ZT-T gone, now an Audi w@nker. Piaggio Porter still poorly.

[Heidel_Kakao]

On 03/03/2022 at 18:40, High Jetter said:

 

It came with 9 alloys, 4x 16" Unions with winter tyres (on the car now) and 5x 18" Gridspokes with summer tyres on 

Hi just wondering if you  have the Gridspokes still and would possibly be willing to sell them? I just got a ZT-T myself and of the factory wheels I like the look of these best.

[High Jetter]

3 hours ago, Heidel_Kakao said:

Hi just wondering if you  have the Gridspokes still and would possibly be willing to sell them? I just got a ZT-T myself and of the factory wheels I like the look of these best.

I do, and maybe. The rubber on them is not the best tho

[High Jetter]

I'm in a bit of a quandary after this:

Having shelled out some rather chunky amounts for MOT work in the past, is it really worth forking out for the upper arm and rear shocks? With the van still off the road it's my only transport apart from the Mrs' Auris - and I need to keep mobile.

[wuvvum]

Are the rear suspension arms still a pain in the arse to get hold of on these?

[High Jetter]

49 minutes ago, wuvvum said:

Are the rear suspension arms still a pain in the arse to get hold of on these?

No, they seem readily available at around £130 from DMGRS or Rimmers. The problem is the cost/time of lowering the rear subframe if the bolts are totally seized, bearing in mind it's a 21yo car on 187k.

[Imhotep]

I’d say better the devil you know in truth, even if it is likely a bit expensive to mend.

[High Jetter]

This car really is an ungrateful bastard.

Had a cheep new tyre fitted this morning (as one was below the limit) then later the rubber flap over the unlock button decided it had had enough. I know how it feels.

[High Jetter]

I'm really pleased with the A4 @bramz7 kindly sold me 3 weeks ago. The gearchange, clutch, accelerator and steering are all lighter than the MG, it's comfortable, smooth and very quiet on the move. 

It's quicker too, and it's easy to creep up to 40 in a 30 if I'm not careful. Fuel consumption is a bit higher though.

Slight niggles are the remote boot release doesn't,  aircon isn't cold and occasionally the hazards start flashing on start-up, cured by re-starting. Both front  window switches work fine going down, but driver's won't auto-up and n/s will only auto up when fully down. Am not complaining though, will see what the MOT man has to say in the next week or 2. Oh, and the catch on the front arm-rest/storage cubby lid is broken so it falls open if you flip the cubby up.

All in not too shabby for a 21yo with sub 40k miles on the clock.

[High Jetter]

An issue has started with the A4, it will more often than not through up ABS and, therefore, ESP warning lights. Not every journey, and it usually comes on the first or second time I use the brake. I've checked the brake fluid, level which is not up to MAX, but way above MIN. Did it ever do this in your hands, @Sigmund Fraud? The EML is still on, but you kindly explained that as "The EML is due to a lambda sensor wiring fault - I hate modern car electrics, and the only symptom is a slightly uneven idle, so I let it be" - and as it's a pre-July 2003 car it shouldn't fail on the MOT, which is booked for next Tuesday.  It'll be fine if they don't touch the brake pedal - oh, hang on...

[Rust Collector]

7 minutes ago, High Jetter said:

An issue has started with the A4, it will more often than not through up ABS and, therefore, ESP warning lights. Not every journey, and it usually comes on the first or second time I use the brake.

If you fancy bringing the A4 over Seaford way then I could plug in my diagnostic kit and see what codes are stored if that’s helpful. I’m off abroad on Tuesday though, so would need to be at the weekend ideally.

I’m not familiar with the setup in Audis, but what you describe reminds me of the symptoms of a failed brake switch from my experience with the Land Rover and Renault.

[AnnoyingPentium]

Could it possibly be an ABS sensor at the wheel?

[High Jetter]

1 hour ago, AnnoyingPentium said:

Could it possibly be an ABS sensor at the wheel?

Could be, no idea. It's a bit modern for me tbh.

[AnnoyingPentium]

Just now, High Jetter said:

Could be, no idea. It's a bit modern for me tbh.

It's a bloody shame I'm just about on the other side of the country as I've got VW/Audi specific diagnostics that could have had a proper good look at this. @Rust Collector should see you right, though.

[High Jetter]

3 hours ago, Rust Collector said:

If you fancy bringing the A4 over Seaford way then I could plug in my diagnostic kit and see what codes are stored if that’s helpful. I’m off abroad on Tuesday though, so would need to be at the weekend ideally.

I’m not familiar with the setup in Audis, but what you describe reminds me of the symptoms of a failed brake switch from my experience with the Land Rover and Renault.

Thanks pal. Busy w/e ahead sadly,  and you'll have plenty of prep for the trip anyway. Catch up when you get back.

[High Jetter]

3 minutes ago, AnnoyingPentium said:

It's a bloody shame I'm just about on the other side of the country as I've got VW/Audi specific diagnostics that could have had a proper good look at this. @Rust Collector should see you right, though.

Yeah, he's a gem, and very local. It will be sorted, I like this car. 

[Sigmund Fraud]

15 hours ago, High Jetter said:

An issue has started with the A4, it will more often than not through up ABS and, therefore, ESP warning lights. Not every journey, and it usually comes on the first or second time I use the brake. I've checked the brake fluid, level which is not up to MAX, but way above MIN. Did it ever do this in your hands, @Sigmund Fraud? The EML is still on, but you kindly explained that as "The EML is due to a lambda sensor wiring fault - I hate modern car electrics, and the only symptom is a slightly uneven idle, so I let it be" - and as it's a pre-July 2003 car it shouldn't fail on the MOT, which is booked for next Tuesday.  It'll be fine if they don't touch the brake pedal - oh, hang on...

