mtren

Just reading this thread through and it makes interesting reading. I've had a Fabia 1.4 classic since 2001. I only do low mileage - my car has currently got about 56k on the clock. For several years I've had an array of problems including the use of coolant - reguarly have needed to top it up. Other problems have included the EPC light pernamently displayed and after using several garages at large costs no-ones found a proper cure - I've had a cure for a few weeks but then it's come back. Last MOT in March 2010, the garage I've regularly used warned that this could be a Head Gasket going and that I'd need to be careful. Problem was that they said the job could cost as much as £800 to do due to the parts, the skimming needed and the labour. Managed to go alright until January this year, when during one night my car was immensely sluggish - just couldn't pull away without it stalling and my 2mile journey took on about 6 stalls. Next day having taken it to the garage, the mechanics found 'mayo' around the engine and coolant had been contaminated. I was faced with one of two options pretty much. Either get the head gasket done - at a possible cost of £800, or forget about it and get another car - although that would be second hand. After discussions with mechanic, parents etc I opted to replace the gasket. In conclusion apart from the gasket and the stupid EPC light that doesn't seem to cause problems, the car's in good nick - it's got low mileage and I'd be unlikely to pick anything else up in such good condition for such a low cost and in addition i wouldn't know its previous history. So after a week in the garage, I got my car back. The cost of the job ended up being over £960 - apparently something else needed replacing in addition - I cant remember what off hand. But the car was ok, true the stupid EPC light was on, but no coolant light. It managed about 3 weeks, say 300-400 miles including one long trip, but now the stupid coolant light has gone off again - on a couple of journeys. I'm now going to have to go out and check on the levels and top up. My question is, what do I do if the coolant needs topping up? What happens if there was another fault?? I don't want to pay any more out for something I've just paid £960 on! As it was ok for 3 weeks, is that a problem?? Clarkey when you had your problems with something not being fixed I'm presuming you didn't end up paying more?

Hi guys Just had to take my car into the garage with a bit of a strange noise that I'd noticed in the last week and it turns out i've got a broken coil spring Now the thing is only last week did it have and pass its MOT and the only thing that needed doing was replacing the one rear tyre. But the day after this I started hearing a the noise. Could the two things be linked or is it a co-incidence? I.e. could the tyre change have broken the springs? I might appear to be paranoid but late in february my car kept cutting out on a roundabout and required a fix. After replacing parts to solve this as well as the long standing engine management light and the long stanging coolant warning light problems which ended up costing me £450, i then had an MOT 3 weeks later which cost me £150, and now the same coolant light and engine management lights are on again and with this noise, all of which will apparently cost me £250 inc labour to fix...