FabSwingers.com > Forums > The Lounge > dreaded car mot
dreaded car mot
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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago
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well i already know i need 2 new back tyres and a dust something or other (clearly im into cars lol) so budgeted for those... just nothing else.
past 6 months the head gasket, cambelt, handbrake cable, heating, clutch cable, 2 front tyres have all been done.. so cant be much left for it to go wrong haha.
oh and was £160 for a new key snd immobilizer thingy in the fob..  |
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By *els_BellsWoman
over a year ago
with the moon n stars somewhere in gtr manc |
"Welllllll thank you CnS for reminding me mine is due in a few weeks. You've just ruined my friday mood *flounces off  
ooooops so sorry. xxxxxx"
Pffft  will let you off
Good luck with it though |
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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago
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"I had a free one in October as part of the deal when I bought my car. Passed with nothing needing doing. In all my years of owning cars this has never happened to me lol "
i will dream of that day haha. i had my eye on a gorgeous bright green ford fiesta that would be ideal size but swore to myself id never get a car on finance again 
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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago
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"Sometimes im so glad i dont drive, its all expense with them"
it sure is... just feel its my ticket to freedom. can go where i want and return home when i want.
rural living downside is public transport |
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By *eavenNhellCouple
over a year ago
carrbrook stalybridge |
well i already know i need 2 new back tyres and a dust something or other (clearly im into cars lol) so budgeted for those... just nothing els
why didnt you change the tyres before you put it in then it wont fail ??? |
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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago
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"well i already know i need 2 new back tyres and a dust something or other (clearly im into cars lol) so budgeted for those... just nothing els
why didnt you change the tyres before you put it in then it wont fail ???"
it had its service last week and was made aware then.. its actually going in a month early (apparently they can do that) so they've ordered what was picked up from the service |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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My top tip is to join a web forum or owners club dedicated to the type of car you own. That way you'll learn the possible faults and failures that can lead to an MOT fail.
You'll also learn about common faults that garages often overlook to try to squeeze extra money out of people.
I had an issue with my gearbox not selecting 4th on my Alfa Romeo. My local garage wanted to remove the gearbox, strip it and also replace the clutch, slave cylinder and master cylinder. Their quote was over £1200. I joined an Alfa website and discovered its a common issue which takes less than an hour to resolve and requires no parts, it cost me £48.
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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago
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wow thats a massive saving!
my family have been using this one dealership for years now and truly believe they are honest and fair with pricing. Id be nervous to try somewhere else. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"wow thats a massive saving!
my family have been using this one dealership for years now and truly believe they are honest and fair with pricing. Id be nervous to try somewhere else."
That's a good thing, but sometimes, if they're not aware of specific issues with different makes and models of cars then you end up paying for unnecessary work to be carried out. I actually told my local garage about the orrect repair for my car and I know its the first thing they check when cars come in with similar issues.
It's not always a cash grab, they can't be experts in every make and model of car, which is why i now only use a specialist Alfa garage in Bedford, its a good drive but they know the issues with these cars. It saves time and money in the end. |
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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago
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the car i have currently is what the garage used to specialize in before they became a mazda dealership so had spent years working with that brand of car |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"the car i have currently is what the garage used to specialize in before they became a mazda dealership so had spent years working with that brand of car "
Excellent, I'm sure you'll be in good hands then. |
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By *eavenNhellCouple
over a year ago
carrbrook stalybridge |
be carefull of places like kwik fit etc realy are a rip off
quoted £437 to replace the exhaust on my renault espace went to euro car part (who supply kwik fit )bought the parts off them fitted them myself total cost to me £137
will never use the likes kwik fit again |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"be carefull of places like kwik fit etc realy are a rip off
quoted £437 to replace the exhaust on my renault espace went to euro car part (who supply kwik fit )bought the parts off them fitted them myself total cost to me £137
will never use the likes kwik fit again "
You should read the horror stories about them on Alfa forums. One guy had his car fail because a machine said there was too much play in the steering lock. There is no such machine and its not part of the test anyway. They also said front tyres, brake pads and discs too. Despite the fact they had all been done within a month.
The OFT and Trading Standards have thousands of complaints similar to this from Kwik Fit. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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I always find the forums great place for car help. Alfa being one of the best
I can't understand people that rely on services and mot to pick up problems. Check your tyres weekly and replace immediately if needed.
