Update, car is going back in on Monday. Thanks for all your suggestions - I forgot to mention the possible second bleed point but I would be very surprised if they didn't know. I'll say about it anyway just in case

easiest way to get an air lock without using bleed points is run the engine to warm with the water cap off it all air comes out that way takes longer than bleed points but a bit more user friendly lol

Erm yeah, this'll be why I've been having problems

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hjCxCZdEgGo&feature=youtu.be

yeh, that'll be it!! replace that, and your laughing..??

no crying. I've got the bill [attachment=1:2r08zvyn]cry.gif[/attachment:2r08zvyn]

ahh, the unfortunate down side to car ownership... least u can stop stressing over the needle jumping now

Well, u know who to send the bill too...

jks

Actually the water pump has been the problem all along. The airlock made me take it to the garage and probably did me a favour in the long run as it brought things to a head before damage was done elsewhere

Harper said:

Erm yeah, this'll be why I've been having problems

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hjCxCZdEgGo&feature=youtu.be

Click to expand...

Yes, there's a technical term for that...

the word is "****ed".

Yup. Now replaced along with the timing belt

I also see from the bill they replaced a front link bar. there's been knocking for the past few months which I didn't hear on the way back from the garage. Truth be told though I wasn't listening for it and it was only on checking the list of what's been done that I realised it may not be there anymore.

I'll find out tomorrow if that's the case but I'd put money on it no longer being there

Had a slight moment of panic when I was putting in screen wash last weekend as it looked like the coolant level had dropped from max to the mid-line however when we looked under the bonnet today it's sitting square-on max still. I'm guessing it was bad light and the fact that the coolant is pale pink. Phew though as there are other things in my life trying to empty my bank account and another car bill is most definitely not wanted.

At the risk of jinxing things it looks like the car is behaving itself for now

Oh yeah, and I got a lecture from young Lewis about the state of the poor thing. Brown cars are fashionable again right? :laugh:

Can't be much browner than mine, been 2 months of country road driving every day, Most of it is mud....most of it.

it has earned the nickname of "Zee tractor" at work :laugh:

Hmmn, think we need photos for comparison. Or you could take it to the Xmas meet

Sigh

Just when I thought things were getting back to normal with the car the change engine oil light came on tonight. It's happened before and was simply a case of the garage forgetting to reset the computer after the service so I phoned them up expecting it to be the same thing. They agreed it probably is a simple oversight but have asked me to pop in tomorrow morning for them to take a look just in case it's something more serious related to all the work that's been done to the car recently.

I know they're just playing safe but I'm probably now going to have yet another sleepless night imagining the worst and trying to work out how I'm going to pay yet another bill

Sigh