The new news 24 thread

[dieselassist]

What's the deal with these then?

I looked at getting the Focus DeDPF'ed in a similar fashion when it was looking at costing me a fortune. I had various people tell me it was an instant MoT fail (which I countered with "only if they can tell"), one person tell me it was actually illegal in a "police turn up and lock you up" way, and a few went down the moral "trees and bunnies will die" route.

 

Is it only an MoT fail if it can't pass emissions? Like, I had a Polo that passed a cat emissions test without a cat but it was plainly obvious there was a bit of straight pipe in there.

 

Theres no 'heavey soot' test at the moment over here; the cat was left in that one I done n it had new EGR valve n 4 new injectors; all caused by a near to blocked up/ then completely blocked up DPF filter... the testers only 'visually test' for DPF removal here; hence the stealthy approach... DPF regens 'on the road' were sending this car into limp mode every 3 months, n a spendy trip to the dealers each time... a remap of the ECU - taking the regen capability out of its 'programming' - its a more reliable n useable car n it will pass the test well within the limits....

 

...the owner intends to hang onto the car, so its 'modification' is their business; for my part I was simply doing some instructed or prescribed by owner 'exhaust welding'....

[mercrocker]

Went into Merc specialist today to see my 190E which I left there 3 weeks ago.   Deffo HGF.... but I knew that already.

 

Anyway have had head done - new guides, machined, all new hoses and loads of other bits.   Paid £1300 for this car 7 years ago and its just cost me that again.    

 

And that's the way I look at it, hopefully get another 7 years out of it (still only done 102,000) which is 7 years when I don't have to buy Mrs Rocker anything newer.   Result.

[dieselassist]

...lots of arguments about DPF removal on cars here; in their ownership they had visited  the main dealers 5 times in 2 years n about 20k miles - lots of big bills were paid; all related to DPF - the owner does a 80 mile round trip - to n from work daily -on the motorway here, n apparently that was not enough for 'auto regen' of the DPF to happen, so their - the dealers- solution after the 4th n 5th trip was to drive otherwise pointlessly to some random destination on the motorway for an hour or more every two weeks so the auto regen would kick in....

 

...that's surely then just adding to airborne emissions, wasting money n fuel poinlessly!! ...but tis allegedly part n parcel of running a 'modern diesel' with all the DPF filters plumbing n programming...

[SiC]

Sounds like the original dealers were not successful (or willing/experienced) enough to find the route cause of it needing regenerating all the time! Poorly running engine, producing a shit tonne of particulates, rapidly filling up the DPF. Probably once those injectors + EGR was replaced, the DPF system would have been fine.

[SiC]

(I'm not saying doing such a thing is good or bad, just stating facts!)

[Lukas]

Ok, there is a little story I have to tell because you may be interested. 

 

A few weeks ago, the german and the austrian Oldschool-Subaru-Freaks met in the austrian mountains to enjoy

their cars and drive on "roads" these cars were ment to be driven. 

 

I had 5 Subarus in my past, so I am still part of the Oldschool-Subaru-Freaks in Austria. And I was invited to join them 

on their drive through the mountains. Oh what fun that was: 

 

 

 

 

 

And like the old truck in the firlm "Duell" from Steven Speilberg, this old thing could not be left behind... 

 

 

It´s been a great day! Nice people that share the same love for japanese 4x4s in general, perfect weather and wonderful roads

in the region of Austria where I grew up. 

 

Next year, the Oldschool-Subaru-guys will meet in Germany. I think I will be part of it again! 

[dieselassist]

Sounds like the original dealers were not successful (or willing/experienced) enough to find the route cause of it needing regenerating all the time! Poorly running engine, producing a shit tonne of particulates, rapidly filling up the DPF. Probably once those injectors + EGR was replaced, the DPF system would have been fine.

 

I think the EGR valve n new injectors were the 3rd visit to the dealers; the old EGR valve was in the boot; the dealers insisted that the filter was okay, but regens weren't happening often enough  - id say after thart, they were washing the DPF out in a half assed fashion n probably not revealing same to the customer, but charging enough for their efforts  - I got a local chap to plug in basic diagnostics to it initially, n 'flow n back pressure'  related codes we what was logged...

