Well folks after 4yrs my 1992 Townie has finally passed away. With a lot of help from the garages that were supposed to repair it.
After waiting 8weeks for them to finish putting a new head on it and after spending £1,200 for them to totally roger it I finally got my Townie back, only to find there was a water, oil and diesel leak, back it went 3 days and a number of threats later it returned apparently fixed.
Two weeks later my wife and children were only just on the M27 at J1 and a stream of white smoke was coming out of the back moments later great plumes of smoke were gushing from the back and sides and pouring into the cabin from around the seats, they pulled off the motorway and as they did all the warning lights and buzzers went off and the engine died, they thankfully all baled out and after deft use of the fire extinguisher things settled down.
I know its hard to believe but 4/5 police patrol cars passed my wife without stopping to ensure all was ok (admittadly she wasn't speeding so thats probably why they didn't stop!), anyway we are now waiting for the insurance to write my Townie off ( thank god it wasn't my family written off)and this is all due to c**p workmanship by c**p garages. No I cannot sue them as none of them have any money and are all blaming each other,(my solicitor agrees).
The moral of this story is only use recommended and reliable garages and carry an extinguisher.
It is a great shame to lose my Townie she was a great family car and fun to drive, but never fear I have a 1989 4wd drive which is being done up by me and should be on the road soon. If you live in the Southampton area Email me and I can tell you which garages to avoid and which to use.
Marc
- (#11339) Marc Hamilton, 28 Oct 03 16:16
Forgot to mention in trying to find the oil leak some bight spark dropped the gearbox, and instead of clipping the wiring back up left it on the exhaust!!! hence the fire ( the oil leak was caused by the rubber slipping from under the rocker cover) the annoyng thing is that the interior whilst smelling of burning is otherwise perfect. As the engine dumped all the water, it has been suggested that the block, and head has gone for a burton along with the loom and as such is beyond economical repair.
- (#11340) Marc Hamilton, 28 Oct 03 16:26
Glad the family are all ok, no one hurt just a little scared? May you soon get the other one on the road. If you and your family could make it to the Day Jam on the 1st, to share your story, I'm sure you would have an attentive audience.
- (#11341) cLIVE, 29 Oct 03 1:34
Sorry to hear about your Townie,glad no one was hurt.Hope you get your other sorted out soon , It might pay to see if you can buy back the other one from the insurance company for spares .
all the best caroline
- (#11477) Caroline Goldup, 1 Nov 03 6:04
i have an e reg 2.0 petrol townace just got it and it now just over heats after about 10 mins goes of the gage all the people who think they know say every thing from gasget radiator water pump to thermastat now i have cheacked the rad and flushed it through and seams ok opened the thermastat area up and that has been removed so i think this prob was happening for last owner and i carnt find water pump where it is i dont know and as for gasget im told the signs are white smoke well i dont have this apart from 1st thing on mornings after that its all clear other simtoms are my oil will go creamy or thick cause or contamination with the water and this is not so. i want this running its a very cleam mpv for its year and will put cash in to it but would like to think its some thing easy like water pump oh yeh loads of steam build up in discharg tank as well hope some 1 can helpppp me
- (#11701) terry bigsby, 13 Nov 03 11:12
Terry
If you start a new thread you will get better exposure to your problem.
The classic test for blown head gasket should be your first port of call. All is eloquently revealed in the Ace Answers on-line handbook. Lots of background reading which should help you through diagnosing the problem.
- (#11702) Ian Dunse, 14 Nov 03 2:40