Omega Owners Forum
Chat Area => General Car Chat => Topic started by: TheBoy on 14 May 2021, 18:36:14
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So, after dumping all its coolant in one big heap at motorway speeds, a colleague (who in a former life was a race engine tuner) and I had a quick look, and quickly determined it was the stat housing had failed. Nothing repairable at side of road, as its a unique, plastic, moulded part. Good job I have RAC recovery.
So call RAC, to be greeted with a message that I can't really call them, and report it online instead if possible, because of covid, and only hang on as a last resort. I mean, we've had the sniffle virus for over a year, companies can't keep hiding behind that excuse.
Gave up holding after about 10mins, and did it online, at 2:30pm. Technician called me at 4pm, telling me he was 30mins away, though I explained to him what I'd found, and that it was gonna need recovery, and it was RWD, but understandably he had to check first. He rocked up at 4:30pm, and immediately decided it needed recovery, which he couldn't do, because it was RWD. So I had to wait for a recovery truck.
Recovery truck turned upat 7pm, and was quickly on our way. I had to stay in the car, due to covid, an experience that was quite unpleasant.
(https://theboy.omegaowners.com/jag_pics/odds/tow1.jpg)
By 8pm, he'd dropped me at Beaconsfield services.
By 11pm, the next truck turned up.
(https://theboy.omegaowners.com/jag_pics/odds/tow2.jpg)
Which meant I was home just before midnight.
This afternoon, after work, I pulled off the throttle body, to reveal fully the extent of the problem. Its actually not the thermostat housing, just a plastic component to send the coolant in various directions. The stat is not actually on the engine, and is mounted remotely.
(https://theboy.omegaowners.com/jag_pics/odds/coolanthousing.jpg)
Now time to order bits. Need to decide genuine or pattern. Genuine is about 2.5 - 3 times more expensive, but its not an expensive part, so will probably be based on availability.
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Why couldn't the first recovery take you straight home?
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Why couldn't the first recovery take you straight home?
That was what RAC originally promised, but when the (3rd party) agent turned up, he'd only been booked to take me part way.
Maybe thats one for Nick W's experience in such things.
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Drivers hours if they go more than 50KMs from base. ;)
I'd risk Batflu than dying falling off a flatbed :-X
Besides, with masks, a meter is deemed to be acceptable distance (not that any of it is scientifically proven to be true. But that's a whole different rant).
If they can't transport you 'safely' then they should put you in a taxi >:(
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Hopefully a straightforward fix then. :y They seem to send a van out first to assess, even when you tell them it's terminal and will require recovery.
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Hopefully a straightforward fix then. :y They seem to send a van out first to assess, even when you tell them it's terminal and will require recovery.
Yeah, I completely understand they can't take the word of a member of the public. Just annoying that each wait time was 2 hours.
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cheaply made plastic manifold :(
manufacturers are putting crap like that in heating boilers now too .
hopefully you will get a replacement quickly and be up and running again soon
in the mean time you have your 101 HP :o race car tool shed Zafira to use :)
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I would have thought this is a main dealer fix.
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I thought remaining in the car was illegal ?
I presume RAC are added to the hate list now. ::)
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I thought remaining in the car was illegal ?
I presume RAC are added to the hate list now. ::)
Mongs. ;D
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Hopefully a straightforward fix then. :y They seem to send a van out first to assess, even when you tell them it's terminal and will require recovery.
Yeah, I completely understand they can't take the word of a member of the public. Just annoying that each wait time was 2 hours.
Operator: What appears to be the problem?
Customer: The offside front track control arm has snapped and the car is undriveable.
Operator: I see, we will send an technician to your location.
Customer: Does he have a flat bed? The car is undriveable.
Operator: He is a technician, he will get you on your way.
Customer: WTF?
2 hours later...
Transit driver: You need a flat bed.
Customer: No shit.
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They seem to send a van out first to assess, even when you tell them it's terminal and will require recovery.
You have no idea just how many reported faults are completely inaccurate. Some of them are impossible. The AA and RAC will always send a van during business hours no matter what you tell them; everybody else uses sub-contractors, and then anything could happen depending on how busy they are.
Early evening is a terrible time to need a full lift from the RAC, as that's when they transition to their sub contractors. Who go from having no jobs to more than they have drivers to cover, and they've all been waiting for hours due to the RAC's ineptitude.
Being in the car isn't dangerous, or illegal but it is a bit uncomfortable. If the driver doesn't strap all four wheels of your car, no matter how far you're going, you should complain.
I wouldn't be happy about being left at Beaconsfield when the destination is Brackley. You should also get your driver to ensure that the next vehicle is booked and get the company name and an ETA without asking the RAC.
Your best bet for avoiding these issues is to use National Breakdown.
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I seem to remember saying about companies using Covid as an excuse for rubbish customer service months ago. I have given up moaning about it. It is the new normal.
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They seem to send a van out first to assess, even when you tell them it's terminal and will require recovery.
You have no idea just how many reported faults are completely inaccurate. Some of them are impossible. The AA and RAC will always send a van during business hours no matter what you tell them .............
My comment was an observation rather than a criticism, and I fully understood their reasoning behind it. :y Tying up a flatbed unnecessarily on the say so of a member of the public is obviously not feasible so we accept that they need to check it out for themselves first. :y
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the AA or RAC can run the Reg number through any computer to know the model and if it's RWD
or French :D
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I wouldn't be happy about being left at Beaconsfield when the destination is Brackley
TB could have had a couple of 'take away' pints from the Hope and Champion then climbed back in the Jag for a sleep while being driven back to Brackley loaded on a flatbed.... Could even of had a pint on the go during the transit.
