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1 hour ago, Tenmil Socket said:

I left the house this morning and I noticed that the headlights on my MX5 were popping up and down on their own! I've disconnected the battery for now. For all I know it might have been doing it all night. Does anyone know what might be causing this? @gm @snagglepuss @brownnova

Must have been a bit of a wtf moment :) 

I would be looking at the steering column switch for the lights, pop the cowel off and check the plugs are all seated properly. If yours is an import, there might be a ‘flash to pass’ diode piggybacked into one of the plugs, check it’s not loose.

under the bonnet, have a look at the three relays under the passenger side wing near the diagnostic plug, any loose plugs or wires there ? 

Also check the headlight raise button on the centre console, does it have any effect when you switch it on or off ? 

I hope it’s something simple, if you’ve not used the car for a while, you might have little mices munching on your loom :( 

 

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12 minutes ago, gm said:

Must have been a bit of a wtf moment :) 

I would be looking at the steering column switch for the lights, pop the cowel off and check the plugs are all seated properly. If yours is an import, there might be a ‘flash to pass’ diode piggybacked into one of the plugs, check it’s not loose.

under the bonnet, have a look at the three relays under the passenger side wing near the diagnostic plug, any loose plugs or wires there ? 

Also check the headlight raise button on the centre console, does it have any effect when you switch it on or off ? 

I hope it’s something simple, if you’ve not used the car for a while, you might have little mices munching on your loom :( 

 

When I was in the shower this morning (which is at the front of the house near the drive where the car is parked) I could hear something which I thought was a neighbour with a wheelie bin. I could then still hear it whilst getting dressed in the bedroom and then in the kitchen whilst having a coffee so when I left the house and saw this happening it was quite bizarre ? I have fitted a quick release clamp to the battery so that was simple enough. Mine is a UK car. Thanks for the suggestions, I'll have a nosey tonight.

 

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Before pulling things apart, see what happens if you turn the headlights on - do they stay up ? Likewise, with headlights off will they stay up when you push the lights up button ? 
hope it’s a simple fix :) 

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My money would be on a dodgy connection with the dash switch. When mine isn’t used for a while the ignition switch plays up and random things (wipers, dash lights, blowers) take it in turns not to work after a dry out al back to normal. As the headlight switch is always connected (if I remember rightly) it could be this.

I should really do something with mine... it’s sitting a bit unloved under a tree with crap slowly being piled around it. 

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  • 3 weeks later...

I'd appreciate some help with an annoying problem on my 2005 Shogun Sport.

The sidelights are now on permanently (or at least they would be if I hadn't removed the two fuses that supply them). Does anyone have any idea what's causing this and how to fix it please?

Normally, my son would sort this out for me, but he's 90 miles away and lockdown means that he can't help, other than suggest that I ask on here.

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Some Japanese cars (eg. Subarus) have lights that turn off with the ignition. They have a separate switch that turns the side lights on for parking lights.

Maybe the Shogun has one of these switches that has been inadvertently switched on?

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  • 2 weeks later...
On 4/23/2020 at 11:29 AM, Tamworthbay said:

I am sure I remember a similar issue with someone on MX5nuts and it was something stupid simple like a low battery. Will try and find it.......

I forgot to update that I sorted* this issue (it's a new battery on it btw). The lights would stay up or down using the switch. I simply sprayed electrical contact cleaner on all the electrics. I've not had to disconnect the battery since so unless it only does it while I'm in bed it's sorted ? Also it's a pain in the ass re-tuning the radio every time you get in the car.

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2 hours ago, Tenmil Socket said:

The stop/start function has stopped working on the daily (not a problem as I turn it off anyway). A bit of Googling points towards the battery. I thought I'd have a quick look on ECP at prices ??

I'm assuming this will be classed as a wear and tear item and not covered by the warranty?

image.png.8a34e8b248d8128cd862402b8f266e95.png

 

They'll be in a 70% off sale soon I expect, ECP and carparts4less, same owners different prices, all returns to ECP though ???, Tayna batteries good prices, well for an ordinary car 

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Another question regarding the MX5 ?

