[quote="Guinnless, post:19, topic:36679, full:true”]
… an experienced garage as opposed to Halfords and the like.
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I guess that’s the problem with the mainstream names - you might have excellent staff/mechanics or average or worse.
The lady on reception at the local garage the ATS chaps recommended clearly knew her onions and specifically said that the glow plugs can be problematic to remove, and that it might be straightforward but could take longer. Tempted to give them a whirl as reviews indicate they’ve taken on work and done it admirably when other garages and even main dealers wouldn’t touch.
I’d avoid anywhere that has a reception, coffee machine and comfy seats.
Anybody working at ATS etc wouldn’t be there if they were motor engineers. We use a local one-man garage for all Jeep work because I have enough to do with my ‘built last century’ cars. He’s thoroughly knowledgeable and was brought up operating and repairing farm machinery as a kid.
It’s not how nice they are it’s what are they going to do if it won’t come out…
You can’t drill the out with the cylinder head in-situ because swarf will end up in the cylinder.
If you have easy sight of the glow plug buy a can of Plus-Gas and soak it every night for a week. After the engine has cooled of course.
[quote="Guinnless, post:22, topic:36679, full:true”]
I’d avoid anywhere that has a reception, coffee machine and comfy seats.
Anybody working at ATS etc wouldn’t be there if they were motor engineers. We use a local one-man garage for all Jeep work because I have enough to do with my ‘built last century’ cars. He’s thoroughly knowledgeable and was brought up operating and repairing farm machinery as a kid.
[/quote]
‘Reception’ was just a dumpy side room - no coffee machine or anywhere to sit, just where they took calls I think.
Appreciate the ATS guys aren’t proper engineers, but that particular branch has always impressed me - they once repaired a tyre and didn’t even charge me a penny. Quite different to local KwikFit who try to add every additional charge they can to the bill.
Well, the odd thing is they messed up the pick up date and it would have gone before the fault appeared.
Communication being slow the chap who was going to pick it up rang last week, sounded thoroughly decent, worked part-time and was not informed we’d changed the pick up date.
He said ‘these things get rearranged quite frequently but I’m always surprised when I’m asked to take cars with engine warning light on or bald tyres!’. Typically the engine warning light came on a few days later.
Anyhow, experimenting I suppose, but I just deleted the fault assuming it will reoccur - so far it hasn’t. I believe there is some kind of setting whereby they might be able to detect a reset if the ECUs haven’t had long enough to indicate emissions etc is all ok - 75 miles or so provided fault doesn’t recur it says on some sites.
Will see in the next few days - I like the car and am quite tempted to purchase, but can’t actually justify it.
Maybe an amber light would be ok provided not red or flashing, I really don’t know.
Hopefully it’ll stay cleared as I’d imagine any major faults would reappear quite soon.
I was delighted to find after a few phone calls that the ‘out of contract’ vehicle was still covered for maintenance/service/tyres as we will be charged a daily pro-rata rate (very reasonable) for leasing and maintenance plan until it goes back.
Got the glow plug replaced at the local VW main dealership under the existing cover.
Even if that cover had expired they only charged £135 including the diagnostic, parts and labour. Pretty good either way it played out.
Can you please badger me until I confirm I’ve dropped off some tins of biscuits/chocolates to the thoroughly helpful independent garage who also helped me along the way without charging a penny!
He’s thoroughly knowledgeable and was brought up operating and repairing farm machinery as a kid.
