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46

General Car Chat / Re: If you Bought a New Car? What Would You Choose?

« on: 20 October 2023, 15:55:00 »

I intend to keep my Omega going until I go!

But, if things didn't work out, and I came into £10 - 20,000, a Bentley Continental.  Always wanted one as a child - along with a  "Baby Austin 7 - and I still do.

https://www.cargurus.co.uk/Cars/l-Used-Bentley-Continental-d2918?cgagid=3058294&cgcid=2769&px8324=p2&sourceContext=usedPaidSearchNoZip&ax8324=124069556&type=GoogleAdWordsSearch&kw=bentley%20continental%20gt&matchtype=p&ad=469864131254&placement=&networktype=g&device=c&devicemodel=&adposition=&physloc=9045113&intloc=&aceid=&cid=377713088&agid=21023719088&tgtid=kwd-298160667341&fid=&gad=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwysipBhBXEiwApJOcu1eIdzhuES976mOLwbm9GysH6kBIHzQB0fN6oWuinvW0IEiP2bkcrBoCyb8QAvD_BwE#listing=151424627/NONE/NATIONWIDE_SHIPPING

NICE!

47

Omega General Help / Re: Alternator

« on: 20 October 2023, 15:31:28 »

Thanks for all the advice and comments

Awaiting the requested quote. 

However I have found the correct part at Europarts, who have a branch just around the corner from my garage of choice, and my main dealer.  I can get the Lucas alternator for £134, but including a £47 "surcharge" that I get back when I return the old part to them.  So a net price of £87.  Therefore even though the £50 reconditioning price could be good, for just £37 approx more I get a brand new part.

Anyway, I think a few days of decision making lay ahead, let alone getting the cash / credit together, before I decide.  I am also going to review the slim possibility of me doing it all. Really don't know yet!!

48

Omega General Help / Re: Alternator

« on: 20 October 2023, 12:01:47 »

Here you go 

https://www.omegaowners.com/forum/index.php?topic=107049.0

Thanks Skruntie and Nick.

I am asking myself am I up to do all that work now?  Frankly with what you describe and show, I do not think I am up to it, or rather want to be.  I think I have no choice but taking it, with AA assistance, to my local garage.

Thanks again though

49

Omega General Help / Alternator

« on: 20 October 2023, 11:09:21 »

Travelling just 3 miles from home yesterday, the alternator red light came on.  Bit by bit the electrical power went, then the dreaded limp mode made it's feelings known. I just managed to park up outside my home, and the engine died.  No power left to turn the engine, or work any electrics!

I knew what the problem was, but called in the AA to inspect, check all connections, and then confirm my fears.  Alternator gone, dead, cupput! :'(

Found prices for a replacement, and asked my local garage for a quote to replace.  How easy is it to fit an alternator?  The last time I fitted a - well, it was a generator then on an A40 -  it was dead easy.  Not so now I reckon on a 3.2 engine.

Any thoughts please.

50

General Car Chat / Re: So what have you done to your car today?

« on: 19 September 2023, 13:24:51 »

Had the exhaust system back from the cats replaced, and two new rear tyres fitted.

Should satisfy the MOT in February 24

51

General Car Chat / Re: Thirty minutes to kill so...

« on: 07 September 2023, 18:02:12 »

No Carltons, Sennys, Omegas then 
I guess they where all at church 

I did spy a the Cresta.

'J' registration, I think. So 1970/71.

Big old bus.

FTFY

There is only one desirable Cresta  ;  a Cresta PA  from around 1961

On Bangers & Cash they had a ESTATE Cresta PA.  Absolutely in immaculate condition.   Apart from my Omega there are few cars I would really love to own, but that Cresta; Yes Please!!

52

General Car Chat / Re: The insanity of 'so called classic car' prices.

« on: 07 September 2023, 11:31:14 »

No , it wasn’t even the S engine .

It is “ our generation” with disposable income to buy the car of their youth. As you say madness.. Give it ten or o years years and ome Oofers will be paying similar money for an Omega…….

Oh I hope so!

By then my "investment" in a late build Omega 3.2 Elite can be cashed in when I decide to drive no more.   Bangers & Cash certainly has proved how mad some enthusiasts are in getting hold of the classic of their dreams.  So there is hope for my increasing in value miggy!

53

General Car Chat / ULEZ

« on: 28 August 2023, 13:57:51 »

So from midnight tonight the London ULEZ is being extended.  For me that means that when I drive  in northern Kent I can go into the Greater London charging zone.

On BBC there is a news report often repeated, with the reporter stating “any car registered before 2005 will have to pay the charge”.

WRONG!!

According to the online official checker for this charge my 2003, 3.2 Omega is exempt as it meets the criteria of acceptable omissions.

Very strange really.  So a 3.2 of 2003 is ok, but others of the time are not and will cost their owners dearly every day they travel towards the City.  Just when everyone not on mega bucks is struggling to cope with their living costs!!

