Vectra C, TARDIS edition, I'm a fan... Or not.

[warren t claim]

2 hours ago, yes oui si said:

I blame Kahn...

Nothing wrong with the W123 stalk other than it covers too many functions. 

[yes oui si]

Fuckery is afoot.

After the heater resistor was changed, it was still only blowing on 4. I left it on 3 and forgot about it.

Two days later, I started it in the morning and it started blowing on 3, fiddling with my knob resulted in successful blowing on 1, 2, 3 and 4... For around 90 seconds. Then it went back to how it was.

It's been the same on each initial start in the morning - blows on any setting for just over a minute then goes back to only blowing on 4.

I'm waiting for the relative relay to be delivered... If that achieves nowt then I'll howk the switch out and see if a good clean improves things.

I've got a multimeter but I'm an electrical fud, and my spastic hands can't do delicate work.

[High Jetter]

Just fiddle with your knob, if that solves it 😀

[yes oui si]

...like I need an excuse...

[yes oui si]

Remember, kids! WD40 is NOT a penetrating lubricant!

[SiC]

I presume the electrical connector to the fan resistor isn't melted or corroded up in anyway?

Sounds like a loose or dirty connection. 

[horriblemercedes]

On 22/04/2026 at 23:34, Wibble said:

One touch indicators, like early XJ40s, totally shit and end up with you indicating the opposite when you try to cancel them.

If you just tap the stalk, it cancels. If you push it all the way, it will indicate that way

 

I never found them an issue in Vauxhalls and BMWs that I drove with them. Maybe odd for the first couple of miles, but then I was used to them

[warren t claim]

9 hours ago, horriblemercedes said:

If you just tap the stalk, it cancels. If you push it all the way, it will indicate that way

 

I never found them an issue in Vauxhalls and BMWs that I drove with them. Maybe odd for the first couple of miles, but then I was used to them

The wiper stalk usually fucks up first leaving the driver unable to turn them off.

[Wibble]

10 hours ago, horriblemercedes said:

If you just tap the stalk, it cancels. If you push it all the way, it will indicate that way

 

I never found them an issue in Vauxhalls and BMWs that I drove with them. Maybe odd for the first couple of miles, but then I was used to them

To be fair, it was a colleague’s car and I rarely drove it and would, no doubt, have got used to it but it just seemed like a more complex arrangement to solve a problem that didn’t exist. The only thing I liked about the Vectra C was the space.

[warren t claim]

22 hours ago, Wibble said:

The only thing I liked about the Vectra C was the space.

Space compared to which other car?

[Wibble]

45 minutes ago, warren t claim said:

Space compared to which other car?

Boot space seemed bigger than the Avensis estates we had.

[Mrcento]

Those Vec C estates are ridiculous for load space (and rear legroom), Easily the biggest in class and bigger than most the class above as well.

They're honestly not bad cars. Albeit with some absolutely bizarre quality oversights for a model they were trying to give some air of moving a bit more upmarket quality wise.

The handbrake lever is especially bizarre, it's like they went out their way to make it feel as cheap as they could. Thin, hard, flimsy and with sharp edges, feels like a toy one that will break every use. Horrible noise too. Sounds and feels cheap. Even the one in my Cinquecento feels luxurious compared to it, and they didn't even bother covering half the mechanism on that from new!

[Wibble]

25 minutes ago, Mrcento said:

Those Vec C estates are ridiculous for load space (and rear legroom), Easily the biggest in class and bigger than most the class above as well.

They're honestly not bad cars. Albeit with some absolutely bizarre quality oversights for a model they were trying to give some air of moving a bit more upmarket quality wise.

The handbrake lever is especially bizarre, it's like they went out their way to make it feel as cheap as they could. Thin, hard, flimsy and with sharp edges, feels like a toy one that will break every use. Horrible noise too. Sounds and feels cheap. Even the one in my Cinquecento feels luxurious compared to it, and they didn't even bother covering half the mechanism on that from new!

Agreed and why I ended up with a Skoda Superb estate.

[yes oui si]

I'll be honest, I'm finding myself searching marketplace for furniture whenever I'm in an area, just to take advantage of the enormous boot.

[yes oui si]

Further to the above. Was up in Edinburgh to see t'other half, found a matching pair of 195x100x30 bookcases in Leith and the folk selling them could load them for me. Result.

Drive home was a bit cosy... Just got to wait for fitha_oui_si and a neighbour to unload them for me.

[yes oui si]

Success... Now to spend the next several days filling them when I have energy/grip strength.

[Dan302]

4 hours ago, yes oui si said:

Further to the above. Was up in Edinburgh to see t'other half, found a matching pair of 195x100x30 bookcases in Leith and the folk selling them could load them for me. Result.

Drive home was a bit cosy... Just got to wait for fitha_oui_si and a neighbour to unload them for me.

Bloody useful old bus!

[warren t claim]

Have you had to polish the headlamps yet to see at night?

[Cookiesouwest]

2 minutes ago, warren t claim said:

Have you had to polish the headlamps yet to see at night?

That will make no difference.

Two candles on the leading edge of the bonnet corners, would give better illumination.

[warren t claim]

2 hours ago, Cookiesouwest said:

That will make no difference.

Two candles on the leading edge of the bonnet corners, would give better illumination.

On the two I've had it made a huge difference.

[yes oui si]

3 hours ago, warren t claim said:

Have you had to polish the headlamps yet to see at night?

The thing looks like it has the clouded yellow eyes of a 19 year old spaniel that should have been put down at twelve, but somehow the dipped beams are fine at night. Main beams are excellent, and I'm fortunate enough to rarely have to switch to dipped.