I SORN'd my GTV for just over a year; I expected maybe a couple of problems, needing new tyres maybe, and an oil & filter change, but after letting a very well looked after GTV sit for a year she has some issues.
I guess I would firstly list this as a warning to store your precious cars properly, pay the extra for a garage or storage company and don't bother with a car cover - It didn't work.
Secondly, for a little advice on where to take her in Gloucestershire - Would you guys use a general mechanics (trusted - family friends) or would you pay for the specialist Alfa garage, I hear Cloverleaf Services in Gloucester are very good? But I guess a lot more expensive than a general mechanics. I don't have the budget for this so want to keep costs sensible, but she deserves to be repaired.
Thirdly, is this all as bad as I think? Maybe these are easy fixes..
Anyway, here we go...
After a general tyre check, replacing the battery and a sparkle clean I took her in for the MOT, which she failed:
"Brakes failures: RBT Service brake efficiency: 45%
Brake efficiency: 4%
1: Service brake efficiency below requirement
2: Parking brake efficiency below requirement."
Advisories:
3: Offside rear (corroded) brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened.
4: Nearside rear (corroded) brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened.
5: Nearside front lower suspension arm ball joint dust cover deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt
6: General scaly rust to chassis and suspension
7: Both front shock gaiters damaged
I feel awful - the car was great before winter. So I don't want to just repair the brakes to get the car through the MOT, I would like to repair all advisories and get rid of that rust and have the car back to ship shape again. Number 6 is a particular worry for obvious reasons...
So, what do you guys think? Any advice to offer this stupid man, paying the price for leaving his Alfa outside all winter?
I guess I would firstly list this as a warning to store your precious cars properly, pay the extra for a garage or storage company and don't bother with a car cover - It didn't work.
Secondly, for a little advice on where to take her in Gloucestershire - Would you guys use a general mechanics (trusted - family friends) or would you pay for the specialist Alfa garage, I hear Cloverleaf Services in Gloucester are very good? But I guess a lot more expensive than a general mechanics. I don't have the budget for this so want to keep costs sensible, but she deserves to be repaired.
Thirdly, is this all as bad as I think? Maybe these are easy fixes..
Anyway, here we go...
After a general tyre check, replacing the battery and a sparkle clean I took her in for the MOT, which she failed:
"Brakes failures: RBT Service brake efficiency: 45%
Brake efficiency: 4%
1: Service brake efficiency below requirement
2: Parking brake efficiency below requirement."
Advisories:
3: Offside rear (corroded) brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened.
4: Nearside rear (corroded) brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened.
5: Nearside front lower suspension arm ball joint dust cover deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt
6: General scaly rust to chassis and suspension
7: Both front shock gaiters damaged
I feel awful - the car was great before winter. So I don't want to just repair the brakes to get the car through the MOT, I would like to repair all advisories and get rid of that rust and have the car back to ship shape again. Number 6 is a particular worry for obvious reasons...
So, what do you guys think? Any advice to offer this stupid man, paying the price for leaving his Alfa outside all winter?