Bloody stupid!

54

General Car Chat / Petrol Prices

« on: 17 August 2023, 17:22:27 »

I have noticed, with a shock, that down here the petrol prices that had been coming down have now gone to average of £1.479p for a litre; that is an extra 4p per litre on last week.  Prices had been steadily going down.

So, what has happened now for  this to happen yet again?

The usual suspects are the War, China, Saudi, the dollar, exchange rates............................................!!

55

General Car Chat / Re: So what have you done to your car today?

« on: 17 August 2023, 15:17:34 »

Today I had the car fully raised off the ground and attacked the rust issues on two of the main chassis members running either side of the engine. 

This was raised as an "advisory" at the last MOT, so I have now fully wire wheeled the rust off, removed damaged underseal, soaked it all in rust treatment, then coated everything in Hammerite black paint.

It should satisfy the MOT test for the next few years, I hope!

56

Omega General Help / Re: Engine Management Light On

« on: 14 August 2023, 12:37:35 »

As a final comment from me, I can confirm that I have discussed all matters with Serek, who couldn’t have been more apologetic.  He offered to check over all the work, but I said that wasn’t necessary as the problem had been overcome.  He also stated he would make amends when I next take the car to him, which I will do.
As far as I am concerned, case closed as all that I have stated before applies.

57

Omega General Help / Re: Engine Management Light On

« on: 13 August 2023, 20:09:53 »

 

This is getting boring now.  Just read my last post.  End of.

58

Omega General Help / Re: Crank sensor...I think?

« on: 13 August 2023, 18:23:55 »

Well done Malc. Something to check for others. 

Indeed!

I have now checked mine and all is ok.  Those pictures certainly gave me a scare, like my loose plenum servo pipe!!

59

Omega General Help / Re: Engine Management Light On

« on: 13 August 2023, 18:13:32 »

As a business owner Serek has a responsibility to rectify any issues raised as a potential short coming of recent work.

I don't believe that he has been given this opportunity.

And there's the underlying niggle that if something that obvious wasn't tightened securely for whatever reason (not the actual point of debate here), then what else may have been overlooked?

Taking the car back in and rechecking everything done wouldn't have been an unreasonable course of action. Not that he was afforded that opportunity.

As I have said before, I understand where you are coming from DG

But, Serek, like the rest of us is allowed the odd slip up.  As James states, Serek is only human.  In fact when Serek has done work on my car in the past it has been excellent.  This time the rest of the work was also done to a very high standard, and, very importantly, at a overall price that puts the greedy sods down here in their place.  They want well over double Serek charges, and DO make the errors that even skilled mechanics, like Serek, can make. 

To put right what I have SIMPLY rectified, albeit with great observations along with advice from you DG and others, has meant not driving a round trip of 232 miles, and paying Dart Charges.  So I am a pragmatist who just puts this all down to experience. I did this when a brand new Cortina Estate I had almost lost it's prop shaft due to only two bolts holding it together, or another brand new Cortina Estate needing me to take the water inlet pipe off to take out a big lump of metal crud, left in there by Dagenham, which made the engine go into meltdown!  Other Carltons and a Senator were also left with potentially dangerous issues by main dealer garages at times, needing me to urgently return them.  They all got my sharp tongue, but all was sorted and the errors not repeated.

Again No one was luckily hurt, and I could put the issue right. I still believe Serek is a very honest, friendly, guy who knows his way around an Omega like many others in the trade do not.  Unlike those 'others' he does not, like they did when seeking a price for a cam belt change with me supplying the parts, suck in air and say "that is a lot of work....all that at the top of the engine must come off.......£480!!!  Again, things can be overlooked as Serek did on this one occasion, but it does not put me off from using his services because that suits my pocket and I know things usually will be done correctly.  For instance the cam belt has been fitted perfectly, with the engine running very well and MPG at an acceptable level; also the hand brake has been adjusted to a tightness not achieved by others, with the rear brakes feeling superb.  The steering is also now not "moaning" and feels like new after he changed the fluid.

I will be phoning Serek this week now I know what was wrong and how to fix it, with a small reprimand given!  But that will be the end of it.  Nothing has changed.

60

Omega General Help / Re: Engine Management Light On

« on: 13 August 2023, 17:38:05 »

Sorry, only just seen this, have been busy with loads of non car stuff lately else I’d have offered to take a look.

On balance, the issue was almost certainly the ECU compensating for unmetered air, entering post MAF from the loose servo pipe connection.

I’m not getting drawn into any conversation about anyones standard of work, save to say that even the most skilled people in the world can make an odd mistake, and it’s only human. Serek is an incredibly skilled mechanic.

What I will say though is sod the light - I’m just glad you found that loose servo hose.

If that came off, two things would have happened - the huge influx of unmetered air would have caused your engine to run at full revs, and your braking ability reduced by at least 80%. So thank god you caught it.

Thanks James I agree with all that!

I certainly have learnt, yet again, more about a "modern" car