The Xantia of Not Many Shitters

[RoverFolkUs]

19 minutes ago, Rust Collector said:

Well, we’ve come this far so we may as well keep going.

That is not an improvised suicide machine, I just needed a third hand to put pressure on the seat back.

Ive blobbed some weld on and it’s better. Not perfect, but better.

After working on the brakes I also noticed the ESP light was illuminated, which made me feel a bit bad as I’d been really careful not to touch any sensors or wiring. I took a quick test drive to see if this would clear after a bit of driving - who knows, maybe it wanted to calibrate itself or something.

Incredibly it did actually sort itself out and the light has cleared. Even better, on starting it up again the light now clears immediately.

This means one thing then.

I’ll be back for you in the morning!

Fingers crossed we are a) still in the retest window and b) they have time to look at it tomorrow.

Yes tomorrow is day 10, so fingers crossed they'll fit you in!

[RoverFolkUs]

Maybe today wasn't meant to be for this little baguette! 

Just a suggestion, if they have cocked up both the emmisions and parking brake efficiency test then I think they should waiver the retest fees.. because if it wasn't for the uncertainty with those bits then it might have been easier to fit it all into an already tight timescale. 

If someone wanted to be an arsehole about it, DVSA would not be happy with the tester. So they probably need to keep things sweet 

[Rust Collector]

51 minutes ago, RoverFolkUs said:

Maybe today wasn't meant to be for this little baguette! 

Just a suggestion, if they have cocked up both the emmisions and parking brake efficiency test then I think they should waiver the retest fees.. because if it wasn't for the uncertainty with those bits then it might have been easier to fit it all into an already tight timescale. 

If someone wanted to be an arsehole about it, DVSA would not be happy with the tester. So they probably need to keep things sweet 

I'm a bit frustrated that they wouldn't look at it today, I went down and saw them first thing. It was last minute but at the same time I was frustrated that the chap wouldn't wear the cock ups on the ticket. I wasn't a dick about it at all and I gave him a chance to sort out the emissions fail and own up about the parking brake - the fail sheet definitely states the rear along with the printout from the roller. I've had to book a new test for Thursday. I was in two minds about rebooking through them, but part of me hopes that they'll have the decency not to be awkward. Better the devil you know and all that.

If I get the same problems then yes, I'll probably burn my bridges with them - I didn't bother with the DVSA as a) hassle and b) everyone makes mistakes and they've been decent before - just wish that they could've been a bit more helpful on that front, I've held my hands up to customers and worn much bigger mistakes at work.

[purplebargeken]

Sorry for not adding anything  to the thread for a little while.

Bloody Stirling work Josh. You have my deepest gratitude, as do all the other folk who have helped, and who are still offering. This place.

A real boo to the mot test centre for owning up to their fuck ups, would have earned a good few kudos pints for doing so. Let's hope they won't be cunts today.

Fingers crossed a bit more.

[Rust Collector]

17 minutes ago, purplebargeken said:

A real boo to the mot test centre for owning up to their fuck ups, would have earned a good few kudos pints for doing so. Let's hope they won't be cunts tomorrow.

Sorry mate, I did drop you a PM about my inability to read a calendar - one more day of suspense I'm afraid! I've got everything crossed my end, and will slope out of work for a bit to go the really, really long way to the MOT centre to get the catalyst nice and toasty.

[purplebargeken]

Hahahaha. We share that trait Josh.

[purplebargeken]

Ooooo oooooo oooh. It's THAT day again...

[Rust Collector]

Yep, today is the day. She’s sitting pretty in the work car park currently.

Just before 11 I’ll take her out for a long blast, and she’s in for testing at 11:30.

May god have mercy on our souls.

[philibusmo]

2 minutes ago, Rust Collector said:

May god have mercy on our souls.

May God have mercy on the MOT testers soul if he tests the handbrake on the rear wheels again.

[Rust Collector]

I've just been for a fast* run along an NSL road out of town and back to get the catalyst nice and toasty.

The car is now in for testing. F5 keys at the ready please gentlemen.

*I got stuck behind a giffer going 30mph both ways. Fuck sake Sussex.

[Rust Collector]

I should also say that it's a different tester today; I did mention the front axle handbrake and the other little bits that have been attended to.

Forts and pears please people.

[purplebargeken]

Be brave medium sized Citroen. Today will be your day....

[NorthernMonkey]

So, theyve now found corrosion worthy of a fail that didn't warrant an advisory two weeks ago?

Time to find a new test station I think...

[Rust Collector]

Yeah, I'm just off to have a quiet cry and then walk down there.

I know that two different testers will give two different opinions, but still...

Hoping it's something that will be easy to patch so I can do it at the weekend and then leave it with them Monday.

[Rust Collector]

I'm relieved about the brakes and emissions though, so every cloud.

