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Barry Cade

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Posts posted by Barry Cade

  1. 15 hours ago, horriblemercedes said:

    Presumably this means they can be fitted with towbar and electrics, but only when being built at the factory?

    There will be a workaround, when the aftermarket catch up. Last job today was a 20 plate Skoda Octavia. couldn't fit a bar as it had 0 towing capacity on the VIN plate.  The calibrations for towing are already there, they just need to be activated , which we do after fitting a bar- it alters all the systems required

  2. 34 minutes ago, GR8 PL8 M8 said:

    Good to know! Funnily enough I was looking at Astros when I bought the Aerostar...

    If you weren't already aware of it, rockauto.com is fantastic for American bits. The shipping can be half the cost, but it'll still work out cheaper than UK sources, and arrives just as quickly. That's been my experience anyway.

    I've used Rockauto, and Summit many times, but when I need 1 thing, usually quickly it can be a pain. I love cross referencing stuff and am always surprised what fits what from a local factors.... I'm having issues with the Astro at the mo, and not getting in to parts darts, which I would if I put in a big order to the 'States! Waiting on a coolant temp sensor now, which is the same as a Vauxhall Combo 1.7D 😆

  3. On 24/03/2024 at 21:17, mk2_craig said:

    Hey @Barry Cade, help me answer a pub argument. Mate says you can’t fit a towbar to a Focus ST (current shape). I say there’s no reason why not but I can’t find anything to confirm either way. Got any intel? 

    Brink exclude the ST with their towbars, they are OE supplier for Ford. Some other companies don't mention the ST. The only certain way to check is look on the VIN plate inside the door. 2nd line. If it says 0, or is blank, then you can't legally tow. Like this:

    IMG_0832.jpg.637bd0dd5b229e210ba9563314f2b22c.jpg

     

    New 2024 model year VAG stuff cannot be coded for a towbar, not even by a dealer. I have been having issues coding a 2024 A Class  Mercedes, had to do it remotely today.... £159 quid to the  coding company and 2 hours standing in the rain with the Transit idling and jump leads between the 2.. The future's bright...

  4. Spring loaded key Seat Mii
    Remote central locking Renault 11 TXE
    Keyless entry Suzuki Swift
    Push button start Focus 
    Pull start  no
    Handle cranking start no
    Automatic gearbox Carina e
    CVT gearbox Volvo 340
    Overdrive (that isn't a selectable gear) Volvo 240
    Odd number of cylinders Audi 90, Volvo 850 T5 Seat Mii, Daihatsu Charade, VW Santana GX5, VW Passat GL5, Triumph Tiger
    Turbocharger Volvo T5, Saab 9-5, 
    Twin turbo no
    Supercharger Merc SLK
    V6 Rover 75
    V8 Dodge Challenger, Dodge D100, Chevy Caprice
    Boxer engine Alfa 146
    Air cooled engine Trabant
    Electric no
    RWD Escort Mk2 x 2. Manta GTEx2, Dodge Challenger, Fiat X1/9x17  .. many more
    Part time 4WD Suzuki SJ, Mitsu Shogunx2
    Full time 4WD  Chevy Astro Shogun Pinin
    Locking differentials Suzuki SJ
    Hydrolastic suspension MGF
    Hydro-pneumatic suspension Citroen BX, Xantia and XM
    Adjustable ride height as above
    Longitudinal mounted FWD Renault 21
    Mid Engined Fiat X1/9 x 17. Pontiac Fiero
    Rear Engined Suzuki SC100
    ICE which doesn't drive the wheels by design no
    Front wheel handbrake Saab 900 T16s
    Electric handbrake no
    Left hand drive Astro, Challenger, Caprice, Fiero,Trabant
    Cruise control Astro, Focus, Saab 900, Saab 9-5
    Radar cruise no
    Heated seats Saab 900, Focus, Volvos- loads, Rover 75
    Heated rear seats Saab 9-5
    Air conditioning Mii, Focus, Astro, Volvo 360 GLEi, Fiero, 
    Two seats X1/9, MGF, 
    More than five seats Espace
    Fabric roof Panda 1000s
    Sunroof Saab 900T16s, BMW 518 touring
    Carburettor Loads, X1/9, Escort, Trabant, Challenger
    DMF Vito
    DPF Focus
    Android auto Transit
    Bluetooth Mii, Focus, 
    Speech Synthesis / talking dashboard Renault 11 TXE
    Ribbon / drum speedo  FSO 1300
    No speedo no
    Odd number of doors no
    Gullwing doors no
    Pillarless windows Challenger
    Plastic windows Astro has 1
    No windows no
    Opening front windscreen Suzuki SJ
    Opening rear windscreen Suzuki SC100
    One or more heated SIDE windows no
    Heated mirrors loads
    Heated washer jets loads
    No radio of any sort no
    No belts in fitted rear seats loads
    Built from a kit no
    Plastic bodypanels BX
    Plastic / GRP bodypanels Espace
    Electric pop-up lights X1/9, Fiero
    Manual pop-up lights TR7- they were broke
    Sliding PASSENGER door no
    Fresh air face ventilation with the heating on Merc 190
    Wood rimmed steering wheel Astro, Alfa Giulietta
    Imported from abroad Trabant
    Made by a manufacturer which no longer exists. Saab, Rover
    Made before you were born Challenger
    Owned more cars than you have lived years yes
    Car bought from an Autoshiter Yes
    Car owned previously(or subsequently) by three or more Autoshiters  no
    Bought sight unseen Yes, Challenger
    Bought without even a photograph  yes, a few
    Collection included flight Challenger
    Collection included more than two trains yes, a few also
    Collection included a drive home to a pre-booked MOT of more than 100 miles. no
    Won in a ROFFLE no
    Brought home on an A Frame / used to A frame another vehicle on its first journey Nova
    Didn't make it home on it's first collection attempt no
    Sold within a week of purchase yes, many
    Ex-taxi Merc 190D 2.5
    Car had previously been off the road for five or more years Yes, many
    Owned the exact same car (not just the same model) previously no
    Owned in part, as part of a convoluted shared ownership scheme no
    Required solicitors letters / police assistance / detective work / confrontation / breaking and entering to collect after purchase no
    Was displaying the wrong identity at purchase yes, Kawasaki ZZR
    Given for free Yes, Volvo 340