If you really can't check yourself then stagger the service and mot.
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Ahh, MrWho, we currently have a similar problem with our Alfa and hubby has been on the forum and found out the same thing as you so is gonna fix it  "
Side plate on the gearbox and clear the swarf.
The other common one is the bushes on the selector, the crack and break. New ones cost a fiver.
If you get warnings on your dash, download multiecuscan (its free and for Alfa's and Fiat's) and buy a set of Alfa diagnostic cables from eBay (about £20). It's a godsend for fault finding,especially the little things like the airbag squib lights. Garages charge a minimum of £40 to sort them, when all it needs is a cable tie and a reset (which the program will do). |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"I always find the forums great place for car help. Alfa being one of the best
I can't understand people that rely on services and mot to pick up problems. Check your tyres weekly and replace immediately if needed.
If you really can't check yourself then stagger the service and mot.
"
I love that Alfa site. I chatted with the guys from Autolusso on there. Booked in for a cam belt and fresh underseal all for less than £400. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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The amount I have spent on my car in the past few years would have bought me quite a decent brand new car.
Water pump leak
New cat due to down pipe being corroded
New clutch at 10k+ miles
New gear box, twice as the second one was faulty and was replaced free of charge
Engine refurb (that was the biggest bill of all)
Another clutch as the second one was not fitted properly, discovered when the engine was taken out for the refurb
Radiator leak resulted in blowing the head gasket
New brakes (disks and all) for the front
A number of replacement tyres at about 130 GBP a pop being runflats
Number plate light unit (connections corroded)
Windscreen wiper motor and passenger window motor (due to trying to use them when frozen with snow)
etc. etc...
And I fitted a tow bar to it last year.
She is now 11yo and has over 160k+ miles on her.
I am very sentimental about her as she is one of a handful of constants in my life in the past 11 years.
I intend to keep her for as long as I can afford to do so.
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"Always go to a MOT center that does just MOT's as the have no incentive to 'find' work that needs doing. "
That's what I do, I have to visit nine times a year, if there's a problem my friend helps me out.
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By *teborahCouple
over a year ago
warrington |
"pleaseeee cross your fingers that it will pass and wont be too expensive...
thanks in advanced lol"
Makes me laugh this one every time. If folk just drive their cars from one mot to another and not carry out any sort of basic maintenance in between and just put petrol in it why do they get so upset when their precious car fails the test?? do they think fairies come out at night an maintain it for them?? whats that age old saying "Prevention is better than cure"  |
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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago
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"pleaseeee cross your fingers that it will pass and wont be too expensive...
thanks in advanced lol
Makes me laugh this one every time. If folk just drive their cars from one mot to another and not carry out any sort of basic maintenance in between and just put petrol in it why do they get so upset when their precious car fails the test?? do they think fairies come out at night an maintain it for them?? whats that age old saying "Prevention is better than cure" "
oh i do checks when going on long journeys, in the thread i gave a list of whats already been done and it had its service.. just didnt fancy a big pay out. im not a mechanic |
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By *teborahCouple
over a year ago
warrington |
"pleaseeee cross your fingers that it will pass and wont be too expensive...
thanks in advanced lol
Makes me laugh this one every time. If folk just drive their cars from one mot to another and not carry out any sort of basic maintenance in between and just put petrol in it why do they get so upset when their precious car fails the test?? do they think fairies come out at night an maintain it for them?? whats that age old saying "Prevention is better than cure"
oh i do checks when going on long journeys, in the thread i gave a list of whats already been done and it had its service.. just didnt fancy a big pay out. im not a mechanic "
Its not about being a mechanic or not, its more about people neglecting their cars (not you by the way) If you look after your car (or anything really) then it will look after you, it really is that simple. I see it all the time where people will be told there is all sorts of things wrong with their car and then all of a sudden that particular car is the biggest piece of shit on the road. in their eyes it has nothing at all to do with the fact all they have done to it for the past 12 months is drive it. zero sympathy tbh |
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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago
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"But your service said you needed rear tyres. I always change tyres when I know they need it. Not when people tell me.
