I'm off the road

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Byff

Original Poster:

4,427 posts

268 months

Saturday 19th February 2005
quotequote all
Cerb let me down yesterday.

Just come back from a week away, so jumped in her to go to ASDA for a bit shopping. Got to ASDA, but went to reverse into a bay and nothing...nada....zip.

Clutch pedal went straight to the floor and couldn't select any gears.

This was 11 o'clock. AA phoned up and breakdown wagon dispatched by 12'ish, but the guy turned up with a dolly type lift and he said it was too low to the ground for him to recover it. He would organise a full lift truck to come out straight away.

1 o'clock - guy turned up with a flatbed truck but he wouldn't lift the car either, because he said it would rip away the fibreglass when he attached the winch cable and the ramp was too steep for the low ground clearance. He said he'd arrange a full flatbed wagon that completely dismounts, but there may be a wait.

Well, I was in ASDA and the canteen was OK so I said I'd rather wait than risk damage to the car.

3 o'clock, started to get concerned, phoned AA for progress - oops, has no one came yet? We'll sort it out.

4 o'clock, phone call - we have located a suitable wagon and he'll be with you shortly.

5 o'clock, phone call - He's on his way, he'll be another half an hour.

5.30 - wagon turns up, exactly the same as the second truck. This time the bloke was much more helpfull when I explained the second guys reservations. He reckoned he just didn't fancy a recovery to Hexham so made an excuse, but he put my mind at rest and recovered it no problem.

HHC was shut by this time (thank you lads for hanging around incase I could make it) so it spent the night in a compound and got dropped off this morning. I popped through just to make sure it arrived safe and sound and I'm please to say everything is ok.

Richards initial diagnosis is the slave cylinder has gone, but they are very busy so it's not confirmed yet. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for a speedy repair, however, I'm away again in a weeks time, so it'll lessen the pain being Cerb less.

All in all, I spent six and a half hours at ASDA and I still didn't get any shopping done.

tvrbob

11,187 posts

262 months

Saturday 19th February 2005
quotequote all
Hope it's well again soon. You must have worn a trough in Asda's floor pacing back and forth all that time. Good thing the AA didn't just go for it though and end up spoiling your car.

gemini

11,352 posts

271 months

Saturday 19th February 2005
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hey look on the "bright" side - did ya get one of those yellow Smart cars?

couger

539 posts

243 months

Saturday 19th February 2005
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Exact same thing happened to me in the Esprit about 4 weeks ago.. turned out to be a hole in the plastic hydraulic hose, have now updated to a braided one.

gemini

11,352 posts

271 months

Saturday 19th February 2005
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hey asdas cafe must be doing well!

grahamw48

9,944 posts

245 months

Saturday 19th February 2005
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Hey,you could have earned 50 quid filling shelves.

On a serious note;

I think the AA's 'service' was disgraceful.

It doesn't need rocket science to establish a database of vehicles, and type of recovery truck required.
If it was true about the guy not wanting to travel to Hexham, well, that's even more disgraceful.
I hope I don't require their 'services' in a less convenient location.

>> Edited by grahamw48 on Saturday 19th February 23:28

selmer

2,760 posts

249 months

Saturday 19th February 2005
quotequote all
Glad to hear it's something they can sort, and fairly quickly too. On the plus (ish) side, the weather's going to be atrocious this week anyhow.
I think I'd have been fretting over leaving my car in amongst the shopping trolleys for too long aswell, luckily it survived that bit.

dexy

373 posts

261 months

Sunday 20th February 2005
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i wonder if you would have fitted in the back of the wedge Byff

Byff

Original Poster:

4,427 posts

268 months

Sunday 20th February 2005
quotequote all
dexy said:
i wonder if you would have fitted in the back of the wedge Byff


Loads of room for a little'un

I wasn't too concerned about the shopping trolleys, it was pushed into a disabled bay to get it out of the way. I got some looks of some people who thought it was disgusting seeing a sports car hogging a disabled bay, but needs must.