  5. 10 minutes ago, yes oui si said:

    Absolutely a design ahead of its time, and I wouldn't dispute that. 

    Worth noting that they were put in cars and sold to people who treated them like an A Series or Pinto. A friend's dad had a Rover dealership at the time of launch and despite giving customers the 'this is a modern engine that needs to be treated well' spiel along with care instructions, they got kettled regularly. 

    Mind you. Pintos used to eat camshafts.... because the oil hadn't been changed for 30k and the spray bar was blocked.. 

     

  6. 5 minutes ago, yes oui si said:

    The cars with K-series engines I've driven have all been nippy and responsive, and you can see why so many engine tuners love them... But it doesn't matter how good the engineering is if you're going to let brummies build them. 

    You'd think, but the tolerances  they were built  to and the fact that all the layers , most gasketless didn't give more problems  and the bhp/litre efficiency that they gave, along with the influence Honda had on the company at the time meant they were way ahead of the game on build too. Just a pity they didn't realise this in 76 with the SD1....  I was just leafing through a What Car from 1991- cars of the year. Rover cleaned up in quite a few categories. They really were a viable company at that time.

  7. 29 minutes ago, RoverFolkUs said:

    I'm going to say it.... :)

    The K-Series is a good engine, blighted by misunderstood or poor preventative maintenance/repairs. 

    Let me expand, OMGHGF didn't always occur out of the blue. Just like any other engine, if you cook it, then it's prone to OMGHGF. 

    It's just the K-Series is particularly sensitive.

    2 types of gaskets, if a gasket replacement is done right it will last the life of the engine. If it hasn't been done as thoroughly as it should, or the wrong gasket has been used for the measurements taken, or indeed the block and head measurements not taken at all, then it will always be likely to fail again and be cursed as an unreliable engine. Simple as that. 

    Unpopular opinion but all mine based on having pretty much served my time on them.

    80% of HGF diagnosis was actually a split inlet manifold gasket at no4 . Same symptoms. Using water, misfire when cold and steam out the exhaust.  They are replaced as part of head gasket kit rep so problem solved...... if it wasnt caught early, the as the K had a small coolant capacity and an odd location of the thermostat it would lead to HGF. The crappy temp gauge calibration didnt help. If  liner heights weren't checked and made good during a real HGF, then it'd happen again and again.. wrong clamping force on the fire rings.

