Just been for an MOT and had an advisory that my tyres are starting to perish, had a look at them & there are hairline cracks all around the groves in the tread pattern, not in the sidewall. The cracks go around the entire circumference & are probably less than a mm deep.

How old are these tyres - 18 months - tread depth about 5mm

Is this normal are are they duff & need replacing now.?

Instinct is to get rid of them now but should I also complain to manufacturer or just accept as as a thats life.

Oh, that are a top brand, no cheapies

Ta Read more

Hi

I would just like to share my observations on servicing my 2001 A4 TDi 130 for the first time.

I bought my oil and air filter from an Audi dealer along with some mirror glass as for some reason my passenger side mirror was fitted with glass with no heater elements.

I got PD 505.00 505.01 oil as I intend am not into variable servicing and long life oils at the best of times, but especially as the sump only takes 3.8 - 4l of oil. I intend to service the car every 5k or maybe 10k miles, I have not yet decided.

This was the first time I had changed an element style oil filter as opposed to the more common (in my humble experience) screw on all in one type. I was interested to find the oil filter on top of the engine under the silver engine trim beside what looks like the fuel filter. I now appreciate why the Audi parts man was trying to sell me the fuel filter too?.. Along with screen wash and pollen filter to add an extra £50 to my bill. Maybe net time, but I still don?t think I will be buying their screen wash :o)

The oil filter top was mustard to try to get off. I ended up buying a removal tool from Halfords for £4.99. It is a cap that fits over the top and picks up the 14 flats. With a socket set ratchet on the tool it was still tough enough to remove. I doubt I would have got it off without damaging it without the filter removal tool. Chain whips etc were just not working on it.

It took me a while to locate where the replacement O rings should go. They both appear to be on the plastic shaft that goes down through the middle of the element filter. I did not replace them this time but will do it next time.

There was a vacuum hose that runs up the left hand side of the head and around the back of a silvery cap thing that protrudes through the silver engine cover trim. It had been rubbing due to engine vibe on the silver cap and had worn trough. I replace the ~1m long pipe which went to something else mounted low on the left wing under the air intake trunking? Any idea what this vacuum line does?? I will be interested to see if it makes any difference to the performance or fuel economy of the car.

The air filter is difficult to remove unless you disconnect the circular trunking. I was surprised at the amount of leaves etc on the dirty side of the air cleaner box. I guess this is due to the direct nature of the air path from the front grill to the air cleaner box.

The drain plug is on the side of the sump pan with a decent fall to allow the old oil to drain out. It is a decent 19mm sump bolt, not any silly torx etc.

The oil filter housing did not seem to have an in and an out, I would be interested to find out how it worked.

I am guessing the net time will be much quicker now I know what I am doing.
Read more

This morning central locking worked fine.
Drove to football locked it no problem. Came back to car it wouldn't work. So i thought battery had gone in key, changed battery still wouldn't work. But doing it manually the alarm goes off, but it doesn't sound just lights flash and a small noise inside the car.
Anyone any ideas what could be wrong???
Cheers Read more

Another good column today.

Re the correspondant with Skoda (a 1.9 so presumably a TDi) talking about oil usage and HJ's comment about VAG stopping the use of recycled oil for the running in period. I guess VAG dont use "running in" oil in the PD engines because they need a specific oil spec for sake of the health of the unit injector pumps. Is there is any evidence of high oil consumption with PD engines compared to early non PD TDis that may have had a fill of recycled "running in" oil from new?. Read more

SWMBO has a mondeo Mk2, 1999.
I have just had to change the front side light due to a blown bulb. When I switch the lights on, there is a fast, clicking sound from the back of the lights. It comes from under the light plastic cover. It appears to be from a black plastic housing of some sort at the back of the bulbs. A couple of wires go to the housing. It is the near side of the car so access is terrible due to the position of the Battery and Fuses.

Any idea what this is, or the clicking sound. It seems to go all the time the lights are on. It carried on with the new bulb. Is it serious. I have tried to wiggle it around but it didnt stop.

Read more