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Scrap or repair?

  • 21-04-2014 2:01pm
    #1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 26


    Howdy folks

    Got some good advice here last year, hoping for some more if you're feeling helpful!

    99 D Ford Focus, over 130K on it - back bumper needed replacement. It recently gave out and garage that towed it says it would need an alternator, timing belt replacement +++ to get it NCT ready ... all in all, we're talking about nealy 1000 worth of repairs for a 15 year old car.

    OR

    Garage said they'd sell to the local recycling/scrappie for 100 Euro, all I have to do is sign and send the log book.

    Any suggestions much appreciated cheers!


Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,506 ✭✭✭Interslice


    Howdy folks

    Got some good advice here last year, hoping for some more if you're feeling helpful!

    99 D Ford Focus, over 130K on it - back bumper needed replacement. It recently gave out and garage that towed it says it would need an alternator, timing belt replacement +++ to get it NCT ready ... all in all, we're talking about nealy 1000 worth of repairs for a 15 year old car.

    OR

    Garage said they'd sell to the local recycling/scrappie for 100 Euro, all I have to do is sign and send the log book.

    Any suggestions much appreciated cheers!

    Put it on done deal :)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,264 ✭✭✭✭Nekarsulm


    Alternator and a timing belt, approx. 300 euro, I would think. They seem keen to get their hands on it, have they a customer lined up ?

    Also, do you like the car? What else can you get for the money involved in fixing the Focus? Or are you ready for a change anyway?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 26 Physics Girl


    Thanks folks

    Thing is, it's sittin' pretty in a garage on the other side of the county :) Not sure if it's worth paying someone to tow it around looking a cheaper repair deal. If it was still going it'd be a different story.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,506 ✭✭✭Interslice


    Thanks folks

    Thing is, it's sittin' pretty in a garage on the other side of the county :) Not sure if it's worth paying someone to tow it around looking a cheaper repair deal. If it was still going it'd be a different story.


    Did the timing belt snap?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 17,733 ✭✭✭✭corktina


    you don't need replace a timing belt for the NCT....nor do you need replace the alternator unless it isn't working at all......you don't say what happened to it when it broke down.. did the timing belt go or the alternator fail?

    It's worth far more than €100....adverts.ie would be another option


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,584 ✭✭✭greasepalm


    if timing belt snapped forget it ,valves bent and possible damage to pistons,no idea what oil usage that car uses,timing belt kit,water pump replacement,coolant and maybe stat housing and stat [ prone to leaks ] over e330.

    if timing belt was done at required time no damage would have been done,or running out of long fingers comes first.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 26 Physics Girl


    Interslice wrote: »
    Did the timing belt snap?

    No, but he asked if it had been "done", not whilst I've had it. Apparently it should be after 80K and the focus is well over 130K at the moment. The alternator failed at 2am and had a wonderful icey 5 hour wait for a tow truck.

    Today - insurance is up, NCT is due early May so I asked him in all honesty if it was worth doing the alternator, the bumper, and all the +++ that it needs to make it road worthy and he said no.

    He's asked me to sign the reg book and send it to him tomorrow, he knows a scrappie and will post the 100 Euro out to me.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 2,231 ✭✭✭BNMC


    Under no circumstances send him the reg book.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 26 Physics Girl


    BNMC wrote: »
    Under no circumstances send him the reg book.

    Not a good idea then?

    He advised me that he needed this in order to scrap the car legally, that if I didn't - I could be fined 1500 Euro.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 728 ✭✭✭Sam the Sham


    Not a good idea then?

    He advised me that he needed this in order to scrap the car legally, that if I didn't - I could be fined 1500 Euro.

    Who is "he"?

    Basically, as I understand it, if he's paying you, he's not going to scrap the car legally. He is either going to try to get it into working order to sell it or he's going to salvage the parts and not scrap it legally (which involves making sure all of the hazardous parts and fluids are disposed of properly).


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 2,231 ✭✭✭BNMC


    Not a good idea then?

    He advised me that he needed this in order to scrap the car legally, that if I didn't - I could be fined 1500 Euro.
    Depends if you trust him. What's to stop him registering himself as the owner and selling on the car.

    If it was me, I'd get him to sign it and send it away myself.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 2,880 ✭✭✭Kaiser D


    Not a good idea then?

    He advised me that he needed this in order to scrap the car legally, that if I didn't - I could be fined 1500 Euro.

    Is he asking you to send the logbook to him?