bilton_d

605 posts

273 months

Sunday 20th February 2005
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Byff, hope it gets sorted soon but not as if you would really want to take it out today with all this snow

wedg1e

26,891 posts

272 months

Monday 21st February 2005
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There ia an old trick that involves putting the car in 1st and then starting the engine. It lurches a bit at first but once you're rolling you can usually do clutchless changes. Just pop into neutral as appropriate. Of course traffic lights (and ASDA's car park!) are a pain but if you really get stuck (especially out in the sticks) it's one to remember.

bomb

3,707 posts

291 months

Monday 21st February 2005
quotequote all
There's nothing wrong with his car. He does this two or three times a month just to save money on Petrol (alegedly !!).



Its a trick I taught him.....



(only jokin)

froggie

896 posts

249 months

Monday 21st February 2005
quotequote all
sorry to hear your bad news biff,guess you had some sad "wagon drivers" atend that probibly didnt know how to use recoverey equiptment.
i hope the clutch is simple and cheep,like evaporated fluid or a pipe.on mine the metal bleed pipe hit the starter terminal,heated up,melted the plastic inner cable and set fire to the fluid.
It must be pooly cerby week,my starter sprig barings and gear has calapsae so ,I NEED THE REDUCTION BOX off the starter if any one has an old starter,
id buy a new sprig but tilton do not produce them any more.been quoted £280 for a new starter complete (supply only )
but ive just had a new motor on it after it let me down at croft,guess im going to have to fork out again.
p.s.NEIL i like the new rear window sticker

>> Edited by froggie on Monday 21st February 22:39

paulwakinshaw

436 posts

247 months

Tuesday 22nd February 2005
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ah well, only my noisy Elise to upset people in Cleadon Village now!!

Byff

Original Poster:

4,427 posts

268 months

Friday 25th February 2005
quotequote all
paulwakinshaw said:
ah well, only my noisy Elise to upset people in Cleadon Village now!!


Don't dismiss the master so fast young Paul, the Cerb will be roaring back to defend it's territory on Saturday.

Got the call from HHC today - it's repaired

I'd have been straight round to pick her up, but I'm a bit busy so will have to wait till tomorrow. Top marks to HHC and the AA who's picking up the bill.

To say i'm pleased would be an understatement. To top it all off, the cats are back off so let the BBQ begin.

tvrbob

11,187 posts

262 months

Friday 25th February 2005
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So does this mean you'll be joining us on the cobweb?

Byff

Original Poster:

4,427 posts

268 months

Friday 25th February 2005
quotequote all
Unfortunately not Bob, I'll be flying home that day so will have just missed out

When I return, things should be settling back down to normal, that's assuming we don't start two new businesses. Whatever happens, I will have more time for Cerbie.

froggie

896 posts

249 months

Saturday 26th February 2005
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nice one byff,sounds like a happy ending,what was wrong are your decat pipes short or do they run to the back box?
sorry u r missing the cobweb run,my starters sorted,in trying to get the stainless decat pipes finished and new pots fitted before the weekend.
thanks 4 the help with the soft ware,the drinks r on me

Byff

Original Poster:

4,427 posts

268 months

Sunday 27th February 2005
quotequote all
Decat pipes are fine, it's just that I had them taken off and the cats replaced for the Croft trackday and it's MOT. Now that it's got a healthy 12 months again, the cats are off and the flames are back

froggie said:
thanks 4 the help with the soft ware,the drinks r on me


Whey hey!

blackal

115 posts

255 months

Sunday 27th February 2005
quotequote all
bomb said:
There's nothing wrong with his car. He does this two or three times a month just to save money on Petrol (alegedly !!).



Its a trick I taught him.....



(only jokin)


Yeah, right! I remember when you found a corn-plaster - you went out the next day and bought a pair of tight shoes