Ask a Shiter

[artdjones]

Gates kit with pump around £80 posted on eBay.Around £150-180 for labour?

[666jjp]

Is the A/C belt slipping? Is the compressor turning when you activate the a/c?

Did he vacuum test it before refilling?

stopped by a local garage. the compressor is working so he seemed to think a leak somewhere. 

would a gas leak show any signs?

Will look if there is anything obvious but looks like I will just have to put up with it not working

[Parky]

Gates kit with pump around £80 posted on eBay.Around £150-180 for labour?

Thank you Mr Jones. Got another quote yesterday from a more local place, they want £430 with genuine VW kit or £400 if I use an aftermarket arrangement.

 

The original specialist will only use VW bits, especially water pumps as the aftermarket all use plastic impellers vs the metal ones from VW. But according to yesterday’s place, VW are using plastic impellers now anyway.

 

I am awaiting one more place to come back but I suspect they will be more expensive as they are further into London. I might just take a day off and get a VW specialist a bit further out in the sticks to look at it. Sometimes this works, I remember a second service on a Kia was £300 in Romford (east London) and the same was £235 in Southend (Essex). Purely because of the labour rates and their London weighting.

 

Ultimately it’s a ten year old hatch with 86000 miles on it, one owner and full history from new. I don’t plan to sell it but it is in banger territory now so reputable aftermarket bits will do. I may buy them myself and supply them to the garage I end up using so at least I have some control over the quality of what gets fitted.

[Richard]

How long does it take for a vehicle to show as taxed online? The Visa is now taxed and tested but is still showing a SORN on the DVLA website. It's parked on the road so I don't want to get into trouble if it's not updated properly for some reason.

Print out the receipt and put it in the window.

[bub2006]

Ok. As my rather long and fearful post said - I had been worrying over this for a while, due to varying degrees of 'surge' and non immediate brakes etc.

 

So I got up this morning and got on the case. Citrobic work out for a good LONG while - much to the neighbours' entertainment of course, and then went here for some PUREST GREEN.

 

IMG_2361.jpg

 

Filled up as much as I dared (the wee level jobbie dusnae seem to work at all), and then entertained the cheerful shopkeep with many more Citrobics.

 

Then, good drive out to the Citroen dudes at Langley Mill (on the way, the speedo stopped working) , where I explained my worries and asked their advice. Great bloke said "Sure let's take it for a drive". He drove me up the road and back and proclaimed it fine but understood my worries. By that time of course, after it had been driven a good bit and topped up, I think all was well again. Great garage - they will be having my monies when specialists are needed. Some nice stuff there too of course.

 

IMG_2364.jpg

 

IMG_2372.jpg

 

So that all done, I dropped into the local porn shop for a wee hoke around.

 

IMG_2373.jpg

 

(Bubs, I DID try to drive around a bit in the hope of bumping into seeing you somewhere!)

 

I then set off back to Notts, thumping the top of the dash once or twice on the way. Hey presto - working speedo!

 

So there is a moral to this rather over-wrought tale. Don't lose your shit over self-fixing cars. Just never leave without a litre of green ming.

I think it was just kinda tired from under use - both whilst I was in Poland and also from it's previous owner.

It's a very different beast to my S1 TD SX for sure, and am just getting used to it I guess.

 

Drove to Doncaster Airport and back tonight at speed and in great comfort. With much stoppage where required.

 

Thanks for replies/suggestions, and general amnesty for a 'stupid' question.

 

Chris.

I live on the new Street directly opposite anchor army supplies! Next time you up this way drop us a message bud

[Lacquer Peel]

Is the labour to change a VW 8v cambelt that much? I bought a Gates kit for my Bora VE TDI because it's proven itself a reliable car after 2,500 miles in one week. Not keen to DIY it because I've messed up timing belts on TDIs before.

[sierraman]

Someone with the Autodata book should be able to tell you.

 

Sent mine to the garage, for sake of a few hours labour, I was about to buy the tools to lock it all in and hold the pulleys, by the time I'd fucked about the garage wasn't wanting a lot to do it anyway.

[binhoker668]

I live on the new Street directly opposite anchor army supplies! Next time you up this way drop us a message bud

 

Will do fella.  We live too close to not know each other!

Chris

 

[Guest Hooli]

You'll wish you didn't once ya meet him!

[HillmanImp]

Print out the receipt and put it in the window.

 

That's actually a very good idea. Not sure why I didn't think if that. It's updated now though, finally.

[bub2006]

You'll wish you didn't once ya meet him!

I many Times do I need to say shush

[SiC]

Thank you Mr Jones. Got another quote yesterday from a more local place, they want £430 with genuine VW kit or £400 if I use an aftermarket arrangement.

 

The original specialist will only use VW bits, especially water pumps as the aftermarket all use plastic impellers vs the metal ones from VW. But according to yesterday’s place, VW are using plastic impellers now anyway.