I was out yesterday (to pick up a prescription) and everything was fine (beforehand) until I came off the motorway after a few miles and when I started braking at the end of the slip road the car was pulling to the right quite badly. I immediately drove home and parked the car up without looking into it. Immediate thoughts are the nearside front caliper isn't working (I did red rubber grease the pistons and sliders year before last when discs and pads were changed)? Before I just simply order new calipers is there anyone withe experience of MX5's that could suggest any other areas to inspect first? The car does very limited mileage, say 10 - 20 miles a week.

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On 5/18/2020 at 3:14 PM, Tenmil Socket said:

The stop/start function has stopped working on the daily (not a problem as I turn it off anyway). A bit of Googling points towards the battery. I thought I'd have a quick look on ECP at prices ??

I'm assuming this will be classed as a wear and tear item and not covered by the warranty?

image.png.8a34e8b248d8128cd862402b8f266e95.png

 

I noticed ECP battery prices have gone mental - £320 for one for my van that can be had from Halfords of all places for £100. 

Guess there’s a 99% off batteries code around. Arseholes. 

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37 minutes ago, Tenmil Socket said:

Another question regarding the MX5 ?

I was out yesterday (to pick up a prescription) and everything was fine (beforehand) until I came off the motorway after a few miles and when I started braking at the end of the slip road the car was pulling to the right quite badly. I immediately drove home and parked the car up without looking into it. Immediate thoughts are the nearside front caliper isn't working (I did red rubber grease the pistons and sliders year before last when discs and pads were changed)? Before I just simply order new calipers is there anyone withe experience of MX5's that could suggest any other areas to inspect first? The car does very limited mileage, say 10 - 20 miles a week.

I'd be tempted to take it for a careful short drive and see if one calliper is heating up more than the others. it's not impossible that corrosion has built up on under the silver clips that the pads slide on, ping the clips out, file down the channels they sit in and replace so the pads slide easily back and forth, might be a nice simple fix ? or file a bit off the lugs on the pads, will have much the same effect but you will have to do that each time you replace the pads.

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4 minutes ago, gm said:

I'd be tempted to take it for a careful short drive and see if one calliper is heating up more than the others. it's not impossible that corrosion has built up on under the silver clips that the pads slide on, ping the clips out, file down the channels they sit in and replace so the pads slide easily back and forth, might be a nice simple fix ? or file a bit off the lugs on the pads, will have much the same effect but you will have to do that each time you replace the pads.

So if I took it for a short drive and say the nearside was hot this would suggest it's binding and the off side is working OK therefore pulling it to one side?

I did file the lugs on the new pads and everything was moving fine.

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1 minute ago, Tenmil Socket said:

So if I took it for a short drive and say the nearside was hot this would suggest it's binding and the off side is working OK therefore pulling it to one side?

I did file the lugs on the new pads and everything was moving fine.

yep, whichever is getting hot is the one to investigate.

my 5 being a track toy, I tend to change pads more often than most and, pretty much every time I do, the calliper bracket needs cleaned up under the sliver clips or the pads won't slide properly. your clips may be quite old as most pad manufacturers don't provide them and you have to reuse the old, potentially worn or buckled, ones. (genuine Mazda or brembo are exceptions to this and do include new clips)

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OK cheers. Looks like I need to investigate. I did order new clips when I changed the pads but although they looked right they didn't fit (too long). I fully cleaned up the old ones and the caliper bracket. Filed the pads as already mentioned and greased everything up. The lack of use doesn't help. I shall strip them down and grease everything again. This time I might use the RRG on the pistons and moly grease on the sliders.

