December 2004
******** This thread now closed. Please see Volume 37 ********
www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?t=28274
In this thread you may ask any computer related question for which you need help, advice, suggestions or whatever.
Usual rules apply,
No motoring related discussion,
No politics,
No Speeding, speed cameras, traffic calming
No arguments or slanging matches
Nothing which I think is not following the spirit of the thread
Nothing that risks the future of this site (please see the small print for details www.honestjohn.co.uk/credits/index.htm )
Any of the above will be deleted. If the thread becomes difficult to maintain it will simply be removed.
There is a wealth of knowledge in here, much of which is not motoring related, but most of which is useful.
This is Volume 36. Previous Volumes will not be deleted.
A list of previous volumes can be found here:-
www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?t=20892
PLEASE NOTE:
When posting a NEW question, please "Reply to" the first message in this thread, i.e. this one. This keeps each question in it's own separate segment and stops each new question from getting mixed up in amongst existing questions. Also please remember to change the subject header.
Read more
Ref:
www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?v=e&t=16...9
I have a 99(T) Seat Cordoba Vario, with the 90hp TDI engine. When starting up the engine from cold, the oil pressure light briefly flickers on (for a milisecond) after cold starting, then goes off. Once warm this process only reveals itself if the car has been parked for over an hour. The car uses no oil. Its just had a new VAG oil filter and Castrol oil, fitted by VAG main dealer. The codes where read by VW, with the only note being 'low oil pressure at startup'. The cars done 62k, its a one owner full MDSH car (I am second owner). This only started this week, its previously been fine. VAG dealer has suggested a faulty pressure sensor? I have trawled the web - the only info I've found is as per the above 2002 link. Has anyone else had this problem? I asked the dealer about the return valve - they where adamant that was not an issue. The car is under warranty, I am keen to know if this is a common fault, or if this could possibly be an oil pump or start of a more serious issue? Only other fault with this car is the extensive dashboard rattle...... :-(
Read more
Technical manuals say that you should allow the light to go out before you raise the engine speed above idle - or risk damaging the turbocharger.
Other than that, if its only on for a second or two then I wouldn't worry about it.
The liquid coming from the windscreen washers has recently got thicker. It looks quite greasy. I take it this is probably due to lower temperatures. Does it mean I have too much screen wash in the bottle or too little? To clean the bottle out you have to remove the front bumper. One could siphon out the contents.Any help apreciated.Mikey Read more
It is not just low temeratures but the old fluid is degrading chemically. The best approach is to get the old bottle out and properly clean it. But if that is a lot of trouble, either syphon the old stuff out, or run it out on the washer pump. Then flush lots of warm slightly soapy water thorough it, agitating if possible through the filler neck. Can you use a long wire wine bottle washer brush to get the gunge out. Big flush through with warm water, THEN put in the new washer fluid.
My brother's Renault has this and I have no idea what it does. However, he says it's so he can do 25MPH in 5th gear though I'm a little sceptical. Read more
it's always difficult to try and explain things like this and i agree with Tom Shaw's statement about Steve.o spot on and simple to understand dont think i could have managed that think i would have got lost in the explanation if you know what i mean...cheers ...keo
Hi,
Just though I'd gather opinions on the following.
The car idles at around 700rpm, which seems about right. The only thing is, this is with a heater fan on. Fan speed doesn't matter, just whether it is on or off. Switch it off, idle rpm drops to may be around 400 or so, difficult to tell as there are no marks on the tacho between 0 and 1000.
In both cases it idles perfectly stable, never stalled. ECU also seems to do its job correctly by slightly upping rpms if a/c is turned on.
I wonder if this was a mistake made by a dealer who did the last service (that was before I bought the car), i.e. he adjusted idle speed with the fan on instead of off ? Or is it a normal behaviour for this car (very much doubt it).
Thanks
Kostic
Read more
Thanks Number Cruncher
That's right, it's the car with overfilled sump. Actually not any more, I've managed to syphon a bit out, so it is now only around 1mm above :-) I might be able to get big medical syringes very cheaply, so I could build myself oil/whatever other fluid suction/injecting devices for any future maintenance work.
As for so-called instruments on the dash, I absolutely agree. It is probably more than 400rpm but still feels a bit low.
However, there IS an idle adjuster on IAC valve. It regulates how much air bypasses throttle butterfly.
As the car runs very well I'll leave it till the next full service at which point I'll mention it to the mechanic. The question is actually aimed at improving my knowledge base :-)
Kostic
I had a new front box and exhaust fitted to my 2.0 petrol 406 in April 2004, since then Kwik Fit have replaced both parts (without any fuss) 2 or 3 times. It's just gone again (noisy rattle on tickover, resonates on accelleration, rattles when moving)
Kwik Fit say it's unheard of that these parts break down, maybe I'm just very unlucky.
There doesn't appear to be a problem with my car, it burns no oil, it's done about 120k, mostly on motorways.
Has anyone any ideas what the problem could be:
Poor quality parts ?
Should be fitted as a pair ?
Engine issue ?
???
Cheers, Dave.
Read more
What do the plugs look like? If they're oily or covered in black soot then you've got a problem, though 30mpg sounds about right, maybe a bit low for motorway mileage, though it depends how hard you drive it :-)
Recently had a small prang in my car. I hit another car up the backside but luckily it had a towbar so no insurance claim for me to deal with. My number plate was cracked but otherwise all ok. Couple of days later my airbag light came on and now it's on all the dang time. Looked in manual hoping to find some sort of diagnostic meaning but only advice I got was to take it into VW dealer. Not having much time this time of year does anyone know of any reason why it should come on (2 days after potential cause) or any way of making it switch off. I have spoken to a few friends who have suggested it may just need resetting but I have no idea how to do that either Read more
I would suspect that it just needs resetting. Without access to the appropriate equipment it will need the services of a VW dealer or specialist/independent.
Does anyone know where the sensors to switch on the interior lights when doors are opened are located. I have a problem with the drivers door which keeps turning the interior lights on when I'm driving along.
Opening and shutting the door solved the problem at first but now I think its kaput! Big problem with this is that the central locaking and alarm now don't work!
Any advice much appreciated!
Tim Read more
IIRMC the switch part can be separated from the latch mechanism. Is the car still under warranty? - if so a diagnostic check should pinpoint the problem.
Hi
Hav been having trouble with with 1.9 TDi passat 1994. Over revving, thought this was muck in the tank added cleaner which worked for a while. Yesterday morning started over revving again then stalled. Re started the engine but still over revving and stalling with no power when touching accelerater. Any ideas?
Thanks
Janine Read more
Janine,
check your oil level, diesels have a nasty habit of revving themselves to destruction when they suck in oil and burn it. Other than that it sound like the injection pump.
I'd trust this to diesel injection specialist or a good independent rather than a VW main dealer.
My sister was pulled over by traffic cops the other day for having a dirty numberplate and was given a £30 fixed penalty. After the plods had left she pulled into a service station, measured 20 metres and asked the attendant to read the numberplate. Of course there were no problems in doing so and the attendant has agreed to be a witness to this. My sister is fuming and is intending to refuse payment. If it goes to court, what is the actual regulation for this and what evidence do the police have to provide?
Keep upright
Read more
Driving along a dark A road a few years ago, I became aware of a large dark shape about 100 yards ahead. I could see no lights, but then realised it was a lorry. As I got closer, about 20 yards or so, I saw that it did have lights, but it was belching out so much black smoke that it was completely obscuring the rear lights.
Browse
Thanks stuart.
I've never looked in System Tools since I used to defrag my Windows 95 PC!