 

... seemed, from what the owners were telling me, it was a case of 'milking the cows if they are in the field' - id say they have spent near to the market value of the car on dealer visits to solve the DPF issues over n over n the cost of DPF delete, so they have no option but to keep the car long term as they have initially outlayed such a large sum a modern car, n paid over n over to have its DPF issues solved - that far down the rabbit hole etc...

[SambaS]

Apathy. That's the word I was looking for.

 

I haven't read any of the above posts I'm just here to say I am disinterested in very nearly everything at the minute.

[320touring]

The Mazda 3 (2004) - any major faults to look for(bar the rust;))

 

going to see this low mileage 1.6 saloon with a work colleague tonight. Have looked at MOT history and know that the rear of the sills need checking out. Beyond that though and I know very little of their common failings- any observations would be appreciated:)

 

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201609217967738/sort/atcustom/radius/200/make/mazda/model/mazda3/price-to/1000/page/1/adPos/7/postcode/fk81qz/usedcars

 

[SiC]

The Mazda 3 (2004) - any major faults to look for(bar the rust;))

 

going to see this low mileage 1.6 saloon with a work colleague tonight. Have looked at MOT history and know that the rear of the sills need checking out. Beyond that though and I know very little of their common failings- any observations would be appreciated:)

 

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201609217967738/sort/atcustom/radius/200/make/mazda/model/mazda3/price-to/1000/page/1/adPos/7/postcode/fk81qz/usedcars

 

Rust, rust, rust and avoid the diesels! That is all.

[andy18s]

Ok, there is a little story I have to tell because you may be interested.

 

A few weeks ago, the german and the austrian Oldschool-Subaru-Freaks met in the austrian mountains to enjoy

their cars and drive on "roads" these cars were ment to be driven.

 

I had 5 Subarus in my past, so I am still part of the Oldschool-Subaru-Freaks in Austria. And I was invited to join them

on their drive through the mountains. Oh what fun that was:

 

 

 

 

 

And like the old truck in the firlm "Duell" from Steven Speilberg, this old thing could not be left behind...

 

 

It´s been a great day! Nice people that share the same love for japanese 4x4s in general, perfect weather and wonderful roads

in the region of Austria where I grew up.

 

Next year, the Oldschool-Subaru-guys will meet in Germany. I think I will be part of it again!

 

Very nice Lukas,the early Mitsubishi style has aged well IMHO

[320touring]

Rust, rust, rust and avoid the diesels! That is all.

Thats what I had gleaned..thanks for the confirmation:)

 

I was gunna suggest he buys this instead

http://www.economycarsperth.co.uk/cars/toyota/corolla/gsvvt-i/93282/10

[BorniteIdentity]

I can recommend an electric aerial supplier

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/m.html?_odkw=&_ssn=car-masts-uk&_armrs=1&_osacat=0&_from=R40&_trksid=p2046732.m570.l1313.TR11.TRC1.A0.H0.Xmercedes.TRS0&_nkw=mercedes&_sacat=0

Balls to that.

 

Unscrewed the Gold car's aerial and pulled it open.  Unfortunately couldn't reattach the electric innerds to the motor so snipped them and it's now a manual aerial.  Total cost = £0.00

 

Will likely do the same on the 190e later!

[Negative Creep]

Despite looking like Stevie Wonder learned to park in it the Civic is proving reliable. Ride quality is bollocks though - not sure if it's because I was used to the comfy 75 or the suspension is tired though. Will do for now though.

[Guest Hooli]

Apathy. That's the word I was looking for.

 

I haven't read any of the above posts I'm just here to say I am disinterested in very nearly everything at the minute.

 

I'll read this when I can be bothered.

[stillOrange]

I've been trying to sort out a leak that appeared few weeks back in my ovloV S90.

When I removed rubber pipes, it was clear that the top plastic pipe broke off before and was fixed up cleverly by the use of a short metal piping and high temperature glue

 

 

That's how it should like like

 

 

And that's how it looked.

 

 

I tried few different glues and quick steel to make it strong but every time I put the radiator back in and warmed the engine up enough to start the fan going, the pressure and temperature would show how futile my efforts were.

Luckily a friend turned up and said that they got something that will definitely be up for the challenge. I have no idea what kind of glue or magic liquid it was but it came in some rusty containers with no name on it. The most important thing is that it fooking worked and the leak is gone.

 

Happy days.

 

Anybody wants a Volvo S90 as a stylish WBoD?

[SiC]

Plastic against plastic? Very likely some sort of plastic solvent glue/cement - a bit like used for airfix models. This type of glue doesn't so much glue, but actually "welds"/fuses the two parts back together.