[andyberg]

Is there some secret memo gone round to MOT stations to try and get old cars off the road? A bit like ULEZ? Just saying like, my 75 had a huge fail list compared to a clean pass last year 🤷

[purplebargeken]

Unbefuckinglievable. 

Sack them right off. 

Josh, if it's simple and easy to access then fine mate. If not then it will just be sold as spares or repairs mate and dont stress over it. Ffs....

[Rust Collector]

The sill has been welded before and a strip of that plate has let go. The shape, size and location isn't too bad but its just a case of if I can get a weld on to the solid parts of what's under there currently. We've come this far, I may as well see if I can weld a plate in over the weekend and be done with it as it's all that stands between the car and a ticket now.

Something* had them in a flap because when I went in to pick it up they were falling over each other to say how flexible they'd be to get it back in and re-tested at my convenience.

[Rust Collector]

Crap pics:

[NorthernMonkey]

3 minutes ago, Rust Collector said:

The sill has been welded before and a strip of that plate has let go. The shape, size and location isn't too bad but its just a case of if I can get a weld on to the solid parts of what's under there currently. We've come this far, I may as well see if I can weld a plate in over the weekend and be done with it as it's all that stands between the car and a ticket now.

Something* had them in a flap because when I went in to pick it up they were falling over each other to say how flexible they'd be to get it back in and re-tested at my convenience.

What had them in a flap is the fact that last weeks tester not only missed this but fucked up entering the emissions data and tested the wrong bloody axle for the hand brake.

If you can tidy the weld up a bit, I’ll guarantee they’ll bend over backwards next week to get it tested for you.

[Rust Collector]

3 minutes ago, NorthernMonkey said:

What had them in a flap is the fact that last weeks tester not only missed this but fucked up entering the emissions data and tested the wrong bloody axle for the hand brake.

That would be the asterisked bit!

I'm just going to put that plate in, aim to get it re-tested at the start of the week and then put the experience with this garage behind me.

[RoverFolkUs]

Sounds like you've managed to find the biggest shower of cunts going

What they should be doing is waiving today's test fee... since the first result was almost entirely bogus apart from the seat

[Rust Collector]

5 minutes ago, RoverFolkUs said:

Sounds like you've managed to find the biggest shower of cunts going

What they should be doing is waiving today's test fee... since the first result was almost entirely bogus apart from the seat

Up until the Xantia they'd been fine for the few years I'd been using them - the tester who I had the other week was a new face and seems to be behind the desk a lot so not sure if it's a new (mis)management regime.

Bit of a bollocks as that was the last place in town worth using for older stuff so now I'll have to start looking further afield.

[RoverFolkUs]

Just now, Rust Collector said:

Up until the Xantia they'd been fine for the few years I'd been using them - the tester who I had the other week was a new face and seems to be behind the desk a lot so not sure if it's a new (mis)management regime.

Bit of a bollocks as that was the last place in town worth using for older stuff so now I'll have to start looking further afield.

Mr MOT in Burgess hill are still good. A bit out of your way but their tests have always been and still are fair. I'm sure they will be for as long as Simon there is the main tester. 

[SiC]

To be fair, that rust hole looks quite a big one! 

Perhaps they've had other problems with that tester more recently. Is he still there? 

[Rust Collector]

Just now, RoverFolkUs said:

Mr MOT in Burgess hill are still good. A bit out of your way but their tests have always been and still are fair. I'm sure they will be for as long as Simon there is the main tester. 

The Clio is in for MOT tomorrow with what used to be 'Just MOT's' in Lewes as a bit of a fact finding mission in my search for a new place to go.

Burgess hill is a bit more of a drive but worth it for somewhere trustworthy. Would make for a good shakedown run on stuff that hasn't been on the road in a while too 😅

[Rust Collector]

1 minute ago, SiC said:

To be fair, that rust hole looks quite a big one! 

Perhaps they've had other problems with that tester more recently. Is he still there? 

Alarmingly, I think he is the branch manager. The chap who used to manage this branch appears to have moved a couple of towns over to Polegate now - I knew him from when I was at Honda and he was a really sound chap.

[Bren]

Sounds like the first tester should be working at McDonalds.

[Rust Collector]

8 minutes ago, Bren said:

Sounds like the first tester should be working at McDonalds.

Don't get me started on our local McDonald's 😅

[mercedade]

51 minutes ago, Rust Collector said:

That would be the asterisked bit!

I'm just going to put that plate in, aim to get it re-tested at the start of the week and then put the experience with this garage behind me.

I'd be more minded to treat last month's test as an aberration, and accept today's interaction as the 'true' face of the garage  - they've failed it fairly and made it clear they'll be supportive of (what should be a straightfoward) retest.

Agree it would have been a good gesture to waive the fee, and if it was a brand new place/customer I'd fuck them off, but I'd be reluctant to throw away an otherwise good garage for that.

 

EDIT: unless that's what you meant by 'put it behind you'! 🤦‍♂️