Guestimation

cormie

I just failed my DOE today and luckily, it doesn't seem like too much has to be done. Would anyone hazard a guess as to how much the following will cost to get sorted?

Service Brake Performance
Sub Fail: Mechanically propelled vehicles
Location: r/h rear
reason: braking efficiency

Service Brake Imbalance:
Sub fail: Wheels on same axle
Location: r/h rear
reason: more than 30% difference in braking power

Rear Lamps/Reg Plate Lamp
Sub fail: registration plate lamp
Location: Both number plate lamp covers (missing plastic covers around bulbs)
Reason: not working or not fitted (1 lamp out)

Headlamp Aim
Sub Fail: European type headlamp --Focus headlights (low)
reason: the junction in the 15 degree cut off and the horizontal cut off line does not lie beteen the 0% and 2% vertical lines

Steering Linkage
Sub fail: Track Rod/Steering Arm
Location: Axle 1 RHS... r/h front track rod
Reason: Obviously loose


That's everything, wasn't as bad as I thought it would be given my luck with the van. At least it doesn't sound too bad

Does anyone have any notion what I should expect to pay for all that to be put right?

Any feedback appreciated:)

junkyard

I'd say about 250 euros, depending on where you take it. You should start writing a log about this van and all its problems cormie, Ford might take pity on you and give you a present of a new one.;)

drdre

junkyard wrote:

I'd say about 250 euros, depending on where you take it. You should start writing a log about this van and all its problems cormie, Ford might take pity on you and give you a present of a new one.;)

Yeah thats a good option

patrickc

feck the doe and get this new 1 your on about then our eyes will be safe from "van" posts by cormie lol

Vikings

cormie wrote:

Does anyone have any notion what I should expect to pay for all that to be put right?

The price of a new van?

In the long run I think it would be better for you and your business to invest in a more reliable motor now rather than later and rather than pouring more money into the van you currently have as everyone knows what trouble you have had with it now!!

Just think if potential customers of yours were to read this forum and all about your van... certainly wouldnt inspire confidence if they read all the mishaps you have had :eek:

cormie

Well I have the funds waiting to buy a new one, I'm just waiting for the right one and if I get this one up to a sellable standard with full tax and DOE, I might be able to get some money back:)

I might try that log for the laugh, including all the links to my many threads! Where would be the best place to send it I wonder? Sure what's an extra van to them? lol.

cormie

cormie wrote:

Service Brake Performance
Sub Fail: Mechanically propelled vehicles
Location: r/h rear
reason: braking efficiency

Service Brake Imbalance:
Sub fail: Wheels on same axle
Location: r/h rear
reason: more than 30% difference in braking power

€230, needed new brake drums as something was leaking.

Rear Lamps/Reg Plate Lamp
Sub fail: registration plate lamp
Location: Both number plate lamp covers (missing plastic covers around bulbs)
Reason: not working or not fitted (1 lamp out)

€8 from scrapyard

Headlamp Aim
Sub Fail: European type headlamp --Focus headlights (low)
reason: the junction in the 15 degree cut off and the horizontal cut off line does not lie beteen the 0% and 2% vertical lines
€250:eek: :eek: Apparently the adjusters on my headlights are broken so I need new headlights, then pay for alignment and labour!

Steering Linkage
Sub fail: Track Rod/Steering Arm
Location: Axle 1 RHS... r/h front track rod
Reason: Obviously loose
€30 from fastfit

With regards the headlights, does this not seem a bit mad? Can they be adjusted without adjusters?

Wishbone Ash

junkyard wrote:

You should start writing a log about this van and all its problems cormie

I think we need a new sub-forum in Motors - Cormie's Van.

Who's up for Moderator?

rowanh

How much of the 250 euro is for the lamps and how much is for the fitting/alignment? Maybe look for them in a scrapyard then fit them yourself then get them aligned in a garage? You could possibly get brakes from a scrap yard too. There is a breakers called traynors in northern ireland, i think they mostly do commercial vehicles, might be worth a shot.

ballooba

The whole Cormie's van debacle has served as the greatest living example of the maxim "You get what you pay for".