    The original type gasket and plastic dowels allowed for a little movement as was expected on a "sandwich" engine. The MLS gasket  steel dowels and land rover "ladder" was ,in my opinion, a poor answer to a problem that was much overblown. 

    The MGF suffered from thermal shock and incorrect bleeding and the stupid jiggle valve made those a bit more likely to go full HGF. K was a powerful,light,efficient engine that was miles ahead of the competition at the time.

    I always said treat your K's like you would treat an Alfa Romeo.. use quality fluids, check levels very regularly,  warm up gently and drive it hard.

  8. Fiat's are actually very reliable and tough cars which don't really rust.  

    There is so much crap talked about the K Series engine. The OMGHGF is caused by poor maintenence or misdiagnosis.and the "cures" are bolox.

    BMWs are dangerous twitchy poor handling over rated piles of crap.

    VTEC is shit.

    Sierra Cosworths are shite.

    As Saab used to say. 250BHP is the max for FWD cars.

     

  9. 1 hour ago, wesacosa said:

    It was the same symptoms on mine, although the heated rear window light came on too but only when reverse was selected.  When I was playing around with it last year I did notice the reverse lights didn't come on with the tailgate open but started to flicker as you closed the tailgate and were fully on when it was about 3/4 closed

    Used to have this with Fiestas.. try tapping the tailgate hinge pins back and forth slightly if that's the hinge they have

  10. Work continues on the Astro. After finally finding and curing the coolant loss I built it all back together, then a few days later it wouldn't start from cold. Would crank and crank but nothing. Slightest waft of brake cleaner and it would fire right up and be fine for the rest of the day. Take out wooden Starcraft dash, then plastic Chevy dash then the doghouse again and hours of diagnostics.. it's pre OBD2..  turns out its the ignition control module.. doesn't activate the injector when cranking, but as soon as it sees 400rpm, the ECU takes over and it fires right up . Early injection/ECUs are fun! Waiting on a module arriving so fitted the sink and tap, then stuck a new bumper sticker on 😁

    20230729_151604.jpg.4a72c51eca08bdf60ef6d150e0d009cd.jpg

    20240218_170244.jpg.552e1ee45b0c8e4ee230f88d4fca976a.jpg

    IntakeRemoval.jpg.a69fe9ea51ab187f0d61e1774eecef64.jpg

     

     

    20240316_153301.jpg.921352ca70b1128f0c93d0f8c81f7dcd.jpg

    20240302_143010.jpg

  11. 30 minutes ago, JJ0063 said:

    Tow bar complete! 
     

    Very straight forward to fit, wiring was fine once I’d worked out what loom to tap into. 
     

    Really happy with it. With the hitch removed you can only see the Brink cap so it’s not in your face. Electrics flip up so they’re hidden too.

     

    Only issue I have, and I don’t know whether it’s one you can answer @Barry Cadeis that even with the car locked and all car lights off, the light tail lights are permanently lit on the light board. Not sure if that’s because I’ve put the two orange lives to the battery rather than ignition live? 

    IMG_3700.jpeg

    IMG_3705.jpeg

    IMG_3706.jpeg

    IMG_3707.jpeg

    IMG_3708.jpeg

    IMG_3709.jpeg

    Orange need to go to permanent live, did you hook up tail lights or just a brake wire?  Some only need 1 connected, it'll tell you in the instructions.  Tails shouldn't be on if all car lights are off .Best check this as Bimmers are terrible for not going to sleep and flattening the battery 

    "· IMPORTANT! Dual lamp function: If brake light and tail light or fog light and tail light share a
    common wire do not connect either of the side light wires (Black or Brown) from the relay to the
    car. The relay will interpret the signal on the brake signal wire (Red) or fog signal wire (Blue) and
    operate the lights, including the side lights, correctly"

  12. 9 hours ago, JJ0063 said:

    Would you say buying these two in that case would be the most straight forward option? Cheers!

    IMG_3693.jpeg

    Yes , that's basically what I use. Just make sure the green box has some air around it as they can get slightly warm.

