Home mechanics - problems only happen in Winter
Discussion
I can't be the only one?
All summer - no issues with the household fleet other than mundane routine servicing.
All those lovely long dry summer evenings where you could do some major spannering...but nothing needs fixing.
Then winter comes along...
Son's Fiesta needs a new clutch - I did this last week. Cold, dark and miserable working conditions.
Then the Ford Focus gets jealous, and that too is showing signs of a failing clutch.
The SAAB needs a new middle and back box - this is easy in comparison.
...and there's other little niggles and things that I need to attend to not worth mentioning.
I could throw money at a garage of course, but I quite enjoy doing my own work if driveway conditions are favorable.
Every blimmin year it's the same - winter comes along when there's little/no daylight time and everything starts breaking! Grrrrrr
All summer - no issues with the household fleet other than mundane routine servicing.
All those lovely long dry summer evenings where you could do some major spannering...but nothing needs fixing.
Then winter comes along...
Son's Fiesta needs a new clutch - I did this last week. Cold, dark and miserable working conditions.
Then the Ford Focus gets jealous, and that too is showing signs of a failing clutch.
The SAAB needs a new middle and back box - this is easy in comparison.
...and there's other little niggles and things that I need to attend to not worth mentioning.
I could throw money at a garage of course, but I quite enjoy doing my own work if driveway conditions are favorable.
Every blimmin year it's the same - winter comes along when there's little/no daylight time and everything starts breaking! Grrrrrr
Yep I agree. Sods Law. Nothing all Summer.
Then PAS Pump on Picasso starts whining. Dying Pump. Queue me fitting it Saturday evening, it got to the point of darkness when putting aux belt back on. I fitted new, recon pump only for that to whine too. FFS! Thats going back so another pump en route.
Then PAS Pump on Picasso starts whining. Dying Pump. Queue me fitting it Saturday evening, it got to the point of darkness when putting aux belt back on. I fitted new, recon pump only for that to whine too. FFS! Thats going back so another pump en route.
Yep, Add in a 8:30 to 5:00 Job and the fact in Scotland it gets dark before you leave work and it is even worse.
The Alfa V6 is needing droplinks all round, has a blow in the exhaust, needs front disks and the rear calipers rebuilt, engine mount, and possibly a CV joint. Top it all off the MOT is due 1st day of December.
The Alfa V6 is needing droplinks all round, has a blow in the exhaust, needs front disks and the rear calipers rebuilt, engine mount, and possibly a CV joint. Top it all off the MOT is due 1st day of December.
No, you're not alone!
To make it even better, as a SMART repairer I get to work on other people's cars outside all year round, not just on our own (but then I am getting paid for paintwork
).
Really bad days where I have to postpone work aren't actually that often although sometimes it feels like it. Dress appropriately & have a nice piece of carpet to lie on & it's OK.
To make it even better, as a SMART repairer I get to work on other people's cars outside all year round, not just on our own (but then I am getting paid for paintwork
).Really bad days where I have to postpone work aren't actually that often although sometimes it feels like it. Dress appropriately & have a nice piece of carpet to lie on & it's OK.
The OH's Clio has an issue that only occurs in winter - on a cold(ish) morning, you'll be greeted with an airbag warning light on the dashboard. I've crawled around checking all the usual places for dodgy connections and it all *seems* fine though.
Luckily, it doesn't rear it's ugly head during the summer heat, which is fortunate considering that's when the MOT is. Hoping this year, we can at least get a quote on a repair for it, since it's beyond my skills / expertise.
Luckily, it doesn't rear it's ugly head during the summer heat, which is fortunate considering that's when the MOT is. Hoping this year, we can at least get a quote on a repair for it, since it's beyond my skills / expertise.
t the droplinks same time.Pretty serious jobs there! Nearly every time I need to do something car related its Oct or Nov.
Yaris needs an oil change, trying to find the parts before I even get it started is difficult enough. Special tool to undo the housing to then finding the right filter.
