Hi Pete,

>>>>He is getting the runaround by cowboys and was told that his main problem is that the car needs a new rad and thermostat!<<<<

>>>>which he can't get over to these sharks.<<<<

Thats a bit strong isn't it, I am the first to complain about the skill levels of lots of garages even to the point of saying most garages should not touch most diagnostic work as all they do is fit parts and cost the customer money. or worse create more faults that were not there in the first place.

Have you seen this car? How do you know there isn't a problem with the radiator and thermostat? although I would struggle to work out why this would cause a bad starting problem. Unless the head gasket was giving trouble as a result.

I understand what you are saying about cap and rotor and / or leads but at the end of the day yours is just a guess too.

The remarks you make are typical of retail customers who talk to mates in the pub who all have different ideas of the fault, but don't realy have a clue. And unjustly slating garages because they dont understand what they have done and why they have come to such a conclusion.

I am not doubting your ability but to use such works as "Cowboys snd Sharks" based purely on an unskilled friends testimony over the phone seems a little harsh too me.

I point blank refuse to carry out any diagnostics, even for friends, over the phone, but I guess, as you once said to me "Its not what you got, its what you do with it" Hmmm I must try to buy one of them Diagnostic Phones

I do however often have consultations on the phone helping and being helped by fellow Proffesionals.

Mike