But then I do my own services"
is that even legal to carry out your own service? |
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"But your service said you needed rear tyres. I always change tyres when I know they need it. Not when people tell me.
But then I do my own services
is that even legal to carry out your own service? "
I don't see why not. Servicing isn't a legal requirement... You're not commiting any offence if you have a car on the road that hasn't been serviced. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"But your service said you needed rear tyres. I always change tyres when I know they need it. Not when people tell me.
But then I do my own services
is that even legal to carry out your own service? "
Of course it is. You can do any work you want on your car. |
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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago
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"But your service said you needed rear tyres. I always change tyres when I know they need it. Not when people tell me.
But then I do my own services
is that even legal to carry out your own service?
I don't see why not. Servicing isn't a legal requirement... You're not commiting any offence if you have a car on the road that hasn't been serviced. "
but when you buy a car and it says 'comes with a full service history'
or if you service the car yourself you cant add that line to its 'plus points' |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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I wouldn't buy a car with full dealer service history. Worse servicing ever is from dealers. And you can still include all the receipts for the parts. And it is serviced.
So it makes no difference to anyone that knows cars. You would be surprised at the amount of cars I've seen fail and mot after being main dealer serviced.
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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Remember to check the oil level on a regularly basis, and do not rely on the oil warning light alone.
If it comes on, it is too late and the engine has already suffered.
I learnt it the hard way, as did Eveshamgal I believe.
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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Oh and full service history just means it's been serviced. You can just put the date in the box.
That's all I have ever done. And never struggled to sell a car. Only service I didn't actually do myself was my v6 alfa as I didn't have the tools to do the cam belt. |
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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago
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"Remember to check the oil level on a regularly basis, and do not rely on the oil warning light alone.
If it comes on, it is too late and the engine has already suffered.
I learnt it the hard way, as did Eveshamgal I believe.
"
yeah i regularly check water/oil levels and tyres before attempting any kind of lengthy journey.. that even includes an hours venture down to plymouth |
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By *teborahCouple
over a year ago
warrington |
The worrying part is when for example the local lad whos day to day job is lets say a washing machine repair man then fixes the brakes on his neighbours car and makes a complete hash of it then the neighbour takes his wife and two kids on holiday in it ( I have seen this by the way and the family were lucky to tell the tail) jobs like this on cars should be carried out by qualified people and signed off by qualified people. Not only could it kill them but may one day be driving behind you. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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I've never paid a garage to do my brakes. I know I'm capable. And I always get it checked on brakes tester. But then not everyone has access to what I do
I would hate to see it go to having to go to a proper garage.but it should just be people that know what they are doing. |
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By *teborahCouple
over a year ago
warrington |
"I've never paid a garage to do my brakes. I know I'm capable. And I always get it checked on brakes tester. But then not everyone has access to what I do
I would hate to see it go to having to go to a proper garage.but it should just be people that know what they are doing. "
But would you let someone who self qualified themselves fix your brakes? I really do think there should be a law against it. There is for everything else |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"I've never paid a garage to do my brakes. I know I'm capable. And I always get it checked on brakes tester. But then not everyone has access to what I do
I would hate to see it go to having to go to a proper garage.but it should just be people that know what they are doing.
But would you let someone who self qualified themselves fix your brakes? I really do think there should be a law against it. There is for everything else"
My mechanic that I use when I can't do it has not one qualification. And I trust him. They have already made it that if you modify your car you need it checking out.
It's very hard to get doing your brakes wrong. As they either work or don't. |
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By *U1966Man
over a year ago
Devon |
"the car i have currently is what the garage used to specialize in before they became a mazda dealership so had spent years working with that brand of car
Excellent, I'm sure you'll be in good hands then."
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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I like older cars. So not really an option. And most people can't afford a new car.
What shocks me is the state some of those cars get into in 3 years. I've seen some cars come in for mot that need so much work doing due to neglect. |
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By *teborahCouple
over a year ago
warrington |
"I've never paid a garage to do my brakes. I know I'm capable. And I always get it checked on brakes tester. But then not everyone has access to what I do
I would hate to see it go to having to go to a proper garage.but it should just be people that know what they are doing.
But would you let someone who self qualified themselves fix your brakes? I really do think there should be a law against it. There is for everything else
My mechanic that I use when I can't do it has not one qualification. And I trust him. They have already made it that if you modify your car you need it checking out.