    If he is, then he is trying to sell the car on and not scrap it.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 26 Physics Girl


    Who is "he"?

    Basically, as I understand it, if he's paying you, he's not going to scrap the car legally. He is either going to try to get it into working order to sell it or he's going to salvage the parts and not scrap it legally (which involves making sure all of the hazardous parts and fluids are disposed of properly).

    Apologies. "He" is the guy that towed the car, and seemed like a decent enough man - he runs the garage the car is located in.

    So no to repairs, and no to sending reg book ... has anyone any advice on what to do next please?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,506 ✭✭✭Interslice


    Not a good idea then?

    He advised me that he needed this in order to scrap the car legally, that if I didn't - I could be fined 1500 Euro.

    I would tell him thanks but no thanks and just get him to fix the alternator belt and go and get it.

    Then put it through the NCT, fix what it fails on, and sell it or keep it. That exactly what your man is going to do.

    It is more likely the timing belt was done at 80k and now due at 160k or have you owned it since before that? Maybe get it done at some stage if you plan on keeping it long term.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,632 ✭✭✭Aint Eazy Being Cheezy


    Have you paid him for retrieving the car from the roadside, and inspecting the car?

    He isn't necessarily trying to rip you off, €100 is all you'd get, roughly, for taking that car to the scrapyard. You also need the log book to receive a scrappage cert. He could just be saving you a journey over and back.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 24,644 ✭✭✭✭punisher5112


    Belt is due at 100k miles on most fords so if you had it then then its 30k over and 5 years overdue as its 100k or 10 years whichever comes 1st

    Do as others said sort alternator which will most likely be a reconditioned one. Drive away and do what's needed. For a 15 year old car that mileage is not high.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 26 Physics Girl


    Thanks for all the feedback folks, much appreciated.

    Duracell Bunny - I didn't pay him for either - the insurance company rang him to take the tow. He said he hadn't done a lot on it, but that the alternator was shot and that between the bumper repair, respray, alternator, potential timing belt pending and all the rest, in his opinion - he didn't think it was worth it.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 728 ✭✭✭Sam the Sham


    Have you paid him for retrieving the car from the roadside, and inspecting the car?

    He isn't necessarily trying to rip you off, €100 is all you'd get, roughly, for taking that car to the scrapyard. You also need the log book to receive a scrappage cert. He could just be saving you a journey over and back.

    From this site:
    Do You Buy Cars
    No. Anyone paying for cars is buying it to either
    A) Put it back on the road, or use it as a “runabout”
    B) Break it down and sell parts from it.
    C) Is not depolluting it properly, is not licenced properly and therefore have none of the overheads we have in conforming with the End Of Life Vehicle Legislation. They are then selling it for scrap value, undepolluted. Did you know that it takes one litre of engine oil to contaminate 1 million litres of drinking water, making it unfit for human consumption? The people who are paying for cars are irresponsibly draining the fluids into drains and sewers and open fields, endangering wildlife and creating a massive clean up for the future, which the taxpayer will have to pay for.

    I faced similar issues with a 2000 Renault Megane with a broken ECU. I opted to fix it in the hopes of selling it. So far, selling it isn't proving easy to do even though it has low miles and is a perfectly serviceable car.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 24,644 ✭✭✭✭punisher5112


    Thanks for all the feedback folks, much appreciated.

    Duracell Bunny - I didn't pay him for either - the insurance company rang him to take the tow. He said he hadn't done a lot on it, but that the alternator was shot and that between the bumper repair, respray, alternator, potential timing belt pending and all the rest, in his opinion - he didn't think it was worth it.

    a bumper could be gotten from scrap yard so that wouldn't cost a huge amount.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,506 ✭✭✭Interslice


    Thanks for all the feedback folks, much appreciated.

    Duracell Bunny - I didn't pay him for either - the insurance company rang him to take the tow. He said he hadn't done a lot on it, but that the alternator was shot and that between the bumper repair, respray, alternator, potential timing belt pending and all the rest, in his opinion - he didn't think it was worth it.

    If your alenator was shot you'd have brokenn down with a flat battery not a broken belt. sorry,read that again, thought the belt had snapped.

