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91

General Car Chat / Great SEREK SERVICE again

« on: 02 August 2023, 12:04:03 »

Yesterday I took my Omega to Serek in Huntingdon.  He in just a few hours for a great price, fitted a cam belt kit, fitted new rear brake pads, adjusted the parking brake, and replaced the steering fluid.
This guy is a saviour for us trying to keep our Omega’s going. He is so experienced, totally reliable, honest and generally a lovely man.  
I, and my 12 year old grandson who I took for company and for him to get some car knowledge, enjoyed Serek’s rest room as a place to rest in addition to going to the local Dunelm store for food.

A overall very enjoyable and fruitful day out!

92

General Car Chat / Re: I know I keep going on about EV's, but....

« on: 10 July 2023, 12:37:09 »

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-12276725/Why-Ill-buying-brand-new-petrol-car-just-2030-ban-says-MATT-RIDLEY.html?ico=mol_desktop_moneycars

That about sums up the great delusion and nonsense rather well.

Roll on my Omega!

93

General Car Chat / Re: Cooked it

« on: 02 July 2023, 20:22:00 »

Wasnt me. Serek has been to my place, but I have never been to his.  
Looking at the wheels on the one beside yours its a CD spec car.
Mine had around 185000 on the clock when those pics were taken. Its nearly on 199,000 now.

Somebody else has got a nice motor then

94

General Car Chat / Re: Cooked it

« on: 02 July 2023, 18:38:36 »

Yep. I do still have the picture!
What a lovely couple!

95

General Car Chat / Re: Cooked it

« on: 02 July 2023, 18:23:45 »

Snap. 





Front garden looks pretty nice in those pics too.  I should really give the gardener a pay rise.

Yep another lovely example!

Was it yours that was alongside mine outsides Sereks garage back in 2018?
Still got the picture of both together.

96

General Car Chat / Re: Cooked it

« on: 02 July 2023, 18:19:57 »

A young Halfords employee who was salivating over mine today reckons that mine (Rubens red) is the best colout they came in . 

Same colour as the 3.2 Elite Lizzie Zoom owns.

Perhaps you two could get together and become an item.

There you go!  An old image now, but except for the tax disc, still looks as good :

. 

Lovely car Lizzie & without a doubt the best colour for the Omega.

Thanks Rangie.

Since that picture was taken I had the unfortunate opportunity to have the front end “restored” with   a whole re spray back to the doors, due to a low speed shunt.  Just need the whole back end updated now, but without an accident involved!!

97

General Car Chat / Re: Cooked it

« on: 29 June 2023, 15:17:11 »

A young Halfords employee who was salivating over mine today reckons that mine (Rubens red) is the best colout they came in . 

Same colour as the 3.2 Elite Lizzie Zoom owns.

Perhaps you two could get together and become an item.

There you go!  An old image now, but except for the tax disc, still looks as good :

98

General Car Chat / Re: Cooked it

« on: 29 June 2023, 10:54:39 »

Another one gone James. :'( :'(  :'(  Bad luck!

99

General Car Chat / Re: Cooked it

« on: 29 June 2023, 10:53:08 »

A young Halfords employee who was salivating over mine today reckons that mine (Rubens red) is the best colout they came in . 

That young lad is talking the truth.  I still love mine!

To think, that lad at Halfords may not have been born when our last Omega's were built!

100

General Car Chat / 20 Years Ago

« on: 25 June 2023, 12:10:39 »

A sad anniversary today.

Tha last Omega was built 20 years ago today, the 25th June 2003. :'( :'( :'(

Mine was built in the month before, on the 14th May 2003, but not registered until the 1st September of that year.


At the moment, still going strong!

101

General Car Chat / Re: 2002 Omega MOT

« on: 22 June 2023, 11:50:25 »

Well done James!

All your hard work continues to pay off!

102

Omega General Help / Re: Steering Groaning

« on: 20 June 2023, 13:54:24 »

I've had many an argument with garages in the past over '75%' pad wear. I get my car MOT'd and serviced at the same time, so if my previous certificates show an annual mileage of circa 20,000, the pads should be changed as soon as they're at 50% or less.
I had an advisory for brake pads at the last MOT but thought the tester was justifying his existence. 8 months later I had metal on metal. I went up and played fûck with them.

