Author: Jon & Claire

We just wanted to give an update as to what we are doing in the current situation. We feel we made the right decision in postponing all our mobile work, and we’re very very appreciative of everyone’s support and understanding.

We just can’t take the risk of having so many contacts to and from a job. It would be unbearable to think we could be the cause of a tragedy. Despite our loss of income this is the right thing to do.

We can, however, continue with our projects at our garage and have only had the very odd day there over the last couple of weeks.

We have a booking tomorrow, but the chap will bring walking boots and a flask and leave us for the hours needed to carry out the work. The car and keys will be disinfected afterwards and payment made by bank transfer. Where we are is extremely remote with no public access.

We look forward to getting everyone booked in again and appreciate all the subsequent enquiries we have had and are thankful for your patience. We take comfort in the fact we’re all in this together and really look forward to seeing you all on the other side.

Stay Safe. 🤗😷

🦠 CORONA VIRUS UPDATE

We have been very conscious of the situation we are all in and observing social distancing and reacting to the advice given by the government. So on that note, having just listened to the Prime Minsters statement we have made the decision to rearrange all bookings we have over the next couple of weeks, we feel it is irresponsible of us to travel around the country and we have to do our part in helping people to stay safe.

We will however continue on the projects at the garage as we have no contact with the public there at all. It’s just us two!

I will be contacting everyone concerned this evening.

Thank you all for your understanding, I’m sure you will agree that it is the right thing to do. It is a hard decision to come to and may be detrimental to the business, but we are all in the same boat and measures have to be taken.

“STAY SAFE”

Spalding this morning for suspected head gasket on a TF135 and great to meet Bruce & Tracey. Bruce had taken the car to a local garage who had diagnosed head gasket failure, so we pressure tested the system and cap. Cap was found to be faulty, no other symptoms whatsoever, no signs of internal or external leaks. So it was decided just to carry on with the cambelt service. The mis-fire and rough idle that the garage had failed to cure was down to Lambda sensor bank 1. New Lambda fitted.

Clutch had also been diagnosed as faulty, but turned out that it just needed bleeding properly after they had fitted the slave cylinder.

A lovely car and glad that we’ve managed to relieve Bruce’s frustrations! Thank you both for making us so welcome with all the snacks and many cuppas, really appreciated.

• We just wanted to say that given the current situation we are still operating as normal. We will continue to monitor all the news updates and react to the advice given as necessary.

• If anyone wishes to leave their keys with the vehicle, the work can be done and payment made by bank transfer, thereby minimising contact.

Best wishes to all. Jon & Claire.

Great to see Phil again this morning for a few things on his TF135 in Walford just near Ross-on-Wye. Coolant loss traced back to a clip that hadn’t been fitted properly. Minor service done, squeaky front suspension de-squeaked, couple of other things advised on. Only thing we couldn’t resolve today was the drivers side window. Couldn’t trace where the power loss was, nothing getting through to the switch, all fuses were ok, will look more in to the wiring diagram for it and get it sorted on our next trip.

We then travelled on to Newport, great to meet Graeme for a few things on his TF135. Plastic inlet manifold swapped out for an aluminum one. Gear box all change, full coolant change and new slave cylinder fitted, few other things done while we were there.

Good day in great company, lots of cuppas and nibbles! Fab weather too. Heading home now. Shame we’re not staying at the ‘Inn on the Wye’ again as it would have been the perfect dining experience for us!

A delivery and collection day today.

We returned Rob’s pride and joy back to him in London this morning, so great to see the huge smile on his face getting his ‘baby’ back.

We then continued on to Ash Vale, near Aldershot to collect another one with a great history. After working on one of James’s other cars, last year, he had contacted us to see if we would continue with the work he and his Grandad had started. Almost back at NG to deliver our precious cargo to undergo lots of TLC.

A local one today, in Leeds for head gasket replacement on a Rover 75. What was supposed to be a NG day, was given up as Alaric was a bit desperate as he relies on the car for work etc. Great to meet Alaric and the sun shone all morning.

Back to the garage for a few things and to to load up Rob’s car ready for the morning.

Head gasket failure was diagnosed by us about a month ago when we were in the area, so we returned to New Hartley, near Whitley Bay this morning, lovely to see Steve again and his beautiful looking ‘Spark’, a TF 115 1.6. Whilst we were there we carried out cambelt service too. We had last done the cambelt when the car was with the previous owner. Great to work on it again. Terry popped over to see us, and the sun shone all morning, despite a rubbish forecast, so an enjoyable and sociable morning had.

From there we went a couple of miles up the road to meet James, who had been having a few issues with his MGF 120, over heating after only 10 miles, and losing coolant. Despite attempts at the local garage the issue wasn’t resolved. On pressure testing the system a coolant leak was spotted from two of the hoses, new clip fitted and other adjusted, no more leaks. Cap good. Fingers crossed this has resolved the issue, but only time will tell whether this was a result of something else or the cause of it. Fingers crossed for James!

We then popped over to see Terry’s Trophy, that he rang us about a couple of days ago, saying that there was a strange issue on start up. Code read and nothing significant came up. Started it and all fine, we think it may have been that it was totally filled with fuel, right up to the cap, and it may have not been able to pull the fuel through to the engine.

Really good day and managed to dodge the weather too!

Made our way up to Motherwell with a couple of calls on the way. Firstly we went over to Newbrough, just near Hexham, lovely to meet Malcolm (plus his adorable dog Jed) and his extremely tidy TF135. Malcolm has spent the winter months giving it lots of TLC and it clearly shows. We replaced the underfloor pipes, system bled and car running up to temperature nicely. A further date to be arranged in the summer for full cambelt service.

We then travelled on up to Selkirk as arranged, found the car, but no owner…weird, last time we worked on this car we never saw the owner then… Richard Hortin where are you 🤔

Found some great (last minute as usual) digs in Motherwell for the night before our call, just up the road, in the morning.