The morning started.....garage man on holiday this week...but he did phone me a while after I left a message....his past apprentice was there clearing up all the small jobs that take time! Back down to the garage...and there was nothing obviously wrong... until he put my car on the ramp....two wheel studs out of four missing 😳
When he checked all the others on the car, the torque setting was perfect...
He rummaged through the spare studs and bolts drawer..nothing...and had inspiration...swap one stud over so that there were three on both back wheels... meanwhile I had advice from the Oily One by text as to the size required!
Next stop the car breakers on the edge of Ayr..where I have never seen so many grey cars in one place!! Something to do with grey cars are often the ones you see ...or not...on a grey day against a grey road...with no lights on....
£5 got me two correct studs, and fitted as well.
Time to relax...I had my sewing travel bag in the car for some reason, so sat by the sea in the car, window open for the fresh air and sound of the waves...
Until it was time to walk to the dentist for my annual checkup....clean bill of health!!
Then a successful shopping trip to a supermarket..
That is when the "fun" started..as it was rush hour I chose a less direct quieter way home...but a scraping sound started...and there were road works traffic lights....and the car jammed in gear.....then the clutch plate died just as it was my turn to go. Luckily they were manned lights...and a council lorry with flowerbed maintenance workers appeared..so I got a push just down to the left where I'd already thought to go and stop.
Phoned my breakdown insurance, and as expected they warned of a long wait...but I had food, drink, was off the main road...and had my sewing!!
With that, and contacting people to let them know what had happened, the two hours wait passed quickly...and as the wait would have been longer the main recoverers passed the job on to a local company...
And it was a good drive back, only ten miles, in the big cab with the car getting a ride on the back!
So no plans for the trip away..I need to cancel the campsite and see if Velo Retro will carry on my booking to next year's event.
What a day ! This was the view at 10 pm
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23 comments:
Time for a new car???
...the majority of cars here are, black, white, gray or silver. BORING!
This one has just had new brakes and tyres all round...and the engine still runs sweet.
Any "new" car would have its own whole set of problems...and would cost more than a new clutch..and possibly gearbox even.. would cost!
Definitely!
Well, at least the car broke down near home and not while you were away on a trip.
For which I am exceedingly grateful!!
Oh no. That sounds expensive. I am impressed though that you knew exactly what was wrong. And that you were all set up for the wait. But what a shame to have to cancel your trip.
Days like this make me ask: What else can go wrong?
Being close to home and getting yourself and the car home went well. Putting travel on hold and waiting for repair is disappointing.
Good Grief, what a day. I am so glad you were prepared with food, drink and sewing! I take it personally when a vehicle acts like that. I have a habit of assigning personalities to inanimate objects.
I drive a small silver suv which looks just like the small white suvs and the small gray suvs in every parking lot. I ended up putting magnetic flowers on mine so I could identify it in a parking lot.
Sorry you have missed out on an outing/holiday, and then the expense of the car repair. Sounds like it "caught" something at the breaker's yard! Just as well you had food and sewing with you and could rest in a safe place and wait to be rescued.
No BB, we knew the clutch was starting to show its age...just thought that it would last a bit longer
I need to change bluebell soon 😟
And you rely on your car even more than I do mine
You had a very stressful day. It sounds like you should find another mechanic.
Sometimes it happens like that. For months and months everything goes well. Then for no apparent reason it all seems to Break at the same time.
I’m lucky as my hubby and son are both mechanics and work from our home.
Unfortunately, they tend to do the paying jobs first and I have to wait.
Such is life I guess
Another very busy day. Good that you had supplies to keep you occupied, fed and watered while you waited. Hope the fix is not too expensive.
Oh bother said Pooh. I helped bro change clutch plates in his van a while back - he made it look fairly straightforward but what a hassle for you and shame you will miss your event.
No, he works on his own and deserves a break. He is good, and is willing to work on older cars. Just unfortunate timing
Oh no! Cars are the worst. Dave and I have loved not having one. I hope this gets sorted without too much expense! I wonder how you lost those lug nuts? Did someone try to steal your wheel?!
It certainly feels like that Steve...
If I could manage without a car I would...at least I am not in the middle of a village, let alone a city! And the bus route is nearby, so I can minimise my car use.
Good luck with the car "getting better". My daughter had a neighbour reverse into her car recently, and the insurance have just advised that it is economically unviable to be repaired. She is young and on a decent income, so has bought a new car - something her mother has NEVER done!
Ugh! Cars! But kudos to you! Even in the middle of a crisis, there is gz, serene and calm and pulling out her sewing!
Sorry for the car problems but your attitude (and your sewing) made it no big problem. 'Course, it depends on the repairs to your vehicle. Good luck.
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