Car joins fleet. All usual AS rules broken - Cookie's adventures in shiteing

[Cookiesouwest]

Fleet update.

CRV had its ball joint done. No annoying knock

Has now developed weird noise from the rear though !

The BFG heated seats now work. I did nothing. They just started working after two days. Weird.

The MG ZS180 that's been sitting on my mums drive for 5 years will be sold. A local rover licker wants it. It use to look good.

 

The Polo of Little Cookie. This is a fucking hateful ungrateful piece of shit.

It's been running cold since purchase. Throwing up random EPC and EML lights, that give different codes whenever they are ready.

It went in Wednesday for a thermostat. On the way home, little cookie broke down. In the town one way system, at the busiest junction. This did nothing for her anxiety. Luckily passers by, pushed her out of the way.

Garage came to rescue her. Got it going and drove it back to garage. Code said gearbox fault. Codes cleared, 30 min test drive. Threw EML again. Code said EGR issue. So garage blanked the EGR and little cookie drove home.

Today I took it for a long rant round the lanes. Must say it drove better than its ever done. Clearly running at the right temp helps.

But after an hour, following me stopping for a coke at my local, it threw up EML and EPC lights.

Drove home. On restart only had EML.

This horrible piece of shit will be leaving soon. Little Cookie does not trust it. Mrs Cookie worried about Little Cookie having another FTP too. So its days are numbered. 

[Cookiesouwest]

11 minutes ago, MrGTI6 said:

Even if you do get to the bottom of the issue with the Polo, in typical VAG fashion it'll be something else again next week. It's had its chance.

Loving the yellow ZS. Looks an early example. Can't say I recall seeing one on a Y-reg.

It was a good example. One of the first off the production line.

Sadly life very much got in the way.

Agree re the Polo. It's had its chance.

 

[Cookiesouwest]

Persuaded Little Cookie to take the Polo for a drive.

It didnt break down. But she was so anxious she couldn't remember if EML was on. 

So I tool it out. Drove fine. No EML.

My ELM 327 would not pair up with my Torque Pro apo. I had wanted to scan it. New ELM 327 ordered.

Even if it behaves, Little Cookie is so scared of it FTP'ing, I'm still going to have to replace it.

The BFG heated seats have stopped working again. Cant be a fuse, as fault in intermittent. Im wondering if torque pro app will work. Will give it a try when the ELM arrives in the week.

[Cookiesouwest]

Another Polo FTP, but this time its my fault.

When I ran the Polo around the block, I accidently left the lights on

Little cookie went out to drive it and a very dead battery. Jumped it and sent her off for a 30 min drive to get some life back in the battery.

Oh how I wish I hadn't given Little Cookie such a lecture, when she did the same thing lol

When she got back she reported 14v in the battery but the EPC and EML had made a re-appearance.

Its been decided, largely by me, to replace the Polo with an Astra H, 1.8 Auto.

The 1.8 is a good robust engine and the Auto is a proper slush box.

It will probably double her insurance.

There seem to be a few around locally, so hopefully I can find a half decent one.

[Cookiesouwest]

Wednesday I took the polo for a drive.

No EML. Scanned it anyway. No codes. Took an awfully long time for my ELM to connect. So long I thought it was knackered so tried it on the Honda.

Hilariously the Honda threw up an O2 sensor fault. Hoping its an old one, so cleared it.

Then managed to get it to connect to the Polo. No codes lol.

On Thursday little Cookie took the car to her Dads. He lives an hour away. First time she had driven that far and first time on dual carrigeways. She manage to get lost, ended up sat on someones driveway for 10 mins crying, but eventually she made it. Quite proud of her given her horrendous anxiety.

Her dad is a driving instructor and took her out Friday for some roundabout practice, as frankly everytime she uses one, someone nearly dies. Thankfully his instruction worked, because she had a far better drive back.

She doesnt want to get rid of the Polo. Ive told her its on borrowed time if we cant solve the EPC / EML issues. She also wants the headlights improved because she cant see shit at night. This may have more to do with her eyesight than the car, but today took a trip to Halfords to buy Halfords advanced 200% bulbs. 38 quid for two H7 !

One bulb fitted, then the heavens opened. She thinks the new one is brighter. I'm not convinced. Will fit the other when it stops pissing down.

