Zafira broken down in Solihull, 200miles away, garage Sunday

[spants]

Was on the way to Cheshire with my wife and young son. The Zafira has decided to give me a red low pressure oil light

Found out that the car recovery only covers 10 miles and we live in East Sussex!.

Anyone have ideas on best way to solve.

1) it's a Sunday so I doubt I can get a garage to look at it - if they did it might take longer than a day
2) it would probably cost a fortune to get it transported

Can anyone help with ideas on this? Any local mechs with Zafira knowledge here?
My wife is in tears
Tony

[Saleen836]

Check the oil level and top it up it needed?

[Eighteeteewhy]

First things first, is there any oil in the sump?

If not, put some in.

[C.A.R.]

As above, have you actually checked how much oil is in it? And what engine is it?

[spants]

Thanks for the replies. oil level was ok - over 50%. Topped it up as well. There are two lights re oil on the Zafira - one is low oil (yellow) and low pressure (red). It is the red one showing.

Green flag did an obd2 reading and didn't find any fault. The engine doesn't sound right.

[hornetrider]

Are you stranded now? Or in a hotel deciding what to do?

[spants]

We have booked into a hotel, it is an adventure for my little boy!

Think the only option will be to get a recovery to a vauxhall dealer and a train home.
I guess that if it is expensive we will have to scrap it.


.... Passed its mot last week!

[150bhp]

Book into a hotel then contact a recovery in the morning. Stick it on the credit card, bummer but needs must. Good luck.

[Ozone]

This may be no help whatsoever but a 24 hour breakdown help and recovery co near to where you are

Smiths
0121 344 4644

I haven't used them but they may be able to help if you need to get the little one home or destination

ETA: I see you are sorted for the night - hope you get it sorted

Edited by Ozone on Saturday 7th June 23:41

[spants]

Thanks for the help. I will have a sleep on it.

Green flag want £3 per mile and it's actually about 150 miles home.....
Anyone know someone cheaper?

[anonymous-user]

I'd be tempted to make sure the oil level is ok then just cruise home slowly tomorrow.

[spants]

Not recommended to drive it as low pressure means no oil going through the engine apparently.

[hornetrider]

What's the car worth? 450 to trailer it is a pisstake.

[anonymous-user]

spants said:

Not recommended to drive it as low pressure means no oil going through the engine apparently.

as you have said "if it's expensive I will have to scrap it",, i thought it would be worth the risk to limp home than pay for a hotel and recovery.


it will be difficult to find cheap recovery over a weekend, but a bit of google should find it for a bit over a pound a mile, not sure they will get your family in for that price though.

[spants]

desolate said:

as you have said "if it's expensive I will have to scrap it",, i thought it would be worth the risk to limp home than pay for a hotel and recovery.


it will be difficult to find cheap recovery over a weekend, but a bit of google should find it for a bit over a pound a mile, not sure they will get your family in for that price though.

Ah, I understand. I was wondering about the cost of repair plus recovery. Seen some ads for £1.25 per mile... That might work. We can get train tomorrow and they can collect at their leisure next week... Will ring around tomorrow.
Nite all

[pja]

spants said:

Thanks for the help. I will have a sleep on it.

Green flag want £3 per mile and it's actually about 150 miles home.....
Anyone know someone cheaper?

GF will take your £3 per mile and pay a private recovery firm £1 per mile!

Contact a few yourself tomorrow you should be paying around £1-1.50 per mile plus a call out
This guy is in Wolverhampton but likes a bit of cash . Ask for Sam
http://www.burkebros.co.uk/657/

Also try a few recovery firms in your home area they may have a vehicle heading south tomorrow and only charge you back load prices! Worth a try!

Good luck!

[Sinatra21]

How old is the car or more importantly how much is it worth? If it's shed value I'd be tempted to risk it home. It's going to cost you near enough it's value to get it back anyway. If it's newer and worth a bit more I'd take it to a local garage. Where about in solihull are you stopping and where is the car? Can you just leave it where it is for a few days why you sort out a tow or recovery?

[spants]

It's a 54 plate 1.8 auto. I guess worth about 1000?.
We may look to get a train home and get it recovered during the week which will be cheaper than a Sunday.

The oil cap had some suction vacuum on it I remember. It may be an oil pressure release valve according to google. These can perish apparently.

[StuntmanMike]

NeMiSiS said:

Are any of your passengers in the AA or similar, with a policy that covers them and not the car.

This, or join the RAC, if I remember rightly unlike the AA they won't charge you for being in a breakdown situation.

[Leptons]

If the engine doesn't sound right then the damage is already done.
You need to weigh up cost of getting it home and fixing or breaking what's left versus driving it home and fitting a second hand engine (provided it makes it home).
Then of course there's the risk of it breaking down on the motorway with your family inside.

Tough call OP. Not one I'd like to have to make, good luck!