The TCS were here last night for about an hour -- unfortunately, it's more than a loose plug.

That sounds like it's going to be an expensive repair.

Fixed that for you.

I went to a big-name, big-priced garage for exactly this eventuality. I intend to dump the problem squarely back in their lap.

I quote myself, just in case it isn't clear. Under the bonnet, anything high-pressure and wet is not welcome.

I jetwash parts of my bike at certain angles because I want it to run after.

Time for some credit where credit is due. We called the TCS and explained what had happened, and true to their reputation, they agreed that they were responsible and committed to put things right.

They came out to the house and tried to start the car, but it was clear that it was suffering from some serious electrical gremlins, even by Italian standards. They admitted their limits and had the car towed to the local Alfa dealer.

At the Alfa dealer, they confirmed that the ECU had been shorted out and needed to be replaced. The TCS told the repairer assured us that we would not see a bill, and that they would settle everything directly with the garage.

We picked up the car today and everything is working perfectly. Yes, it cost us CHF160- to have the engine steam-cleaned by the TCS, but they stood behind their work 100% when things went wrong and were very gracious and helpful about putting it right. Frankly, it’s exactly what we expected from the TCS and I was delighted to see them live up to their reputation.

Autop
autop.ch/
J.H.Keller AG Automobil
ewww.jhkellerag.ch/
Rinse & wet the car do not use a sponge because it will pick up grit and you'll be rubbing the grit around and it'll act like sandpaper.

What do you want???

3 useless posts on car washing!!

What are you selling???

Just a quick update on this, as I had my 5-y-o, 90000km, Passat mfk'd this morning.

Preparation on my part included checking the tyres when I put the winter ones on last week, having a quick look in the engine compartment and underneath for anything obvious, making sure all the windows, mirrors and lights were clean and... er that was it.

(Of course, I also knew that all the lights, wipers, horn etc. were working correctly, as I'd driven it yesterday).

But cleaning? Naah. The engine compartment is protected from road dirt by a belly pan anyway, and the bodywork gets washed regularly every time it rains It wasn't really very dirty, and I did shake out the driver and passenger foot mats while waiting, but nothing else.

No cleaning, no problem.

This was in Stans, BTW, combined VSZ for OW/NW.

Hi all,

Does anyone have recommendations for a garage in Basel or neighbouring Germany (weil am rhein) where I can get my car professionally cleaned before appearing at the MFK?

Any advise? prices? greatly appreciated

Cheers

Hahaha, just go to a jet wash in Germany & do it yourself in 10 minutes

There's fatmanfilms' approach, which will work 99% of the time.

Or there's the Swiss approach: take it into the TCS, where they offer a special MFK cleaning service. You can specify motor or motor-and-chassis.

And if the inspector gives you any grief, just explain that the TCS did it. That'll be enough to satisfy them you did it to "Swiss quality"

http://www.tcs.ch/de/der-club/meine-...27e7c736a888_7

Having done about 10 MFK's, they only ever said something once ( car passed ) as I did not bother to clean the engine as I knew it did not leak any oil car had done 250,000 km at the time.

One time, I took my car to have it washed, and came back to pick it up, and it and they took the liberty to also power wash the protection that is on the hood. Totally F'd up everything. No apology nothing. Laughed. Said it was an old car. This was in Wadenswil. I actually had 3 bad experiences there, and mind you it was on recommendation each time, before I stopped going. Total nightmare garage.

Don't bother. It's really not necessary, unless there's oily gunge in the engine area, which they will fail on the grounds that there may be an oil leak.

Hello,

In order to pass MFK I was told to have the engine and undercarriage of my car washed. Anyone know where I can do this? I have seen one of those "soft wash" services near the COOP I shop at - would they do it?

Thank you.

Normally, you have to pay top dollar and get it done at your (or any) servicing garage.

They have a special closed room and isolated drainage; use high pressure washers with detergents, so that all the caked on oil and grime can be removed and doesn't contaminate the waste water.
They also raise the car up on hydraulic lift to properly clean underneath.

Most service and self-service car wash places don't allow engine bay cleaning, because the waste water just runs into the normal waste water drainage system.

Whipe all visable engine parts on top with wd 40 or googone or whatever you have laying around. Then go to a self carwash and use the hose to simply make a couple passes underneath the car, focus the spray where the engine meets the trans for a couple secs ; specially the inside of the wheels where all the components etc are, spray the shocks also. you should be good

Go to the car wash in weil sort of opposite mcdonalds by the kebab hut. They have engine wash programme.

Use the hand held lance and get it under the car a few times.

Unless you have a total shitter of a car that leaks oil all over the place there is no need to do a full underbody steam clean.

Make sure the engine doesnt have any visible oil leaks as thats an instant fail.
People make a big deal about the MFK but in my experience you can easily get through with obvious defects.

What do you mean by "top dollar"? That doesn't make any sense to me.

You've never heard that phrase? (You must be a yank).

It means lots of money .... garage rates.


http://www.thefreedictionary.com/top+dollar