Got off to a bad start at 5am, maf dead, was working fine last night, so changed it over quickly and although better, a bit lumpy but the engine was knocking a little at the top end. Checked the oil and topped up half a litre. Waited for the 6am ferry only to be told it was cancelled and the next one was 7am due to the mezzanine deck on another ferry collapsing last night, hence delays and backlog.

Got off the ferry, stopped for fuel and started my journey, as i got up the M3 the knocking was getting worse and the power was very poor, so i pulled in at tesco service station at the bottom of the A34, where the car died and wouldnt start. Had to wait for RAC to come and diagnose what i already knew, before arranging a low loader to take up back home, however thats where the rest of this nightmare day gets worse.

 

I get a phone call from RAC head office, stating that my policy, through my insurance would not cover me to get back to the island and home, so would cost £150 plus about £250 ferry fare to get home. No bloody way was i paying that, so after sitting for a couple of hours i went to start the car and although rattling away it started, i then decided as the engine was now already foobarred i may as well head back south to Portsouth and see if i cant make it under my own steam.

I got to the bottom of the M275 when traffic was gridlocked, now bear in mind if i stop the engine tries to die and if it dies i cant start it again, so decided to pull into the slip road, stopped behind traffic at the lights and it died, im now stuck in the middle of three lanes of traffic and it wont start, so had to use the starter to get me out of harms way and push it when the battery gave up into the bus lane.

 

Another phone call to RAC to come out, thinking i was closer to home it would be cheaper to get a low loader home, wrong! So after 2 police cars and a highway traffic patrol car stopped to see if we were ok the RAC van turns up only to tell me what already knew ffs, they would use a local company to recover me and it would charge me £451 to get me home.:thumbdown:

After sitting in the sun at the side of the road for 3 hours i told them just to get me to the ferry and i will worry about how im getting home, now the only problem with this little plan was that its now 3pm and my return ticket was not till 9pm, not a chance in hell of getting one earlier due to he earlier backlog and they will not allow non booked vehicle into the terminal until at least one hour before. I got the tow truck to drop us into the carpark opposite the terminal and managed to get the last remaining space, put a ticket on the car and went for some food and ended up shopping to kill time ( had the other half and 2 kids with me also)

 

About 5:30pm i decided to go and face the ferry terminal manager to see what my options were of getting on, as a car either has to make its own way on board or be on a flatbed, they will not allow it to be towed or dropped off onto the ferry, bear in mind he battery is now flat and car stuck in a carpark across the road. As luck would have it i knew the manager quite well and he was really helpful, lent me one of their power packs to start the car and allowed me to park in the terminal layby facing the ferry, where i then left it for 3 hours and went off for a drink and more shopping in Gunwharf Quays:yes:

 

The time was now 9:40pm and ready to board an already late running ferry and was to be last on and last off, just incase it didnt start. I did need the starter pack again to just scrape onto the ferry as the prow was to be raised, got out the car and sighed with relief that i had made it this far.

Then came the departure and my worry now was, is it going to start? luckily the guys on board knew the situation and had another power pack at the ready, but luckily it started, sounding like a bag of spanners got off the ferry and limped home the lat few miles, tring to avoid any stops, luck was on my side for once and all the traffic lights i had to pass where green and now ive just got back:thumbup1:

 

The engine is knackered, definite cam lobe knocking, like the proverbial fat kid knocking on the sweet shop door lol, but for the racket the engine was making im surprised it got me back, so a testament to how good these engines are, even in a dire state:thumbup1:

Sounds like oil starvation to the right bank and of course you could hear it suffering.

 

For now im either going to take off the heads from my spare engine or maybe just the cams or do a TT swap, however if it is oil starvation im looking at a total strip down to find the culprit.

 

So apologies for no making Coventry, im a totally gutted by both outcomes of the day and also apologies to Paul and Zedracer who had some bits for me.

 

End of an epic, never ever to be repeated road trip from hell, i thank you :thumbup1:

Sorry to hear that you had such a traumatic day mate!

Hope you get the car sorted soon.

Gutting for you man!

 

Hope you can sort it out soon

Sorry to hear that bud. Gutted you didn't get up!!

Sorry to hear the news Graham, was looking forward to seeing the yellow peril! I had the trims with me too so you'll have to give me a shout if you want me to post them.