Darragh29

IncredibleBulk wrote:

The price of a new van?

In the long run I think it would be better for you and your business to invest in a more reliable motor now rather than later and rather than pouring more money into the van you currently have as everyone knows what trouble you have had with it now!!

Just think if potential customers of yours were to read this forum and all about your van... certainly wouldnt inspire confidence if they read all the mishaps you have had :eek:

Is this the same van that had the starter motor hanging out of it a few months back after a clutch replacement???

I'd say you need rear brakes replaced for a start. What make & model van is it again???

ballooba

In fairness though he did say back in the day he only needed it to run for a year. 6 months wasn't bad.

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055016552&referrerid=&highlight=
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055016973&referrerid=&highlight=
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055016526&referrerid=&highlight=

The winner:
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055017655&referrerid=&highlight=

Savman

The main problem with Cormie's van is not his posting here looking for answers, it's the damage that image is doing to his business. I'm sure he'll get it sorted eventually, but when self-employed, word of mouth is your best friend and worst enemy rolled into one.
I had to endure something similar with my first cheapo van, it ran well but was on its way out. As soon as I got the chance to get a new motor I didn't wait around.

Guy:Incognito

cormie wrote:

Well I have the funds waiting to buy a new one, I'm just waiting for the right one and if I get this one up to a sellable standard with full tax and DOE, I might be able to get some money back:).

If you have even a vague belief in Karma you should scrap that van.:)

ballooba

In fairness, the van was bought for €2300. I'm sure at least that has been spent on it since, if not a multiple.

Slutmonkey57b

Let me get this right... cormie posted for ages about buying a van four courier work. Then posts for ages about the van being a piece of **** that's about to fall apart at any moment, potentially killing him and destroying its cargo, and THEN puts an ad in his sig for the courier work he's doing in the POS van he's posting about?

colm_mcm

Slutmonkey57b wrote:

Let me get this right... cormie posted for ages about buying a van four courier work. Then posts for ages about the van being a piece of **** that's about to fall apart at any moment, potentially killing him and destroying its cargo, and THEN puts an ad in his sig for the courier work he's doing in the POS van he's posting about?

yep, now you're up to speed!

DonJose

Savman wrote:

The main problem with Cormie's van is not his posting here looking for answers, it's the damage that image is doing to his business. I'm sure he'll get it sorted eventually, but when self-employed, word of mouth is your best friend and worst enemy rolled into one.

I'll probably look elsewhere when I need transport for ice sculptures

cormie

Well you'll all be glad to know I'm just waiting on a newer van to be sorted out by a dealer and then I'll be sorted, hopefully have it by the end of the week:)

I've had many return customers because even though my van may break down, the service is still top quality;) I even had return business from some guys who had to give me a push start when my van broke down doing a job for them and actually, I had another job last week for a guy who had to borrow jump leads off some carnies to power up my battery when my van broke down in Cork before, so I must be doing something right:D

colm_mcm

what van did you end up going for cormie?

cormie

Well I haven't agreed on anything, but providing the van the dealer is bringing down from the North is in as good condition as described, I'll be getting a 02 Ford Transit 350, long wheel base, high roof, white, with 71,000 miles for 10K inc vat with a 3 month warranty and a full DOE and if I need to bring it in for repair, I will be given a replacement van (hopefully for free). Which is a pretty good deal I think, or I can pay 500 extra for a 12 month warranty with breakdown service. So if it's all as I hope it will be, I'll be buying it asap:)

By the way, just on the headlight issue, I got 2 new headlights in a scrapyard for E90. The problem with my ones was that one of the adjuster knobs was broken and the other was too stiff to move, but on the new ones, I can't move them either. What's up with that? Seems to be the same on all 8 nobs on the 4 headlights

colm_mcm

why would you buy broken headlights?

ballooba

WD40 TBH

Goodwill++

cormie

I didn't inspect them before I bought them:o I must try a bit of wd40 alright! The thing is though, the screws are all plastic so it's not like it's rust or anything that's making them hard to turn, unless they are supposed to be stubborn?

colm_mcm

a garage should be adjusting your headlights anyway, unless you have the equipment you can't get them aimed correctly.

cormie

Well the first I saw of a problem with my headlights was when the mechanic showed me the right screw had broken and the left headlight screw was too stubborn. So that makes me think there might be a chance he broke the right one himself and didn't want to break the left one too so just said it needs new ones

colm_mcm

jeez, you need to find a new mechanic, you're not getting much value out of him, is this the same guy that "fixed" your starter?

ballooba

He's probably 'cheap' though.

