worth calling the AA?
Discussion
following on from this thread www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=90122&f=8&h=0
basically my clutch pedal does nothing. Didnt have long enough to look over it this morning as I had to get to work.
Is it worth me calling the AA when I get home tonight (I have homestart) or is that just a waste of everyones time? As I see it, it must be one of the following:-
1. Master/slave cylinder leaking/bust
2. Clutch bust
cant see that the AA man will be able to do anything about either of these - unless possibly he can top up the fluid enough to avoid the need for a £150 low loader trip to the garage to repair it - I could do without the additional expense on top of the actual cost of repairs.
any thoughts? should I just accept I will need a low loader and forget the AA?
basically my clutch pedal does nothing. Didnt have long enough to look over it this morning as I had to get to work.
Is it worth me calling the AA when I get home tonight (I have homestart) or is that just a waste of everyones time? As I see it, it must be one of the following:-
1. Master/slave cylinder leaking/bust
2. Clutch bust
cant see that the AA man will be able to do anything about either of these - unless possibly he can top up the fluid enough to avoid the need for a £150 low loader trip to the garage to repair it - I could do without the additional expense on top of the actual cost of repairs.
any thoughts? should I just accept I will need a low loader and forget the AA?
chim_girl said:
They came out to my BMW lastnight, said they couldn't fix it so towed it to my local dealer. No charge. The car was driveable at the time, just not safe IMHO. If you decide to call them, what have you got to lose?
well the problem is that in the last 3 - 4 months I have already had them out a couple of times - funnily enough the mondeo has been the main cause
I know you only have a certain number of "lives" each year and dont want to waste one if there is no chance of them being able to fix it.
Last time the Tiv was immobile and the AA came to my house they couldnt fix it and them said that they wont pick it up to transport it if its already at the policyholders home address
I then suggested if it was 100 yards from the policyholders address would they take it to the garage - they said it must be within 8 miles. And mine isnt.
I dont seem able to win...
shnozz said:
I know you only have a certain number of "lives" each year and dont want to waste one if there is no chance of them being able to fix it.
Well I learned something new today! If you do end up using all your lives why don't you move to another recovery agent? I have RAC cover on the TVR, complete Relay/Homestart/Hire car package for ~£10.50 per month.
Plotloss said:
Get your daft mates to push you down the road with the engine off and out of gear, then call the AA.
When they ask about recovery say you may as well take it to the dealer...
Everyones a winner.
yeah, its what i suggested to the AA first time around - at which point they then told me they would only take me a maximum of 8 miles to a dealer. Not much good for TVR.
RAC or Green Flag will be used instead come renewal
chim_girl said:
I know you only have a certain number of "lives" each year and dont want to waste one if there is no chance of them being able to fix it.
Well I learned something new today! If you do end up using all your lives why don't you move to another recovery agent? I have RAC cover on the TVR, complete Relay/Homestart/Hire car package for ~£10.50 per month.
thats true - just seems I should get my £135 (or whatever it was) worth. I just get the feeling they will be a waste of time for this unless someone tells me otherwise
Shnozz...as a member of AA 'Breakdown & Recovery' you can take out their additional 'Parts & Labour' cover for £52 pa. This entitles you to make a claim up to £500 three times per year if cause of the breakdown is diagnosed and deemed irreparable by the patrolman at the roadside.
Not much use on this occasion but worth considering for the future, maybe?
Not much use on this occasion but worth considering for the future, maybe?
.Mark said:
The AA sound like a right bunch, the RAC even reversed up my drive to take mine away once.
One thing to check first though. Have you made sure the clutch slave cylinder is topped up?
Hi Mark, no i havent done anything yet. Basically had to quickly stick the roof up and swap cars to get to the orifice on time. Just about to pop home at lunch for a closer look.
If its lost that much fluid the seals must have gone I guess.
Incorrigible said:
General agreement
Check the fluid level, if the clutch isn't completely shot you should be able to get enough movement to drive the thing
cheers for that mate - as you can see from the lunctime pic its rather empty. Can I ignore pissing around bleeding it if I just refill this with cheapo fluid to get it to the garage?
shnozz said:Yes, but it might not work at 100%, In fact the % it does work at will be anyones guess
Can I ignore pissing around bleeding it if I just refill this with cheapo fluid to get it to the garage?
Suck it and see, if it doesn't work give it a few pumps. If it still doesn't work, it'll need bleedng, you won't do any damage
Is there any fluid around the master cylinder ?? if there is tie a rag round it to stop getting the fluid all over the place.
And take a bottle of brake fluid with you when you go
Incorrigible said:
Can I ignore pissing around bleeding it if I just refill this with cheapo fluid to get it to the garage?
Yes, but it might not work at 100%, In fact the % it does work at will be anyones guess
Suck it and see, if it doesn't work give it a few pumps. If it still doesn't work, it'll need bleedng, you won't do any damage
Is there any fluid around the master cylinder ?? if there is tie a rag round it to stop getting the fluid all over the place.
And take a bottle of brake fluid with you when you go
cheers Ben.
didnt have long to look - quick trip home at lunch and was still suited and booted so didnt want to get covered in crap - but.... seems to be a small oily stain on the overmat so would suggest its leaking a very small amount there - it really is quite asmall stain but looks quite nasty so would guess its brake fluid.
going to have a closer look when I get home tonight.
cheers for the words of wisdom - Mr Novice learns more simple tasks.
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