****Motors Chat Thread Round 4****

Alanstrainor

vectra wrote: »

Only spotted this last night
Got a price for 255/35/18 yesterday from him
Toyo came in at 135 each.

That's a great price

Chris_Heilong

dgt wrote: »

Just to emphasise a point, the cooling system must be strictly maintained. Thermostat change is a must, coolant change with Paraflu blue every 2 years, make sure the fan works when it should, no air pockets in the system.

Too many people complain of hg failure and when asked these simple q's they either go silent or get pissy. Laziness and/or lack of education most of the time

How do you air out your cooling system? would you have to flush it and refill?

YbFocus

Thanks man, another motor man contacted me earlier in the week with another offer. Thanks though thats a fantastic price and hardly much more for 19's

Stheno

Lads bit of advice wanted.

Sending the alfa in for a major service (as in it's hit over 120k miles and the sparks need to be replaced),

Specific to the alfa, the front and rear suspension will be checked in detail, especially the rear as there is a weird noise coming from the back sporadically.

Additionally, all the brakes were replaced recently (well about three months ago) and whilst they should have bedded in at this stage, consistently at low speeds, there is a distinct "groan" when I break (<30mph)

So apart from the usual change all filters, oil, replace the sparks with this service (and the little quirks like the bonnet hinge and drivers armrest, and broken light in the dash) am I missing anything?

Mechanic is also replacing all door seals and the aerial but just wondering if I'm on the ball or should be checking anything else.

Tb/waterpump/variator done 2 years ago so is fine.

Ded_Zebra

Stheno wrote: »

Lads bit of advice wanted.

Sending the alfa in for a major service (as in it's hit over 120k miles and the sparks need to be replaced),

Specific to the alfa, the front and rear suspension will be checked in detail, especially the rear as there is a weird noise coming from the back sporadically.

Additionally, all the brakes were replaced recently (well about three months ago) and whilst they should have bedded in at this stage, consistently at low speeds, there is a distinct "groan" when I break (<30mph)

So apart from the usual change all filters, oil, replace the sparks with this service (and the little quirks like the bonnet hinge and drivers armrest, and broken light in the dash) am I missing anything?

Mechanic is also replacing all door seals and the aerial but just wondering if I'm on the ball or should be checking anything else.

Tb/waterpump/variator done 2 years ago so is fine.

Brake fluid should also be changed every 2 years so if it hasn't been done it's worth doing. Are you going to get the gear oil done?

Stheno

Ded_Zebra wrote: »

Brake fluid should also be changed every 2 years so if it hasn't been done it's worth doing. Are you going to get the gear oil done?

Sorry when I said oil, I meant normal, gear and brake fluids, already had that chat with my mechanic.

Anything else?

Ded_Zebra

Stheno wrote: »

Sorry when I said oil, I meant normal, gear and brake fluids, already had that chat with my mechanic.

Anything else?

Maybe a throttle body clean if you wanted, Power steering fluid? I think you have it all covered though. Unless there is something else Alfa specific but I can't think of anything else

YbFocus

Christ almighty I'll never sleep now, watched that Paranormal Activity 3 film.
It'd bloody well terrify ya :eek:

Stheno

Ded_Zebra wrote: »

Maybe a throttle body clean if you wanted, Power steering fluid? I think you have it all covered though. Unless there is something else Alfa specific but I can't think of anything else

Nah I've concentrated on the Alfa stuff e.g. sparks (their service manual doesn't go to 130,000 miles but the sparks need to be changed every sixty k)

Going to get my mechanic to take it on a drive and see if I've missed anything.

Probably not, I was in with him for a chat a few weeks ago and as he's an older guy he as in stitches with me on about faults with the car, I was on about bushes etc and he was "I've no other female customer who understands anything about her car"

He's great, fierce old fashioned and will go a great job for me

Isn't it sad though that he said that? Most of his customers are women, and I've been there when he chats to them, and it's very basic, and I tend to be surprised. Why is that the case? Is it a lack of interest, that it's not girly? Or am I being unfair to women and it's indicative of the general motoring population?

Matt Simis

Stheno wrote: »

Isn't it sad though that he said that? Most of his customers are women, and I've been there when he chats to them, and it's very basic, and I tend to be surprised. Why is that the case? Is it a lack of interest, that it's not girly? Or am I being unfair to women and it's indicative of the general motoring population?

Lack of interest reinforced with the perception that car maintenance is lowbrow, dirty and "mans work". You dont get many female truck drivers, lumberjacks, coal miners or Park Rangers either.

Im not sure Id agree its "sad" though, we dont all have to have the same level of interests in everything shared by everyone.

Ded_Zebra

It is odd alright that there isn't more women interested in cars and I don't really know why it is... Possibly because their parents tell them it's boys stuff when they're little? I just have no idea. Probably would make a nice thesis for someone though :pac::P

Scortho

Stheno wrote: »

Lads bit of advice wanted.

