Micah's Deep Black 200

[Micah]

ohh what a rubbish situation to be in Micah..i wouldnt know myself what to do..guess if you want to keep your car,then fixing it is the way to go..
can you not get a new pulley just to stay on the safe side??9 days isnt that bad..look at me-8 weeks now

I know Pav - I'd never complain knowing what you've gone through!
I do think you're right and will probably call ALS on Monday and see what can be done. For the sake of 3 hours labour and a £90 part, I just want the little bitch performing as she used to!
Ordinarily I'd be fine, it's missing tomorrow's meet that's really disappointed me. Technically, the car is safe to drive according to Terry, just not to rag. I'm wondering if @dogshead fancies someone riding shotgun tomorrow if I parked it at his...

 

[dogshead]

Alright mate you can shotgun with me.You can leave your car on my drive.l've got your mobile so will text you my details.

Sent from my D6603 using Tapatalk

 

[Micah]

Today was the first time I'd driven the car since taking it to TT last weekend, so I was driving along 'a la slow old man' like @nutnutwelshman between 60 and 70 down to Canterbury. I really miss how it used to drive, but it's going in on Monday so all good.
In Canterbury, I saw a 200T in white with Cup pack - the combo of white, black wheels and red calipers in the flesh made it look incredible. I know it's quite a common colour, but when clean, hubba hubba!
On my way back I had a slight panic as the EML flashed up and the 'check emissions' message. I knew it must have been to do with the dephaser error logged in the car, so I frantically called TT for about 10 minutes trying to get through. Eventually, Matt answered and said that these messages will appear once the car logs the same fault 'X' times over, so all to be expected.
I have a feeling next week won't be cheap, but it could be a lot worse, eh @Big Ben ?

 

[Big Ben]

Feel for you Micah. I'm over the pain of Friday as I've got the car and it looks and drives great

What was going to be a dear job, doubled overnight lol

Tits and wheels... always cost you money

 

[Jimmy]

Hope you aren't fretting too much over it all Micah, although I know it's easier said than done in this kind of situation. I really do hope that TT can get everything sorted for you and for the smallest cost to you. The biggest thing will be getting the car back to the condition where you can start enjoying it again - nothing worse when something tarnishes the experience with these cars. Fingers crossed for you buddy.

 

[Micah]

Diagnosis: Faulty pulley, timing is spot on.
Now waiting for a call back from ALS to see if they're willing to help me out. If not, I might be making a call to @renaultpartsdirect sharpish!
Also, as it stands, they don't have a free slot until Thursday to fit the new pulley. Bit of a shitter, but at least it will get fixed.
Tempted to tell them to put the old one back on!

 

[///M]

Very best of luck for today Micah. Really hope it's a straightforward and easily affordable fix.

Thinking of ya mate.

 

[///M]

Diagnosis: Faulty pulley, timing is spot on.
Now waiting for a call back from ALS to see if they're willing to help me out. If not, I might be making a call to @renaultpartsdirect sharpish!
Also, as it stands, they don't have a free slot until Thursday to fit the new pulley. Bit of a shitter, but at least it will get fixed.
Tempted to tell them to put the old one back on!

Ha, you wrote this as I was sending you some good luck.

To be honest mate, although it could be a ball ache to sort out, that's the better of the two most likely options.

What a crap scenario and not good that you're not the only one to have similar issues.

 

[Pav]

Good news in a way..glad its nothing more serious..will you get a new pulley from tt?

 

[Micah]

Ha, you wrote this as I was sending you some good luck.

To be honest mate, although it could be a ball ache to sort out, that's the better of the two most likely options.

What a crap scenario and not good that you're not the only one to have similar issues.

Thanks for the positive vibes, regardless.
Funnily enough, someone myself and the guy who works on my car know, had the same thing happen. His was less painful as the garage had supplied the parts and therefore were obliged to fix it at their own cost. It's only when they ran CLIP that they found the same fault as mine.
As much as I want to say the moral of the story is to pay a bit more and put all liability with the garage and the parts they supply, it's a freak event. @sevenfourate bought the same kit as I did and has had no issues, it's the luck of the draw with a part at the end of the day.
It's looking like I'll end up paying £400 over the odds at the very worst for a belt change, but these things happen. The only way I can look at it (and I don't want to jinx anything) is that I've had some cheap labour for all the things I've had done to the car, and avoided (so far) some of the other expensive stuff, so will have to treat this as an 'acceptable loss'.

