Hi everyone, heres my latest experiences, bear with me....
Driving home from work on the 24/07/07 accelerating away from some traffic lights got a horrendous banging from engine
, sounded so bad that I thought that I might as well get the car home rather than just stop...3 miles. 
Got home fine opened bonnet sounds like a big end but smells of burning rubber. Closer inspection shows that crank pulley/ harmonic balancer has came apart and smacking into timing cover. Took belt off (1 min) crowbarred pulley back, competely came apart whilst doing this, started engine again and it was its usual silent self. Explained prob to missus, pat on back for discovering real prob rather than telling her that a new engine was required. Ate dinner, then went online to try and find price for part, looked on here and noticed a 'new' independent in Wellingborough called Parkham Garage, visited their website and chanced a call to them 2030hrs by now... answered by a gent, explained situation to him and left my tel no with him. Phone goes off at 0830 next day (my birthday actually) £67 inc vat and he'll have it that pm, ordered it in without taking any prepayment and I collected it at 1700hrs, got it home and I fitted it in the rain and was mobile again by1900hrs. What do you think this would have cost if I had just pulled over and got AA recovered to local dealer????
So pleased with them that I gave them the wifes C320 for a A service plus extras, they collected at prearranged time (we live 15mls from them), did everything I asked and returned the car at 1600hrs same day...change from £250
Yesterday in S driving to Nottingham car started misbehaving, cutting out initially difficult to restart, then on return journey cut out dead no warning at about 70mph, coasted to a pub carpark and called AA. They arrived 90mins later 2 mins after i managed to restart it, they then escorted me for about 10 miles just in case, before I waved the guy off at Oakham. Got 5 more mls then bloody thing died again, restarted after cooling off (running at normal temps, not overheating) got 6miles this time. Called AA for recovery but after waiting 2.5hrs got peed off waiting and got the car back home in a oner (cool engine cool night air). In bed at 0130hrs. Wife took me into work 0530, called Parkham Garages at 0800, 'Yes sir, know just what that is', met me at work at 1400hrs new crank pos sensor in hand, took me home, fitted and did other diagnosic checks that I requested whilst he was there and charged less than £160 All this on the same day!!!!
These are smart, competant, trained up guys. If you live near Wellingboro' check them out. They have my fullest recommendation. They deserve our trade and our cars need guys like these who do actually give a damn working on them.
Cheers..........Ade. 
Driving home from work on the 24/07/07 accelerating away from some traffic lights got a horrendous banging from engine
, sounded so bad that I thought that I might as well get the car home rather than just stop...3 miles. Got home fine opened bonnet sounds like a big end but smells of burning rubber. Closer inspection shows that crank pulley/ harmonic balancer has came apart and smacking into timing cover. Took belt off (1 min) crowbarred pulley back, competely came apart whilst doing this, started engine again and it was its usual silent self. Explained prob to missus, pat on back for discovering real prob rather than telling her that a new engine was required. Ate dinner, then went online to try and find price for part, looked on here and noticed a 'new' independent in Wellingborough called Parkham Garage, visited their website and chanced a call to them 2030hrs by now... answered by a gent, explained situation to him and left my tel no with him. Phone goes off at 0830 next day (my birthday actually) £67 inc vat and he'll have it that pm, ordered it in without taking any prepayment and I collected it at 1700hrs, got it home and I fitted it in the rain and was mobile again by1900hrs. What do you think this would have cost if I had just pulled over and got AA recovered to local dealer???? So pleased with them that I gave them the wifes C320 for a A service plus extras, they collected at prearranged time (we live 15mls from them), did everything I asked and returned the car at 1600hrs same day...change from £250
Yesterday in S driving to Nottingham car started misbehaving, cutting out initially difficult to restart, then on return journey cut out dead no warning at about 70mph, coasted to a pub carpark and called AA. They arrived 90mins later 2 mins after i managed to restart it, they then escorted me for about 10 miles just in case, before I waved the guy off at Oakham. Got 5 more mls then bloody thing died again, restarted after cooling off (running at normal temps, not overheating) got 6miles this time. Called AA for recovery but after waiting 2.5hrs got peed off waiting and got the car back home in a oner (cool engine cool night air). In bed at 0130hrs. Wife took me into work 0530, called Parkham Garages at 0800, 'Yes sir, know just what that is', met me at work at 1400hrs new crank pos sensor in hand, took me home, fitted and did other diagnosic checks that I requested whilst he was there and charged less than £160
All this on the same day!!!! These are smart, competant, trained up guys. If you live near Wellingboro' check them out. They have my fullest recommendation. They deserve our trade and our cars need guys like these who do actually give a damn working on them.
Cheers..........Ade.