Sending the alfa in for a major service (as in it's hit over 120k miles and the sparks need to be replaced),

Specific to the alfa, the front and rear suspension will be checked in detail, especially the rear as there is a weird noise coming from the back sporadically.

Additionally, all the brakes were replaced recently (well about three months ago) and whilst they should have bedded in at this stage, consistently at low speeds, there is a distinct "groan" when I break (<30mph)

So apart from the usual change all filters, oil, replace the sparks with this service (and the little quirks like the bonnet hinge and drivers armrest, and broken light in the dash) am I missing anything?

Mechanic is also replacing all door seals and the aerial but just wondering if I'm on the ball or should be checking anything else.

Tb/waterpump/variator done 2 years ago so is fine.

When was the cam cover gasket seal changed? They have a lifespan of 60ki think...mine went to 134 though.

MetzgerMeister

Where the hell is Nissan Doc ???

Ded_Zebra

MetzgerMeister wrote: »

Where the hell is Nissan Doc ???

It has been a long long time since he has been around here :( DIY section is struggling without him.

CianRyan

MetzgerMeister wrote: »

Where the hell is Nissan Doc ???

Often wondered this lately, his section on INOC is all dried up now too.
My theory is that once he sold the 350GT and bought an Astra van, he lost all interest in cars.

Bpmull

Stheno wrote: »

Isn't it sad though that he said that? Most of his customers are women, and I've been there when he chats to them, and it's very basic, and I tend to be surprised. Why is that the case? Is it a lack of interest, that it's not girly? Or am I being unfair to women and it's indicative of the general motoring population?

I know very few women who have a good knowledge in cars I know one or two. I think its lack of interest in most cases. I think its great when I hear a woman who knows her cars and has an interest. I think my mother is a lost cause at this stage. She rang me last week wondering how she would put diesel in her car no joke. I've tried explaining car mechanics and stuff to her and she doesn't have the interest at all. My dad is the opposite. It's all me and him talk about and we service our own cars and can do most of the basics.

YbFocus

The girlfriend will know any car on the road and the differences between them, she can find her way around engines and how everything works but she's too afraid to touch one in case she'd break it :rolleyes:
Quite funny listening to her talk to the lads sometimes, most of which wouldn't know as much

Oh and BP, wish I had that, the father had no clue of cars. Gets me to service his and thinks it's like some godly power to be able to

Scortho

YbFocus wrote: »

The girlfriend will know any car on the road and the differences between them, she can find her way around engines and how everything works but she's too afraid to touch one in case she'd break it :rolleyes:
Quite funny listening to her talk to the lads sometimes, most of which wouldn't know as much

Oh and BP, wish I had that, the father had no clue of cars. Gets me to service his and thinks it's like some godly power to be able to

My oul lad has no interest in cars either. Offered to buy him a nice xjr but he had no interest.

Don't know where they got me from. Family have always driven diesels, the mother always sticking with Germans and the father with toyotas.
You should have seen the look on there face when they heard that I was getting an alfa.
The reaction was even funnier when it was a v6!:pac:

advertsfox

Bit of an update on the C5 lads...

Rang the dealer - he was pissing and moaning that I didn't bring him the car first after my mechanic looked at it... "eh, it wasn't starting you knob, I rang you as soon as I got it started". Then I asked to bring it over to his garage within that hour and he say "ah I have to leave for the day and my mechanics not available" - this was 1:30! It's going up next week, a chap is selling the exact pump I need on Adverts if he acts like a tool and doesn't cough up.

Anyway, I knew the process to start it for the time being with the priming pump so I parked up on level ground at the missus folks house for an hour and a half and it wouldn't start again so did the process and she started (still not on the reserve light yet with my current tank).

Now, I decided to put some new fuel in from my reliable Texaco garage so I threw in €40, went to nearly 3/4 full - turned over straight away at the station and I went home. It would be parked up for 9-10 hours overnight in the cold so I was sure it wouldn't start and would need to be manually pumped again - but no, I went out this morning before I left for work to test it and she turned over after 1 second!

I can't help but wonder if it was the fuel from the backroad station I used that caused issues or maybe because the tank was more than half full now and on a slight incline that it helped get it to the engine but I'm still keeping an eye on her - it's an odd one.

Scortho

advertsfox wrote: »

Bit of an update on the C5 lads...

Rang the dealer - he was pissing and moaning that I didn't bring him the car first after my mechanic looked at it... "eh, it wasn't starting you knob, I rang you as soon as I got it started". Then I asked to bring it over to his garage within that hour and he say "ah I have to leave for the day and my mechanics not available" - this was 1:30! It's going up next week, a chap is selling the exact pump I need on Adverts if he acts like a tool and doesn't cough up.

Anyway, I knew the process to start it for the time being with the priming pump so I parked up on level ground at the missus folks house for an hour and a half and it wouldn't start again so did the process and she started (still not on the reserve light yet with my current tank).

Now, I decided to put some new fuel in from my reliable Texaco garage so I threw in €40, went to nearly 3/4 full - turned over straight away at the station and I went home. It would be parked up for 9-10 hours overnight in the cold so I was sure it wouldn't start and would need to be manually pumped again - but no, I went out this morning before I left for work to test it and she turned over after 1 second!

