Hi - Keeping my Berlingo Alive!

[Telecasterblaster]

Hi Good People

I love my Berlingo (Desire) 2005 - I have the windows tinted and the front passenger seat swapped for a foldable one
so I can camp out.
I think the steering rack is gone - my garage says it's a big job and not an economical repair.
What do you think?
I want to keep the car on the road.
I have seen reconditioned racks on eBay for £170. Any know roughly what a garage would charge to do the job?

Here's hoping...
Thanks 
Chris.

[cancunia]

Welcome to the forum. Is that a Caledonian ferry by any chance?
I'm not sure about the steering rack, but from memory underneath my M59 it did look like it might be a bit of a difficult job.

[polar]

Hi Good People

I love my Berlingo (Desire) 2005 - I have the windows tinted and the front passenger seat swapped for a foldable one
so I can camp out.
I think the steering rack is gone - my garage says it's a big job and not an economical repair.
What do you think?
I want to keep the car on the road.
I have seen reconditioned racks on eBay for £170. Any know roughly what a garage would charge to do the job?

Here's hoping...
Thanks 
Chris.

Sound like they dont want the job mate. Dont get me wrong its not going to be cheap maybe £150 - £200 labour but if your vehicle is in good condition then it will be worth, as they say better the devil you know. Also how much would your van cost to replace, with a newer one££££

[ffrenchie]

Check it's not just play in the track control arms, what exactly have they said is "gone" ?

[Pedronicus]

Surely the only person who can say whether the job is 'not an economical repair' is the owner who has to pay up.

Used to get that line when I repaired heating boilers. A well known large national company used to tell the customer exactly that and then 'we can sell you a new boiler at 3x more than other people will charge you'!

[geoff]

There is a Haynes Manual on the site ( have a search ) it will give an idea of what is involved in the way of work it may assist in evaluating a price for labour.

[bikey]

As ffrenchie says, it may be just play in the track control arms. If so, they can be changed without removal of the rack. There is a special tool available on the bay to unscrew them and tighten the replacements up.
I changed one last year and it wasn't too difficult or expensive a job.

[ffrenchie]

I've got mine to do this year, there's play in the drivers side but it's not too bad. It's a DIY job and the dearest part is going to be getting the tracking done after.

[polar]

What does the OP think of the advise given?