I personally think a lot of the problems are caused by the manufactures building crap cars with crap parts and then the after market supplying crap replacement parts with crap tools to do the job. That may be blunt but it sums it up.

A few friends have KTM motor bikes that are supplied with a good workshop manual and a good spares catalogue. The spares are reasonably priced and are good to get, and the few special tools required are available. Compared to our mess it is heaven to be involved with KTM.

As a comparison, I have just been doing a timing belt job where data was hard to get, the parts even harder to get - on back order for months. Stretch bolts not in stock (probably because nobody replaces them)and the Laser tools I bought to do the job had to be cut and stretched about 4mm and welded back together before they fitted correctly.

On the other hand there is always the tipex brigade down at the pub that can do the job at half the price without the tools (because they don't loosen the adjustable cam sprockets etc) who then shout to everyone that I have ripped them off. BUT, why does the local factors have a list a mile long of warranty claims for failed parts fitted or diagnosed incorrectly? I could suggest it is because they will supply anybody - trade or otherwise. Where do we stop at trying to police this trade? Somewhere down the line it is usually down to money and there are very few people who will put their money where their mouth is to benefit the trade as a whole.

When all is said and done the only way to do a job is to do it correctly and the sooner the manufactures make it easier for the repairs to be carried out then the more often it will be done correctly by both the dealers and the independents. Lets face it, if genuine parts and tools were competitively priced and the delivery and service was as good would anybody bother with factors or aftermarket tools?

Meanwhile I think it is disgusting that Motor Codes is having a dig at 'other' schemes. I haven't seen anything yet that makes them any better than the others.

Graham