought okay it will be fine to get her home 20 mins drive and take a look. well there is my first mistake i shouldnt have moved her i should have walked back in there and given them the third degree as something cleary is not right and they have clearly done something. any how gets home tells hubby and he take her out.
he gets home and rips my head off hes furious at me "i should know better, you let them take advantage of you cos your female"
okay so now i am horrified because i let it happen. and worked myself into a frenzy.
Hes sent them a complaint email. hes furious they let me drive away with kids in the car. he says hes covered the back of the exhaust and there is nothing coming out of it. need to confirm but it looks like the flexi joint has completly detactched.
he wants them to admit to damaging his car and pay for the repairs. i highly doubt its going to happen
can i fix the flexi joint? or do i need to replace the cat the emissions were bob on through the mot last week.
thankyou from one very upset ashamed and angry red head.
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Theres a saying---- The road to hell is paved with good intentions
You can buy a piece of flexi and cut old one out an weld new flexi in :y :y
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Theres a saying---- The road to hell is paved with good intentions
You can buy a piece of flexi and cut old one out an weld new flexi in :y :y
anyone got any ideas of what size i need?
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Whatever you do, don't replace the cat with an aftermarket one. The flexi can be replaced :y
Marie, I thought you knew better than to let the likes of these Fast Fit centres anywhere near your car :-X You're on a losing battle unless you manage to find some fresh damage on the flexi section, and even then it's tough to prove.
As far as hubby making you feel bad... A bit unfair really. If he knew the valves were faulty then why didn't he get them sorted during the week?
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Strikes that a flexy joint doesn't go from an MOT pass to that knackered in a few days. :o
Proving any damage will be a challenge, though.
Whatever you do, don't get a pattern cat fitted. Fix the flexy section. You can get clamp-on or weld-on replacement sections on Ebay.
Do complain, though. It works, IME. Then never darken their doorway again.
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Whatever you do, don't replace the cat with an aftermarket one. The flexi can be replaced :y
Marie, I thought you knew better than to let the likes of these Fast Fit centres anywhere near your car :-X You're on a losing battle unless you manage to find some fresh damage on the flexi section, and even then it's tough to prove.
As far as hubby making you feel bad... A bit unfair really. If he knew the valves were faulty then why didn't he get them sorted during the week?
I do im an idiot never again. i dont know what posessed me :-X going to see if i can get under the car tomorrow if its not raining. ill take some pictures
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Hi Marie,
Give Paul a call @ PC Automotive in Lincoln. 01522 568568.
He knows the Omega very well and is more than capable of fixing something like this.
Tell him that Rob sent you to him.
He is in the south end of the High Street - close to the Dixon St turning. Ask him to show you his collection of V6 powered Corsas :y. That will cheer you up.
TTFN - Rob
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Brills thank you.
just told the hubby. but got the response of when i ment to get it done. i dont have time.
i will right the chap monday.
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Brills thank you.
just told the hubby. but got the response of when i ment to get it done. i dont have time.
i will right the chap monday.
He is open 6 days a week.
The other place you could try is on Canwick Hill - the garage at the junction of the road to Washingborough. I'm pretty certain they are open 7 days a week - might be worth getting them to put it up on the ramp for a look.
Good luck ,,,,,,,,
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Brills thank you.
just told the hubby. but got the response of when i ment to get it done. i dont have time.
i will right the chap monday.
He is open 6 days a week.
The other place you could try is on Canwick Hill - the garage at the junction of the road to Washingborough. I'm pretty certain they are open 7 days a week - might be worth getting them to put it up on the ramp for a look.
Good luck ,,,,,,,,
now thats a good idea ill google it :y
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Whatever you do, don't replace the cat with an aftermarket one. The flexi can be replaced :y
Marie, I thought you knew better than to let the likes of these Fast Fit centres anywhere near your car :-X You're on a losing battle unless you manage to find some fresh damage on the flexi section, and even then it's tough to prove.
As far as hubby making you feel bad... A bit unfair really. If he knew the valves were faulty then why didn't he get them sorted during the week?
in all honestly he only found out yesterday when he went and did the tyre pressures when filling up both cars with petrol and gas. :y
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Whatever you do, don't replace the cat with an aftermarket one. The flexi can be replaced :y
Marie, I thought you knew better than to let the likes of these Fast Fit centres anywhere near your car :-X You're on a losing battle unless you manage to find some fresh damage on the flexi section, and even then it's tough to prove.
