‘Back street’ garages

[NeilGC]

I have an excellent 'back street' garage near me, who maintain all of our family cars once they're out of warranty.  I know them well, trust them, and I like their prices a lot!  Would you trust them to carry out work on your 2009 Roadsport 125 (Ford Sigma) Seven?  I have two specific jobs coming up: (1) oil seals on both ends of the propshaft, and (2) routine cambelt change.  It seems to me that if they can do modern cars (eg. a 2018 Ford Fiesta) with the associated electrickery, then a much more basic and accessible car like a Seven should be a breeze.   Thoughts?

[NeilGC]

PS. they are a registered MOT test station, which I think adds credibility.

[SM25T]

That well known national high speed tyre fitting outfit is a registered MOT test station. Just saying.

[Gridgway]

To my mind 7's are very simple cars to work on.  Maybe there's a lot going on in the mega duratecs, but a Sigma 125 is simple.

So if you'd trust them to do those jobs on your other cars, then why not on the 7?

PS I didn't think the propshaft had oil seals, just saying! 

[Paul Richards]

Be careful with cam belt change. Cam timing on a 7 is different to Fiesta/Focus. Therefore if they use the normal Ford cam locking tool on. 7 the timing will be incorrect.

Edited to say - there are no oil seals on a propshaft. What is the problem? A leak where propshaft enters gearbox means a new gearbox oil seal. A leak from the nose of the diff is also an oil seal. Removal of diff will be needed to remedy these. They need to know how to reinstall diff correctly ensuring shims are fitted to centralise it. A copy of the build manual will help them. 

[Hampshire West AR]

I assume you mean the rear gearbox and diff oil seals?  They will need to either remove the diff to release the prop shaft or take the engine out to replace both seals I believe.  Long as you trust them to do that work, its not difficult if they have a ramp.

 

[Gridgway]

Just curious, is the gearbox and the diff leaking through the oil seals then?

[NeilGC]

Thanks all.  You've stumped me a bit.  I didn't know there is a "rear gearbox" that is different to "the gearbox".  I also don't know if "the gearbox and diff are leaking through the oil seals."  The specialist sports car garage (although not a Caterham dealer) who told me this stuff was a bit vague on the detail.  
 

 I'm becoming increasingly convinced that getting a Caterham dealer to take a look is probably a wise move. 
 

[Wrightpayne]

#6 is poorly worded - it means to say the oil seal at the rear of the gearbox (the gearbox has several seals and gaskets that can leak)

My diff drops 1 spot of oil each time I stop and the gearbox a bit more.

where are you in the country? I'm sure a local club member would happily glance over your car to see if the oil leaks are something to worry about immediately or just monitored - there is quite a lot of dismantling to change either seal. On my car '98 dedion K series its engine out (and gearbox) to change the gearbox rear seal. Differential requires brakes and drive shafts removing and parts of the rear suspension dismantling.

Its all basic stuff, however, the build manual is essential to ensure special washers and specific size bolts end up back in the right place.

Good Luck

Ian 

[Hampshire West AR]

Apologies, I meant the oil seal at the rear of the gearbox.  Even if you don't know much about cars a good garage can show you the issues up by putting the car up on a ramp and pointing out the problems.

 

[NeilGC]

Thanks again folks.

[Geoff Brown]

For all my car MoTs I go to what could be judged as a 'back street garage' externally. BUT it has two small branches in Swindon & the larger branch has fleet contracts with Thames Water & Swindon Borough Council for Taxi testing.

Appearances can be deceptive unless you walk in & talk to the staff.

The larger branch has a Seven friendly MoT inspector who understands the car but obviously will fail or advise where necessary. 

 

 

[Simon420R]

Apologies for possibly derailing this thread but I'm new to Seven ownership and was wondering about main dealers vs independents vs 'back street' garages. I've owned Porsches in the past and there's such snobbery about having the correct stamps in the service book. It would be seen as the kiss of death to have a non-specialist stamp in the book, best of all to have the official dealership one in there.
 

I've always used independents on my past cars as I prefer a more personal service, but I was wondering if the same service stamp snobbery applies on the Seven. 

[Jonathan Kay]

It's usually concluded that it doesn't.

And of course many Sevens are maintained by their owners.

Jonathan

[John Vine]

#13  ...I was wondering if the same service stamp snobbery applies on the Seven. 

Very unlikely, IME.  Some owners do practically all their own maintenance.  I do a lot on my own car, but like to get an acknowledged expert (Millwood in my case) to give the car a once-over annually.

I think the key is to keep very detailed records of all the work done, whoever happens to do it.  

JV

[Gridgway]

I'm in agreement here.  As a prospective buyer, I'd want to see dteailed records to show that things have been done properly.  As in reality there aren't any main dealers other than Caterham themselves.  There are car-sales dealers which i guess count.

For my refresh project which I am doing myself, I have a huge trello board and a myriad of receipts to show interested parties should I come to sell.  For a simple winter refresh, it's an impressively large project!

[Gnockoff]

My brother in law runs a "Back Street Garage" catering for all types of cars which I use for what I call general servicing and MOTs.  Anything I would consider Caterham specific, Set up, Geometry etc, then I go to Caterham specialists.  I used to go to James Whiting before he retired and now have used Sevens and Classics who sorted a a persistant misfire for me.

[Golf Juliet Tango]

Simon, I use an independent specialist.

But when I got the car, there was probably only one official dealer (Millwood in south Gloucestershire) but those people who ran race teams were official service agents.  I bought from one of those and used another for service.  Since that time, there have been several rearrangements to Caterham Cars' arrangements.  

I'd say that location is important.