Re: selespeed pump replaced
I know it is little help, but Alfa can fix Fiat Selespeeds too. My 156 had a pump replaced a few years back for £450 all in. On the issue of the head and the plug and the valves it sounds like the cam belt snapped. Can't think of any other reasoin the valves would need replacing. Good job you didn't have to pay for that work!
On the topic of forums and helpfulness. It is true that many people drop in, grab info and drop out. Some stay, its often down to interest. I became a member of a renault forum for a bit to find out how to change a headlight bulb on amegane which was giving my dad grief, found the answer after half a dozen posts and dropped out. Not my car, not interested in developing a relationship with the forum.
People only stay if they are made to feel welcome. When I first started to post here, I found that some people where quite abrupt and on occasion rude. After a while, you just learn who it isn't worth the hassle of getting into a conversation with.
I think on all forums there is alos the instant message problem where people write from brain to page, press send and only then re-read the message, which CAN read as being not as the writer intended.
If we want to grow the forum and get more people involved, we need to be kind. Everyone started somewhere.
A good example is when new people arrive, and ask a question in genuine ignorance of a possible answer, or even where to find it, and all they get as a reply is a message reading
"USE THE SEARCH TOOL THATS WHAT ITS THERE FOR
" or something similar. A better reply, might be "Try looking here (Link to search tool) If you can't find what you are looking for, please post again."
Small changes in language change the meaning and the friendliness of the conversation.
Also, on the point of publicly denouncing donations, many people
donate in time, not in money trying to help out. Insisting that people pay for information is fine, just be up front about it being a paid for service. Say by posting on each request message a reply of
"I will give you the
unlock code for your radio for a FEE of £5" then new people in to the forum have an option, and they won't then be a position where they can be publicly criticised/humiliated for donating a sum which other members feel isn't enough.
Just a suggestion.