EML still on. But ELM would not connect again

Despite her wanting to keep the Polo, I have found an Astra on FB. Seems to have been looked after. Will arrange viewing in next few days, if he still has it.

To be fair, I do like the shitbox Polo and if its replaced, I may keep it for a run about.

Im also kinda hoping the EPC / EML problem can be solved.

Mrs Cookie is finding it too stressful when LC goes out in the Polo, hence its almost certain replacement at some point.

 

[Cookiesouwest]

In a break in the torrential rain, I went out and changed the other bulb. 

Little Cookie may* be right. Now its dark, they do seem a bit brighter.

Also tried reconnecting to the OBD. Im using this and torque pro app.

I know it works, as it has linked before and also works on the Honda.

Its getting power as that lights up.

OBD also lights up, although flickers a bit if the OBD port wiring is waggled.

But the Comm light just flashes. Torque App says no connection with ECU.

So I think part of the problem is the wiring from the OBD port. My vcds knock off would not connect and my mechanic has also had difficulty with connections.

I dont think that would make EPC or EML light come on though.

So its an Astra 1.8 Auto thats local or maybe the slightly younger silver Polo thats on the for sale board, plus a hefty shiply quote from North Wales.

At least the current Polo could give up some parts to improve the Silver one and still remain driveable.

Or let Little Cookie drive this till it dies, which it may never do.

 

[SiC]

Did you want to come over sometime to mine for me to have a poke? I have a genuine VCDS too. 

[Cookiesouwest]

2 hours ago, SiC said:

Did you want to come over sometime to mine for me to have a poke? I have a genuine VCDS too. 

Thank you.

I may take you up on that offer.

My luck, I will get to yours and the EML will be off when I arrive

 

[Zelandeth]

Make sure one of the pins hasn't been pushed out of the back of the OBD socket.  The VAG ones seem to be a bit shit and I had to repin the one on my Caddy as two of the pins made a bid for freedom as soon as I tried to connect to it.

[SiC]

36 minutes ago, Cookiesouwest said:

Thank you.

I may take you up on that offer.

My luck, I will get to yours and the EML will be off when I arrive

 

It's probably going to be something silly like O2 heater, carbon canister purge valve or such if it's intermittent but still providing full power. 

[Cookiesouwest]

Weirder and weirder.

Took the Polo out for a spin this morning.

Took quite awhile for it to come up to temp. Finally did as I was pulling in to pub carpark.

Had a coke. Got back in and drove home. Temp gauge at 1/4. Gave it a hard rant round industrial estate, temp up to halfway, drove home.

Gauge dropped to 1/4. Stayed there.

 

Thought maybe the fans were running, but no.

I think this car may be haunted.

[SiC]

I might change my bets to thermostat and it throwing a code for not warming up quickly enough. Maybe O2 sensor still for not warming up coupled with the thermostat not helping it.

[Cookiesouwest]

6 hours ago, SiC said:

I might change my bets to thermostat and it throwing a code for not warming up quickly enough. Maybe O2 sensor still for not warming up coupled with the thermostat not helping it.

It did have new thermostat a couple of weeks ago and worked fine.

So unless thats failed or failing, something else is messing with the engine temperature.

Very weird that it eventually got to 90, then dropped and stayed at one third.

Never had that problem before with any other car.

[Cookiesouwest]

So. A car happened. A little bit lastminute.com

@Rikdogguk had advertised a newer 1.4 Auto Polo for sale.

And in an amazing twist of fate was happy to drive it to Bristol from North Wales, today. As he has work here next week.

So obviously I bought it.

It was exactly as described. 

@Rikdogguk is a lovely bloke and I would happily buy from him again.

No Wollard or Pez shot. Car has been left in the Bristol suburbs and I will return on Tuesday with LC to collect. She will be informed she has to pose for a Wollard when we get to the car. She may say F*ck Off lol

The car is 4 years younger and a facelift model. 

Have a pic in the dark and rain.

 

[SiC]

It did have new thermostat a couple of weeks ago and worked fine.
So unless thats failed or failing, something else is messing with the engine temperature.
Very weird that it eventually got to 90, then dropped and stayed at one third.
Never had that problem before with any other car.

Your E320 had a APEC thermostat that lasted a few weeks before it broke like the original. Then I ponied up for a genuine Merc and was absolutely fine there after.

So I wouldn't discount the thermostat failing again.