Shall i sell a kidney?

[Elaine29]

Can Anyone help me?

I need a good mechanic to take a look at my car, I am in North Oxfordshire but I would not be concerned if he was further afield!
I have an '03 car, have just done 81,000 and was bracing myself for expense of service and timing belt. I had it serviced in Oct and chap reminded me that cam belt due, i asked roughly how much and he replied about 200.
Now i have so far this month taxed it, insured it, new soddin battery (RAC man told me it was going NOWHERE without one of his 93 quid ones!) new headlight bulbs as they all went at once ! v. "interesting" trip back from oxford at midnight when that happened. and now MOT due 5th March.
Last year I had antipollution fault warning/beep followed by catalytic converter fault warning/beep which would continue for whole of journey but stop as soon as i restarted car. After some fantastic advice from you lot it went away.
Last week it started again but with a difference. i now get one beep only on starting the car and screen reads antipollution fault & engine warning light comes on. I have no loss of power or performance, no stuttering, no cutting out. I'm guessing it needs looking at before MOT so rang Garage and he said sounds like the filters that are just BEFORE the cat need replacing and he has quoted over £1,000!! (OH and cam belt will now cost 500 quid as he recommends replacing water thingy and pump thingy, (I'm sorry my ears stopped working after the THOUSAND pound bit )
I have had a TT an FTO and a merc but I soddin LOVE this car the mostest. is it time to get rid?

[aaronwillis]

I paid about 500 for my cambelt and water pump to be replaced
If yours hasn't been done then beat off to
Basically if the pump seizes or the belt snaps then could be in for a bigger bill than the 500 to replace them

[GrandadMonkey]

Is Nuneaton too far? Timsons have a good reputation I believe. They are in Nuneaton.

http://www.timsonsautos.co.uk/

I use St Peter's Auto Centre in Oadby, Leicester for any work on our car, or my daughter's, that is beyond basic servicing.

http://www.stpeterspeugeot.co.uk

But both may be a bit far for you, unless you fancy a day out of course!

Worth talking to them perhaps for an opinion and a quote...

Best of luck Elaine,

Ron

[Elaine29]

Thank you so much fella's for your replies yesterday, but car wouldn't start this morning, started on third attempt, but after 30 seconds cut out with the dreaded "Catalytic Converter Fault" warning. so now i really am buggered!
Whenever I've had that "fault" car has still run.
Maybe the cat really has gone!!

[Elaine29]

Quick update.....some fella tried car, started first time !!! Grrr has just disconnected battery for a few minutes and now "Cat Fault" warning has gone, I've just got anti pollution fault warning.