Spamboy, (do you have something else i can call you?) I think the tire store
damaged your catalytic converter. If they lifted your car with drive-on
platform style lift it's safe to say they did. The giveaway will be a dent
on the catalytic converter itself. The cylinder on a drive-on lift will hit
the relatively low hanging cat on 405's & 505's. Take it back there, tell
them that your catalytic converter is rattling since you had the tires
installed & insist that they pick it up on a frame-engaging lift to be
inspected... Once the damage is confirmed, move the car to one of the
drive-on lifts
& pick it up, confirming that the cylinder is was hit it. Make sure that
they don't use the spacers that are Supposed to be installed on the lift for
a lowslung car... If they protest & want to use the spacers, say "The
mechanic who changed my tires didn't, I watched him!". They owe you a new
cat due to their negligence.. I have seen the identical damage on dozens of
Pugs; Preventable if the proper care is taken.
To some of you, this may seem underhanded & somewhat devious... Please
consider however who is giving the advice: I'm a professional mechanic who
takes great pride in his work & the service he provides. It disgusts me when
any so-called "technician" damages cars, cheats, rips-off, or otherwise
does any harm to the person who has entrusted them with their personal &
valuable property. It hurts me, an honest service provider, because I am
categorized by trade with these hacks.
The mechanic & the management should be held accountable for the damage that
was caused. (if indeed they caused it, shouldn't be too hard to figure out
though)
On occaision, I encounter a potential customer who has heard enough of
these horror stories & has come to some wrong conclusions. I remember once,
upon greeting someone to the shop that the first thing that came out of her
mouth was "I know you people are going to rip me off...." . I stopped her in
mid sentence asked if she always began a conversation with wholesale
character assasination. I asked her if she doesn't trust me to fix her car &
charge her a fair price, why not take it to someone who could be trusted?
Jerks like her get their start by running into jerks like the one I've
mentioned above. Perhaps it was an accident, I certainly hope so, but
accident or not, they should take responsibility.
The exhaust shop that told you your car had to be "tuned" after installing
a new catalytic converter wasn't exactly wrong. In most cases cats fail due
to a poor running engine, causing them to overheat & clog. If you explain
that it needs replacement because of physical damage, the mechanic, at
least, will know that simple replacement is all it needs.
$250 Aus. sounds like a great price, even for an economy cat. I'd hold out
for a Random Tech., as Jim suggested or a genuine Peugeot. The quality &
flow characteristics of a cheap cat don't even approach that of the original
equipment.
Sorry for the rant there...
j.p.
p.s. COMING SOON! The diagnosis of 505 ass sag! (i promise)
-----
From: <sppamboy@hotmail.com>
To: <peugeot-L@egroups.com>
Sent: Wednesday, January 03, 2001 7:02 AM
Subject: dead cat
> 405 mi16 1991
> i just had some new tyres fitted to my pug, on the way home i noticed
> a rattle, from the exhaust, thinking that maybe they have crushed
> someting with the jacks i took it back, and after that i went to an
> exhaust shop were i was diagnosed with a dead catalytic converter,
> not sure if the tyre boys did it or not, they said itll cost about
> $au250 for a universal catalytic converter or 1000+ for a geniune
> one, i was wondering if a universal one would cause any restriction
> or damage to my pug? or if going to a wreacker for a genuine one
> would be anygood?
> the exhaust shop guys said my cars running ritch and would have to
> have a it tuned after they put a new cat on it so it runs right with
> it all in? whats in volved in this process?
> thanks
> ps tyres are nankang ns-1 195/55/15" a cheep company setup by
> yokohama with teh same moulds, there directional and seem quight good
> in the limited time i drove my car
>
>
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This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : Wed 03 Jan 2001 - 23:24:11 UTC