Bit Early For Me Yet.

[SparklyKid]

Had to be at the garage for 8 am. Minus 3 outside and had to walk a mile back.

Bracing myself for a £500 bill. Front wipers not working, something about a module. When did such simple things get so complicated.

[MartinMillar]

If it’s just the module shouldn’t be more than £150

[SparklyKid]

Hi MM, hope so, thanks.

[MartinMillar]

Fingers crossed January is the worst time to get a big bill

[douglas9401]

Tell that to a pelican. :-P

[teacake44]

When did such things get complicated? Manufactures have been working hard for some years now to try and make it impossible for you to repair it yourself. They are succeeding.

[bhg481]

They've also managed to increase the service-interval for cars from every 3000 miles to every 20,000 miles.

[aelmpvw]

apparently it was progress to make car windows electric instead of winding them up and down manually (how hard was that?) now when they go wrong it costs a fortune to put it right :-(

[teacake44]

^^ Especially this time of year when you forget that they may be frozen, and bag go's the motor.

[teacake44]

11.39 I can live, and have lived with changing the oil, oil filter,/ air filter, so no big advantage there.

[vulcan42]

teacake44 is correct, manufacturers are trying to ensure you have to return to their agents for any repairs as computers and special tools are needed. BMW, for example, no longer have sump plugs fitted to drain the engine oil, it has to be sucked out by a special machine and of course recovering the cost of all these extra pieces of special machinery is passed on to the customer.

[paddywak]

I noticed the other week that the Haynes Manuals were being finished,another blow for the DIY mechanic.

[alavahalf]

Vulcan .. paying BMW to change your oil is not necessary .. not if you can flick a switch.

https://youtu.be/SgvtLsE6LSk

[teacake44]

It appears that manufactures now dictate to us by pretty lights on the dash,( that are totally unreliable ) when we should do this and that to our car, and if we don't conform to the pretty lights our cars will not be awarded an M.O.T

[SparklyKid]

Module knackered. Going for cheap option. Toggle switch on dashboard to operate wipers. Lever still works for screenwash.
I can live without variable speed intermittent wipes, fast speed.
One wipe only, or six with window wash.

Only drawback is judging when to switch off as no auto park,lol.

[bhg481]

No scrapyards near you, sparkly? You get very used to conveniences like self-parking.

[SparklyKid]

My scrambling through scrapyards are over ,lol.

It will be fun judging when to switch off to park blades.

[bhg481]

It's a long time since I went to a scrapyard but last time I went you didn't grovel about yourself, you asked at the office and they produced the bit you wanted. It costs a bit more but still cheaper than new.

[Hopkirk]

Elf and safety stopped you doing it yourself at scrappies.