All over for G164 CKV... didn't make the moon after all.

[Draven]

Yay.. hope thats the end of it all.

[Super_red]

I get emotional about cars and I've not owned one anything like that length of time. Infact I cant think of one thing I have that I had 13 years ago, not even my hair.

I mostly get emotional when a simple job turns into weeks and months of work, when the car is in bits and needs money spending on it which I dont have. When it looks like months of work to get it going again. Currently I have had my car in tha garage since January for work for the MoT and now the welding is done I have found most of the suspension is going to need to be replaced (£££) and I'm gutted, proper low.

Sometimes quiting when you get the oppertunity is better than risking it all over again.

[tonigmr2]

Until people are several years into a project they care about they can't really appreciate the investment of time and energy. Sorry to hear this Rob.

[monkeyra]

Until people are several years into a project they care about they can't really appreciate the investment of time and energy. Sorry to hear this Rob.

+1

Quite often it's not about the money (our cars are pretty worthless in the grand scheme of things) but it's the sheer hours we've spent driving, fixing, modifying etc etc.

[ashley]

I'm sad this has ended like this, but in the bigger scheme of things it seems it's probably for the best...move forwards to the next one- I hope it's a good un...good luck mate

[Lewis Jay]

You breaking your car??

How much for the engine..........................

[Peter Gidden]

You breaking your car??

How much for the engine..........................

Not funny...

[Lewis Jay]

I`m serious, I`ve never seen a bore washed, siezed engine.

I would pay good money to have a nosey..........

[PW@Woodsport]

I'd like to buy the whole car, all it needs is an engine, i can't understand why Rob wouldn't just take up our offer and have one fitted, after all what is there to lose?

In the process we'd get to find out how and why it failed, a win win situtation. Breaking the car under these circumstances makes absolutely no sense to me at all, unless of course Rob has simply no interest in it anymore.

We can't help someone who doesn't want to be helped.

Rob if you're interested i'll buy it complete from you, let me know.

[Quigonjay]

sorry to hear this has come to an end but i can understand your decision

[Charged]

OK. This has gone on long enough and is now just a shouting match and I've had enough. Of all of it. The car will be broken and I hope to give the engine to the engineering department at my old university for a completely unbiased and (most importantly at the moment) free assessment if they're interested.

This thread was not started as nor has ever been intended as some sort of Trader Feedback post. It began because I was frustrated with the complete lack of any explanation I was getting and I wanted some other input on the totally unexpected mechanical failure my car has apparently suffered whilst stationary overnight and without any prior mechanical warnings or symptoms. The following is a list of the known facts in chronological order that led to these frustrations...

I got the telltale indicators of a failing alternator on my dash (battery, brakes, handbrake). On Luke's diagnosis of a failed alternator I bought a recon one from TCB. It was fitted by Luke. The next morning, following a run to charge it after picking it up the previous afternoon, the battery was flat again but no more warning lights had shown on the dash during the run.

Luke said it would be a 'dead' battery due to the alternator problem and to buy another. I did. The garage I bought it from said they felt this made no sense... a failed alternator may drain a battery but in their opinion had no reason to kill it completely, particularly as it wasn't that old. Concerned I told Luke who repeated his view and suggested no other. The garage then called to say the previous battery was fine and charged with no issue (they were checking since I'd asked for it to be replaced under guarantee). I told Luke who didn't pass comment other than to confirm that in his view it was the battery which had been the problem. I am at this point with the alternator, fitting and new battery out about £250.

When the brand new battery was slow to start the car on the morning of it's second day (the first included a run of over 100 miles) I was more concerned and becoming rather frustrated and when it wouldn't start the car at all on the morning of it's third day (when the previous day had included the return run) I was beginning to get angry. Not too angry though, all it was as far as I was aware was an electrical problem. However since I've spent £250 so far on Lukes say so I do feel I am entitled to some sort of explanation from him and for this issue to be investigated... and I might add resolved.

At this point of course I had to try to start it to return it to Luke so used his jump pack. It didn't start it though and it was at this point I got the smoke from the engine bay and what I took to be a solenoid clicking on even after the key was removed.

Since it wouldn't start I had to then call the AA who had one try at starting (with no result at all) and who then traillered it to Luke. I tried to speak with Luke to ask about this recurrent electrical problem but got no response... several times. I then went away 2 days later for a weeks hols (even calling from the airport before the flight but again getting no response). I both called and texted from the holiday with no response.

I return late on a Thurs eve and on the Sat got a call from Luke to say the engine had suffered a terminal mechanical failure. No mention of the electrical problem and to this date still no explanation for it.

If people cannot see and understand my frustrations at this point I have to conclude they are wearing blinkers.

With you up to there, yes, frustrating indeed. Nobody has disagreed with this part of it though so I'm not sure why the chapter and verse description although it would be hard to diagnose an electrical problem with a seized engine.

The point at which I have frankly lost my temper and mentioned my suspicions on this forum (that a short possibly caused an ignition problem that caused the borewash and failure) came about due to Lukes response of banging his head against a wall and saying I had asked not to diagnose the problem. To be clear I certainly did want it diagnosed but having spent £250 already on his say so was waiting for him to diagnose the electrical issue (as I had been for some while by then) for free. Since the possibility is low but still apparently there of the possible link with the mechanical failure to be honest I rather thought he owed me an explanation and would be keen to show that indeed they weren't linked. It may indeed be as many of you are saying that there is no causal link but it seems the possibility exists however remote, no other explanations have as yet been put forward for either of the electrical or mechanical faults and the two issues have occured, one seemingly following on from the other.

