My GT broke a timing belt on 29th Dec. leaving us stranded 60 miles from home in freezing conditions.The recovery vehicle took us to Darren Fleck in Ballyclare.Just to say that I got my car back today and that I would highly recommend his services.He got me up and going again after the dreaded timing belt failure and was attentive,knowledgeable,reasonably priced and honest in my dealings with him and tried to save us money wherever practicable on the work.I would highly recommend him.His details are Fleck Car Repairs 02893340977.:thumbs:
Mechanic Recommendation
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2,994 Posts
Thanks for the recommendation. Getting good guys who know their way around Alfas here in Northern Ireland is a rare thing indeed.:thumbs:
Used Eurofix for the first time before Christmas, had Engine management light on and a bit of a wobble. Diagnosed the engine light, fitted new sparks, cleaned the coil packs and did a basic service - £200.
Light has come on less frequently since, was told the brakes were fine, but worn pad was rubbing on the disc so I dont think they checked. Also had forgotten I wanted the service done at all so I think it was rushed - seems they are decent mechanically but v disorganised.
Light has come on less frequently since, was told the brakes were fine, but worn pad was rubbing on the disc so I dont think they checked. Also had forgotten I wanted the service done at all so I think it was rushed - seems they are decent mechanically but v disorganised.
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2,890 Posts
that is fair comment mate ...
I always use Eurofix - no doubt john is 100% honest and reliable in terms of his work.
he is pretty poor on organisation tho.. then again who isnt these days.
small price to pay for the best guy around tho, just need to keep on top of what is done to ensure you get what you expected.
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7,798 Posts
I have a friend who took his Spider to John in Belfast for a cambelt change, he instructed him to change all belts and tensioners and variator. He took the day of work and went shopping, returned at closing time and was told that the belts had been changed as was the waterpump but the tensioners where fine as was Variator. Thought this sounded decent payed him over £300 and drove his car home in dark. Next day went and inspected the car and the belts he was given that where taken of his car. The belts where not from his car and the water pump had been changed but the balance belt and cambelt where not new only the Aux belt had been changed!:wow:
:tut:
Further, the top cover for the belts had been bent back and was no longer sitting tight against the block! So! it would appear that he could'nt even be bothered to undo the screws to examine the cam & balance belts. Upon looking in wheel arch he discovered that the lower cambelt cover was not put back on and the wheel arch cover was missing also!
He was told also that his variator was fine and did not need changing even though he had requested it as it was the 2nd belt change. A month later, he began hearing the Diesel sound on startup!!!!!!!!!
I would advise to avoid Eurofix also!:tut:
:tut:Further, the top cover for the belts had been bent back and was no longer sitting tight against the block! So! it would appear that he could'nt even be bothered to undo the screws to examine the cam & balance belts. Upon looking in wheel arch he discovered that the lower cambelt cover was not put back on and the wheel arch cover was missing also!
He was told also that his variator was fine and did not need changing even though he had requested it as it was the 2nd belt change. A month later, he began hearing the Diesel sound on startup!!!!!!!!!
I would advise to avoid Eurofix also!:tut:
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7,798 Posts
He did! John advised him to take another day of work and bring the car back to him! When asked why he had given an invoice for all three belt changes and only one had been changed, he said that all three had been changed and the fact that he had been paid in cash meant that my friend had not a leg to stand on!:rant: As for the covers his response was that they where not on the car in the first place! Now i know this not to be true as i had sold the car a month previously and i know all covers were there and i also knew that it was due its 2nd belt change and any decent Alfa indie recommends a Variator change at the 2nd belt change, yet he clearly was so busy/lazy that he couldn't be bothered!?
As a result, he never went back and has told every Alfa person he has met since not to go near him! The only reason why he went too him in the 1st place is because he was recommended via this site! I guess there are satisfied customers but! i am aware of many who are not. The common theme is that the car is returned with bits left off, covers etc & work not done as requested! I believe that he has since found a good Alfa mechanic who has put his car right up the North Coast.
When asked why he had given an invoice for all three belt changes and only one had been changed, he said that all three had been changed and the fact that he had been paid in cash meant that my friend had not a leg to stand on!:rant: As for the covers his response was that they where not on the car in the first place! Now i know this not to be true as i had sold the car a month previously and i know all covers were there and i also knew that it was due its 2nd belt change and any decent Alfa indie recommends a Variator change at the 2nd belt change, yet he clearly was so busy/lazy that he couldn't be bothered!?As a result, he never went back and has told every Alfa person he has met since not to go near him! The only reason why he went too him in the 1st place is because he was recommended via this site! I guess there are satisfied customers but! i am aware of many who are not. The common theme is that the car is returned with bits left off, covers etc & work not done as requested! I believe that he has since found a good Alfa mechanic who has put his car right up the North Coast.