Sorry to hear the news Graham, was looking forward to seeing the yellow peril! I had the trims with me too so you'll have to give me a shout if you want me to post them.

 

Cheers Baz i will pm my address, let me know how much postage is :thumbup1: I guess i have to have it ready for JAE regardless of which route i decide engine wise :thumbup1:

Dam today must of felt like a week.

How you get it fixed soon mate.

aww that sucks mate. You'll soon get it sorted out.

Holy crap mate. I really feel for you. That's my worst nightmare.

 

At least you eventually got back and saved on the money that the RAC were going to charge.

 

Peter

Sounds like what happened to my track car, if so it will be a blocked check valve in the block for the lifter channel

I really felt bad for you mate, that's just a run of really bad luck. Hopefully sorting it out won't be as bad as expected.

disaster, bad enough on your own but with a family to keep entertained at the same time it just adds to the stress. Glad you got back ok

 

You should have a word with the RAC, they should have said up front they won't recover you back home rather than wait till you call them in an emergency.

That sucks, i'd be pissed at the rac if they said that too me.

Hope you get it sorted soon

...and I thought my Coventry day was screwed up! Sorry to hear that Graham. At least you weren't on the ferry where the mezzanine decks had collapsed. I heard about half a dozen cars got crushed!

Sorry to hear! What a disaster & with the family too!

I'm with the AA they have always been good to me:)

Art

I suppose you only find out how good a breakdown company is until you need em, and you only find what gaps are in your coverage when you need that particular service. Shame your car chose that day to play up

I've just got free breakdown cover with my renewal with Fluxdirect through moneysupermarket, reading your escapades Graham not sure it's gonna be worth the paper it's written on but nevertheless it's on the sun visor.

 

You certainly had an eventful day, at least you got it home without those ridiculous costs !!

Day from hell Graham sorry to hear you had so many problems mate. Its all behind you now so good luck with getting the Z sorted mate.

Most will refuse to tow you if the think your car is lowered, I had that argument a few years ago(before mine was lowered)

Thanks guys, yes definitely worth checking your breakdown cover and as mine is lowered on eibach springs, so not drastic there was a 4mm clearance literally on the bumper for a front end tow/lift for the 2 miles through town they did take me lol.

 

I have to say the kids were really well behaved, which is why we took them shopping when the car was safely parked. There was a funny incident on the carriageway right in front of us, as lots of people were looking at the car coming to the traffic lights, a vehicle had a rear end shunt from an onlooker and i guess he must have felt more embarrassed than i did sat at the side of the road, so every cloud and all that :biggrin:

...and I thought my Coventry day was screwed up! Sorry to hear that Graham. At least you weren't on the ferry where the mezzanine decks had collapsed. I heard about half a dozen cars got crushed!

 

That incident on the ferry did cause a whole day backlog and some of the wightlink staff where getting earache all day from customers and after being delayed myself in the morning, i was going to fill a complaint form out and get a reduction in fare, but the guys were really helpful and kind to get me on the ferry to get home so i didnt bother.

Sounds like what happened to my track car, if so it will be a blocked check valve in the block for the lifter channel

 

So im looking at a full strip down then? I may convert her to a TT as the engine in my UK TT is sweet as a nut, but alas that would mean breaking it and i dont want to do that really, want to save her.

Bloody hell Graham - that's a damn sight worse a day that I thought mate!!

 

After we spoke yesterday morning, I had it in my head that the RAC would roll up, drop you onto the next available ferry, and another patrol would await you at the other side....

 

As ever, life is never so simple - I am glad you are home now though; but what a fiasco....:sad:

 

Speak soon mate,

 

Richard:clover:

That's awful news mate, you must be gutted :(

 

Hope you manage to get it sorted out soon!

feel for you graham, that was one shit day, but as said at least you got it home without the big expense, a lot of thinking to do as regrds engines

That is one crap day and I feel for you Glad you got it home though sounds bit like when my gearbox went and I waited 3 hours for rac to turn up tell like u said what u already know then a further hour to pick me up charged me 300 odd quid and the first recov truck dumped me off at services 40miles from destination at 3am freezin my *****cks off had to wait over hour for another truck to take me lol just look on the bright side you didn't have to pay the hefty fee and your car didnt blow up :)