Henry Ford III

Stop tormenting yourself (and us) Cormie. Just buy a good van.

cormie

lol, he's anything but cheap! The reason I went back to him is because instead of fixing my starter, he put in a brand new one at no cost to me (on top of the mounds I'd already paid for repair). So that was nice enough of him but he's already made half it back on doing the brakes. I have another guy I'm going to start going to who I've been told is good (and cheap:D)

junkyard

Cormie, I have a pair of headlamps to suit your van if you want them for free. I'm pretty sure they're O.K. I'm in county Cork if you want to arrange collection.

cormie

Hey Junkyard, thanks a mill for the offer:) very nice of you!

Is it actually the whole thing you have, like this:


well except for the 99 model transit of course:) ?

I have my DOE retest tomorrow at 4 so I think I'll just try and find out if the ones I bought are actually adjustable or what the story with them is and if so, I'll get them fitted/aligned, if not I'll give them back and re-arrange DOE and may get on to you about the ones you have spare. Thanks again!

Wossack

cormies getting a new van? Ill miss these threads

Slutmonkey57b

cormie wrote:

I didn't inspect them before I bought them:o I must try a bit of wd40 alright! The thing is though, the screws are all plastic so it's not like it's rust or anything that's making them hard to turn, unless they are supposed to be stubborn?

Hands up who hasn't learned anything then!

Well you'll all be glad to know I'm just waiting on a newer van to be sorted out by a dealer and then I'll be sorted, hopefully have it by the end of the week

I've had many return customers because even though my van may break down, the service is still top quality I even had return business from some guys who had to give me a push start when my van broke down doing a job for them and actually, I had another job last week for a guy who had to borrow jump leads off some carnies to power up my battery when my van broke down in Cork before, so I must be doing something right

Maybe they're just as dumbfounded as the rest of us and have invited all their mates down to see the crazy guy with the wrecked van who has to be push started out of the premesis?

ballooba

cormie wrote:

I have my DOE retest tomorrow at 4 so I think I'll just try and find out if the ones I bought are actually adjustable or what the story with them is and if so, I'll get them fitted/aligned, if not I'll give them back and re-arrange DOE and may get on to you about the ones you have spare. Thanks again!

Is it really worth collecting lights/having them delivered from Cork and taking time out of productive work to re-do your DOE. Just because they're free.

cormie

ballooba wrote:

Is it really worth collecting lights/having them delivered from Cork and taking time out of productive work to re-do your DOE. Just because they're free.

Of course not, but if I'm getting a new van and wont need my old one, and by chance will know somebody coming to Dublin from Cork, or I'll be in Cork with the new van, I could collect them and bring them up, fit them and put it through the DOE later:)

Going to have a look at this new van now anyway! Whoo!

junkyard

Yes they're complete lamps cormie, I'll have a look at them later but I'm sure they're o.k.

cormie

No need for the headlights Junkyard, THAT part passed on the DOE test;) Thanks a mill for the offer though!

so it failed again, I have to get a new track rod end fitted:
Steering Linkage
Sub fail: Track Rod/Steering Arm
Location: Axle 1 RHS... r/h/f track rod end
Reason: Obviously loose

Which I thought fastfit sorted when they did the tracking but I'm guessing they wont be fitting a track rod end for me now! Hmm

That's it, so hopefully pass it if I get that sorted tomorrow.

With the headlights, only the right hand one needed to be replaced, which was lucky because the left one I got from the scrap yard was broken and the right one was ok, so I brought them to the guy I'm buying the new van off and asked could he fit them so he did and didn't charge;) Then I got my money back for the broken one off the scrapyard, so altogether, the lights only cost €45 instead of the €250 ish I would have paid with the mechanic! Whoo! lol