As far as hubby making you feel bad... A bit unfair really. If he knew the valves were faulty then why didn't he get them sorted during the week?
in all honestly he only found out yesterday when he went and did the tyre pressures when filling up both cars with petrol and gas. :y
Ahh, fair enough ;)
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They are called Pitstop IIRC ..........
There is usually a green Omega parked outside - which is a good sign
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I would be interested to see pictures of the flexijoint, dont bin it until one of us have had a look :y
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I would be interested to see pictures of the flexijoint, dont bin it until one of us have had a look :y
we'll get on to it tomorrow moring first thing :y hopefully the ice and snow will have gone never know might manage to get her on the ramps. i might use a trick i have done before of using the kirb to lift one side of the car enough so i can slide underneath
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I've tried that a few times for quickly looking at stuff in the past... but I found it never really raised it high enough, as with the weight still on the wheels, the suspension still absorbs a of the height.. :-[
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As others have said, don't let anyone convince you you need a new cat section.
Cut the flexi out, weld a new one in, job done. I know tunnie knows the size, as he bought one for his.
As for Hellfrauds Autocentres, formally Nationwide Autocentre (and probably changed name due to the appalling reputation they had), are worse that ShitFit for making out you need to spend a fortune.
I had a backbox go on Mrs TB's Rover, so rang around. It was due an MOT in a few days, so the £37 inc P&P for Eternal was not an option. Halfords Autocentre near work were the cheapest, £46. I can live with that. So drop the car off, and walk to work, get a phone call a couple of hours later, its going to be £200+, and should they proceed. NO!
I go in, and ask them to explain. They claim there are 2 types of backbox for a Rover 25 (thats a lie - I asked to look at their screen, but they refused, stating it had cost prices on), and ours had one that was £100. And also that the middle section had failed. It hadn't. They refused to put it back on the ramp to show me.
Anyway, I nipped up to Motorserv, picked up a backbox for £37 (they matched the best price I could get one delivered for), and it was fitted that evening, and MOT'd a couple of days later.
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They are called Pitstop IIRC ..........
There is usually a green Omega parked outside - which is a good sign
They are open today - I've just driven past :y
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A few years ago I took my Mitsubishi Galant into a Nationwide Autocentre in Bristol for MOT as they had a special offer on MOT's. I thought the car was fine but they failed it on corroded rear brake pipes and quoted me over £1000 to fit new pipes. When I queried the cost they claimed it was complicated as the fuel tank had to come out...... :-\
I took it home rubbed the brake pipes down with wire wool, gave them a coat of grease and took it to a local garage for MOT where it passed with no advisories..... ::)
The moral of the story? Don't feel bad Marie 'cos we've all been there!! ;)
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welli have just got out the shower after a morning on the cars mine got a wash and levels check.
Jases has been up on the ramps.
1.washer bottle has been cleaned out and window jets repositioned.
2.coolant has been dropped and fresh stuff put in. as it wasnt pink it had a copper colour( sparkled when light bounced off it when i put it into a jar). it think its had a leak stop type thing put in it. no signs of oil. its going to get flushed again at some point soon.
3.gear leaver oiled.
4.ignition oiled.
5.throttle body cleaned as she huntsfor the first 5 minutes on start up.
6. looked at the cat joint and this is what we found.
really dont understand how the car can pass an mot last week and have the centre sectionchanged and she be as quiet as a mouse. hardly done any miles in her and she was fine before she went in the garage now it looks like someone has hung off it to rip it open.
(http://i1359.photobucket.com/albums/q783/marieroffey1/20130127_090426_zpsdaf8a84f.jpg)
(http://i1359.photobucket.com/albums/q783/marieroffey1/20130127_090827_zps700749ff.jpg)
(http://i1359.photobucket.com/albums/q783/marieroffey1/20130127_090840_zpsbb03ea1a.jpg)
(http://i1359.photobucket.com/albums/q783/marieroffey1/20130127_090847_zpse0bccbed.jpg)
(http://i1359.photobucket.com/albums/q783/marieroffey1/20130127_090435_zps65c27340.jpg)
forgot to mention told hubby about changing the flexi joint and he reallywants to change the cat as a unit as we have the pennies available now to do so.
the plan is to order one from andyc and then take the car to the local garage round the corner and get them to fit it as jase cant do it on the drive as he has problems with his knee and im not here till supid am sat and go again sunday.
