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Today I did something to my car (volume 2)

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Comments

  • #9122
    vintagevrs
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,392 ✭✭✭vintagevrs


    What's it like when you go to the autofactors for some service stuff.....

    "Yeah can I get some 10w40, an air filter and some spark plugs?"

    "No worries, 4 yeah?"

    "No......12"

    Few eyebrows raise in the shop :)


  • #9123
    traco
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,747 ✭✭✭traco


    vintagevrs wrote: »
    What's it like when you go to the autofactors for some service stuff.....

    "Yeah can I get some 10w40, an air filter and some spark plugs?"

    "No worries, 4 yeah?"

    "No......12"

    Few eyebrows raise in the shop :)


    Its worse - its 24 :D


    50179666971_443a0b3ca2_c.jpg


  • #9124
    vintagevrs
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,392 ✭✭✭vintagevrs


    traco wrote: »
    Its worse - its 24 :D

    url]

    Woah, didn't know that.


  • #9125
    Interslice
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,505 ✭✭✭Interslice


    Not a bad looking cover as they go but seems a shame to cover up a v12. Maybe its a bit untidy with wires and hoses beneath?


  • #9126
    traco
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,747 ✭✭✭traco


    Interslice wrote: »
    Not a bad looking cover as they go but seems a shame to cover up a v12. Maybe its a bit untidy with wires and hoses beneath?


    Its not untidy per se but not a lot to see. You can jump back to this page in this thread for a few more pics if curious.


    https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056991213&page=612


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  • #9127
    islanderre
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 714 ✭✭✭islanderre


    Tipping along at tidying up the S2K.
    Took the rear bumper off today and not looking too shabby for a 20 year old car.
    Will clean up the 'Bump Bar' and paint it before refitting.

    [IMG][/img]SJZkYOKl.jpg

    [IMG][/img]vs6Xrz7l.jpg


  • #9128
    wotzgoingon
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,309 ✭✭✭✭wotzgoingon


    Jesus that is a lot of hidden rust but at least you caught it at the correct time.


  • #9129
    islanderre
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 714 ✭✭✭islanderre


    wotzgoingon wrote: »
    Jesus that is a lot of hidden rust but at least you caught it at the correct time.

    Yep... was expecting it as that area is right in the firing line of the rear tyre spray.... also; the fog light which is in the centre of the bumper @ the bottom was loose.
    This issue with the fog light is a known issue with the S2K so wasn't surprised. The fixing bracket literally corrodes away.
    I'll tip away at it over the weeks and get there in time!!!!


  • #9130
    traco
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,747 ✭✭✭traco


    Replaced the top door trim where some previous owner had managed to bend it back in around on itslef?? Drove me mad every time I looked at it but I'm odd that way.

    Got a LWB door from a breaker up North for 70 quid. Much cheaper option and would also mean I coudl figure out the job without further dmage to the car and have spare seals on other bits if needed.

    Handy enough job really. Pull seal, drill out old rivets, remove trim. Repeat on car and install the new old one on the car. Propably took 2 or 3 hours taking my time.

    So item number 738 on the luxobarge to do list has now been ticked off.

    50660109987_2d13d07584_c.jpg

    50659287688_d2df78fa38_c.jpg

    50660109892_9d2d69a3c4_c.jpg


    I also powered up the raer phone handset so wonder how it works now?? Suppose I should read the manual as I am sure knowing merc this has its own network or something daft.

    50659543748_354f1cc646_c.jpg


  • #9131
    colm_mcm
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 73,546 ✭✭✭✭colm_mcm


    Mmm.... stuff.

    6-C2326-B0-931-B-408-F-9-DF7-DB239-EAF7788.jpg

    Clip Clip screw screw
    423-B10-C9-0548-4-A03-B935-9118-B2505-AFC.jpg

    Thunk
    C977-A360-0-E1-A-4-ECA-BD6-E-085-C2717-E604.jpg

    BoomE2-C87-DCA-762-E-43-D6-9871-0-E462-AC080-C1.jpg


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  • #9132
    traco
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,747 ✭✭✭traco


    Not today but over the last three weeks:

    Gearbox service, new oil, filter and pilot bushing- handy enough. Shame I had to spend hours repairing stripped threads from some previous idiot. Five of the six bolt holes were stripped hence sealeant everywhwere!! I can understand one, maybe two but stripping 5 of 6 takes a special kind of genius.
    50724746592_d0747541d2_c.jpg
    50724746572_b80992f91d_c.jpg

    Sorted rear climate blowing cold throug teh central vents with a new duo valve - one of two on thos car.
    50748477842_d157900324_c.jpg

    New gaskets on the thermsotat housing when I had the coolant dropped. The vacuum fill system or air lift as its also called is a great little tool to have. This is a cheap €25 jpb from ebay but works really well.
    50747639148_ce20840ba4_c.jpg
    50748476072_caf28ed187_c.jpg
    50747638278_580d5fe0eb_c.jpg
    50747637818_729a184915_c.jpg


  • #9133
    Alanstrainor
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 23,157 ✭✭✭✭Alanstrainor


    536107.jpg

    Well , for those who didn't see my post on the Motors Chat before Christmas, my Lexus had a bit of a moment. More specifically the alternator died.

    Getting the parts was an interesting experience in and of itself. Ordered from Autodoc.co.uk thinking that I would get it quickly as it's UK based and used parcel motel to have it delivered to Antrim. Buttttt, autodoc is not a UK company but a German one... oh ****.

