Car D.I.Y.

[Hicky]

7 or 8 years ago we had to scrap a Peugeot due to a fault in the electrics that couldn't be traced, absolutely nothing wrong mechanically with the car, we had recently fitted a new exhaust and tyres for an mot and then a couple of weeks later it would go into limp mode for no reason, which wasn't much fun when it would happen while over taking, it would literally go from 60 to 25/30 without warning. We had various mobile electronic specialists look at it and even took it to a Peugeot main dealer, no one could pinpoint the fault, we did start to replace parts that might be causing the issue, but soon realised that we could end up spending way more than the car was worth, so it ended up sitting on the yard for a few months while I sold parts off of it, Electronics are ok while they work, but they are still the weak link in modern vehicles. I don't know if it happens in cars yet but if contractors/farmers don't keep up with payments on their tractor/plant purchases, the dealer can immobilise the vehicles from the safety of their office.

We did the same with the Ms Clio she loved and adored…the fault, you could go out to the car and it would either start perfectly or nothing…not a thing, not even a relay activating…nothing.
Come back to it 2mins later and perfect again. Three garages later and none had a clue so off it went sadly which was a pity as it was in fantastic condition!

 

[Jameshow]

We did the same with the Ms Clio she loved and adored…the fault, you could go out to the car and it would either start perfectly or nothing…not a thing, not even a relay activating…nothing.
Come back to it 2mins later and perfect again. Three garages later and none had a clue so off it went sadly which was a pity as it was in fantastic condition!

Had the same think on an Audi A4 V6 you never knew if it would start, local indie specialist couldn't get to bottom of it. Probably a frayed wire somewhere in the wiring loom...
Lovely car but no good if you need to go somewhere ..

 

[Adam4868]

We did the same with the Ms Clio she loved and adored…the fault, you could go out to the car and it would either start perfectly or nothing…not a thing, not even a relay activating…nothing.
Come back to it 2mins later and perfect again. Three garages later and none had a clue so off it went sadly which was a pity as it was in fantastic condition!

Had something very similar....ended up being the chip/transponder in the key.Taped the spare to to steering wheel, under the cowling and no more kicking the car and swearing when it wouldn't start.

 

[Hicky]

Had something very similar....ended up being the chip/transponder in the key.Taped the spare to to steering wheel, under the cowling and no more kicking the car and swearing when it wouldn't start.

We had two keys…both did the same thing…it took over a month of occasionally having to sit there praying for the force to intervene for it to start to be systematic about ruling out a ropey key….🙄

 

[Gunk]

I bought an Audi 80 Cabriolet about 15 years ago for Mrs Gunk. When I read through all the service history there was a £2500 bill to fix the electric hood. All it was in the end was a frayed wire in the boot where the loom had rubbed. The bill was for hours of diagnosing to actually find the fault.

Lovely car though, you see very few on the road these days.

 

[CXRAndy]

Or a faulty thermostat

Shorted together contacts, if its a basic bi-metal part. Modern cars tend to have NTC thermistor with inputs into ECU, then it decides when to switch on fan motor

 

[CXRAndy]

We did the same with the Ms Clio she loved and adored…the fault, you could go out to the car and it would either start perfectly or nothing…not a thing, not even a relay activating…nothing.
Come back to it 2mins later and perfect again. Three garages later and none had a clue so off it went sadly which was a pity as it was in fantastic condition!

This is why there are some really nice vehicles disposed on the second hand market. My sister in law has the mentality that when the brakes need major service its time to get rid

Id relish the challenge of finding and fixing a problem like yours. There again I've come from a repair background and enjoy mending anything.

 

[Gunk]

My sister in law has the mentality that when the brakes need major service its time to get rid

just bought a car off your sister in law!

 

[CXRAndy]

Trouble is many many owners have my sister in laws mentality to car ownership.

The Mini I had bought last year had several minor problems, which I think contributed to the owner selling.

 

[Hicky]

This is why there are some really nice vehicles disposed on the second hand market. My sister in law has the mentality that when the brakes need major service its time to get rid

Id relish the challenge of finding and fixing a problem like yours. There again I've come from a repair background and enjoy mending anything.

As do I however the clio was full of black magic….my current car has a list of faults from the previous owner and some neglect from its current…this is being remedied as it’s too good.

 

[Gunk]

As do I however the clio was full of black magic….my current car has a list of faults from the previous owner and some neglect from its current…this is being remedied as it’s too good.

Although economically not recommended, there is a lot of pleasure in “sorting” a nice car that’s been neglected. After a silly amount of expenditure and lots of detailed fettling and fixing, we now have a very nice 15 year old Mini Clubman which is just a bit different from the all the generic lookalike cars you see on the roads these days. It’s just got a bit of character.

 

[Hicky]

Although economically not recommended, there is a lot of pleasure in “sorting” a nice car that’s been neglected. After a silly amount of expenditure and lots of detailed fettling and fixing, we now have a very nice 15 year old Mini Clubman which is just a bit different from the all the generic lookalike cars you see on the roads these days. It’s just got a bit of character.

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If you are prudent on owners fb pages and breakers yards then the bangernomic sums(if you do the work yourself) aren’t as bad, plus better the devil you know….often you’re buying other people problems.

 

[Gunk]

If you are prudent on owners fb pages and breakers yards then the bangernomic sums(if you do the work yourself) aren’t as bad, plus better the devil you know….often you’re buying other people problems.

The best thing of course is virtually zero depreciation both our cars have now just about levelled out on value.

 

[Drago]

Ill be keeping my mini until one of us dies, so depreciation doesn't concern me either.

The salesman looked very affronted when he realised that I actually wanted to buy it, with actual money! (Well, a bank transfer, but the same thing for this purpose)

The thought that someone doesn't want to throw money away hand over fist rentjng a car on PCP, or be bent over for interest and have nothing to show for it after three years was totally alien to him.