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Genuine cats are scary price.
Flexi is around £25 from ebay. Bung a local engineering company a tenner, they'll weld it it. Savings made can go in the jar for a rainy day :)
There may even be an OOFer near you that can weld it it place? I'd offer, but my welding is shit, I need more practice :-[
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As I said, Paul in Lincoln will sort this and can weld as required ......
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Marie (and 2for2), you've both been here long enough to know we advise on the 'best' solution to problems. Best in this case is not the "money no object" solution, but a solution that is virtually as good, and an awful lot cheaper.
I hope that explains my rationale behind my advice not to replace the cat.
If the solution was a bit of a bodge, I'd say so, including other options which aren't a bodge.
But IMHO, you shouldn't be considering any other option than just replacing the flexi.
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Oh, and plusgas the bolts the day before removal of cat section :y
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They are called Pitstop IIRC ..........
There is usually a green Omega parked outside - which is a good sign
They are open today - I've just driven past :y
just called them and a guy called dale answered and said no one buy the name works there. Anyhow still spoke to them referance fixing it and they dont do welding they get a private welder in and gave me their number. so rang the old boy (sounded old) he said the cat will have to come off but he need to see it to tell us if its fixable. problem one jase is snowers this week with rehab on his legs.
plus he cant get under the car to remove it as he cant bend his knee.
i have compaired the two cats on both cars and i know mine is genuine forsure as i fitted it. it looks like jases is potentialy a pattern part. shape ot the cat is wrong more boxy then round.
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My original recommendation stands. Just use it like that for now, fix next week when you don't need both cars. Or see if you can get a bodge exhaust wrap to take, until you do have time?
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My original recommendation stands. Just use it like that for now, fix next week when you don't need both cars. Or see if you can get a bodge exhaust wrap to take, until you do have time?
Thank you TB will do.
just had a thought i have some battle damage repair tape in my toolbox. why didnt i think of that earlier ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
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Obviously that part of exhaust gets very hot so exhaust bandage should take OK :y
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Is currently in garage with car back on ramps hubby is underneath as im clean wrapping an exhaust bandage round it folled by some specialist metal tape ( donr ask where I got it from cos id have to lie to you ) ;D
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Is currently in garage with car back on ramps hubby is underneath as im clean wrapping an exhaust bandage round it folled by some specialist metal tape ( donr ask where I got it from cos id have to lie to you ) ;D
:y :y
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temp repair carried out and is currently holding. she quiet again nd as hubby said doesnt sound like a dragster any more ;D ;D
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They are called Pitstop IIRC ..........
There is usually a green Omega parked outside - which is a good sign
They are open today - I've just driven past :y
just called them and a guy called dale answered and said no one buy the name works there. Anyhow still spoke to them referance fixing it and they dont do welding they get a private welder in and gave me their number. so rang the old boy (sounded old) he said the cat will have to come off but he need to see it to tell us if its fixable. problem one jase is snowers this week with rehab on his legs.
plus he cant get under the car to remove it as he cant bend his knee.
i have compaired the two cats on both cars and i know mine is genuine forsure as i fitted it. it looks like jases is potentialy a pattern part. shape ot the cat is wrong more boxy then round.
Two different places Marie. Paul is on the high street (01522 568568) and knows the Omega and can weld. I only mentioned Pitstop as they are open 7 days a week. Sorry if I confused things ::)
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Oh I get it I understand. I can see why I got confused.
Might give him a bell tomorrow and try and get the car over to him saturday next week. cos I can leave jase my car the week after and get my mate to drive. :y
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Oh I get it I understand. I can see why I got confused.
Might give him a bell tomorrow and try and get the car over to him saturday next week. cos I can leave jase my car the week after and get my mate to drive. :y
Sounds like a plan :y