The new news 24 thread

[Bear]

 

Took this out for a spin after resetting the fuel trim and fitting a new proper battery (damn broken plastics).

 

[Guest Hooli]

There's two CTS's on eBay breaking  and one is reasonably close by. I was thinking I could just swap the seats out. Both have cream leather mine is black.

 

I doubt it's that hard to swap the seat covers? aren't they normally just clips around the base & slide it off carefully - then replacement is a reversal of removal...

[cort16]

I wish it was that easy but previous experience tells me otherwise.

[Jazoli]

I've been looking into the airbag light on the Cadillac as this is the obvious turd in the swimming pool for any potential mot.

The seat has a sensor in it, which detects occupancy and apparently detects if a little person is in the seat and automatically de-activates the passenger airbag. There's an indicator that shows if the airbag is de-activated in the rear view mirror but even with me sitting in the seat with the seatbelt on the light doesn't go off, which makes me thing its the pad in the seat.

My basic obdII reader flags up an issue with the passenger side airbag system and recons it's the seat sensor or the airbag ecu.

I've checked all the wires and wiggled them all but nothing happens.

 

A bit of googling says there's a recall on this as the sensor was going faulty and either activating or re-activating the air bag when it shouldn't.

Google also says Cadillac are still selling in the UK. Result, I'll just call my local dealer and dial it in for a 0 price recall fix.

 

Screen Shot 2017-04-01 at 20.07.09.png

 

Or not.

 

My options are

 

The ecu's are available from the states for about 60 dollars.

I've no idea how I go about fixing it if it's the seat matt.

I try to find some kind of cheat device that will trick the system into thinking the matt is working okay. I see these around for BMW's but even on eBay USA I can't see any for the CTS.

 

dunno

 

If the light does not illuminate its not a fail, just an advisory, therefore a bit of tape over the offending light or bulb removal or disconnection will see an mot granted.

[RobT]

As it was a nice day here on Dartmoor I shunted the cars around, and part way through did a quick fleet pic....

 

IMG_0491.JPG

Been a while since you've done a Travis Perkins fleet shot. Definitely one for the 2018 calendar!

[Six-cylinder]

As it was a nice day here on Dartmoor I shunted the cars around, and part way through did a quick fleet pic....

 

IMG_0491.JPG

That makes a fantastic picture, almost good enough to make me give up Citroens!

[Bear]

Visited the Volvo styling studios.

 

 

(This is what the farm is like now )

[dave21478]

The threads were a bit shit on the Metros header tank, so the cap never sealed 100%, which didnt help its incontinence. Turns out most pez Rovers from the 90s use similar header tanks, with the same diameter inlets and outlets, so I bagged one from a bubble shape Rover 214. Obviously it doesnt fit the original bracket, but it sits nicely on top of the screenwash tank.

 

 

So now the cap seals well, but there is an alarming amount of pressure in the hoses - they feel rock solid. I will need to get a sniff tester of some kind, but reckon the head gasket might have failed and its pressurising the system.

 

An A-series HG isnt the end of the world, but its a hassle I could do without. I took it for a razz around today and its driving really well, so I better sort something out before it inevitably bursts or pops off a hose miles from home.

 

[cort1977]

If the light does not illuminate its not a fail, just an advisory, therefore a bit of tape over the offending light or bulb removal or disconnection will see an mot granted.

Was going to say you could substitute switch for appropriate resistor to fool the computer? Once did that on e36 when fitting a different steering wheel because race car.

[Eddie Honda]

Airbag lights have come up a load of times on here. As Jazoli has said.

 

Therefore it is not a turd in any swimming pool, it's just a case of RTFM instead of imagining items being testable when they aren't or imagining that things fitted have to work (some do, some don't)

[Bear]

Run of luck continues...

 

[twosmoke300]

K seal escaped ?

[cort16]

Airbag lights have come up a load of times on here. As Jazoli has said.

 

Therefore it is not a turd in any swimming pool, it's just a case of RTFM instead of imagining items being testable when they aren't or imagining that things fitted have to work (some do, some don't)

 

 

Not sure what you mean with read the fucking manual and imaging items not being testable. I'm not an mot tester.

I'm trying to fix the problem within the limits of my knowledge and there fore like here look for the higher wisdom of autoshite if there's a better answer.

[cort16]

Was going to say you could substitute switch for appropriate resistor to fool the computer? Once did that on e36 when fitting a different steering wheel because race car.

 

 

I was just readying about this. If you can figure out the required resistance it can be done. There's a video on you tube of a guy building one for his 3 series for about 8p.