 

I am awaiting one more place to come back but I suspect they will be more expensive as they are further into London. I might just take a day off and get a VW specialist a bit further out in the sticks to look at it. Sometimes this works, I remember a second service on a Kia was £300 in Romford (east London) and the same was £235 in Southend (Essex). Purely because of the labour rates and their London weighting.

 

Ultimately it’s a ten year old hatch with 86000 miles on it, one owner and full history from new. I don’t plan to sell it but it is in banger territory now so reputable aftermarket bits will do. I may buy them myself and supply them to the garage I end up using so at least I have some control over the quality of what gets fitted.

Have you tried the local dealer? Sounds daft, but they often do fixed price repairs. I've seen it cheaper a couple of times at a dealer.

 

Edit: £469 - http://www.seat.co.uk/owners/your-seat/servicing-maintenance/fixed-price-maintenance.html

 

You also should get use of their curtosy car for the day too. Plus a wash and clean if the dealer is being nice.

 

Still may even be cheaper than that if you shop around on dealers locally.

[somewhatfoolish]

stopped by a local garage. the compressor is working so he seemed to think a leak somewhere. 

would a gas leak show any signs?

Will look if there is anything obvious but looks like I will just have to put up with it not working

Refrigerant has a noxious yellow-green substance in it which is supposed to show up leaks, but sometimes does nothing of the kind.

[billy_bunter]

Just bought a 2001 focus estate in Zetec trim. I

 

t has 50 types of gack on the steering wheel. How to clean it as I am unsure if it's fake leather or real leather. Is there an easy way to tell?

 

Whats best way to clean?

 

There was a thread a while back but I cannot find it....

[sierraman]

Chuck it and get another from breakers. It won't be leather.

[SiC]

Just bought a 2001 focus estate in Zetec trim. I

 

t has 50 types of gack on the steering wheel. How to clean it as I am unsure if it's fake leather or real leather. Is there an easy way to tell?

 

Whats best way to clean?

 

There was a thread a while back but I cannot find it....

Isn't that the standard Ford melting steering wheel problem? Soft touch/rubber plastic falling apart if its users wears handcream/oily hands/sweats a lot? I don't think it can be properly repaired.

[billy_bunter]

Not a clue? Will take a photo tomorrow...

[Parky]

Is the labour to change a VW 8v cambelt that much? I bought a Gates kit for my Bora VE TDI because it's proven itself a reliable car after 2,500 miles in one week. Not keen to DIY it because I've messed up timing belts on TDIs before.

I really don’t think it’s long at all. When I had it done before I swear the guys were done in less than two hours as they had assumed that’s because it took that long on a golf. Both the guys said the Seat was easier as there was more access than the VW. They certainly didn’t seem to struggle with anything.

 

I will keep looking about. Bound to be somebody in the more remote Essex countryside who will do it for less than a London based specialist.

 

I could always ask my Cousin to have a go. He is a proper trained mechanic of 20years standing, just depends whether his missus will allow him a few hours away from the kids and the chores on a weekend.

[mrbenn]

Just bought a 2001 focus estate in Zetec trim. I

 

t has 50 types of gack on the steering wheel. How to clean it as I am unsure if it's fake leather or real leather. Is there an easy way to tell?

 

Whats best way to clean?

 

There was a thread a while back but I cannot find it....

 

Have a look at this:

 

http://autoshite.com/topic/31509-mk1-focus-16-paint/page-2

[billy_bunter]

Here its. Particularly like the mountain range.

 

Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

[twosmoke300]

TADTS

[sierraman]

Its the sweat on your hands that does it, I used to come off the motorway with tiny black bits all over my hands.

[dave21478]

[rusty_vw_man]

Just picked up my latest rusty vw - a late model T25 caravelle. 

 

The bumpers are delightfully* faded to blotchy grey. The single marque owners forums tell me to replace them at a cost of £360 (plus postage). Maybe not. 

 

I therefore turn to the more budget conscious forum and ask what products/household goods/shoe polish/bodily fluids you recommend to get faded plastic bumpers looking a little better? 

[Guest Hooli]

s-l300.jpg

 

It'll match stuboy's then!

[HillmanImp]

Whatto everyone.

 

I want to replace a section of floor in one of my cars as it's wearing a little thin. I don't want to pay a gazillion pounds for a proper replacement panel as I am only going to use a 3rd of it as the rest of the floor is okay

 

Does anyone supply generic ridged car floor sections that I can just stitch in that are a reasonable price or do I need to go and get my arse licked by those chaps in Lincoln?

[steveo3002]

get some sheet and a hammer?

[Parky]

Slice the side out of your fridge or washing machine?

[loserone]

Was there a shiter with an environmental management degree (or something similar) looking for work in the north east?

[Guest Hooli]

Was there a shiter with an environmental management degree (or something similar) looking for work in the north east?

 

Rings a bell. Maybe POD or Supanaught? but I could be totally wrong there.