cost comparison questions...

[robi]

Just had the timing belt changed on my 94 deisel transit.

While on the way to the mechani's I lost a front wheel *bearing* -not sure of the English for it......

so had the taken care of too... and the water pump had been leaking, had it replaced,

the front brake pads (or are they shoes in English) ha dless than 1 milimeter left, so they were replaced.


what would all this cost in the UK?

I am really curious about these differences....

thanks

Robi

[AndyG]

In London I would expect to pay approx £400 All in But remember garages vary wildly
But I'd rather do the work myself as then I know that I haven't overtightened things and done them according to Ford spec. not to mention that I try and use genuine parts whenever available Which I know they don't and yes I do realise that some parts are as good as

How did you loose a front wheel bearing and still drive to the mechanics

We have "pads" for disc brakes and "shoes" for drum brakes

Your van sounds as though it's missed a service or two make sure you change the oil and all the filters

[robi]

The van was bought last year, used.... a mechanic friend checked it out on the lot, drove it round a bit and said it would be fine...

I drove it for a year and never had the time/money to have the timing belt changed....

I finally decided better to get it done than put it off until I had time....

To be honset I was nervous that i would be driving down the highway to deliver the umiak my son and his classmates built and get stuck on the road.... tehy have [ut so much time and effort into I did not want to risk it... so, even though I coudl not actually afford it I took it to the mechanics.

As to the bearing... well, it made some funny noises.. at first it was a high pitch sqeuking sound... thought the rubber on the tyre was acting funny or sg... then i heard some laud clucnking, like metal falling onto metal ... stopped. calle da mechanic friend... We jacked the car up, turned the wheel by hand and we oculd hear the metal inside clunking round.

We drove, very, slowly, about 30 kpm the whole way, sg like 15 km. Kind of scary...

I too know that I would be better off doing much of the work myself.. but I know nothing about such stuff and have no tools..

But I have a manual on the way and will start doing whatever I can myself, and do it to Ford specs.... sound slike fun stuff to me... but time consuming...


robi

ps... i need to have the carberator changed... i mean the *points or tips* have any idea wha tthey are called in English? changing them will improve my gas milage a bit and help stop that nasty black exhaust...

[AndyG]

We need to sort out your terminology not your english
Never knew your diesel Transit had a carburetor

You need to change the oil and all the filters first (oil, fuel and air)before doing anything to your injection pump

To be honest, after that little lot you could be a bit bored as the only other thing that usually needs to be done, is the rust (you must have some )

Well How much did they charge you

[robi]

OK, teach me the correct terminology and I will be indebted to you forever.

The Hungarian term porlaszto is usually translated as carberator (sp?) and csucs as points or tips... so I had assumed porlasztocsucs is carberator tips/points....

at any rate there are aparently four of them......

oil, oil filter and air filter were changed not too long ago... say a month ago.... think the fuel wa snot... slipped my mind....

but the exhaust fumes are extremely nasty looking, very black, black, black.... does keeep people from drving on my tail, which is a big probelm in Hungary...


the cost for the bits and parts and labor was 78 thousand forints... think that is jusch over 200 quid... but I have to look up the exhange rate... it is a month's salary (after taxes) for me as a teacher.... maybe cheap for you but quite costly here..

rob

PS. I have tons of rusty bits on teh body.. not too sure how bad teh udner parts are.... i would love to get a new tail gate before the one I have rusts away to nothing.

[AndyG]

Porlaszto=Injection pump

csucs=Injectors


But don't quote me as I don't know any Hungarian I'm just using common sense

Can you put a photo up of your engine

Can you tell what pump you have ( Lucas or Bosch)

[robi]

well, i will try to get a photo taken and post it.


robi

[crazyscoot]

oil, oil filter and air filter were changed not too long ago... say a month ago.... think the fuel wa snot... slipped my mind.....

Wish our van's run on snot, i got loads of that with my hayfever.......just hook a twin branch manifold to my nose, sneeze a little........bingo just dont let on to Mr Brown