Cam Belt Plus Chain ?

[Mark-RS]

Are they doing the tensioner pads & chains as well as cam belt?
Engine in or engine out?

Depends which bolts it is TBH.

I imagine engine in, since they mentioned needing to put the front back on.

Just the belts, not the chains. Chains "Should" be ok from what I understand, fairly bulletproof.

[Mark-RS]

They're not the kind of bolts that round off IMO. Not unless you have fisher price tools and/or no idea how to do them up. It's not the kind of job that someone who doesn't know how to tighten a bolt would normally attempt, I'd have thought. Maybe they're the ones who rounded them off. Fits with breaking the radiator support.

Anyway, there's no way of knowing if they're telling the truth. I wouldn't accept paying extra since the odd broken bolt is part and parcel of working on a 20 year old car and they are supposed to be professionals.

Kind of my thoughts in all honesty. They quoted 1500-1600 for all the belts, full service ( I supplied Oil and plugs) rear diff, xfer box. I expect to pay a little more as I added Maxton front and rear splitters to be fitted and also got them to flush and renew the brake fluid.

[Mɐʇʇ]

Fine. Just asked since I saw at the beginning you were asking about the adjuster pads.

Not actually that many nuts and bolts then.

[Mark-RS]

Yup, I asked since I had a very slight rattle when blipping the throttle at idle, but apparently it's just the way these engines are. Only really noticeable if you are at a drive through or something where there is a reverb from the wall.

It just had me a bit worried, but if memory serves me correctly I noticed it also before it went to MRC a couple of years ago for a full health check and loads of work and it's not something they noted as an issue either.

[Mark-RS]

Well, after being told it would definitely be ready today, this is what I turned up to......

They say the timing has likely been out ever since I've had the car as the last people did not use the proper lock mech for locking the cams in place. They also said something about washers that had been ground down behind some of the pullies, so they wanted to replace them. There were a few other bits they mentioned and said some of the parts were not off the shelf and they have had to wait fotnehm to come in. Last of the parts are scheduled for the morning, so hopefully not long.

Also it appears the coolant leak I had was from the water pump, so at least that's sorted !

[Mɐʇʇ]

Always looks like a nightmare when they're at that stage of disassembly, doesn't it.

[steve2003rs6]

It always amazes me how long and flimsy the timing belt looks. Considering the job it has to do. And it’s only changed every 4 years.
My belts due next year.
Just wish I had the expertise to do it myself. But sadly will have to leave it to the experts.

[Mɐʇʇ]

The old RS is certainly a lot more work compared to others I’ve done recently. On the others, it’s just a pin to lock the crank and cam and just change it all over. Or in some cases, just eyeball the timing marks.

[Shoppinit]

Yeah, I did it on my Golf 2. It was laughably easy.

Where are these rounded bolts then?

[Shoppinit]

I'm not very impressed with the lack of paint protection on the wings, the strain on the water and AV pipes from having the lock carrier forced open like that and the bits and tools laid all over the engine, plenum and inner wings. DOesn't scream "Aston Martin quality".

[Shoppinit]

Looks like your intercooler is leaking, too. I'd better stop looking at the photos before I find anything else.

[steve2003rs6]

Yes Shop. Tools all over the car etc etc.
Exactly my initial thoughts.
But hopefully they do a good job.
I got sick of poor local workmanship. So prefer the 350 mile round trip to unit 20.
Booked in for next month. And looking forward to having a good 5-6 hour drive.

[Mark-RS]

Yeah I must admit, the placement of tools etc, did take me by suprise. My bumper was just sitting on the floor next to the car on upside down, but literally just on the floor, no protection at all.

I'll certainly be having a good look around when I eventually collect it.

The rounded bolts were from some large cross member type thing that sits directly across the front of the engine. It only has 2 bolts, I'm not exactly sure what it was, but I'm guessing it connected the 2 intercoolers to the intake in the middle ? It looked like it had an opening each end and was hollow "Ish"

I'm guessing it was just an excuse as they have been so slow on the job.

I guess next on the list is intercoolers then.... Thanks Shop

Also with regard to them say8ing the timing may have been out, since MRC have mapped the car during my ownership, surely this is something they would have picked up straight away ? And I've never noticed any issues.... So my guessing is the timing has always been ok ?

[Mɐʇʇ]

That was my guess. Those bolts are tricky ones until the lock carrier is off - if it's just in "service position", they are a bit tricky to access, you are going blind.
Once lock carrier off - or lowered like this - then easy enough to drill out/encourage an oversize bit in to.

The rounded bolts were from some large cross member type thing that sits directly across the front of the engine. It only has 2 bolts, I'm not exactly sure what it was, but I'm guessing it connected the 2 intercoolers to the intake in the middle ? It looked like it had an opening each end and was hollow "Ish"

[Mark-RS]

And so I still don't have my car back.

Was told I would have it for the Bank Holiday weekend but didn't get a call. Still no call today either, So I am going to give them a call again in the morning.

Never been in this situation before, but anyone else think it's a bit of a piss take ? 4 weeks tomorrow ! When I was initially told 3-4 days.

Where do I stand by giving them a deadline ? Can I do that ? Is it worth the risk of them bodging it in a rush ? Even after 4 weeks... Sounds insane to think.