Yes, the ABS light did come on earlier in the year. I scanned it with VCDS and it showed an intermittent brake light switch code.

I took the switch off to check the part code, so I could order a new one. I put it back, and the problem miraculously disappeared !

So, basically, take the trim panel above the driver's footwell off, unplug the brake light switch, plug it back in, and it may well fix the problem. Otherwise, the switch is £10 or thereabouts on eBay.

[High Jetter]

1 hour ago, Sigmund Fraud said:

So, basically, take the trim panel above the driver's footwell off, unplug the brake light switch, plug it back in, and it may well fix the problem. Otherwise, the switch is £10 or thereabouts on eBay.

Epic, thank you.

[High Jetter]

In light of the impending MOT I followed the advice above, but it made no difference, sadly. I thought I'd wait for the MOT verdict before getting a switch.

Today was MOT day, so I first treated it to a wash at our local Morrison's "£2 for 2 minutes" DIY booth - not bad, actually. Got rid of all the 'Sahara' sand, anyway. Then it went for the MOT, and the man said:

Bugger. I knew the EML is on due to the sensor wiring issue, though think it shouldn't have applied as pre-2003. The Lamda reading and the spring surprised me though. Waiting to hear on cost, and whether they can find the gaiters or if it will be new arms. 

Oh, and the rain this afternoon showered it in more 'Sahara' sand.

 

[High Jetter]

Forgot to say, yesterday Mrs J's Auris scored this:

I'm not having a good week...

[FakeConcern]

Bloody hell, a double whammy of bad luck, hope you get them sorted out...

[High Jetter]

1 hour ago, FakeConcern said:

Bloody hell, a double whammy of bad luck, hope you get them sorted out...

Cheers, me too. Mrs is not amused...

[High Jetter]

Got the work on the Toyota done this week, came to £950. Quote for the Audi came in just shy of £1,100, over twice what I paid for it. I'm not sure it's worth that much, but will have to cough up if I can't find an alternative cheapie by Tuesday as Mrs needs hers more over the next few weeks.

[RoverFolkUs]

45 minutes ago, High Jetter said:

Quote for the Audi came in just shy of £1,100,

That sounds rather extortionate, second opinion required methinks. Sounds like your test station just doesn't like old cars based on the 'bad luck' you've been having

I know a lot of testers are particularly sympathetic with ball joint dust covers, as long as the joint is still ok with no play and it hasn't visibility lost all of its grease then they'll P+A them. There's nothing wrong with packing some grease in there and smearing some PU adhesive sealant over the split, especially small ones

[RoverFolkUs]

48 minutes ago, High Jetter said:

Got the work on the Toyota done this week, came to £950.

That's now got me thinking, for a set of discs and pads, a brake pipe, a set of rear pads and some wipers, someone's doing alright out of that. I'd seriously consider a second opinion on the Audi at least if I was you

[High Jetter]

25 minutes ago, RoverFolkUs said:

That sounds rather extortionate, second opinion required methinks.

Yeah, you might be right actually. They do get a few oldies going in for work, so I don't think that's the reason.

20 minutes ago, RoverFolkUs said:

That's now got me thinking, for a set of discs and pads, a brake pipe, a set of rear pads and some wipers, someone's doing alright out of that. I'd seriously consider a second opinion on the Audi at least if I was you

Needed a caliper too, which was £100 for the part. 

[High Jetter]

1 hour ago, RoverFolkUs said:

That's now got me thinking, for a set of discs and pads, a brake pipe, a set of rear pads and some wipers, someone's doing alright out of that. I'd seriously consider a second opinion on the Audi at least if I was you

Here's the invoice:

If I take the Audi elsewhere for a 2nd opinion, should I be upfront and say that's what I want or just ask them to MOT it - which would you prefer?

[RoverFolkUs]

17 minutes ago, High Jetter said:

Here's the invoice:

Admittedly that doesn't seem so bad, they've done the rear discs as well, I thought it was just pads at that price. As well as a tyre which I wasn't taking into account, and the caliper as you pointed out. 

18 minutes ago, High Jetter said:

If I take the Audi elsewhere for a 2nd opinion, should I be upfront and say that's what I want or just ask them to MOT it - which would you prefer?

It's usually best to be upfront, since it's been logged as a failed test they may look it up anyway, and regardless once it's failed they *may* be more inclined to fail it again than be on the lenient side 

Are you able to see the ball joint covers yourself on the top arms without too much difficulty? If I could see how bad they are I'd happily offer my opinion of whether I'm flogging a dead horse with the idea. 

It has to be said the top arms can be a nightmare on these with the pinch bolt from hell, they've most likely quoted you a worst case if they can't get that bolt out 

[High Jetter]

2 hours ago, RoverFolkUs said:

Are you able to see the ball joint covers yourself on the top arms without too much difficulty? If I could see how bad they are I'd happily offer my opinion of whether I'm flogging a dead horse with the idea. 

Thanks - I've no idea, will have a look at it.

[High Jetter]

22 hours ago, RoverFolkUs said:

Are you able to see the ball joint covers yourself on the top arms without too much difficulty? If I could see how bad they are I'd happily offer my opinion of whether I'm flogging a dead horse with the idea.

Had a look, the top o/s ones are obviously shot. Not certain how helpful these pics will be:

Offside: 

Nearside:

The head of the bolt in the first pic looks slightly rounded, guess it's been off before and re-used.

[RoverFolkUs]

1 hour ago, High Jetter said:

Had a look, the top o/s ones are obviously shot. Not certain how helpful these pics will be:

Offside: 

Nearside:

The head of the bolt in the first pic looks slightly rounded, guess it's been off before and re-used.

Ah, yes, no getting out of that one. No point taking it for a different MOT. Maybe just shop around for quotes on the work?