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Fix a car before it breaks, or wait for it to break then fix?


LiamGTR

What's your stance?  

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I know there are thing wrong with my car, but with this new job i'm going to be using the car for a 20 mile round trip, everyday, so would like to be able to rely on it...

 

So I have arranged with Carl (Carl160180) to have a look at my car and see whats what and ill get it all fixed on pay day and probably get an overdue service.

(another question, how often should I service a regular 1.4 '97 Mk6 Escort?)

 

Anyway, when I told Aaron, he freaked out and said I should just wait for it to break... i'm wasting money etc, etc.

 

What do you do?

 

This isn't a poll about what I should do, i'm getting the car fixed regardless, just intersted in the poll results :thumb:

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fix before break - my vote

 

If a wheel bearings starting to whine you dont wait for your wheel to sheer off the hub and smash your car into the ground now do ya!

 

i've had that experience before! never again i'd say and i keep double checking how tight my wheel nuts are!

 

i would fix before it breaks, when i done my 300mm brake conversion, i had bought spare hubs to do the conversion and change the wheel bearings at the same time on them hubs, including powdercoating. so i thought why not change the lot, so i replaced the anti roll bar links, track rod ends and wishbones, added all brand new bolts and nuts from ford. and thats how its been for the last few years, and nothing has gone wrong!

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I always wait for mine cambelt to snap and then rebuild the head. It's easier that way.

 

Also instead of topping up and changing the oil I just buy new shells, bearings and a crank. Simples.

 

 

BTW Can't wait for my shocks to leak out all the fluid, then I'll have a '74 Cadillac on a budget !

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I always wait for mine cambelt to snap and then rebuild the head. It's easier that way.

 

Yeah im the same. :D

 

Although granted there are some things that you can wait until broken such as fuses, light bulbs, windscreen wipers, tyres (use most of the tread then change) The stuff that aren't going to cost more or cause more damage once broken. Good value servicing IMO is changing what needs changed at the specified time i.e brake fluid changed every 4 years not annually or every two years. You would be wasting money then, although you may personnaly want to change the brake fluid every two years just for peice of mind.

 

End of the day, if you can afford to service it correctly now do it as it will save you money in the future wether it be on fuel or repair costs.

Edited by mclovin9091
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depends on the fault. if its major fix it, if its something stupid like a bit of rust orone lock not working then id no doubt do it when i can be arsed. 20mile trip is tiny, i used to do a 70mile round trip 5days a week never had anyprobs other than the clutch going but it was one of those things i knew was going and allowed to get worse when i shouldnt have.
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more about actually having a car I can rely on.

 

Regular servicing and rust repair then is the only way forward. I left my last escort in a garage for 98% of the last 4 years, only coming out twice a year for two weeks. Kept on top of the servicing and each and everytime i came back i reconnected the battery and she started 1st time everytime no dramas. Got me from Dartford to Glasgow twice a year doing approx 1500 miles in those two weeks everytime, no dramas witht the engine or clutch or gearbox, etc.

 

The thing that killed it? Rust, i knew i should have fixed it early on but i couldn't justify spending a couple of days in those two weeks each time i was back to repair the simple problem as i was visiting family at both ends of the country.

 

Morale and lesson learned: Don't get married to someone who lives 500 miles away from you! Na seriously don't wait for the problem to get worse!

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Right so ur willing to drive a car with a steering/suspension fault knowing full well what the out come would be!!! Get it fixed if either of them components fail and you kill someone how would you feel knowing a couple hundred quid if that would fix the problem and you would have a safe car again, Remember the car is like a loaded weapon.

 

I would never dream of driving a car with a suspension/steering fault, its to dangerous and in the long run wit would be cheaper to repair now then it would if everything else fails

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If your steering is off then get all your suspension checked, and then have the tracking adjusted properly, where someone actually holds your steering wheel centred....

Carl says he'll check the whole car, he's done plenty on my car so trust him to do it unlike KwikFit the mongs, everytime they tracked it the sterring literally fell to the left after driving away, after the 3rd attempt they finally told me to "get it fixed elsewhere as we don't have the parts - And come back when it's done and we'll track it for free if you bring your reciept"

 

:vangry: :nutter:

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