The routine fitting an alternator doesn't lead to an engine seizure. The diagnosis of what has actually happened is a fair few hours work of strip down. Most would understand the reluctance here, I certainly do, but I'm bias.

Ollie you are right in one regard. In my Traders Feedback post I did state categorically right at the start that Luke had killed my car. I have now changed this to reflect the fact that it is of course just a suspicion still and indeed have offered to have the post removed completely should Luke want it. My only excuse is that I was very very angry. With regards to my post that you have quoted from.. of having my anger and suspicions reduced. Initially I was less angry and I believe I made it clear that I thought it a difficult thing for Luke to do at that point. However a little reflection shows it as much too little too late and several things stated by Luke in the conversation (once mulled over) have actually muddied the waters for me even more with regards to what he has done and when.

Well, this is great, you mean I'm right about the main point I have been going on about? So I'm right to defend my friend who you've done your very best to drag through the mud for the last week?

I must say at this point, Luke has done extremely well not to respond to any of this nonsense, despite some immature provocation:

Still, you haven't answered my questions yet have you?
Joined a monastery? Taken a vow of silence?
Come on, we're all waiting.

He was right to leave this thread and not respond to your pathetic 'you killed my car' trader feedback thread. He's probably leant from other IMOC traders who fight tooth and nail on forums but usually end up losing and having their reputation damaged further. It really was an impossible battle.

As I stated just a while ago I have to consider not only the car and all the things I've loved about it but this disagreements effect on my relationship with my more than patient partner. I also now have to consider how I feel about the whole thing... car, problems, girlfriend, this post and ultimately the conclusion I have reached is that it is time to say goodbye.

Parts will be advertised as soon as I've done the breaking but if anyone wants to have a look in my garage all the bits are listed there and I can still be contacted by PM.

Once again, thanks to those who've helped or offered help, thanks to those who've empathised, thanks to those who've been friendly over all the years and lastly thanks once more to Toyota for the 1936th mk2 MR2 off the production line, my faithful steed for the last 13yrs.

R.

Honestly Rob, I'm sorry to lose you as a friend, which unfortunately appears to be the case but I do not take back anything I have written in this thread, and for what it is worth, it's nothing I wouldn't have said to you verbally. This is a very sad situation indeed, even more so as it sounds like a perfectly good car is going to be broken when it just wants for a -£500 engine.
Passing up Paul's offer to buy complete would really be looking a gift horse in the mouth.

[Charged]

Sorry, one last thing (unless you prompt another response from me), you owe Luke an apology, go on.

[ahmr2]

I'd like to buy the whole car, all it needs is an engine, i can't understand why Rob wouldn't just take up our offer and have one fitted, after all what is there to lose?

In the process we'd get to find out how and why it failed, a win win situtation. Breaking the car under these circumstances makes absolutely no sense to me at all, unless of course Rob has simply no interest in it anymore.

Or has something to hide!

[madbasshunter]

From what was said I think it was a QX components alternator, I used to sell these and we had a few faulty on fit, plus when I fitted one it was only putting out 13.6v (I was getting starting problems big stereo and poor charging) and when I phoned QX they said that is adequate so I removed it and got one from Toyota which put out 14.5.

[3sgte]

I'd like to buy the whole car, all it needs is an engine, i can't understand why Rob wouldn't just take up our offer and have one fitted, after all what is there to lose?

In the process we'd get to find out how and why it failed, a win win situtation. Breaking the car under these circumstances makes absolutely no sense to me at all, unless of course Rob has simply no interest in it anymore.

Or has something to hide!

Yep thats the impression i get
In swapping out the engine the true fault and cause will probably come to light and when its not lukes fault, there will be too much humble pie for rob to eat.[/u]

[Bry]

Just a quick guess on my part with regards to the alternator fault. You mentioned it was a 2nd hand alternator from TCB, could it be that there was a fault with it (unlikely I know but worth checking to see if it's still working)
On another note, seeing how one Trader has had his name dragged through the mud without any shread of evidence that he has done anything wrong, all other traders should IMHO be very wary about offering their services to this guy as they may find themselves to blame should anything go wrong with the car after the work is completed.
There's a lot of talk about camaradary in this thread, well how about other traders show some Camaradary towards their fellow trader Luke and not be so quick to offer their services (and get their reputations enhanced via this thread, sadly at Lukes expense) to the OP until some sort of Genuine apology has been issued

[HighwayStar]

Spoke with the local garage who have the car today to organise the breaking. They tell me that this morning they spent just under one hour on the car and report that it is now running fine and ready for collection by me on monday. Not had the chance to go up and see it yet, this is just from the phone call but I don't think I'll be doing any apologising just yet. Nor will I be following Lukes original suggestion at the start of this thread to drop another engine in.
Draw your own conclusions.

[vtecpower]

Spoke with the local garage who have the car today to organise the breaking. They tell me that this morning they spent just under one hour on the car and report that it is now running fine and ready for collection by me on monday. Not had the chance to go up and see it yet, this is just from the phone call but I don't think I'll be doing any apologising just yet. Nor will I be following Lukes original suggestion at the start of this thread to drop another engine in.
Specialist my ar$e.

no freaking way

[rev3turbo]

seriously WTF

so what was/nt seized?

[ashley]

Spoke with the local garage who have the car today to organise the breaking. They tell me that this morning they spent just under one hour on the car and report that it is now running fine and ready for collection by me on monday. Not had the chance to go up and see it yet, this is just from the phone call but I don't think I'll be doing any apologising just yet. Nor will I be following Lukes original suggestion at the start of this thread to drop another engine in.
Draw your own conclusions.

WTF