Name (required):

  Expression ^{(Optional mood/title along with your name) Examples: (happy, sad, The Joyful, etc.) help)}

  E-mail address (optional):

* Type your message here:
>So about a week ago I hear a noisy tappet on our >Zafira. If it was my beetle, I'd do it myself, but as >it's still under warranty we arrange to go back to the >dealer in a few days. Anyway, I'm pretty confident the >valves are self adjusting, so it sounds like a serious >rebuild job to me. > >Before we get there the engine warning light flicks on >(in outside lane of motorway, with an embarrassing >loss of power). After a bit of mutual head scratching >with the AA chap we figure out the computer was >spooked by us asking for loads of power that the >engine could not deliver as a valve must be sticking. > >The new girl on the services desk promises it will be >ready by 1430 if we drop off at 0830 - I'm skeptical. >But read on... > >I make a fuss about various things at drop off, >including the fact they waiting list for a courtesy >car is 3 weeks - are vauxhalls so bad that loads are >in the workshop that often? > >Anyway, head mechanic comes out to reassure me, which >is brilliant because I describe the symptoms and he >immediately diagnoses low oil. And a few minutes later >with an oily rag...he's right. He looks embarrassed >though, as he says (1) the dipsitck is unreliable to >read when the engine is warm (2) the oil consumption >on the Zafira is well known to be huge, and low oil >will trigger a fault light and casue noisy tappets. > >Of course I'm embarrassed for not checking something >so obvious more than once a month - what was I >thinking on a modern car! But my point is I've always >driven and rebuilt beetles and vans from 1971 vintage >or thereabouts. Is anyone disturbed by the fact that >with me used to an engine designed in the 1930s, I was >still shocked at the oil consumption of my so-called >modern car? > >Another thought - why didn't they slip me a hint when >I bought the car, rather than waiting for me to come >back.

Notice: Copies of your message may remain on this and other systems on internet. Please be respectful.