Hellupp! Hellup!!!! Damsel In Distress.....

[59pickupgal]

I need a Yank friendly garage to work on my cars...I am in Hastings...does anyone have any recommendations for anyone, not a millon miles away......I am currently having problems with my 92 Pontiac Firebird...and I need to find someone I can use on a regular basis......???

A local garage has just done a service on it and I'm not entirely happy as they aren't 100% confident working on my car, despite their enthusiasm :)

Put it this way, the car was working just fine when I took it in...and now its caput! and I am over £200 out of pocket...and whatever the problem is, still isn't sorted :confused:

Thanking you for your help in advance!

[et]

elder engineering in hailsham do yanks will find number for you

[59pickupgal]

hey, thanks, that would be great :)

[crusty]

I need a Yank friendly garage to work on my cars...I am in Hastings...does anyone have any recommendations for anyone, not a millon miles away......I am currently having problems with my 92 Pontiac Firebird...and I need to find someone I can use on a regular basis......???

A local garage has just done a service on it and I'm not entirely happy as they aren't 100% confident working on my car, despite their enthusiasm :)

Put it this way, the car was working just fine when I took it in...and now its caput! and I am over £200 out of pocket...and whatever the problem is, still isn't sorted :confused:

Thanking you for your help in advance!

Rebecca if its worse than when you took it in then surely you should take it back and at least let them rectify whats wrong and then if not some recompense is in order. After all at the end of the day its only an engine, its just got a few more cylinders. They should have a diagnostics's machine as all new cars run computers, so should be able to hook it up.

[scrap yard dog]

i agree with crusty its only an engine and a service is a standard thing on any car or engine depending on the service 4 6 8 cly its oil filters plugs if it has them a genaral check over copperslip on the joints spray greese every where else if its not right take it back they are obliged to rectify it its in the code of practice any garage can do a service even quick fit lol drop me a line if you like and ill try and help you out bit far down the coast or id pop round im down hayling island have you checked plug leads are all on tight ssometimes they dont push them all the way on and they break down just a thought

[59pickupgal]

i agree with crusty its only an engine and a service is a standard thing on any car or engine depending on the service 4 6 8 cly its oil filters plugs if it has them a genaral check over copperslip on the joints spray greese every where else if its not right take it back they are obliged to rectify it its in the code of practice any garage can do a service even quick fit lol drop me a line if you like and ill try and help you out bit far down the coast or id pop round im down hayling island have you checked plug leads are all on tight ssometimes they dont push them all the way on and they break down just a thought

thanks guys, yes, have also had some more advice from another forum member, a bit more indepth...all they did was replace the ht leads and used ones that didn't fit perfectly, so I broke down 5 mins away, it started straight up so drove it back, 2nd lot of leads, did exactly the same thing, now making an unusual noise..I insisted that they order the proper ones, US Automotive, delivered friday, they fitted those, perfect fit, drove it away, on the way home 10 minutes later, it felt like it was going to die whilst sitting in traffic and the voltage gauge dropped slightly, so I kept the revs up and got it home...its going back Monday...just really fed up because I daren't drive it all weekend, its not the smallest car to break down in and the roads are real tight round here! And the car was running just fine when I took it in....so will pass on all the ideas tomorrow...one suggestion was that the voltage regulator might need replacing, which isn't cheap, so my query was, was anything damaged during the service? what comeback do I have.....and its bloomin' raining so don't want to have to use the pickup or the bike for work this week....:(

[Battersea Boys]

it sounds like the mass air sensor?......

[59pickupgal]

it sounds like the mass air sensor?......

well thats one no one else has suggested....going tomorrow armed with a huge list of suggestions, hahahahaha....they're gonna wish I'd never darkened their door.......

[et]

alders automotive services,
unit 5 northfield business park,
lower dicker, nr hailsham,
east sussex, BN 27 4BZ

01323 848448

[plumpcars]

http://www.carsamerican.com/index.html

[59pickupgal]

Well after all the shared wisdom, thank you all so much....it was suggested by him indoors ;) (hahahahahaha when he reads this) that I take it out to make sure the battery was fully charged as after all the fiddling with it, I've done mostly short journeys with the lights on.......sadly didn't get that far...managed about 5 miles and turned back...the voltage is staying at 13.5, no change there, but in park and accelerating its 'shuddering' slightly all the time, revving it makes no difference, its just constantly feeling like it wants to stall? So the conclusion is that its in the ignition somewhere but will certainly suggest the mass air sensor too, thanks guys....so, got home really fed up....and decided to get the Corvette out of the garage....

