So, since my last post the car has been off the road for almost three weeks..
19th August discovered passenger seatbelt had a large split in it, or rather my 7 year old did while sitting in the seat.
Put it in at a different mechanic on 28th to have sump and timing cover gaskets plus a few others replaced, by now I've replaced the drive belt and noticed the super charger bearings get extremely loud so the mechanic also topped up the snout. It took until Friday 31 for the work to be done, in that time the sump bolt was discovered to have been stripped out by the previous mechanic (same one who did RWC) or whoever last removed it, they've added a washer and tightened it up super tight, all the threads came out and it needed to be helicoiled. He was supposed to check the power steering leak but didn't have time, more on this later.
But I did not get my car back on that day because when the mechanic removed the oil filter the anti drain back valve popped out in pieces, not wanting to spend $800 on an oil filter assembly I ordered the valve off a Ford Powerstroke which Google says fits. Meanwhile after thinking about it hard I reported the original mechanic to TMR, the seat belt got me really annoyed because if I'd had an accident would my daughter have been seriously hurt? the valve finally arrived on 11th September, it was due the 6th but FedEx decided that they didn't want to deliver to my parcel locker so handed it over in Sydney to Auspost standard delivery, it fit and I was sent off with the oil light coming on at idle. I pull up at home to check for oil leaks and see coolant gushing from the expansion tank, the cap is stuffed so I had to order a new one, I hope it is just the cap and not something more serious, probably is. My mate and I made up an alloy plug to block off the anti drain back port since the Powerstroke one was no good, start her up and no more oil light at idle.
I waited until yesterday for the new cap to arrive, installed it and then decided out of curiosity I should check the power steering fluid which, low and behold is completely empty except for the small puddle of RED liquid in the centre of the filter.
Left a truthful review about the mechanics on their Facebook page and was accused of cutting the seatbelt and lying about the other roadworthy issues then threatened with defamation so I removed the review, seriously why would I cut a seatbelt, order a new one, wait a week to report to TMR and almost a month to post a review? What do I have to gain? I still have to fix the stupid thing even to try selling it. I had never dealt with this mechanic before, just ridiculous but shows the mechanics character, he spoke openly to me about the leaks saying put cardboard under it or tip petrol on it then claims there were no oil leaks? so I paid a mechanic $700 to pretend he fixed the leaks? Ordered over $500 worth of parts just so I had receipts and could defame him? If I had that much money to burn I wouldn't be driving a 15 year old Mini, nor would I be using loans to do so!
So, I'm going to replace the Power Steering hose clamps, try my best to flush out the red crap and then see if I still don't want to auction it off on Ebay and buy a Falcon. Am still tossing up if I should get it into TMR, RWC hasn't elapsed by time or mileage.
The original seller must have known about all these issues as his mechanic must have, I hate the car now and just want it gone but can't afford another, spewing I have thrown away about 11.5k and it's still stuck in my driveway.
|