Old cars & old mechanics

[kiloran]

My local garage is family-owned and run by a mechanic who's probably in his 60s. Whilst my 940 is on the whole reliable and inexpensive to fix he's an absolute godsend (along with the forum he makes it so easy to own an old car).

Latest issue - exhaust blowing, lambda sensor light on. £20 to patch it - "it'll probably do for a couple of years".

Now it's back to its burbling best and thanks to this forum I found out I could reset the lambda sensor from the driver's seat:

1. Ignition to the position where the dash warning lights are lit but engine isn't started
2. Pull fuse 1 (top tip: firm grip give it a wiggle, small hands help, as would being a lefty I'd imagine)
3. Switch ignition off
4. Replace fuse
5. Start engine, light is now off.

Extra points for the fact he was absolutely rammed busy after the BH and with everyone bringing cars out of lockdown and yet he was still happy to fit the job in. I'm pretty sure he secretly covets the car and who can blame him, it must be a joy to work on compared to modern stuff.

Anyone else with a similarly awesome mechanic?

[Laird Scooby]

Originally Posted by kiloran

My local garage is family-owned and run by a mechanic who's probably in his 60s. Whilst my 940 is on the whole reliable and inexpensive to fix he's an absolute godsend (along with the forum he makes it so easy to own an old car).

Latest issue - exhaust blowing, lambda sensor light on. £20 to patch it - "it'll probably do for a couple of years".

Now it's back to its burbling best and thanks to this forum I found out I could reset the lambda sensor from the driver's seat:

1. Ignition OFF!
2. Pull fuse 1 (top tip: Find the fuse removal tool in the fuse box, clip it onto the fuse and pull)
3. Wait 30+seconds
4. Replace fuse
5. Start engine, light is now off.

Extra points for the fact he was absolutely rammed busy after the BH and with everyone bringing cars out of lockdown and yet he was still happy to fit the job in. I'm pretty sure he secretly covets the car and who can blame him, it must be a joy to work on compared to modern stuff.

Anyone else with a similarly awesome mechanic?

Fixed that for you! ^^^^^

Invest in a few 2"+ Jubilee clips and a pair of tin-snips, save dog food tins or similar, use the tin-snips to cut out bandages to fit round the pipe and secure with the Jubilee clips. Job done and Mr MoT-man will pass it happily.

Cost? A few Jubilee clips and a pair of tin-snips.

[kiloran]

Thanks for the correction.

Ordinarily I would have bandaged it myself but I've not got anywhere flat enough to make me feel like it's safe to go under the car.

[Ian21401]

Originally Posted by Laird Scooby

Fixed that for you! ^^^^^

Invest in a few 2"+ Jubilee clips and a pair of tin-snips, save dog food tins or similar, use the tin-snips to cut out bandages to fit round the pipe and secure with the Jubilee clips. Job done and Mr MoT-man will pass it happily.

Cost? A few Jubilee clips and a pair of tin-snips.

Been there and done that once or twice Dave.
Sadly, do not now have access to an old school car mechanic.

[bob12]

Originally Posted by Ian21401

..........
Sadly, do not now have access to an old school car mechanic.

There's still a few on 'ear and the younger ones are learning!!

Bob

[martin calva]

Originally Posted by kiloran

(...)

Anyone else with a similarly awesome mechanic?

Yes, the owner of the general gagage in a nearby French village is a former Volvo area maintenance manager (or something like that). He knows Volvos inside out.

He is very helpful and says (for example) "You'd be better off buying a replacement steering rack on the internet than getting me to supply one". He's happy to fit parts I supply myself.

Once the alternator on my 940 packed up (brushes kaput). He did not have a new voltage regulator in stock, so he went round the back, pulled one from his Volvo graveyard and gave it to me for free.

I think he much prefers working on older cars than modern stuff where you have to dismantly half the engine jsut to change the plugs. I got him to grease my Sunbeam Talbot 90 convertible. He likes the car so much he took his wife to lunch in it. He told me that the lube job was for free.

I got the impression that changing the clutch on my Ford Zephyr was a treat for him.

[Challo]

Originally Posted by kiloran

My local garage is family-owned and run by a mechanic who's probably in his 60s. Whilst my 940 is on the whole reliable and inexpensive to fix he's an absolute godsend (along with the forum he makes it so easy to own an old car).

Latest issue - exhaust blowing, lambda sensor light on. £20 to patch it - "it'll probably do for a couple of years".

Now it's back to its burbling best and thanks to this forum I found out I could reset the lambda sensor from the driver's seat:

1. Ignition to the position where the dash warning lights are lit but engine isn't started
2. Pull fuse 1 (top tip: firm grip give it a wiggle, small hands help, as would being a lefty I'd imagine)
3. Switch ignition off
4. Replace fuse
5. Start engine, light is now off.

Extra points for the fact he was absolutely rammed busy after the BH and with everyone bringing cars out of lockdown and yet he was still happy to fit the job in. I'm pretty sure he secretly covets the car and who can blame him, it must be a joy to work on compared to modern stuff.

Anyone else with a similarly awesome mechanic?

My local mechanic is only young (mid-20's) but very good and happy to work on any car and any issue. He is also happy for me to provide my own parts, and just do the labour piece.

He is into his banger racing, so I get the feeling he quite likes mechanical cars rather than the new stuff where everything needs a computer.

From the last two project cars I have sent his way, the only thing that annoys him is on the older stuff alot of bolts tend to be crusty and rusted on which takes the majority of his time.

He also is happy to provide advice and guidance on things to keep an eye on, or how to fix something if I want to give it a go myself.

[lynns hubby]

Originally Posted by Laird Scooby

Fixed that for you! ^^^^^

Invest in a few 2"+ Jubilee clips and a pair of tin-snips, save dog food tins or similar, use the tin-snips to cut out bandages to fit round the pipe and secure with the Jubilee clips. Job done and Mr MoT-man will pass it happily.

Cost? A few Jubilee clips and a pair of tin-snips.

All the years we owned our 940s, I was never lucky enough to have the exhaust break anywhere other than a weld in a box.

[Ian21401]

Originally Posted by lynns hubby

All the years we owned our 940s, I was never lucky enough to have the exhaust break anywhere other than a weld in a box.

I know that feeling. My exhaust tailpipe dropped off a couple of weeks ago because the stub on the back end of the rear exhaust box had broken away from the box, together with a short section of the inner perforated pipe. The back end of that box is still rock solid with a neat hole where the stub should be. No corrosion apparent. Appears that the weld had given way. Exhaust is now a little “sporty” . Once weather improves I’ll check the rest of the exhaust to investigate whether it should be re-welded, the box renewed, or the exhaust replaced from the cat back. Exhaust has been on 5 years (26,000 miles)