    Your not the first case I've heard of where someone has had there car towed and been offered 100 quid or so for it, if you see what I'm getting at.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,264 ✭✭✭✭Nekarsulm


    If the car is to be legally scrapped, then the scrapyard needs the Registration Document. Then, in a few weeks, a certificate of destruction will issue to you from Shannon.
    The Insurance issue, are you going to continue driving a car? If so, why not renew the insurance, ask the mechanic to get a second hand alternator from his scrappy friend and fit it (€50, all in ?) and go pick up your car. Give him whatever for towing you and storing the car, then sell if you want to. Just transfer the insurance to your new car at that stage.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 24,644 ✭✭✭✭punisher5112


    Interslice wrote: »
    If your alenator was shot you'd have brokenn down with a flat battery not a broken belt.

    Your not the first case I've heard of where someone has had there car towed and been offered 100 quid or so for it, if you see what I'm getting at.



    Maybe he is friends with those such friendly lads that put those stickers and signs up saying we pay cash for cars


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 26 Physics Girl


    Nekarsulm wrote: »
    If the car is to be legally scrapped, then the scrapyard needs the Registration Document. Then, in a few weeks, a certificate of destruction will issue to you from Shannon.
    The Insurance issue, are you going to continue driving a car? If so, why not renew the insurance, ask the mechanic to get a second hand alternator from his scrappy friend and fit it (€50, all in ?) and go pick up your car. Give him whatever for towing you and storing the car, then sell if you want to. Just transfer the insurance to your new car at that stage.

    Thanks Nekarsulm, that raises a good point. The only time I use the car since I moved to the city is on the weekend road trips and big shop treks. If I do let the Focus go to the scrappie - I won't be looking to buy/insure another until my situation changes.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,264 ✭✭✭✭Nekarsulm


    Any Tax on it? If you scrap a car, I think you can reclaim the unused portion of the tax, or at least a certain amount of it. Well worth a scrappie's time to send in the disk and get a few hundred euro back. If you are not paying parking charges, I would keep it on, especially for the summer. Busses are a pain in the whole!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 783 ✭✭✭Saucy McKetchup


    Apologies. "He" is the guy that towed the car, and seemed like a decent enough man - he runs the garage the car is located in.

    So no to repairs, and no to sending reg book ... has anyone any advice on what to do next please?

    Get the alternator repaired or get a new one and the car will be running again, you're being taken advantage of, tell yer man where to go


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,014 ✭✭✭Maphisto


    Get the alternator repaired or get a new one and the car will be running again, you're being taken advantage of, tell yer man where to go

    After he's got the car going ;)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 26 Physics Girl


    Hi Folks

    Just a short note to say thanks a million to all of you for the advice. The car was 15 years old, out of insurance, tax, NCT and needed its worth in repairs ... so it came down to:

    i) Putting its worth back into repairs, hopefully passing NCT and hopefully selling it on

    ii) Putting a few hundred into it just to get it going, and hope someone would buy it for scrap

    iii) Scrap it take the 100 and cutting my losses

    I chose iii) posted out the reg and received a certificate of destruction, and 100 euro posted out to me by a pretty decent mechanic. I think I would have broke even whichever one I chose in fairness.

    It was fantastic to get all your views and make an informed decsion though. Thanks All :)

    Also, I can now officially recommend an honest mechanic out South County Dublin a-ways :D


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,006 ✭✭✭✭The Muppet


    Thanks for all the feedback folks, much appreciated.

    Duracell Bunny - I didn't pay him for either - the insurance company rang him to take the tow. He said he hadn't done a lot on it, but that the alternator was shot and that between the bumper repair, respray, alternator, potential timing belt pending and all the rest, in his opinion - he didn't think it was worth it.

    Personally I'd repair the car , It should be good for a good few years if the repairs are carried out, tbelt being the most important if it has not all ready been changed at 100k.

    I would definitely not give it away for €100. someone will give you more cash than that for it and fix it up themselves if you dont want to keep it.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 783 ✭✭✭Saucy McKetchup


    Hi Folks

    Just a short note to say thanks a million to all of you for the advice. The car was 15 years old, out of insurance, tax, NCT and needed its worth in repairs ... so it came down to:

    i) Putting its worth back into repairs, hopefully passing NCT and hopefully selling it on

    ii) Putting a few hundred into it just to get it going, and hope someone would buy it for scrap

    iii) Scrap it take the 100 and cutting my losses

    I chose iii) posted out the reg and received a certificate of destruction, and 100 euro posted out to me by a pretty decent mechanic. I think I would have broke even whichever one I chose in fairness.

    It was fantastic to get all your views and make an informed decsion though. Thanks All :)

    Also, I can now officially recommend an honest mechanic out South County Dublin a-ways :D


    Any chance you could pm me the name of that mechanic*














    *To make sure I never go to him


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