Ask a Shiter

[wuvvum]

OK, here's another Mk4 Golf-related question.

 

The instruments have started sticking.  Now I've had cars with faulty connections to the instrument panel before, but normally that results in the needles dropping to zero.  On the Golf they're staying in whatever position they were in.  All four clocks are affected - speedo, rev counter, fuel and temp - they will randomly simultaneously stick in whatever position they were in, then equally randomly start working again a couple of minutes later - sometimes they only work for a second or two, sometimes for minutes at a time.

 

I have no fugging clue.

[rainagain]

What do you have to do to keep the DPF system happy on a modern diesel? Do you really have to give it a 20 minute motorway run every couple of weeks?

I heard a good Italian tune up now and then was recommended. I'm assuming the high revs = high (and hot) exhaust flow.

 

I've got one in my 307 so I'm also interested in looking after it

[rainagain]

OK, here's another Mk4 Golf-related question.

 

The instruments have started sticking. Now I've had cars with faulty connections to the instrument panel before, but normally that results in the needles dropping to zero. On the Golf they're staying in whatever position they were in. All four clocks are affected - speedo, rev counter, fuel and temp - they will randomly simultaneously stick in whatever position they were in, then equally randomly start working again a couple of minutes later - sometimes they only work for a second or two, sometimes for minutes at a time.

 

I have no fugging clue.

I look at a similar problem in a friend's A3. From googling this is a common vag problem. I read the two most common causes are dry joints on the dash PCB or water getting into the body control unit. On the A3 I looked at this was mounted in the boot on the rhs.

[robinmasters]

...From googling this is a common vag problem...

 

Obviously the first thing I did on reading that was I googled 'this is a common vag problem'. I'd recommend starting with the NHS's visual guide. Unless you're having your tea.

[rainagain]

Obviously the first thing I did on reading that was I googled 'this is a common vag problem'. I'd recommend starting with the NHS's visual guide. Unless you're having your tea.

"technically I'm not a fully trained gynaecologist, just an enthusiastic amateur"

[taxi paul]

Hear about the gynaecologist? He decorated his hallway through the letter box. Boom boom.

[Cheggers]

My mate who's a gynaecologist recently joined Facebook, when I asked him why he said he wanted to look up an old friend

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[AlabamaShrimp]

Has any one ever polished their windscreen?

 

Need to get some marks left by the workers out and thought about using a kit from Amazon but the reviews are all over the place, is it worth it or just try and get a new screen?

[cobblers]

If you can feel the scratch with your fingernail then it's deffo too far gone. 

[gordonbennet]

What do you have to do to keep the DPF system happy on a modern diesel? Do you really have to give it a 20 minute motorway run every couple of weeks?

 

Had the misfortune to have to use one of our eerie6 Dafs last week, fuck me thats a bloody heap, i could rant for hours at how dire the fuckin thing is, always end up shoving ibuprofens down me neck when i have to use one cos they give me rocking headaches.

 

However on the menu toggle switch there is a DPF symbol, which if you press it will show a bar graph type display of the state of the soot filter, showing completely green and clear normally, had it not then you can manually trigger a regen (or manually prevent a regen if desired) by a simple press of the switch.

 

If they had fitted that simple as system to cars, yes i know the white goods car users wouldn't have a clue but the facility could be disabled for the clueless so they don't twist their panties up, then many of us wouldn't be shitting ourselves about modern Diesels quite so much, cos at present we haven't a bloody clue what's going on and could easily be stopping several times on the trot just as a regen is about to fire up.

 

As for PSA's system with the EOLYS fluid, far as i know they don't seem to give half as much DPF trouble as others, their problem (especially the 1.6 doom engine) is stupid oil service intervals leading to excess carbon and blocked oilways and multiple fucked turbos, no doubt not helped by idiots who let the oil run low and switch the bloody thing off when its still glowing red.

[AlabamaShrimp]

If you can feel the scratch with your fingernail then it's deffo too far gone.

Don't know if you can see if that well but this is only only bit that you can feel with your nail.

 

 

It's been failed on its test but there's a big chip further up that he wasn't bothered about.

