For anyone who CBA to read the whole thing - If a water pump is replaced on a diesel engine should / would the coolant also be replaced?? Also, are glow plugs part of regular servicing intervals?
Last weekend I picked up my first car (I know I know), well sort of van actually, it's a Renault Kangoo 1.5 DCI. I went for this because I needed something that can carry a full drum kit and bass rig and is cheap to buy, run and insure (I'm 22 and have no car claims bonus). The kangoo definitely ticked all the boxes. It's also really comfortable, has a lot of space (especially headroom) and it's quite fun to drive in a weird way. It has no creature comforts other than a cd player and a heater. It cost £950, has done 110k miles and has had the same owner since new. I bought it private sale from a genuine guy knowing it needed a service, that the cam belt hadn't been replaced for a long while and that the rear tyre was wearing pretty low.
I don't like to gamble with mechanical stuff so I booked it in to my local garage on Monday. They told me to get it there Thursday between 8am and 9am so I did.I agreed to have a full service done plus a cambelt and waterpump change. I also wanted the fanbelt doing as it was squealing on cold mornings. Al in this was £650. I went past 4 times throughout the day, going to and from work then off to football and back at 7pm (garage was still open) and it hadn't moved once even though he said it would be done that afternoon... Odd I thought. Next day I went past and it was finally in the garage and on a ramp. They phoned while I was at work but I wasn't there to answer, this was at 12pm and I got home at about 4.30. I'm wondering if they were trying to contact me about an issue but when they couldn't just went sort of went, ah sod it he wont notice and carried on anyway.
When I got the car home, I looked under the bonnet and there isn't a lot to see as most is covered but the coolant looked old and dark still, certainly not nice new fluorescent stuff. I thought that was a bit odd. Next, the fan belt squeal was still there on cold mornings but didn't last as long or as bad. I can't tell if the belt has been replaced, it may be one of the pulleys squealing so I'll have a look. Annoyingly though, a new light has now come on the dash which in the owners manual relates to either a glow plug or electrical issue warning. The car drives fine, but is hard to start when before I put it in the garage it was fine. Do you think something dodgy is going on or am I being paranoid? I don't know a lot about car servicing, especially diesel, but from looking online if changing the glow plugs and relay doesn't fix this issue then I am in a world of hurt chasing down umpteen electrical issues. Just plugging in Renaults computer diagnostic machine costs £90.... I really like this van so would love if anyone could help me out. My plan of action is to take it to a different garage locally, one a friend recommended and get him to do the glow plugs and relay and just give it a once over.