Both my old Mk 1 Focus and my old ST were a piece of cake compared to this. Sourcing parts etc. Although I have to admit the ST didn't go well. Last owner had replaced the sump plug without a washer. Even with a every tool under the sun it would not budge. Garage job in the end.... sigh.
Will also need new discs n pads soon enough as they are low. Never done this job before but seeing as there are plenty of YouTube vids with guides. Shouldnt' be an issue, also fancy a challenge. If it all goes wrong I can always leave it on axle stands and commute to work by bicycle, lol.
Yaris needs an oil change, trying to find the parts before I even get it started is difficult enough. Special tool to undo the housing to then finding the right filter.
Both my old Mk 1 Focus and my old ST were a piece of cake compared to this. Sourcing parts etc. Although I have to admit the ST didn't go well. Last owner had replaced the sump plug without a washer. Even with a every tool under the sun it would not budge. Garage job in the end.... sigh.
Will also need new discs n pads soon enough as they are low. Never done this job before but seeing as there are plenty of YouTube vids with guides. Shouldnt' be an issue, also fancy a challenge. If it all goes wrong I can always leave it on axle stands and commute to work by bicycle, lol.
I think the heater matrix blew in my Corrado one winter. The best time of year to have no heater! Batteries always seem to die over winter too.
And winter seems to see a big increase in traffic too, along with a drop in average speed. Winter is just a miserable time of year for motoring full stop!
And winter seems to see a big increase in traffic too, along with a drop in average speed. Winter is just a miserable time of year for motoring full stop!
I remember myself and a mate in about 1992 changing a Montego gearbox that I had made explode into many pieces, on the path, at 10 pm at night with six inches of snow sitting on the floor and more falling as we worked. I needed it to get to work 30 miles away the following morning, all done by 1 am, thawed out sometime in May, I didnt even do most of the work, poor sods back is ruined these days and thinking about that always makes me think that is what started his issues.
TooMany2cvs said:
Dr Doofenshmirtz said:
Then winter comes along...
Son's Fiesta needs a new clutch - I did this last week. Cold, dark and miserable working conditions.
Sounds like ideal conditions for son to learn how to change a clutch, under supervision.Son's Fiesta needs a new clutch - I did this last week. Cold, dark and miserable working conditions.
cpjitservices said:
Yep I agree. Sods Law. Nothing all Summer.
Then PAS Pump on Picasso starts whining. Dying Pump. Queue me fitting it Saturday evening, it got to the point of darkness when putting aux belt back on. I fitted new, recon pump only for that to whine too. FFS! Thats going back so another pump en route.
Make sure you flush the system as debris from the last failing pump can sit in the rack and lines causing the next pump to fail prematurely.Then PAS Pump on Picasso starts whining. Dying Pump. Queue me fitting it Saturday evening, it got to the point of darkness when putting aux belt back on. I fitted new, recon pump only for that to whine too. FFS! Thats going back so another pump en route.
My dad spent years doing this kind of stuff, his last one was some years back.
Deep mid winter, he had sold a Rover Coupe to a friend of my mums daughter, it had a problem months later so obviously them being a bit skint and needy they call my dad, it wont start, he goes round and the daughter comes out, he asks her to sit in the car and try the ignition, this goes on for a little while and he is sorting it, he asks her to try the ignition but no answer, asks again, no answer, he check in th car and she isnt there, looks through the front window and she is sat, with a brew, watching the telly with her feet up.
He gathers his tools, gets in his car and drives home, car still not running, now their problem again after that.
Deep mid winter, he had sold a Rover Coupe to a friend of my mums daughter, it had a problem months later so obviously them being a bit skint and needy they call my dad, it wont start, he goes round and the daughter comes out, he asks her to sit in the car and try the ignition, this goes on for a little while and he is sorting it, he asks her to try the ignition but no answer, asks again, no answer, he check in th car and she isnt there, looks through the front window and she is sat, with a brew, watching the telly with her feet up.
He gathers his tools, gets in his car and drives home, car still not running, now their problem again after that.
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