[Mally]

Can't really tell on photo.

I have polished scratches out, it obviously removes glass, so you end up with a polished groove instead of a scratch

Only good on minor damage. Would ask the MOT man if he will accept it polished out.

If you do polish it the polish flies everywhere, managed to get it on my MGB hood and it wouldn't come off.

Chips and scratches are acceptable out side of designated areas.

[Kiltox]

What happened to FOAD's Alto thread?

[cobblers]

Loads of the buyers personal details got posted so I guess it was baleted.

[AlabamaShrimp]

Can't really tell on photo.

I have polished scratches out, it obviously removes glass, so you end up with a polished groove instead of a scratch

Only good on minor damage. Would ask the MOT man if he will accept it polished out.

If you do polish it the polish flies everywhere, managed to get it on my MGB hood and it wouldn't come off.

Chips and scratches are acceptable out side of designated areas.

I asked him on the day and he said polishing it will be good enough for him.

I'll do my best with it. At least if I cock up there's a place not far away that says they have the screen and fit them. Shame I don't have the money for that...

[AlabamaShrimp]

Loads of the buyers personal details got posted so I guess it was baleted.

Er why did a load of details get posted?

[gordonbennet]

The Merc is only taxed for 6 months but can't remember what month it's out, obviously i'll need to sorn it again.

 

Unfortunately about 3 months ago Orange ceased their email services so if email reminders normally arrive well they won't basically cos i'm now with another email service.

 

How can one find out when their VED expires please, still prefer the discs you knew where you were with them, do they still send out reminders by post?

 

Ta a bundle.

[Kiltox]

http://vehicleenquiry.service.gov.uk

[SiC]

One for tooSavvy. What is a (or your) ToMM?

[Eddie Honda]

How can one find out when their VED expires please

https://vehicleenquiry.service.gov.uk/

[Mally]

I asked him on the day and he said polishing it will be good enough for him.

I'll do my best with it. At least if I cock up there's a place not far away that says they have the screen and fit them. Shame I don't have the money for that...

 

You need good control of the drill, something straight like a dremel is ideal.

Take your time, use plenty of polish and clean it off to check as you go.

View through the screen may be a little distorted afterwards.

Is screen not covered on your insurance?

[The Moog]

Loads of the buyers personal details got posted so I guess it was baleted.

This. We had a complaint so have removed it.

[gordonbennet]

Thanks lads, i knew about the online taxing and online MOT history etc but for some reason didn't twig you could check road tax too.

Turns out i taxed it for 12 months after all (memory's getting worse) so will put in for refund when the weather changes.

[Ghosty]

Er why did a load of details get posted?

 

Seemed like the Alto buyer was having FOAD on so he was posting screenshots of text conversations etc, a couple of people were going all internet detective and trying to track him and his family down, supposedly to send him the V5.

[wuvvum]

I'm thinking of investing in a DS150e clone diagnostic thingummy, but I'm not entirely sure how they work.  The ones I've seen on eBay come with a box thing with an OBD2 cable coming out of it which looks like a normal code reader, except it doesn't appear to have a screen.  They also come with a CD to install the software on a PC.  What does the box thing do?  Is it some kind of interface 'twixt PC and car, and thus necessary for the operation of the software, or would I get away with just installing the software on my laptop and then using a USB-to-OBD cable?

[Pillock]

If it's like VADGECOM then the lead acts as a dongle, and the software won't work without it.

 

It may also be so that one lead can do all the slight variations and interpretations of what OBD means... Like on some cars you can recode things through that port but only if you "mod" a cable

[AlabamaShrimp]

Seemed like the Alto buyer was having FOAD on so he was posting screenshots of text conversations etc, a couple of people were going all internet detective and trying to track him and his family down, supposedly to send him the V5.

This because it broke down after he bought it?

 

Don't know where Foad is but I know I wouldn't want to drive an Alto mega distance, it's not what it's for.

[Arthur Foxhake]

One for tooSavvy. What is a (or your) ToMM?

Toyota of Much Mintyness.® ©

[gm]

I thought it was Toyota of Many Miles ?

[catsinthewelder]

Toyota of Mild Misery?