[dollywobbler]

I've got the fog light working on the S-MX. Just a duff bulb. Though the lens has partially melted, suggesting it's not really designed to cope with a whopping 21 watts. #exciting

[stillOrange]

Plastic against plastic? Very likely some sort of plastic solvent glue/cement - a bit like used for airfix models. This type of glue doesn't so much glue, but actually "welds"/fuses the two parts back together.

To make it strong enough it had be plastic against metal as much as against plastic. Normal epoxy glues were not strong enough.

[theorganist]

Took the R5 for it's MOT today, the first under me. I was concerned as it's needed welding in the past according to its mot history. Also I could do without any big bills, especially with the Maxi coming.

 

However a number plate bulb later and it has a full mot and a couple of advisories. Not bad for a 28 year old, £300 French car.

 

It's going to be waxoiled soon, so hopefully we'll have a repeat performance next year!

[Bear]

Aztec dude shows up, throws me out of the window, tries to get me to wear a belt...

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2tOvgXUm_lo

 

And then I find this.

 

 

Actually they're pretty nice beasts. Fun to drive.

[dollywobbler]

My aluminium tape bodge on the Nippa was successful for about five minutes. Now it's farting like a kid's bike with one of those clackery things on the spokes. FAIL! Booked in for a welded repair on Thursday...

 

No news on when the S-MX's tyres will be arriving (yet again) so I've cancelled the fitting of new TREs and (obviously) tyres. The Nippa is taking that spot.

 

Incidentally, the S-MX has had advisories for play in the steering for YEARS! Worryingly, inner TREs were mentioned a few years back. I'm hoping they were changed, because they're a bit notorious for them apparently. That'd be another £60 plus fitting. Ugh.

[twosmoke300]

Not that it helps but I've got the tool for fitting the inner rod ends

[Bobthebeard]

Well the front brake pads are now changed on the Oldsmobile. Didn't take too long as everything came apart fairly easily. Ran out of time to do the rears as off up to Scotland again to continue the MG ZT KV6 cambelts saga. The old pads on the Olds were predictably totally worn out, and the discs rusty. Some scoring on the inner sides but serviceable. The O/S disc is weirdly chamfered on the inner face outside edge which is odd. As outside the pad contact area. Maybe a replacement disc in the past that came like that for some reason? Also one of the wheel studs is about 10mm shorter than all the rest, but still long enough to protrude from the wheel nut after fitting. The brake fluid reservoir was very low in fluid due to pad wear all round, but pushing the pistons back in on the O/S caused a mini fountain of fluid to spray out of the reservoir into the engine bay, leaving the reservoir still very low.. Odd. Washed the fluid off the engine bay with copious amounts of water so hopefully no harm done. Still no pics due to Ipad screen breakage tho.

[Guest Hooli]

To make it strong enough it had be plastic against metal as much as against plastic. Normal epoxy glues were not strong enough.

 

Normal epoxies fail when exposed to heat & vibration...

 

I discovered this when trying to bodge a temp sensor into a homebrew leccy fan on a MG Midget. Gave up in the end as it run a lot better with a real fan.

[320touring]

As an update to the 2004 mazda 3 story, We wazzed the 1.4 Lupo of much collectioning up past Perth to look at said mazda.

 

Had a rear arch that was crusty. Dissapointed, we turned wur eyes to the other stock..

 

Came upon this:

 

2008 Focus 1.6 pez

 

110k, full sh 2 owners. Full MOT

 

we took it round the "handling" course a few times, went well and no obvious issues.

 

Got them to put a new tyre on the right rear as was low.

 

£1350 he got it for.. I thought that seemed decent money. Quite a capable car, even if devoid of charm

[Kiltox]

Cheap car.

[Slappy]

So it looks like I've got a new job.... with a 60 mile daily commute. So I'm thinking of selling on my Fiesta in favour of something that will cope with miles a bit better.

 

Odds on that actually happening?

[Stanky]

Well done slappy - where abouts? Its always worth looking at less obvious routes to work where you get more enjoyment out of the drive I found. Taking the A32 to Aldershot took longer, but was a lot more fun in the Almera than the quicker but less enjoyable A3 route.

[320touring]

Cheap car.

I thought we did ok.. Time will tell though.

 

It took me a while to convince him to try bangernomics