I can't help but wonder if it was the fuel from the backroad station I used that caused issues or maybe because the tank was more than half full now and on a slight incline that it helped get it to the engine but I'm still keeping an eye on her - it's an odd one.

I wouldn't tell the dealer that you topped up with potentially dodgy diesel. Tell him topaz or maxol or the likes.

advertsfox

Scortho wrote: »

I wouldn't tell the dealer that you topped up with potentially dodgy diesel. Tell him topaz or maxol or the likes.

Oh no don't worry I didn't mate, that's just for all of us to know :P I just can't get it out of my head that he mentioned it had a manual fuel pump when I bought the car (just looking at bodywork) - I asked him was he aware of it being needed, he said he used it because it had no diesel (which is believable) but still, just sticks out to me.

PS: What are the not to obvious effects of dodgy diesel? Has anyone had any experience with a bad station? Is it normal for it to be hard to ignite / cause starting issues?

pred racer

OSI wrote: »

To be fair there is a general lack of interest in how anything works among the general population.

Ask most how an engine works, how their central heating works, or what makes a computer tick and they won't have a clue. It comes with the commoditisation of anything. Once they become a widely available and easy to replace item, nobody develops the interest or need in a deep understanding of it.

It's a problem that's become very obvious in the tech sector. Kids think they're wizz kids because they can use Facebook to advise their mates so don't try any harder. I did a Computer Science course, and I can safely say at least half of them wouldn't even be able to point out the northbridge on a motherboard, or call you an idiot for not knowing they're largely redundant and non existent at this stage. Something sometime with even a casual interest in computer hardware would know.

This gets me aswell, I have to know how everything works, including the universe;)

MetzgerMeister

pred racer wrote: »

This gets me aswell, I have to know how everything works, including the universe;)

And yet you can barely understand how a pencil works :pac:

pred racer

MetzgerMeister wrote: »

And yet you can barely understand how a pencil works :pac:

Once you find out that its a possibility that there is only one electron in the universe, pencils lose their attraction;)

Did some posts dissapear there???

Kopparberg Strawberry and Lime

MetzgerMeister wrote: »

Where the hell is Nissan Doc ???

I know where. .... but I'm not obliged to say.

In saying that I'm not sure why he is a non poster now.

cabb8ge

MetzgerMeister wrote: »

Where the hell is Nissan Doc ???

I miss his posts now that you mention him. I lurk a lot on here poost seldom, not strong at type in English.

Others I miss too but there names/IDs not in my mind.
Last few months less knowledge here I think.

Fuzzy_Dunlop

dgt wrote: »

1.1 won't be overly happy in the Panda body, best go for the 1.2 same engine block only bored out .9 of a mm and stroked about 7mm (yeah I've spent too much of my time with these engines.....)

Clean the tb regurarly, keep the sensors around it clean and dirt free. Timing belt breaks it's freewheeling so no piston to valve abuse :pac:

ba_barabus wrote: »

A friend had one and the only issue he ever mentioned was ECU problems that seemed to cause a misfire. I don't recall it ever being a massive issue or him ever getting to the bottom of it.

For what you pay I think they're great value.

I'm the guy Alanstrainor is asking for btw!

Cheers for all the advice lads, will keep an eye out for the 1.2.

Scortho

Fuzzy_Dunlop wrote: »

I'm the guy Alanstrainor is asking for btw!

Cheers for all the advice lads, will keep an eye out for the 1.2.

I saw your pic and thought what the ****, toastedpickles is getting a panda! :pac:

Best of luck with the search. Theyre a really underrated car, like anything italian

tossy

Fuzzy_Dunlop wrote: »

I'm the guy Alanstrainor is asking for btw!

Cheers for all the advice lads, will keep an eye out for the 1.2.

Kudos on your sig, one of the greatest.

Bpmull

advertsfox wrote: »

Now, I decided to put some new fuel in from my reliable Texaco garage so I threw in €40, went to nearly 3/4 full - turned over straight away at the station and I went home. It would be parked up for 9-10 hours overnight in the cold so I was sure it wouldn't start and would need to be manually pumped again - but no, I went out this morning before I left for work to test it and she turned over after 1 second!

I can't help but wonder if it was the fuel from the backroad station I used that caused issues or maybe because the tank was more than half full now and on a slight incline that it helped get it to the engine but I'm still keeping an eye on her - it's an odd one.

I dont know whether this any help or not. But my focus stops working when it drops much below 1/4 of tank. It works one 100% but when the diesel level get low it will be hard to start and will cut out. But then the focus has no lift pumps or manual primer. So effectively if it cuts out your fcuked. I can't understand why ford didn't put in a manual primer. My mechanic can't understand why my one is like this my best guess is cracked fuel sender so when level gets low it just sucks on air in the tank. But I have nearly 20k km on mine and once it's kept topped up with diesel it has no problem what so ever.