[garbaldy]

As it was dark by the time i got home last night I couldn't take any pics so today would have to do,

Welcome old friend who not only kicked me in the nuts but when i was down kicked me yet again square in the face.

 

So to recap Friday 925 miles Saturday​ 1st one 52 miles

2nd 21 miles

3rd 115 miles

And i suppose i better not forget the 145 to collect the truck either.

[trigger]

Hmm... Seems to be a busy week coming up, it turns out the Rover 620Ti is still available so I've agreed to go and view it this week, it needs a mot and has been of the road for 2 years but previous mot history doesn't look to worrying other than a advisory on a corroded rear brake pipe, at the price offered including delivery it should leave enough meat on the bone to get it though the mot, use it for a month or two and still make a nice profit.

Then i got a call this morning asking if i was about next Sunday to get the Morris Ital Van out of the barn, get it running and moved so that i can buy it at last, the only trouble here is i can't really afford all these cars and i don't have the space so something will have to go, probably the Rover P6 as as lovely as it is I'm finding it a bit "old man" for me...

I also took the Dolomite for a good drive today in the sun, it's driving perfect at the moment, especially now that I've fitted a new more powerful 015 battery to it. Have another photo of it, this time at a nature reserve in Essex next to a Mini i saw there.

[Bear]

K seal escaped ?

 

 

Silted radiator and airlock plus knackered waterpump I think.

[Guest Hooli]

Not sure what you mean with read the fucking manual and imaging items not being testable. I'm not an mot tester.

 

 

This manual probably https://www.mot-testing.service.gov.uk/documents/manuals/m4i00000101.htm

[scaryoldcortina]

Not sure what you mean with read the fucking manual and imaging items not being testable. I'm not an mot tester.

I'm trying to fix the problem within the limits of my knowledge and there fore like here look for the higher wisdom of autoshite if there's a better answer.

I try not to listen to or read any consumer level "advice" about MoT testing because it's always at least partially wrong. If you want to know exactly what happens on a MoT test then RTFM

[wuvvum]

An auto t25 - that's gonna be slower than a week on remand !

According to the Autocar & Motor data pages an auto T25 with the 2.1 injection would hit 60 in 16.9 seconds - not bad going for an old van.  If you want a really slow one you need one of the 1.6 NA diesels.  54bhp IIRC.

[fraser.innes.3]

Been to dentist, the only untouched molar in my bottom jaw has a touch of corrosion where it's in contact with the one in front of it - bugger. So it's a return visit for it to get a tickle with the grinder and a lump of wob.

Thanks for filling us in.!

 

Sent from my HUAWEI M2-A01W using Tapatalk

[wuvvum]

Well the Rover of Doom now has a working rear screen wash, for the first time in over five years in my ownership.  I'd taken the tailgate trim off to fiddle with the boot lock, and thought I'd investigate the screen wash while I was in there.  Pulling the pipe off and twisting the relevant section of the wiper stalk produced a strong flow of fluid, so the system back as far as the tailgate was obviously OK.  The rear washers are a bit of a weird setup on this - the fluid goes into the wiper unit itself, then up through the centre of the (hollow) wiper spindle, and out through two jets at the base of the wiper arm, one pointing to each side of the sweep.  This was blocked solid, and no amount of poking with various objects would unblock it.

 

So I had a look at the red 200, which also has a non-functioning rear washer (it seems to be a common issue with R3s).  However, it turned out that the system on the red one had a blockage further back in the pipe, and the passage through the wiper mechanism itself was free.  So I just swapped the entire units over, and now I have a sparkly clean rear screen (at least within the sweep of the rear wiper - the rest of the screen, like the rest of the car, is filthy).

 

I also had a poke round under the bonnet to see if I could find what was causing the tuning box not to be doing owt.  I redid a couple of dodgy-looking connections and plugged the MAF sensor back in (!) and it's now miles better.  It's amazing how much more responsive that little box makes the car - it seems to almost eliminate turbo lag.

 

Also put the CX up on the ramps and had a poke around underneath - found a bit at the rear of the nearside sill box section thingummy which is going to need patching up, but otherwise it doesn't look too bad.  I also took the nearside headlight off, pulled off the glass (which more or less came away in my hand) and had a bash at "resilvering" the knackered reflector using chrome tape.  It's not brilliant, but the Innocenti has now passed three MOTs with a similar bodge in place, so hopefully it'll save me forking out for a new headlight.