Yes Steve, I must say I perhaps rely too heavily on what the MOT report says.  But when I last looked at the rear pads, they had worn down to at least a level I would replace them at.  I have to say the MOT garage, yes that Caffyns again (!! ) , who never get the work from me, also stated correctly that the front pads had just 20% wear.  That I know from looking is true.

But the other MOT garage I used to use, sometimes, told me three years ago all my brake pipes where badly corroded.  I just wiped and oiled the pipes down after that, and the Caffyns MOT has never raised that issue; not one mention of it!

So I know I must be cautious

103

Omega General Help / Re: Steering Groaning

« on: 20 June 2023, 12:26:50 »

Thanks for all the great advice guys!

I have now decided to get Serek to replace the steering fluid with what he decides is best, which no doubt will conform with most of the opinions on here.

At the same time he will be replacing my cam belt, as I know he is a safe pair of hands.

Normally I do not dodge decision making as my professional life relied on that, but when it comes to my Omega..........................well I am going to go chicken and let Serek decide!!

I may well also decide for him to replace the rear brakes whilst he is at it, as the MOT showed they show 75% wear.  So maybe a long day with our friend in Huntingdon!

104

Omega General Help / Re: Steering Groaning

« on: 19 June 2023, 21:26:28 »

That info is incorrect. TIS itself warns about it.

It was always envisaged that the Dextrin ATFs would be backwards compatible, but that proved problematic in some scenarios, hence specific information when that happened.

Given the easy availability of the correct spec fluid, I personally think you would be radio rental to put in stuff that your parts manager claims is fine, given that I bet he doesn't really know his arse from his elbow, going from previous threads...

But, your car, your choice 

But that is the problem TB.  What is the correct spec?  Even on the OOF there are differing opinions over Dex II & III.  If Dex VI is so wrong, why does the info on the internet, and in the Vx dealers not say that?

God, I just don’t know what to think now, apart from maybe “Fxxk it”, I’ll just put in what I have just paid for and if I get another year or two out of the old girl I will count myself lucky!

Where’s that lottery ticket?!  Well I have won five lucky dips and a £97 prize over the last 3 months!

So, maybe, maybe!!

105

Omega General Help / Re: Steering Groaning

« on: 19 June 2023, 21:17:48 »

I have noted the comments about using Dexron VI and raised it with the Caffyns main dealer parts manager.

However, he has assisted me for 18 years with GM / Vx parts and is very familiar with the Vx Omega, as many of those used to go through the servicing department, and he had to organise the supply of parts.  He has assured me this morning that Dexron III has been superseded by Dexron VI within the existing, ex GM range, now recommended for my car. He is adamant that this is so, and indeed very suitable for my particular Omega, and even beneficial for it.

I have to say this is backed up by information on line from the stockist of these oils, with comparisons of the two products, such as on takeuoil.com/dexron-3-Vs Dexron 6 who specify that unlike Dexron 3 which " is a fully synthetic fluid", Dexron 6 "is a blended synthetic oil" and ".... "is specifically designed for old GM vehicles".

In another general reference on-line it is stated, in answer to "is dexron VI compatible with dexron III power steering?" , "....Yes. DEXRON VI licensed fluids are fully backward compatible and can be used in all applications covered by earlier GM ATF specifications".

So, although of course I respect the opinions of the Omega specialists on here, I cannot ignore all this latest information about Dexron VI.  I will therefore be draining the power system system of whatever is there (which I am not sure of anyway!) and filling with Dexron VI.

If my rubbers start deteriorating.....oh, well that will be the end of my twenty year old jalopy :'( :'( :'(  

Once again, thanks all for your advice

All of which entirely misses the point that Dex 3 not backwards compatible with Dex 2 which is what the Omega reverted to.

The dealer is obviously going to tell you what you want to hear because he sees you as a cash cow. And will gladly sell you a new car when they can no longer get parts for the Omega.

He knows me well enough to fully comprehend that I am keeping the Omega going because I cannot afford, and do not want to spend, the price of this main dealers cars.  As for the parts; he already cannot supply most of those already, as I have spent less than £15 for parts with them over the last 15 months.

He knows I am no “cash cow!”   If I was I wouldn’t keep the omega, but have a nice electric Range Rover, Jaguar, or even a Tesla.  ;