Car problem - an I wasting my time?
 

This is a copy of an email I have sent to the contractor working at Heys field Ossy.
I have omitted the 1st paragraph which shows my precice address -

"I am having car problems.
My Seat Arosa was new in Dec 2002 and has not done 10,000 miles yet.
I use it only once or twice a month, and then only for local journeys.

The only technical problems have been a flat battery sometimes.
I had a new battery and starter motor a year ago and that appeared to be a cure.

When the work started on Heys field my car was parked for a week in the dust clouds that the work generated.
I was too ill that week to move it, but when I felt better I took it for a carwash and then parked it well away from the dust clouds.
This week I needed to use it, and it didn't start.

I call my mechanic (who has serviced it regularly for years), and he finds that a 'jump start' using his portable battery gadget didn't work.
He towed it to his premises yesterday, and it is still with him.
He phoned me to say that he found that the engine was coated in a fine dust which has set hard and has damaged some of the electrical systems.
The diagnostic equipment he uses still shows are further 3 faults yet to be corrected.

It looks like I am due a hefty car repair bill and the dust generated at your Heys Field site is likely responsible.
Does the dry weather which contributed to the dust clouds constitute an 'act of god', or are you able to offer me some recompense for the cost?"

How do rate my chances?:)

Re: Car problem - an I wasting my time?
 

Did they let you know that they were starting work either via letter or put notice's up?

Re: Car problem - an I wasting my time?
 

good luck

Re: Car problem - an I wasting my time?
 

Yes they did - but didn't say 'move your car'
(I see what you are getting at - I suppose I should have anticipated potential problems with the dust)

Re: Car problem - an I wasting my time?
 

Aye see thats their "get out", doubt you will get owt back chuck

Re: Car problem - an I wasting my time?
 

I can't see how you could Margaret, dust on the outside of your car yes, but doing damage to your engine, don't thing anybody would expect that

Re: Car problem - an I wasting my time?
 

Margaret, you have nothing at all to lose by asking......if you don't ask, then you don't get......but to be honest, I think you will be very lucky if you get any recompense.
Good luck with it anyway.

Re: Car problem - an I wasting my time?
 

I know that volcanic dust damages jet engines but my little Seat is slightly less high tech ;)
I have just had a call to say that the repair is now complete - £182 - could have been worse I suppose.

Re: Car problem - an I wasting my time?
 

I would certainly look at all avenues margaret, that costs nowt n yeh never know, as i always say "God Loves A Trier" good luck.

Re: Car problem - an I wasting my time?
 

I would not have mentioned the act of god bit as you have given them a get out that sounds like you agree with already.

What exactly did the garage change or do to repair it as it sounds a bit dodgy to me.
The main thing wrong with your car is that it does not get driven enough.

How much dust was on the outside of the car because I would expect to find a lot less in the engine bay?

Re: Car problem - an I wasting my time?
 

Thanks for all the good luck sent my way :D
I think the good thoughts are having an effect already because, on its return, my mechanic said £122(not £182). The only new bits needed were spark plugs, and only because "they hadn't been changed for a bit". After cleaning off the dust layer the electrics started to work again OK. The cost is mainly the tow-in and labour.

I believe all the seemingly bad things that happen have a good purpose.
When I was housebound yesterday I sent a chunk of money into premium bonds.
If I had been mobile I would have drawn it out. So, you never know, when it qualifies for the draw my luck might blossom.:D

Re: Car problem - an I wasting my time?
 

The dust clouds have been so bad that the downstairs flats have had to keep windows closed. The dust was so thick that I needed to sweep it off with a soft brush before I went to the car wash.
The field has been excavated to a depth of several feet in an area about the size of 4 tennis courts, and a thick layer of dusty gravel has been laid.
Lorries were coming and going in convoys of 4 & 5 removing earth and delivering gravel.

Re: Car problem - an I wasting my time?
 

