December 2008
I recently did a 360 degree tight turn and when I came to the end of it and straighten up the steering the power was completely lost from my powered steering. I pulled into the side of the road and turned off the engine to give me time to think what to do next. When I restarted the engine the power was back to the steering and no more problems with it on 10 miles back to home. I presume it was the tight (full lock) turn that cause it to misbehave but is this normal if you do a tight turn, or have I a problem in the making. This is as I have explained in my post header is electric assisted power steering not hydraulic.
Thanks Read more
I have been very pleased and not entirely surprised by the immense charm of Australia and most of its inhabitants.
Speed limits are the same as ours, but fussier in town owing to kms which mean lots more different speed limits. People mimse along relaxedly on mostly very fine empty roads in NSW anyway. This despite the presence of many old and new V8 engined cars and utes with fruity aftermarket exhausts. The Aussies like their cars.
I have been driving my SiL's deadpan high-mileage Daewoo. a bit foxed around the edges but fingers crossed still OK. In the Blue Mountains the other day the car in front suddenly stopped causing us to brake sharply. A little spiky thing with a snout was the cause, an echydna, the only egg-laying mammal apart from the platypus. Haven't seen one of those, or a live kangaroo although there are dead ones at the roadside like foxes in England.
Happy New Year. What's the weather like (snigger)? Read more
Hello all. Great forum this.
My question : The ignition barrel of my 405 is busted. Can I get a new one that will work with the SAME key?
Am trying to avoid having to change all locks and only want to use one key for everything.
Cheers, Neil. Read more
I would of course keep both keys with me!
Hi,
Just wondering does anywhere in the UK (specifically the west midlands) do part time car mechanics courses?
I'd like to learn fully how to fully maintain my car (Leon Cupra), including areas like the brakes and such, but looking around the local colleges, they only appear to have full time courses for kids who have just come out of school.
Any tips or hints as to where to look? I'm getting a little fed up of relying on garages, as well as wanting to get my hands dirty.
Cheers Read more
As some of you know I fix computers so I am not affraid of screwdrivers or multimeters, I have also plumbed in my bathroom with no experience whats so ever, it took me at least 12 hours to do it include fixing all the leaks but 6 months later not a single drip from my plumbing.
What also always put me of DIY car work is the reality is always so much harder, you need the experience or an experienced person to show you then I am ok. My uncle told me once how to remove and test the throttle position sensor and since them I am happy to remove it myself and remove and test other sensors, if I had not seen my uncle do it I would not have even attempted to diagnoe sensor issues.
All I have done on my own car is replace the air filter, replace the front number plate (actually a fair bit of drilling involved) and cleaned out the MAF.
I would at least be able to do my own oil as I don't always trust garages to get this right and diagnose suspension or brake faults. I would still get a garage do brake or suspension work but at least I can go in saying could you replace the lower arm offside front bushes etc instead of my suspension is making a funny noise whats wrong with it.
This is why the theory becomes so important. I will look at those books you have suggested.
I was very proud of my repair on a broken down Ka once, I diagnoses the throttle assembly had come away from the injectiom system due to a loose bolt which was lost, I repaired it using elastic bands until my friend could drive to a garage which was 10 miles away.
Even modern cars its not really a lot different ok it now has sensors and computers but the systems are often fairly simple it is only when you get a car with all those brake sensors and goodness knows what else it starts to get very complicated.
Hi,
I wonder if anyone could help me. I have a fairly loud knocking noise when I am braking. It's coming from the passenger side front wheel and feeds into the steering which wobbles along with the knocking noise. It's now started to affect the steering even when I'm not braking too. Any ideas what it could be, and perhaps more importantly, how much it might cost me!?
Thomas Read more
Take care where you get it in mate if you know what I mean.
Some places will just change everything on the brakes steering and suspension and think it's Christmas again.
You get a bill for more then cars worth !