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They seem to send a van out first to assess, even when you tell them it's terminal and will require recovery.
You have no idea just how many reported faults are completely inaccurate. Some of them are impossible. The AA and RAC will always send a van during business hours no matter what you tell them .............
My comment was an observation rather than a criticism, and I fully understood their reasoning behind it. :y Tying up a flatbed unnecessarily on the say so of a member of the public is obviously not feasible so we accept that they need to check it out for themselves first. :y
It wasn't unusual to get a priority job because the customer was a lone woman. Who had acquired three male passengers by the time we got there.
Dealing with the general public soon teaches you that many of them are idiots. Then there are the liars. And the lying idiots.
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the AA or RAC can run the Reg number through any computer to know the model and if it's RWD and French :D
Computers are only as good as the woke snowflake that programmes them ;)
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the AA or RAC can run the Reg number through any computer to know the model and if it's RWD and French :D
Computers are only as good as the woke snowflake that programmes them ;)
They could just use Parker's or auto trader, or .GOV mot checker or .GOV tax checker. So yes, Dave, they could.
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So rang around the Jag dealers at 9am yesterday morning, and either no answer from the main reception after the initial IVR bit, or the 2 I did get an answer from said their parts were closed due to some sniffle thing. Managed to get through to 1, but he didn't have in stock.
So got her on EPC to check for the crossed referenced LR part, and found LR dealers much more helpful, though nearest with stock was between Cov and Brum. So up we trundled in the Battlebus, once we got that started*
£38 later, I had the part in my grubby mitts, but we had to detour to Hobbycraft and the recycling centre on the way back, due to her needing bits for some project that I dont understand the point of. Also detoured via Jennys Resturant for a takeaway burger and chips, seeing as it was about midday..
The part fitted easily, though it took about 3 hours, as I was dodging showers, which also left plenty of time for the coolant to trickle the air out. And by 4pm, it was having its test drive, about 20 miles of local roads.
Suspect over the next few journeys, it may bleed a bit more, but probably not much.
*The battlebus is an arse to start with low fuel, and when it does fire, its smog city. Several neighbours were out chatting, and were laughing, seeing as I'd caused commotion the night before with the Jag on a tow truck, and then the Zaf wouldn't start ;D
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That £38 would probably have morphed into nearer £300 at a dealer. Well done :y
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Cheap fix well done ☺️
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You could always put more fuel in the poor thing ::)
For all the hassle, that wasn't a bad outcome 8). Had a top hose fail on the 525i that caused a similar process although the fix for that was a radiator.
Coolant failures always look worse than the repair unless you try driving with them :y
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Thats a common part to fail, think we did 3 over the last 5 years at our branch.
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The battlebus is an arse to start with low fuel, and when it does fire, its smog city. Several neighbours were out chatting, and were laughing, seeing as I'd caused commotion the night before with the Jag on a tow truck, and then the Zaf wouldn't start ;D
ambient air temp sensor ,coolant temp sensor ???
you could always check live data as previously mentioned ::)
I know you've blown the £50 per year maintenance budget for 2021 but still ;D
good you got the BBP fixed so quickly though :)
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The battlebus is an arse to start with low fuel, and when it does fire, its smog city. Several neighbours were out chatting, and were laughing, seeing as I'd caused commotion the night before with the Jag on a tow truck, and then the Zaf wouldn't start ;D
ambient air temp sensor ,coolant temp sensor ???
you could always check live data as previously mentioned ::)
I know you've blown the £50 per year maintenance budget for 2021 but still ;D
good you got the BBP fixed so quickly though :)
Nope, its absolutely fine* to start if it has more than about a third of a tank.
As for blowing its budget, it got treated to a new headlight when it passed its MOT, Said new headlight is, however, still in my hallway ;D
*Fine = as good as could be expected with only 1 or 2 glow plugs working.
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Thats a common part to fail, think we did 3 over the last 5 years at our branch.
Yup, I've come to discover its common.
Whilst cheap and easy to fix, the nature of the failure does mean a recovery however, annoyingly.
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Coolant failures always look worse than the repair unless you try driving with them :y
Last time I had a catastrophic coolant failure at speed was all that pesky DTM's fault, after he fixed the engine noise on the Silver Bullet.
Its his fault, because he told me to put in an oil flush, and, I quote, "Take it for a spirited drive". And it dumped all its coolant up the windscreen at *cough* MPH along the A43. Made more dramatic by the fact that neither the scuttle or the wipers were fitted to the car at the time.
Turns out I misunderstood what a spirited drive was ;D
I get a feeling either tunnie or Mrs TB towed me home that day.
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Thats a common part to fail, think we did 3 over the last 5 years at our branch.
Yup, I've come to discover its common.
Whilst cheap and easy to fix, the nature of the failure does mean a recovery however, annoyingly.
Less annoying than swapping out the engine after the 'bah, it'll be fine' approach :y
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Yeah, can't understand some numptys. Even I have some mechanical sympathy.
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*The battlebus is an arse to start with low fuel, and when it does fire, its smog city. Several neighbours were out chatting, and were laughing, seeing as I'd caused commotion the night before with the Jag on a tow truck, and then the Zaf wouldn't start ;D
*Fine = as good as could be expected with only 1 or 2 glow plugs working.
I had a Rover 216 diesel years ago and the glow plug relay failed, but it would always start eventually and like yours in a cloud of white smoke! ;D
My neighbours didn't seem to laugh though. ::) Maybe creating a huge cloud of dense white smoke every morning wasn't so funny in a narrow street of terraced houses. :-\ ??? ;D