 

Oh, and I saw one of those Fiat-badged MX5 things today.  A bit awkward-looking tbh - granted the old Barchetta could look a little dumpy from some angles, but it had an honest charm to it - this one looks like one of those rubbish conversion kits.  Still, at least the new one is correct-wheel-drive.

[Eddie Honda]

Not sure what you mean with read the fucking manual and imaging items not being testable. I'm not an mot tester.

This public document: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/mot-inspection-manual-for-class-3-4-5-and-7-vehicles

 

By suggesting it was an "obvious turd in the swimming pool for any potential mot" you must be imagining that it was a testable item (well yes it is) and has to work properly (oh no it doesn't). [i am not a tester either].

 

I'm trying to fix the problem within the limits of my knowledge and there fore like here look for the higher wisdom of autoshite if there's a better answer.

Understood, I was being grumpy at this:

 

I've been looking into the airbag light on the Cadillac as this is the obvious turd in the swimming pool for any potential mot.

AND the long spiel after it. It's over-thinking the problem (well as far the MOT goes).

 

A bit of googling says

A bit of googling also says this: https://mattersoftesting.blog.gov.uk/common-mistakes-made-by-mot-testers/ straight from the horse's mouth.

 

My options are

 

The ecu's are available from the states for about 60 dollars.

I've no idea how I go about fixing it if it's the seat matt.

I try to find some kind of cheat device that will trick the system into thinking the matt is working okay. I see these around for BMW's but even on eBay USA I can't see any for the CTS.

 

dunno

...or just take the bulb out.

 

I was just readying about this. If you can figure out the required resistance it can be done. There's a video on you tube of a guy building one for his 3 series for about 8p.

Again, over-thinking a bodge. Taking the bulb out is zero pence.

 

I would have been less grumpy if you asked about that element of the MOT test and one of AutoShite resident MOT testers could have answered it.

 

http://autoshite.com/topic/11437-new-airbag-rules-for-mot/?p=336513

 

Your not the only one, other people still haven't go the news:

 

http://autoshite.com/topic/27272-mgzr-srs-light-on/

 

TL;DR I like things to work as they should just as much as the next person, but sometimes it's just easier to simply to do what you need to do.

[For Fiats Sake]

No pictures but did a bit of open top pandering. Standard 999cc fuel injected engine, slightly lowered suspension with grippy 14" tyres made for some fun motoring, really should get it around a track!

[stuboy]

Being only 1.8 it needed to sound fruitier so i remade and refitted my straight through centre secton..

[stuboy]

Being only 1.8 it needed to sound fruitier so i remade and refitted my straight through centre secton..

https://youtu.be/aEB5JOnzlpA

[Jazoli]

Being only 1.8 it needed to sound fruitier so i remade and refitted my straight through centre secton..

 

I think it needs a couple more Ford badges, you know just in case someone doesn't know what it is

[mercrocker]

Got the last bit of Cowley seat back from the trimmer on Friday and made use of a Nice Day and Day Off solar vector space time continuum rare phenomenon to swap the seats over. 

Went pretty well although I am miffed to find that I have mislaid the seat-back ashtray somewhere and the gorilla that tore the front bench out of a scrap donor car has contrived to shear the retaining pins from the adjuster so it cannot be slid back and forth on the move any more.    

 

Never mind, these are but mere irritations......What I didn't want was a ghastly re-trim in modern materials so I scoured the country in a virtual sense for odd bits of trim/seat panels and when I thought there was enough I chucked it all at a local trimmer.   He did a good job (thought not cheaply) and all I have to do now is get a bit of Gliptone colour blending going on.  I already did the back seat which was like the front bench when it was first repaired - about 30 shades of red.  

 

I bought the car a few years ago with seats like this...

 

 

 

After driving it around for a couple of years I managed to destroy the front seat completely.....

 

 

 

 

Anyhoo, it now looks thusly.....

 

 

 

 

 

Trimmer fella also put some extra foam into the front roll which I am hoping will be an improvement, certainly feels like it so far....  

 

In my mouse-travels I did find some decent door cards for the front which I will be fitting but not until I get the door bottoms welded up and waterproof....

 

That's it, I am off for a drive out now!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[cort16]

I didn't realise I needed to have a fact checker review my content before posting stuff on here? I'm happy to be corrected god only knows I need the help but I don't think a rolly eyes OMG how does he not know that just read the mot manual/google it is really that helpful tbh.

[Spottedlaurel]

Got the last bit of Cowley seat back from the trimmer on Friday...........

 

That looks perfect! Well, not perfect, but perfectly patinamalised.