So there was nothing wrong with it and it started to work on its own :D
You were charged for spark plugs because he fit them trying to find out what was wrong. I do love some car mechanics :D

I wonder how long before it fails again seeing as he did not find the fault?

Re: Car problem - an I wasting my time?
 

He has a diagnostic system set up, and before he cleaned the engine it showed 5 faults.
He said that he had to remove the dashboard to clean a relay system which controls fuel supply.

Re: Car problem - an I wasting my time?
 

good luck with the premium bonds Margaret.......and the garage bill didn't turn out to be as bad as you perhaps thought.

Re: Car problem - an I wasting my time?
 

I'm with you on this one ... the car might have been full of dust; but I think the mechanic was full of bs. And there's nothing wrong with taking the car out for some exercise. Take it on the freeway and blow the carbon outa the little sucker:alright:

Re: Car problem - an I wasting my time?
 

A negative experience is only that if you perceive it to be so.
All experience is just a part of living and serves a purpose.
To some of you it looks like a rip off.
I prefer not to let ,whether it was or wasn't, matter.
Ce la Vie :D

Re: Car problem - an I wasting my time?
 

Perhaps ... but the least you can do is not take your car to that particular garage again. And dust or no dust, plugs can carbon up. Like humans, cars need exercise.;):D I take my Caddy out on the 401, usually late at night when the OPP are munching on donuts at Tim Hortons:eek:, and wind the sucker up to a buck twenty ... usually with Steppenwolf blasting from the stereo:alright: We both have fun.:) It's called "blowing the carbon out."

Re: Car problem - an I wasting my time?
 

Did anyone else in that area experience similar problems? It may help if there are more than one of you registering a complaint. Best of luck.

Re: Car problem - an I wasting my time?
 

The most sensible reply so far, well done.

Re: Car problem - an I wasting my time?
 

Only my car was parked on the frontage 24/7 for a week.
Two other nearby residents were out during the day when the lorries were coming and going, leaving and stirring up the dust on the road.

Re: Car problem - an I wasting my time?
 

Those faults could have been stored faults from years ago and nothing to do with why it would not start. Most cars have stored faults when connected to the diagnostic equipment. The first thing to do is usually clear faults and try to start it and see what fault comes back.

Dust outside the car causing a fault with a relay inside the car behind the dashboard, come on that must sound iffy to you.

Yes it was covered in dust but I suspect you would have had the same fault if it had not been dusty.
Car develop faults that just the way it is. How long is it since you put petrol in your car?

Re: Car problem - an I wasting my time?
 

I'm thinking your car is also sold in areas with different climatic conditions from the UK ...north Africa and the mid east where 'dust storms' are a frequent occurences :confused: :confused:

Re: Car problem - an I wasting my time?
 

I haven't had any response yet to my email, but it is Bank Holiday weekend and so that isn't bad news.
Incidentally a neighbour in this block(downstairs), who kept his windows shut, found a thick layer of dust in his wardrobe and is needing to hoover his flat every two days (and that was before I mentioned my car problem to him).

High winds yesterday have blown down some perimeter fencing and scattered some large sheets of plastic into the woods.

The police were told but nothing has been done to remedy it.

Re: Car problem - an I wasting my time?
 

Why would you/whoever inform the police? Why not call the contractors?

Re: Car problem - an I wasting my time?
 

The contractors phone number was not on any sign visible at the site.
It should be - maybe that has blown away too :D

PS I haven't looked at their website again - I don't recall seeing an out of hours number when I did

Re: Car problem - an I wasting my time?
 

I got no response from John Turner and Son about my car repair bill
.... but I have just got a £25 Premium Bond win :D

Re: Car problem - an I wasting my time?
 

All this sounds a bit dodgy to me, relays are sealed, can't be cleaned, only replaced, and usualy mounted on a board along with the fuses, which are accessable without having to remove the dashboard, they are in my Seat. Dust should not get into the engine either, thats why they put filters on the air intake.
Retlaw