I have been offerered a BMW 318se 1994 for free from a relation who does not need it anymore. This car has done 88k miles, was regularly serviced, and was used regularly until recently. The problem with it is that it won't start, the engine needs cranking for ages for it to start and then it runs fine. Given that I drive old cars anyway (my current "good" car is a Mondeo circa 1996) and I need to replace our second car (ancient small Fiat), would it be wise for me to take on this 318se and get it repaired? Do BMWs make good older cars or do they become too expensive to mantain and repair? All your thoughts appreciated!
Happy Xmas! Read more
I can work on it to repair simple things, for more difficult tasks I'd take it to one of two trusted garages that I use, never to a BMW dealership.
SQ
EPC Light On Again
Electronic Power Control (EPC) has fault codes
P for Powertrain, B for Body, C for Chassis, U for other systems
As this keeps happening I have ordered on-line today the Haynes Fault Codes manual and other info about Engine Management Systems (EMS). It should not be a major problem to connect my PC to the car and investigate the problem myself.
As CEng I managed team of 14 using fault simulators and real systems to write fault diagnostic programmes for more complex systems than cars. It would not be a surprise to me to find software bugs - anyone info about
(1) version numbers of their in-car software ?
(2) Using experience of a VAS 5051 with Data Link Connector ?
(3) VW Diagnostic Trouble Codes and reliability of them ?
(4) Using the software in factory mode ?
It should make for an interesting investigation for the New Year 2009.
Regards, CEng.
Read more
A question for our German-based contributers... We are intending to go to Bavaria (in particular Munich) this year on holiday and whilst browsing the Munich Tourist Info I came across this:
tinyurl.com/8h977g
I can't see any dates for it and wondered when it started... as my car is brand new and in one of the lower bands I can't see any problem in getting the green one but should I order over the 'net or is it easy to get one when I arrive in Germany and save myself a tenner?
Before anyone suggests that I just avoid those areas covered by this my wife is disabled so we will need to go into the centre of the towns and cities as using public transport is not an option.
And we thought our lot was bad when it came to emmissions! Read more
You can get these stickers at any www.dekra.de site.
The EGR valve on my 318 tds is in a filthy state......totally gummed up with carbon etc....
I am guessing the valve is sticking in the open position resulting in the mess in the inlet manifold and pipework.
Having googled the topic a bit it seems a lot of owners blank the valve altogether.
I am considering doing this and would like to know the best way to go about it..ie; block it at the exhaust manifold or inlet?
Seems to be a bit of conflicting reports regarding blanking it of, but would like give it a go anyway to see how it pans out.
Happy Xmass all. Read more
Happy Christmas everybody.
I hope somebody can point me in the correct direction?
I just noticed that the brake lights on our old AK have stopped working, (both stop lights). As it would unusual for both bulbs to fail simultaneously what is the most likely cause?
Is it a fuse? If so can you tell me the correct one to check?
If not a fuse then it is probably the brake pedal stop light switch. How often do they fail and how easy is it to replace. Access looks very difficult so any tips and suggestions warmly welcomed. Where would be the best, (cheapest) place to purchase the replacement part? I could go to a Citroen dealer but would a motor factor/Halfords/eBay have such an item?
To test the brake switch I take it I just short the two wires together. If the lights come on then I take it that the switch is faulty.
Thanks for your replies.
Q. Read more
Unfortunately Halfords does not stock this type of item, (they only seem to have rocker switches).
Looks like a few phone calls tomorrow or eBay.
Thanks for all your help.
Q.
Browse
Avant - One thing that will catch you out is the undertaking is legal here, so, if you are not in the left lane, beware of someone running up the inside. The other thing is that "Give way to the right" is absolute. If you are turning left at an intersection, and another driver wants to turn right into the same street, then YOU must give way because he is on your right. Utter confusion, because, if there is another driver behind you who is going straight on, the right-turn driver has to wait for him. Do you sneak around, or wait for ages ?? It is all a mater of judgement, which is just as lacking here as the forum suggests it is in UK.
Auckland is rather competitive [ I live on the outskirts , and found Naples to be quite comfortable by comparison] but otherwise driving is fairly relaxed. Boy-racers in cheap grey-import Japmobiles abound.