![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Went and had a couple of bits and bobs done to my car today. It's been making a kind of squealing noise when idling for ages. Two mechanics didn't have a clue. I took it to the suspension shop to have the upper front bushings replaced (rubber instead of neoprene), and saw there was a new mechanic next door. I took my courage into both hands, and went to see if they could check out the noise (the suspension guys couldn't find it either), and also do a full service by way of my little "test" for them. Up until now, there's only been one out of 4 mechanics who has done it properly.
The suspension was a quite a bit more than expected. When the guy mentioned that the parts would cost about $60, he neglected to mention the small fact that the labour would be more than $250. Eeep. Oh well, at least it's done. After nearly $400.
When I went to pick it up from the mechanic next door, he mentioned they'd found and fixed the squeal. One of the bolts holding the inlet manifold on had sheared off entirely (leaving a hole), and the other was barely hanging on. New bolts, no squeal.
Also, and thank god!, the service they did was fantastic. The car is idling perfectly. Not too fast. Quiet. They found the pitman arm bolt (steering) was loose as well, and now it steers much more firmly. The suspension guys didn't pick that up, and steering is supposedly one of their checks. They also mentioned the headlights are dim, and the dimmer switch (which is a foot-operated one) is flaky. While I don't think the switch is too bad (it does work), no-one else has mentioned the headlights in the two years I've had it, and it did cross my mind they could be brighter.
The suspension was a quite a bit more than expected. When the guy mentioned that the parts would cost about $60, he neglected to mention the small fact that the labour would be more than $250. Eeep. Oh well, at least it's done. After nearly $400.
When I went to pick it up from the mechanic next door, he mentioned they'd found and fixed the squeal. One of the bolts holding the inlet manifold on had sheared off entirely (leaving a hole), and the other was barely hanging on. New bolts, no squeal.
Also, and thank god!, the service they did was fantastic. The car is idling perfectly. Not too fast. Quiet. They found the pitman arm bolt (steering) was loose as well, and now it steers much more firmly. The suspension guys didn't pick that up, and steering is supposedly one of their checks. They also mentioned the headlights are dim, and the dimmer switch (which is a foot-operated one) is flaky. While I don't think the switch is too bad (it does work), no-one else has mentioned the headlights in the two years I've had it, and it did cross my mind they could be brighter.
| So, here's a piccie of the wee beast to celebrate smooth runnings. The visor over the windscreen is standard-issue Aussie airconditioning of the early 70s. Heh. Actually, some cars did have air-con fitted as an extra, but they were few and far between. Extras like that tended to be about 10 years behind their common use in the US. Next jobs are to get the new inlet manifold and air cleaner I've ordered, so that I can get the dual-draft carb that was the extra option for my particular model refitted. It's a 6-cyl engine, but the S series (which this is), used the same carb as the lower-end V8 version of the car. Then I want to get new steel headers fitted, instead of the current cast-iron (heavy) outlet manifold, and then we'll be pumping. Then me and my bizzatches will be goin' for a riiiide. :-) |
 |