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6,506 Posts
I'm not here to defend John.All i know is that Alfa specialists are very thin on the ground round this neck of the woods.As Belfast Bob said it's a bit disorganized but all in all the work gets done.
Now if I went to a local garage,they'd take one look at the car,mutter "Alfa" and tell me to scrap it !!
If I went to the main Alfa dealer,i'd need to take out a small mortgage !!
Now if I went to a local garage,they'd take one look at the car,mutter "Alfa" and tell me to scrap it !!
If I went to the main Alfa dealer,i'd need to take out a small mortgage !!
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519 Posts
I have used the services of Gerry Campbell at TI Autos when I was running my old 155. He did the timing belt twice and one major service for me. I cannot speak highly enough of Gerry...He is excellent! I live in Leitrim so I reckon anyone up in Nth Ireland should give him a shout.
I don't really know if I would recommend Eurofix either, it was because of recommendations on here that I went to him after buying the car to get the timing belt done along with a service.
It did seem to be very disorganised, there is even a car magazine in his office dated 1985!
But the thing that worries me the most was when he was talking about checking the oil. He said to use ONLY mineral based oil and I presume this is what he put in the engine at the service. Anything I have read recommends at least a semi-syn 10w40 for my car and I have been topping up with this since the service to try and switch back again gradually.
I think he certainly knows his stuff esp. with the classic alfas but is very old skool. I went to an excellent indy today, best I've ever been with actually (I'm in the Omagh area) whom I can highly recommend, PM me if you need his name/number. He says he knows of a guy used to work in Roadside Garages, Coleraine when they had the franchise and hears nothing but excellent things about him for anything he can't do (i.e. Selespeed woes). I wonder is it the same one as your mate used EauRouge??
It did seem to be very disorganised, there is even a car magazine in his office dated 1985!
But the thing that worries me the most was when he was talking about checking the oil. He said to use ONLY mineral based oil and I presume this is what he put in the engine at the service. Anything I have read recommends at least a semi-syn 10w40 for my car and I have been topping up with this since the service to try and switch back again gradually.
I think he certainly knows his stuff esp. with the classic alfas but is very old skool. I went to an excellent indy today, best I've ever been with actually (I'm in the Omagh area) whom I can highly recommend, PM me if you need his name/number. He says he knows of a guy used to work in Roadside Garages, Coleraine when they had the franchise and hears nothing but excellent things about him for anything he can't do (i.e. Selespeed woes). I wonder is it the same one as your mate used EauRouge??
j
I just used mc combes in newtownards. I got plugs and oil change and loads off great free advice on keeping my 145 in good condition.
I was looking through my cars service history and found his number as car has been serviced by him the last 5 years. He knew the car and told me the cars history and work done out side of the normal service. And he seems to know his alfa cars there was a nice one in at same time for a belt change and timing.
For work today i paid 25 pound ( i supplied parts)
i hope this helps someone.
I just used mc combes in newtownards. I got plugs and oil change and loads off great free advice on keeping my 145 in good condition.
I was looking through my cars service history and found his number as car has been serviced by him the last 5 years. He knew the car and told me the cars history and work done out side of the normal service. And he seems to know his alfa cars there was a nice one in at same time for a belt change and timing.
For work today i paid 25 pound ( i supplied parts)
i hope this helps someone.
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24 Posts
Any chance of a pm with his contact details on it? Thanks in advance:thumbs:
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512 Posts
I have used Eurofix in the past for servicing and although agree with all the comments ref John's lack of organisation, forgeting to stamp the service book etc, he has always been first class. I am amazed at EauRouge's story - that is not good at all.
I needed the timing belt done on our XC90 and was recommended a Volvo specialist called Beechhill Garage off the Saintfield Road in Belfast. Turned out the guy is also a Ferrari and Lotus specialist as well, and had an Exige and a Maserati 3200GT in the workshop when I called up. Labour is only £35 per hour and he seems to know his stuff. He seemed keen to tackle the belts on my GT when it was due and quote was very reasonable (think it was about £400 all in)
I needed the timing belt done on our XC90 and was recommended a Volvo specialist called Beechhill Garage off the Saintfield Road in Belfast. Turned out the guy is also a Ferrari and Lotus specialist as well, and had an Exige and a Maserati 3200GT in the workshop when I called up. Labour is only £35 per hour and he seems to know his stuff. He seemed keen to tackle the belts on my GT when it was due and quote was very reasonable (think it was about £400 all in)
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