The holiday and the car.

Subject: The holiday and the car. Tue 26 Aug 2008 - 21:48

Hi All.
Well the car arrived back off its extended vacation today on a transporter.
On the 2nd week of the hol' we were returning from a day at the beach in San Malo. About 10 miles from the camp as we pulled onto the off ramp the timing belt snapped and the pistons hit the valves. The guy on the SOS phone only spoke French (I must admit mine has now improved).
Anyway we got the car and ourselves lifted and were taken all the way back to the Audi garage in San Malo. It then cost £55 for a taxi back to camp.
I spoke with the garage the next day via one of the camp reps' (who were really good). I was informed they couldn't repair it for 8 days and then it would cost approx' £6000. I said the car wasn't worth that and that I would do it myself.
So I arranged with a friend of mine who transports our cherry-pickers all over Europe to have it collected. That is going to be about £800.
I then hired a car to get us and the bikes home. As the car then has to be transported back to France it will cost about £1500.
On the Friday (we were leaving that night) I went to the Audi garage to get the bike rack and roof box only to find it was a national holiday.
I then had to quickly go and buy a bike carrier. We didn't need the roof box as I managed to fit everything in the back of the hire car.
So it has cost a fortune.
Every year I always take out car recovery insurance. I filled everything in on-line and my card number but didn't get a reply e-mail. So I filled it all in again but still no e-mail. I thought that I was going to end up paying twice so left it at that. Anyway, sods law it hadn't gone through and so no insurance. It was just destined to happen wasn't it????
At least we got home ok.
Love to all
Daz
xxx I now only have to repair the car.......lol
_________________
My family are like stars in the night sky of my life.
Always there at the end of the day.
The light of their love forever constant as the Northern star.
Safely guiding me home.
Dreams are the realities of tomorrow.
Everyone is in tune with the spirits of their ancestors. Unfortunately some are tone deaf.
Copyright. Daz.2008.

Subject: Re: The holiday and the car. Wed 27 Aug 2008 - 10:01

Hi Daz!

What a tale! You couldn't make it up if you tried. As you say you all got home safely and that is what you have to hang onto. Good luck with the car repairs!

Many years ago we had a friend who drove a Peugot precisely because he holidayed in France and wanted a car that the French could get the parts for. This was before Peugeot became common in England. The car did break down when he was on holiday...... in England. No one could get the parts!

That's life as we know it!

Cheers Gillian
_________________
''What will survive of us is love.'' Philip Larkin

Subject: Re: The holiday and the car. Wed 27 Aug 2008 - 17:33

Daz,

It sound as if it was a vacation with unexpected expenses. I'm glad it has worked out for you. In the late 80’s I had a Dodge K-Car that snapped it’s timing belt. Fortunately there was no engine damage. Since then I’ve made it a point to replace timing belts when proscribed by the owners manual.

From your post, its sounds as if you will be rebuilding your engine. That is an undertaking I've never attempted. I’ve replaced components on engines (water pumps, alternators, etc) over the years but have never attempted major repairs. My hats off to you.
_________________
Don

Subject: Re: The holiday and the car. Sat 30 Aug 2008 - 22:08

Hi all.
Hope all are well. Gillian should be in Spain now.
Spent the day stripping the cylinder head and taking out the front of the car for access to the timing belt. Head off tomorrow. Next weekend hopefully re-valve the head and rebuild. I should know tomorrow the extent of the damage and what parts I need. So fingers crossed.
Talk tomorrow.
Love to all.
Daz
xxx
_________________
My family are like stars in the night sky of my life.
Always there at the end of the day.
The light of their love forever constant as the Northern star.
Safely guiding me home.
Dreams are the realities of tomorrow.
Everyone is in tune with the spirits of their ancestors. Unfortunately some are tone deaf.
Copyright. Daz.2008.

Subject: Re: The holiday and the car. Sun 31 Aug 2008 - 7:42

Hi Daz!

No, not quite in Spain yet! I fly tomorrow. This is a foggy morning in Cheshire so I guess autumn is really here and we have missed out on summer!

Good luck with the car Daz. We have a little Suzuki in Spain so I hope it hasn't melted in the heat out there. We are lucky that we have a fairly shady place to park it and of course the tyres are of a different consistency to withstand the heat. However we have occasionally had problems with the ball bearings (I think?) in the wheels because they can be damaged by the heat.

I shall let you know how I get on. Cheers Gillian
_________________
''What will survive of us is love.'' Philip Larkin

Subject: Re: The holiday and the car. Sun 31 Aug 2008 - 20:27

Hi Gillian.
Have a safe trip and a wonderful holiday.
Our Lynne fly's out soon for a couple of weeks and then mum and dad are out for the rest of September and October.
Safe sunbathing to all.

Love to all
Daz
xxx
_________________
My family are like stars in the night sky of my life.
Always there at the end of the day.
The light of their love forever constant as the Northern star.
Safely guiding me home.
Dreams are the realities of tomorrow.
Everyone is in tune with the spirits of their ancestors. Unfortunately some are tone deaf.
Copyright. Daz.2008.