    @mk2_craig its a common question..BMWs are weird this way, some do some don't. I did an X1 today and it shut the sensors off automatically through the CAN BUS with no coding.  Usually when it doesn't, there's a button or a bit in the menu where you can shut them down. I have heard you can code it in but depends on the maker of the electrics kit. 

    Got a 3 series tomorrow so will plug in the coding machine and see if it gives me an option to change anything.

  13. 11 minutes ago, JJ0063 said:

    I had a feeling you’d be the man in the know!

    So long and short for mine being a 2013 F31 is just buy a universal type 7 pin electrics with a bypass box? Something like this?

    https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/143387672997?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=U2AtdA9ORXS&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=IaiIXmW2Rkq&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

     

    Yep, you don't really gain anything on a 2013 by going with a dedicated kit on a BMW.  That kit is all you need. Check with the instructions with that box if you need to connect the tail light wiring. We use the Ryder boxes and you just connect the brake and it sorts the tail lights out. Also, test the light wiring for colours  with the tail lights plugged in... German motors can have the bulb failure substitution, which can cause a bit of head scratching! 

  14. 1 hour ago, JJ0063 said:

    Not sure if this is anything you could answer @Barry Cade but this tow bar has come with a vehicle specific electrics kit, namely this:

    BW02807U

    https://www.ecs-electronicsuk.co.uk/en/towbar-wiring-kits/bw02807u.html

    Which shows it’s suitable for vehicles March 14 onwards.

     

    My car is a May 2013 so this looks like the correct one I need:

    BW008B1U

    https://www.ecs-electronicsuk.co.uk/en/towbar-wiring-kits/bw008b1u.html

     

    Im wondering what the difference actually is? I know the newer F31 has LED tail lights but you can swap those into the earlier model so suggests the wiring is the same. 
     

    I’m going to fit the bar at the weekend so am tempted to try this wiring kit it comes with, if it doesn’t work then I’ll have to order the correct one.

    Cheers!

    @JJ0063

    Ooft, that's a question  which got the wheels turning.

    The early 1 series E81/E87 and early F20/F21 uses low speed CAN to activate the trailer module, whereas the later f20/f21 (03/14 on) use high speed CAN, so are not interchangeable.  The CAN wires are different colours between the two as well. 

    To be honest, on an earlier 1 series I'd just wire in a bypass box, power from the battery in the boot and all the light wires are at the o/ s in the boot.  Really easy and doesn't upset anything.  

    If it has battery management, remember and wire to the battery side before the little black box at the positive terminal, and - not appliccable to the 1 series- wire a BMW towbar power to the rear fusebox. It stops the car going to sleep and it won't start in the morning..

  15. On 24/02/2024 at 22:20, Rustybullethole said:

    Tank off or lifted at the rear if anything like my gs. Snapped the fuel pipe like a twat the first time i did mine. 

    The tank is aluminium,  hidden under the fairings, so fairings off, then tank out to get to tha battery. 

  16. 5 hours ago, captain_70s said:

    Screenshot_20240224-1322462.png.f0e6cdb4e242648239862a714dc3568f.png

    Suspect that's your answer.

    A lot of folks towing with older stuff which predates the current rules technically shouldn't be and likely wouldn't be insured in an accident.

    I can't image the rubber band suspension would enjoy towing either, given it being designed for a sole occupant.

    Only 1998 onwards. Before , you could bolt a towball to the  back bumper of your Riley Elf and tow your Castleton up to the lakes, clutch and body structure allowing. That's why the regs were brought in . 

  17. 32 minutes ago, LightBulbFun said:

    the most I could find on the matter was this, which is pretty inconclusive*

    https://forum.retro-rides.org/thread/156853/taxi-towing-capacity

    googling for a train weight or anything does bring anything up sadly, theres nothing in this brochure either

    https://www.coventry.gov.uk/downloads/file/6540/london-taxi-tx4-euro-5-brochure

     

     

    *although does make me wonder what the towing rules are for very old vehicles that just where never plated? say if I wanted to tow a small trailer behind REV or such :) 

    (ie does the vehicle *have* to be plated for towing regardless of age, or is there an exemption/cut off date, but then I would have to ask what is the max towing/train weight allowed for those vehicles)

    Before European Type approval 94/20/EC - 1st August 1998, you can basically put a towbar on anything you want!

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