Just got home 2 hours later....awesome!!!!! driven in anger, a good dose of V8 is enough to put the smile back on my face! :D:D:D:D:D:D

Will let you know what the garage discover tomorrow.......

[Scott1066]

Rebecca, as Alan says Richard Alder along the Dicker is very good. Not overly cheap but he knows his stuff.

[59pickupgal]

Rebecca, as Alan says Richard Alder along the Dicker is very good. Not overly cheap but he knows his stuff.
Thanks for the recommendation Scott, much appreciated, will give them a try if all else fails tomorrow....

when I saw your name appear I thought you were going to say you saw this crazy grinning woman in a red Corvette this afternoon driving like a loony, lol!!! :D

[Scott1066]

been going around with my eyes shut today, but i'm sure i wouldn't have missed you.

[plumpcars]

I suppose they have got the firing order correct when fitting the new leads? Sounds more like a misfire now Rebecca rather than the cutting out that you had initially.

[59pickupgal]

Right, off to the garage today armed with all your suggestions, thanks Steve, I think you're right about the misfiring...? Let's hope so, just need it sorted now! and sorry Ratty, shouldve called you 'im in the cab' ;) Otherwise I've got to use the Corvette, which makes for very exciting driving in the wet, so if you live in this area, look twice before you cross the road.....and I find myself having to take extra long routes to work just for the sheer hell of it......:D...

[plumpcars]

Ratty like you I don't believe in coincidences!
My books don't really go late enough but I've found:
3.1 engine (I assume it is?)
1 2 3 4 5 6.
cyls 1 3 5 on passenger side of car
cyls 2 4 6 on drivers. Thats lhd.

Cyl 1 to 7 o/c position on dist cap. Rotation c/wise...

Now it's got a technical a moderator may move the post. ;)

[59pickupgal]

Ratty like you I don't believe in coincidences!
My books don't really go late enough but I've found:
3.1 engine (I assume it is?)
1 2 3 4 5 6.
cyls 1 3 5 on passenger side of car
cyls 2 4 6 on drivers. Thats lhd.

Cyl 1 to 7 o/c position on dist cap. Rotation c/wise...


Thanks Steve, that's brilliant! hey ho, off we go......will let you know how I get on....:)

[Battersea Boys]

well, any news!....

[59pickupgal]

:mad:.....well....he tried everything you'd all suggested, I even rang Steve while I was there, he went through it all with him, then gave him the number of the garage he'd recommended on here.....come 5 o'clock, he rings to tell me he's sorry but he's been working on it all day and made it much worse......pants!!!!!!!!!!

I'm lucky, I have other transport but its not the point is it??!! I'm just concerned that when it comes to the bill, and I don't want to fall out with the guy, I hope he's not gonna land me with a huge repair bill....if I'd gone anywhere else I'd be getting cross by now....but another day driving the Corvette is cheering me up no end! :D

[Battersea Boys]

you gonna just have to ease it in to the discussion

[59pickupgal]

Yep, I still don't have it back...and having been laid up with flu...thought I'd leave it till I heard from them, but its been a week now. It got much worse apparently, they have disturbed something in the fuel injection, so its still not fixed....thank you Steve for referring them to your friend in Pease Pottage...he apparently has been really helpful...and they are working there way through it. I did say I was getting concerned as I hadn't even broached the subject of a courtesy car...or the cost...but I'm not going to be charged anything, thank god, really was dreading having to bring that up with them. So, they asked for another day to work on it.

Thank you everybody for your help and suggestions, totally brilliant!! :)

[Adam]

Sounds like a stand up place. Ok something has gone wrong but they are trying to sort it in their own time for you and not just smack you with a huge bill like most places would. Good luck, oh and the cheque is in the post as they say!

[59pickupgal]

Hi Adam, yeah, they are a small family run garage that I've used on and off for years when I had 'normal' cars...and I've tattooed him, so we know each other and he's a pretty decent type....anywhere else and I'd have been mentioning trading standards by now and making a real fuss!!!! Sadly, I won't be using him again, as nice as he is though, my confidence is gone really....but yes...very nice, just wish I'd decided not to get the car serviced just before Christmas!!! hey ho!

[Adam]

I think they would be best off starting from scratch. trying to find a fault within a fault is a PITA. Starting from the beginning means you cover everything. Seems like the long way round but it saves tiime in the end. Tell them to sort out what IS working and that may give them a clue about what isn't but most importantly why.