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Is anyone here able to give advice on scrapping alloy wheels? I've got an excess of them (7 in fact) now and wondered if there would be any money in trying to get them weighed in. I did try a website that fields around for quotes, but that only yielded one response and it was a bit far away. The guy said aluminium is £700 per tonne (and his buyer was away), and that the wheels were worthless with tyres on them. Does anyone here have any insider knowledge of buyers for this sort of scrap (preferably in Yorkshire)?

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5 hours ago, Kiltox said:

I noticed ECP battery prices have gone mental - £320 for one for my van that can be had from Halfords of all places for £100. 

Guess there’s a 99% off batteries code around. Arseholes. 

All their prices have rocketed over the lockdown period. They wanted something stupid like £35 (after discount) for the Panda's droplinks which I got for £12 with next day delivery off eBay.

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1 hour ago, Broadsword said:

Is anyone here able to give advice on scrapping alloy wheels? I've got an excess of them (7 in fact) now and wondered if there would be any money in trying to get them weighed in. I did try a website that fields around for quotes, but that only yielded one response and it was a bit far away. The guy said aluminium is £700 per tonne (and his buyer was away), and that the wheels were worthless with tyres on them. Does anyone here have any insider knowledge of buyers for this sort of scrap (preferably in Yorkshire)?

I used to go to Cf booth doncaster. Last time I weighed some in I think it was about £8 for a 16 inch.

Take the tyre value core out. Cut through top of tyre and sidewalks until you cut through the beads both sides,reciprocating saw with a metal blade makes short work of it, dispose of tyres at tip (max four at a time)

Remove wheel weights, centre caps tyre valves etc.

The plan has got to be to just get rid and not think about money.

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I'm looking for wiper refills for the Cresta and I can only find refills that are too deep from the

point to the back and have six channels where I need two. I suppose I could cut the extra off,

seems a faff with a very non rigid piece of rubber and a knife. Would have to get extra, in that case.

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On 5/26/2020 at 6:10 PM, Agila said:

dispose of tyres at tip (max four at a time) The plan has got to be to just get rid and not think about money.... 

At our tip, once you get past the Gestapo gate guards interrogation, checked your permit, checked your identification, checked your load, they then charge you £4 per tyre.... They tried the same with plasterboard, that had to fit in a bag about the size of a large carrier bag, £4.... Strangely enough flytipping incidents went through the roof... They retracted the plasterboard fee but the tyres are still being flytipped. Probably even more now the tips have reopened, but the Gestapo are turning away lots of people because the rubbish doesn't fit their "essential household waste" wtf does that mean it seems to vary between each Gestapo foot soldier ???

Could of put this in the Grump thread I suppose ?

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  • 1 month later...

Disabled to PLG tax cost?

Recently swapped the Zafira for the Peugeot. Back when I first got the Zafira, I was told at the post office that due to the vehicle being on disabled tax, I'd have to pay 6 months tax up front.  Is this the same if I wanted to pay for 12 months? All the advice I'm looking for, including on the .gov website is as clear as mud.

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This is possibly going to be hard to diagnose over the net but - a friend has a 1.9 TDI MK4 Golf (51 plate I think) that has just developed an odd fault - on starting, it "chugs" rather than running properly, I'd say it's sitting at 600 RPM or so. Sometimes it clears after a few seconds, sometimes it stalls. The strangest part of all is it will also turn the wipers on for a few sweeps when trying to start, not always but it did it about one out of five times when I tried it.

AA man said immobiliser fault but surely it wouldn't start at all if that was the case?

I've advised him to get it to a VW specialist but I just wondered if anyone had come across this before.

Thanks

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  • 3 weeks later...

Anybody know the tyre pressures for a Westwood W8 ride on mower?

I have a PDF manual and can't find them in there. Googling gives me 10 PSi to 14 PSi general for mowers, but does any know the correct pressures for a Westwood W8? It is an early 1980s machine. It has different size tyres front to back a bit like a drag car!

Yesterday @Slowsilver  took some wheels off for me to take to the menders so we can cut the grass for the FoD event.

s-l1600 (6).jpg

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