 

[Micah]

Good news in a way..glad its nothing more serious..will you get a new pulley from tt?

Yes, or RPD if ALS tell me to sling my hook.

 

[///M]

Thanks for the positive vibes, regardless.
Funnily enough, someone myself and the guy who works on my car know, had the same thing happen. His was less painful as the garage had supplied the parts and therefore were obliged to fix it at their own cost. It's only when they ran CLIP that they found the same fault as mine.
As much as I want to say the moral of the story is to pay a bit more and put all liability with the garage and the parts they supply, it's a freak event. @sevenfourate bought the same kit as I did and has had no issues, it's the luck of the draw with a part at the end of the day.
It's looking like I'll end up paying £400 over the odds at the very worst for a belt change, but these things happen. The only way I can look at it (and I don't want to jinx anything) is that I've had some cheap labour for all the things I've had done to the car, and avoided (so far) some of the other expensive stuff, so will have to treat this as an 'acceptable loss'.

That's a good pragmatic approach Micah. Just hope they pull their finger out and sort things out for you. It's their balls up, they should cop for it. Hope they don't make things difficult for you and at least you know TT have looked after you properly too.

 

[Jimmy]

As Mes says, I admire your attitude towards it Micah - it is the best way, you do need to try and stay on the positive side, especially with these cars and when you have the paranoid mentality that we share

The good thing is that you've got to the bottom of the issue and you have a way of rectifying it. It would be a huge shame if ALS didn't play ball - you would hope they would at least make some contribution, given that they were the supplier of the dodgy part... Surely they have procedures in place for this kind of eventuality...

 

[Micah]

As Mes says, I admire your attitude towards it Micah - it is the best way, you do need to try and stay on the positive side, especially with these cars and when you have the paranoid mentality that we share

The good thing is that you've got to the bottom of the issue and you have a way of rectifying it. It would be a huge shame if ALS didn't play ball - you would hope they would at least make some contribution, given that they were the supplier of the dodgy part... Surely they have procedures in place for this kind of eventuality...

Cheers Jimmy, I try to view things as logically as possible. No one wants to spend more than they have to, but it just happens sometimes and there's no alternative. Just look at what happened to @Big Ben literally having a new front end put on!
You just have to take it on the chin and be grateful you have savings to dip into (bye-bye iPhone 7 Plus!)
ALS responded pretty quickly and tried to call TT, but they're short-staffed this week, but he said he'll try again. Also I would have to send the faulty part back to him to send on to Renault. Both are saying they have never known the pulley to fail, so I'm eager for the two of them to have a chat.
It just seems a bit drawn out considering I need to get the work done ASAP. If he could send another part, that would be fine (a contribution would be even better) but I'm resigned to choosing convenience over cost saving. I just want it sorted out.

 

[Jimmy]

Nothing is ever straightforward is it... It's good though that ALS have responded pretty swiftly, you can understand them wanting to get the full story before they commit to anything, and I guess they have to cover their backs too. Frustrating that you're being made to wait while all this is going on, I really do feel for you mate.

 

[Sean197]

Jesus what a pain in the arse! Hopefully you can get a new pulley done now (for convenience), and once TT send it back to ALS then they will refund you the difference, so in the end you'll only be paying once - except for labour but hopefully you could get a contribution from ALS which they can then claim from Renault.

 

[Micah]

If I can wait 10 days to get to this stage, another 3 and a bit is not going to make much difference

 

[Micah]

Jesus what a pain in the arse! Hopefully you can get a new pulley done now (for convenience), and once TT send it back to ALS then they will refund you the difference, so in the end you'll only be paying once - except for labour but hopefully you could get a contribution from ALS which they can then claim from Renault.

We shall see. New pulley being delivered to TT tomorrow, so that's something positive in this bog of misery

 

[Big Ben]

Flustercluck @Micah Having to spend the money is irritating enough but I find the delays and waiting the worst thing about it all. Hope you're doing ok mate.

 

[sevenfourate]

At least with a diagnosis; you now have a way forward Micah.......

Yes i bought full cambelt change kit from ALS like you. They were the cheapest genuine Renault parts around. Guy who works on my car isn't a Renault specialist and actually prefers me to do the research normally and acquire the right parts. He's happy to 'just' fit.

So you did exactly the same as me effectively and got seriously unlucky. And luck is about the crux of all this imo. Its just rotten luck that's all.....

I'm not really sure there is moral to this story as such.

Best of luck pal.