Problems that exist but dont...

[Pandabean]

Why is it if you have a problem and you go to someone to get it fixed and try to demonstrate that problem it never materialises

For example for the past couple weeks I have had a high pitched squeek coming from my car when driving and turning. But when I take it to the mechanics they can't find anything wrong. Now I am not very good with cars and how the bits work etc, only know where the window washer, coolant and oil goes. Thats about it. Thankfully they never charged me.

The same thing happened earlier this year when I had a pain in my foot for about a week, thinking I had sprained it or something but when I get the appointment and go there the pain is almost gone.

Is this just me or a normal phenomononon?

[g4ghb]

yup it's called Sods Law mate! - happens all the time!

[Pandabean]

Seems to happen to me alot then

[Paul_B]

Summat else is white coat syndrome. Thats when you have normal pulse or blood pressure (in my case low pressure) but you suddenly go sky high when a doctor or nurse takes them even if you are not stressed. I think it is something to do with doctors and medical staff. Certainly ain't to do with nurses uniforms these days as they are all shapeless pyjamas!!

Coolant? There's coolant in cars? Never knew that. I get noises in my car all the time and garages don't hear it. My old car had a lot of problems with bearings failing. My new old car combined with my new garage I use had a squeak which I got the garage to hear when they put new tyres on but they couldn't hear it. The noise was loud and obviously bearing noise to me. Still after the garage gave my car back I could hear no noise, still can't 6 months later. They even said my diesel negine is sweet, no noises knocks or irregular sounds at all. Said it was a really good engine. (Vauxhalll Astra TDi from 52 plate with an isuzu engine in it IIRC, supposed to be solid engine).

Agree with disappering symptoms with a lot of things like cars and bodies. Friends have had that too. The trick is to go out and do the thing that triggered it before the appointment. A friend went out an ran cos that caused it then saw the physio (symptoms had gone in the intervening few hours!!).

[Bazzworx]

Its always the same, when ever we have a customer come into the garage with an intermittent problem you can be sure that its not going to happen when we have the vehicle.

[Pandabean]

Bazz, I take it you guys get annoyed with that? Kind of felt I annoyed the garage yesterday with it, even though they didn't charge.

Paul - yeh I meant the engine coolant, or water . I tried to do the thing I was doing before going to them which was to drive 25 miles, but that morning it never materialised, but the previous morning it was loud enough to be heard over the radio. Just typical...

[daveO]

For example for the past couple weeks I have had a high pitched squeek coming from my car when driving and turning.

It's not a landrover is it? :P Squeak squeak squeak everywhere I go..

It does sound like a slipping belt though, if it get worse when you turn probably the power steering belt. If it's even slightly loose it only take a bit of moisture or oil to make it squeak. Best cure is the volume knob in the radio tbh.

[Bazzworx]

Yeah we do get annoyed with it because it can seem like we're not doing our job and we can't charge for not fixing it. A common one though is that a customer comes in with a knock at the rear and it turnes out to be something rolling around in the boot

[gregorach]

In my industry (IT), we usually have the opposite problem - systems which have been working perfectly will suddenly fail in completely unexpected and inexplicable ways as soon as you try to demonstrate them to somebody.

[southey]

I've had it twice, once was a weep weep type squeak, that turned out to be a bent front drive shaft, completely my fault but changed on warranty YAY!

Second was a whine from the front when under heavy accelaration, took the mechanic who was decent bloke out to try and demonstraight it, his verdict, Steering wheel/seat interface was a prat. good call i say.

[Paul_B]

If the squeak is on turning could it be bearings? I used to get a lot of bearing problems. The guy from the garage told me that if you are doing a right turn and it squeaks (not alway clear where the noise is coming from on my old car) the problem bearing could be on the left side taking the strain or a different bearing on the right side or inside of the bend. Not sure how right he was as It was a year or so after that he started ripping me off big time and I switched garages. It also had a noise on breaking/accelration.

[Pandabean]

Dave, nope not a landrover, but a wee fiat punto. The noise does seem to be coming from the drivers front either when turning and also when driving along on the dual carraigeway and the wheel is slightly to the left. Seems to come and go when it wants.
Dunc - yup, I know what you mean, I have that same problem. You do this, this and that and oh thats not supposed to do that.

[decorum]

Why is it if you have a problem and you go to someone to get it fixed and try to demonstrate that problem it never materialises

The inverse is often also true

The 'This never fails' often does; especially if you're in a group