Recommendations for mechanic in or near London

New to SCUK.co.uk? say hello, give us an idea of who you are, and show us a pic of your pride and joy. were friendly and wont bite!
Poundboy
Got muddy boots
Got muddy boots
Posts: 18
Joined: Thu Jul 11, 2013 9:27 pm

Recommendations for mechanic in or near London

Post by Poundboy » Wed Jul 30, 2014 7:49 pm

Hi there, I bought this fantastic 410 and sadly it ended up sat in the street for the best part of a year not moving. I pushed it around to a local mechanic who fixed the fuel lines, fitted a new radiator cap and thermostat but it's sill overheating. Would love to have a go myself but I wouldn't know where to start and really just want to get her moving asap. The bloke I took it to said he didn't usually touch things more than 10 years old and couldn't do any more with it. Can anyone recommend someone good with fair pricing in my neck of the woods or even better, someone I could pay to teach me how to do it. I'm keen to have a go but don't wanna mess it up any further.

Cheers
Attachments
image.jpg
image.jpg (1.43 MiB) Viewed 7883 times
Last edited by Poundboy on Wed Jul 30, 2014 10:20 pm, edited 1 time in total.

User avatar
donkeychomp
I spend far too much time on here
I spend far too much time on here
Posts: 3583
Joined: Thu Aug 18, 2011 3:49 pm
Location: Shepperton, Middx

Re: Recommendations for mechanic in or near London

Post by donkeychomp » Wed Jul 30, 2014 10:19 pm

Yes, but whereabouts are you? London's pretty big...
If it ticks over...leave it

User avatar
Edweird
Suzuki, will you marry me?
Suzuki, will you marry me?
Posts: 2531
Joined: Sat Jan 23, 2010 11:04 pm
Location: Brigg, North Lincolnshire

Re: Recommendations for mechanic in or near London

Post by Edweird » Wed Jul 30, 2014 11:01 pm

Poundboy wrote:The bloke I took it to said he didn't usually touch things more than 10 years old and couldn't do any more with it.
That's because he can't just plug in a diagnostic machine and have the car tell him what's wrong; he has to use his brain to figure out the problem.

Could possibly try a rad/coolant flush. What's the rad like?
There's three ways of doing things:

The right way,
The wrong way
And my way, which is like the wrong way but faster.

Poundboy
Got muddy boots
Got muddy boots
Posts: 18
Joined: Thu Jul 11, 2013 9:27 pm

Re: Recommendations for mechanic in or near London

Post by Poundboy » Thu Jul 31, 2014 7:31 pm

Hey Donkeychomp

Good point, it's huge and with the temperature rising so quick I haven't driven it for more than 20mins at a time just in case it blows. I'm over in East London, Hackney so anyone on this side would be great but I can slowly move it across town if required!

Cheers

User avatar
AntD
Got muddy boots
Got muddy boots
Posts: 86
Joined: Tue Feb 04, 2014 3:12 pm

Re: Recommendations for mechanic in or near London

Post by AntD » Thu Jul 31, 2014 8:09 pm

That's depressingly tidy!

Poundboy
Got muddy boots
Got muddy boots
Posts: 18
Joined: Thu Jul 11, 2013 9:27 pm

Re: Recommendations for mechanic in or near London

Post by Poundboy » Thu Jul 31, 2014 8:57 pm

Hey Edweird

Ridiculous right, he also said that cars like mine from the 70's were always a problem! He was a really nice guy but come on... Couldn't look more 80's!

I haven't checked the rad or flushed anything, will look into that!

Cheers

User avatar
donkeychomp
I spend far too much time on here
I spend far too much time on here
Posts: 3583
Joined: Thu Aug 18, 2011 3:49 pm
Location: Shepperton, Middx

Re: Recommendations for mechanic in or near London

Post by donkeychomp » Thu Jul 31, 2014 10:14 pm

According to google maps you are 30 miles from my mechanic, using the M25 and M4. Will it make it that far?
If it ticks over...leave it

User avatar
Edweird
Suzuki, will you marry me?
Suzuki, will you marry me?
Posts: 2531
Joined: Sat Jan 23, 2010 11:04 pm
Location: Brigg, North Lincolnshire

Re: Recommendations for mechanic in or near London

Post by Edweird » Fri Aug 01, 2014 12:25 am

donkeychomp wrote:According to google maps you are 30 miles from my mechanic, using the M25 and M4. Will it make it that far?
Could probably just about manage that with NO coolant whatsoever.

Are you sure it's not just the temperature gauge that's not right or does it get seriously hot? My temperature gauge always reads a bit low. If mine gets up past half then I start to worry.
There's three ways of doing things:

The right way,
The wrong way
And my way, which is like the wrong way but faster.

User avatar
maxsixpence
Got muddy boots
Got muddy boots
Posts: 30
Joined: Mon Jun 23, 2014 1:01 pm
Location: Harlow,Essex

Re: Recommendations for mechanic in or near London

Post by maxsixpence » Fri Aug 01, 2014 2:39 pm

Head gasket gone? JAT there`s a garage in Harlow called Ricky`s who`s a bloody good mechanic.Sorted out my exhaust probs a treat.I`ll get his number if you want it.
Still looking for Buckeye road.

User avatar
twiss
SCUK Computer Wizard
SCUK Computer Wizard
Posts: 6110
Joined: Mon Nov 08, 2010 2:28 pm
Location: Birkirkara, Malta
Contact:

Re: Recommendations for mechanic in or near London

Post by twiss » Fri Aug 01, 2014 2:47 pm

Check for bubbles in your radiator... thats a head gasket probably...
Otherwise you might have an air lock in the system, could have been a result of being refilled while the heater was set to "cold"
If you rev the engine with the radiator cap removed can you see water flowing left to right?
(standing at the front looking towards the windscreen)
Twiss

'93 Suzuki Samurai Sport 1.6 16v SU. Virtual lift, spring under, 31s
'93 Maruti Gypsy MG410

"If brute force doesn't fix your problem, you aren't using enough of it."

Post Reply