- Joined
- Mar 26, 2013
- Messages
- 60
- Points
- 11
Dear Everyone, I'm new to this so I hope I will be forgiven for any errors I may make, but I've just, this morning, had even more bad news about my Multipla and really don't know what I'm going to do, and I wondered if there is anyone else who has had such a run of bad luck as I have had with this car, or if there's anyone who has any suggestions as to where I may be able to locate a good, secondhand rear axle, with good trailing arms and bushes, and hopefully reasonable brake shoes/drums? This is the story of our venture into Multipla land, so far ...
Purchased the Multipla (looked decent) in 2011. 'He' is a 2001 JTD model. There seemed to be a slight water leak - took 'him' to a garage day after purchasing to have car checked over - straight away they told me they would have to fit a new radiator. I trusted the garage, they fitted the rad., I paid the money. I was shown the underneath, one small item (?rod) was mentioned (about £50.00) but told otherwise seemed OK. Not long after a radiator hose fell apart whilst we were out shopping - went back to garage via breakdown truck, paid for new hose to be fitted. Not long after that there were problems with brakes - paid for new front discs and pads and new tyres. Icy weather, started car in morning, would not move, had to get children to school or would receive severe reprimand - not allowed to be late - car moved begrudingly, burning smell, then no brakes at all! Got to the school (9-mile drive), was late, explained about car/brakes, school still penalized us. MOT - apparently there were MANY problems with front suspension, emissions - cost a LOT of money to get car through MOT, but couldn't be without car 'cos of having to travel so far to and from the schools. No advisories re rear suspension excepting 'a little welding would be required on ?bump-stop' for later date. Had two new rear tyres fitted, began to hear squeaking from rear? Took car to purchase new front tyres - was suggested I take car to a garage first to get it checked ... rear wheels splayed outwards! I had found, on this Forum, the possible reason why the wheels were splayed - I took car to garage - garage said "Rear axle required" - then reduced that to 2 x new Trailing Arms. I continued to research and found just bushes could be replaced so booked car in at different garage, took it in this morning, after they put it on ramp I received a 'phonecall ...
The rear axle/subframe was rotting - showed me - other garages had said car quite solid apart from the minor welding (which was not mentioned by anyone other than the MOT garage!). One wheel off showed brake shoes almost non-existent (that explained the grating noise then!!), wheel cylinder leaking. Rot around the bump-stop was more than minor - MOT was June 2012 so I assume it has worsened since viewed then, but not mentioned by the garages of later dates. I am almost having a breakdown myself over this vehicle, and have NO IDEA how on earth I am going to be able to afford MORE repairs, but we need a car (I am single parent with two children of minor age) - but I need a car that is SAFE!! The MOST WORRYING thing pointed out to me this morning - and this explains the problem with the rear brakes (I thought they had frozen somehow, but thought this had rectified itself, especially as I was told the handbrake (I'd had issues) was 'self-adjusting') was the fact that, sometime in its history, the handbrake cable had been rubbing against another, underneath, and someone had repaired the damage with INSULATING TAPE rather than replace the damaged pipe!!! Apparently, it's highly likely that when we'd had the freezing weather water had been able to penetrate the handbrake cabling, the brakes had never released - hence the burning smell. So, I don't know what to do - borrow more money and try to get all these latest problems fixed, take a chance with a secondhand axle - if I can locate one ... Would anyone out there have any suggestions as to whether repair by secondhand parts may be a viable option, has anyone else had such a run of bad luck as we have had? - By the way, in addition to these mechanical problems, our poor Multipla was vandalized in a local car park the first time I parked it in there, the driver's door-lock is not working, the remote locking does not work, and I will have to purchase ANOTHER three tyres (one thru' wear and tear, but the two new rear ones because the inners have been rubbed due to the splaying of the wheels!!)
I would be grateful to know if anyone else has been through similar and did they come out OK the other end with all repairs carried out. I also wonder if it is usual for handbrake cables to be taped-up when worn?
I really don't know what to do about our Mr T. If anyone has any nice suggestions I would really appreciate a little cheering up - and a miracle wouldn't go amiss...
Thank you for reading,
Purchased the Multipla (looked decent) in 2011. 'He' is a 2001 JTD model. There seemed to be a slight water leak - took 'him' to a garage day after purchasing to have car checked over - straight away they told me they would have to fit a new radiator. I trusted the garage, they fitted the rad., I paid the money. I was shown the underneath, one small item (?rod) was mentioned (about £50.00) but told otherwise seemed OK. Not long after a radiator hose fell apart whilst we were out shopping - went back to garage via breakdown truck, paid for new hose to be fitted. Not long after that there were problems with brakes - paid for new front discs and pads and new tyres. Icy weather, started car in morning, would not move, had to get children to school or would receive severe reprimand - not allowed to be late - car moved begrudingly, burning smell, then no brakes at all! Got to the school (9-mile drive), was late, explained about car/brakes, school still penalized us. MOT - apparently there were MANY problems with front suspension, emissions - cost a LOT of money to get car through MOT, but couldn't be without car 'cos of having to travel so far to and from the schools. No advisories re rear suspension excepting 'a little welding would be required on ?bump-stop' for later date. Had two new rear tyres fitted, began to hear squeaking from rear? Took car to purchase new front tyres - was suggested I take car to a garage first to get it checked ... rear wheels splayed outwards! I had found, on this Forum, the possible reason why the wheels were splayed - I took car to garage - garage said "Rear axle required" - then reduced that to 2 x new Trailing Arms. I continued to research and found just bushes could be replaced so booked car in at different garage, took it in this morning, after they put it on ramp I received a 'phonecall ...
The rear axle/subframe was rotting - showed me - other garages had said car quite solid apart from the minor welding (which was not mentioned by anyone other than the MOT garage!). One wheel off showed brake shoes almost non-existent (that explained the grating noise then!!), wheel cylinder leaking. Rot around the bump-stop was more than minor - MOT was June 2012 so I assume it has worsened since viewed then, but not mentioned by the garages of later dates. I am almost having a breakdown myself over this vehicle, and have NO IDEA how on earth I am going to be able to afford MORE repairs, but we need a car (I am single parent with two children of minor age) - but I need a car that is SAFE!! The MOST WORRYING thing pointed out to me this morning - and this explains the problem with the rear brakes (I thought they had frozen somehow, but thought this had rectified itself, especially as I was told the handbrake (I'd had issues) was 'self-adjusting') was the fact that, sometime in its history, the handbrake cable had been rubbing against another, underneath, and someone had repaired the damage with INSULATING TAPE rather than replace the damaged pipe!!! Apparently, it's highly likely that when we'd had the freezing weather water had been able to penetrate the handbrake cabling, the brakes had never released - hence the burning smell. So, I don't know what to do - borrow more money and try to get all these latest problems fixed, take a chance with a secondhand axle - if I can locate one ... Would anyone out there have any suggestions as to whether repair by secondhand parts may be a viable option, has anyone else had such a run of bad luck as we have had? - By the way, in addition to these mechanical problems, our poor Multipla was vandalized in a local car park the first time I parked it in there, the driver's door-lock is not working, the remote locking does not work, and I will have to purchase ANOTHER three tyres (one thru' wear and tear, but the two new rear ones because the inners have been rubbed due to the splaying of the wheels!!)
I would be grateful to know if anyone else has been through similar and did they come out OK the other end with all repairs carried out. I also wonder if it is usual for handbrake cables to be taped-up when worn?
I really don't know what to do about our Mr T. If anyone has any nice suggestions I would really appreciate a little cheering up - and a miracle wouldn't go amiss...
Thank you for reading,