It's very hard to get doing your brakes wrong. As they either work or don't. "
There is a lot more to a braking system than just fitting brake pads for instance. replacing hydraulic seals and bleeding modern hydraulic systems with abs is far from routine and if not carried out properly can be very dangerous |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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It's still pretty straight forward if you got the tools. Anything newer than about 2006 I wouldn't touch. But most cars I own are pre 2001. Therefore nice and simple.
Modern cars have mostly been designed so you can't fix them at home. And smaller garages are suffering too as the specialist equipment needed is getting more and more.
I'm lucky that I can borrow quite a few bits. As I normally work on my car in a mates garage.
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By *teborahCouple
over a year ago
warrington |
"It's still pretty straight forward if you got the tools. Anything newer than about 2006 I wouldn't touch. But most cars I own are pre 2001. Therefore nice and simple.
Modern cars have mostly been designed so you can't fix them at home. And smaller garages are suffering too as the specialist equipment needed is getting more and more.
I'm lucky that I can borrow quite a few bits. As I normally work on my car in a mates garage.
"
I understand what you are saying and you have been maintaining you car for many years which is good. But what do you think about someone carrying out work on their brakes who does not have the first clue what they are doing?
As far as the specialist equipment goes, Unless you have dealer specific diagnostic equipment for each make of car then you are pretty much stumped. The likes of Snap on scanners are close to useless. |
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"They won't be changing it. I keep up to date and they are actually talking about having it every 6 months for older cars.
"
On the contrary they have just changed the regulations (in November)so pre-1960 cars no longer require an MOT, whilst Europe want us to comply to their legislation in which cars older than 30 years don't need to be tested, which we definitely won't be complying to! |
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As far as the specialist equipment goes, Unless you have dealer specific diagnostic equipment for each make of car then you are pretty much stumped. The likes of Snap on scanners are close to useless."
To be fair a lot of the third party diagnostic kit suppliers are fairly good at keeping their equipment updated with downloaded updates which are available every 4-8 months. So probably 95-98% of cars that non-dealer garages are going to come across are catered for. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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The most important part about diy car maintenance is knowing your limitations. Some poor kid in Plymouth did some work on his car. Overtightened a nut on the wheel bearing and it ended up with a fatality.
Only do work that you understand and always ensure that you work within the limits of your abilities.
Ps brakes don't 'either work or not' |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"It's still pretty straight forward if you got the tools. Anything newer than about 2006 I wouldn't touch. But most cars I own are pre 2001. Therefore nice and simple.
Modern cars have mostly been designed so you can't fix them at home. And smaller garages are suffering too as the specialist equipment needed is getting more and more.
I'm lucky that I can borrow quite a few bits. As I normally work on my car in a mates garage.
I understand what you are saying and you have been maintaining you car for many years which is good. But what do you think about someone carrying out work on their brakes who does not have the first clue what they are doing?
As far as the specialist equipment goes, Unless you have dealer specific diagnostic equipment for each make of car then you are pretty much stumped. The likes of Snap on scanners are close to useless."
My cars are my babies. So I can't understand just letting anyone work on them. I also if I have a car that I can't work on myself make sure I research it and find someone good. Most of my close friends are mechanics or mot testers. So I have it covered
disagree about the after market diagnostics though. As many really good ones about as long as you spend the money.
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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A guy at my work stuck his 09 plate bmw m3 in for a service this week, the bill was £1200 for the service and they recomended he have £6500 worth of further work done to it. Official dealers seem to try and rip you off at every opportunity. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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I think basic vehicle checks/maintenance should be part of the driving test.
I do most of my on work of my cars, but then I've driven in places where relying on a garage/recovery service isn't possible. The nearest bit of tarred road might be 2 or 3 days drive away.
Get a decent manual for your car and read how to do it.
Modern cars are getting too complicated to their own good though, main dealer technicians are no longer real mechanics but fitters, they remove the defective part and fit a new one, they don't seem to fix things any more. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"A guy at my work stuck his 09 plate bmw m3 in for a service this week, the bill was £1200 for the service and they recomended he have £6500 worth of further work done to it. Official dealers seem to try and rip you off at every opportunity."
My cars not worth 1200  ....lol. |
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