    So this is around the time that the mayhem in Dover/Kent had begun because of Brexit. Here I was after ordering from Germany and my alternator and belt was stuck on a Truck somewhere in Europe.

    To add to the mayhem I soon got an email from parcel motel saying that they were going to be ceasing operations on the 28th. :eek:

    Despite all of the above, the part somehow arrived before Christmas. A miracle.

    So today I went about starting the job. I started late and knew that I was only going to get the first steps done. After an hour or less, I had the belt off and 2/3 of the bolts removed. Unfortunately the final bolt is buried/obstructed by the cylinder head, all the DIY guides simply say 'DON'T DROP THE BOLT', so tomorrow that's the plan.

    The battery is sitting in the garage fully charged, so no real issues there. Fingers crossed I manage to get it done tomorrow.


  • #9134
    traco
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,747 ✭✭✭traco


    You did well - I was nearly 3 weeks waiting for a part from them that was in stock. They use teh cheapest of the cheap ecconomy rate ecommerce shipping options. Parts are good but I wouldn't use them again for anything urgent.

    Good luck tomorrow - at least the weatehr looks better if still cold.


  • #9135
    Alanstrainor
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 23,157 ✭✭✭✭Alanstrainor


    traco wrote: »
    You did well - I was nearly 3 weeks waiting for a part from them that was in stock. They use teh cheapest of the cheap ecconomy rate ecommerce shipping options. Parts are good but I wouldn't use them again for anything urgent.

    Good luck tomorrow - at least the weatehr looks better if still cold.

    Put on my thermal top and layered up and went at it. It did take much longer than many of the guides suggest, but this is something I expected, and didn't have any plans so all good.

    I mentioned I had 2/3 bolts removed... this makes things seem better than they were, the last was hidden under the manifold almost completely hidden. There are a good few guides online, with different tactics to get to it. Some went as far as removing the entire ECU :eek:. Luckily I decided that was a terrible idea and found that at the right angle you could actually see this bolt from the side. Just.

    With a lot of fiddling, I got it off, even managed to not drop the damned bolt. I did get stuck at the easier bits, removing the plastic connector for the alternator was painful. But in the end I got it all out, a lot of twisting and cursing to squeeze the thing out and up.

    So here I am, new alternator in, all bolts secured. Tomorrow is the finisher, connectors and small bolts here and there. And of course the aux belt, nothing too bad. Should be done in reasonable time. Fingers crossed it fires up.


  • #9136
    Toyotafanboi
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,917 ✭✭✭✭Toyotafanboi


    Nothing better than when it goes half ways right!


  • #9137
    Alanstrainor
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 23,157 ✭✭✭✭Alanstrainor


    Toyotafanboi wrote: »
    Nothing better than when it goes half ways right!

    I might put that on my headstone!


  • #9138
    traco
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,747 ✭✭✭traco


    Alanstrainor wrote: »
    It did take much longer than many of the guides suggest, but this is something I expected, and didn't have any plans so all good.


    I've given up listening to guides and what people say on forums at this statge. If the OEM book time is quoted I double that and add a few hours for coffee, biccys, swearing and googling whats gone wrong. Then at least i only run a few hours over that time frame.


  • #9139
    Tea drinker
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,818 ✭✭✭Tea drinker


    traco wrote: »
    I've given up listening to guides and what people say on forums at this statge. If the OEM book time is quoted I double that and add a few hours for coffee, biccys, swearing and googling whats gone wrong. Then at least i only run a few hours over that time frame.
    Yeah the "a lad online says it takes 2 hours" is not something I go by.
    I find if you done it a few times before maybe you might get close to that time if you put everything back filthy. Cleaning stuff (be it cosmetic or carbon) takes ages.


  • #9140
    Top Dog
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,176 ✭✭✭Top Dog


    So, exactly a week since it arrived on our driveway, I've now carried out my very first mod to my early Christmas present - led park light bulbs to enhance the eyelashes and also tie the front end together well all bulbs a similar light colour. :D

    The bulbs were actually ordered about 4 weeks ago for my other car, but between Christmas and Brexit chaos they only arrived today. :rolleyes: still, all that really matters is that they arrived, they also fit the Skoda, and they're canbus error free so no coding or dash warning.

    Yeah, it's only a tiny mod, but gotta start somewhere :pac:

    Before
    537676.jpeg

    After
    537677.jpeg

    All together :cool:
    537678.jpeg


  • #9141
    Alanstrainor
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 23,157 ✭✭✭✭Alanstrainor


    The LED side lamps look brilliant, really takes them to the next level.

    Alanstrainor wrote: »
    Put on my thermal top and layered up and went at it. It did take much longer than many of the guides suggest, but this is something I expected, and didn't have any plans so all good.

    I mentioned I had 2/3 bolts removed... this makes things seem better than they were, the last was hidden under the manifold almost completely hidden. There are a good few guides online, with different tactics to get to it. Some went as far as removing the entire ECU :eek:. Luckily I decided that was a terrible idea and found that at the right angle you could actually see this bolt from the side. Just.

    With a lot of fiddling, I got it off, even managed to not drop the damned bolt. I did get stuck at the easier bits, removing the plastic connector for the alternator was painful. But in the end I got it all out, a lot of twisting and cursing to squeeze the thing out and up.

    So here I am, new alternator in, all bolts secured. Tomorrow is the finisher, connectors and small bolts here and there. And of course the aux belt, nothing too bad. Should be done in reasonable time. Fingers crossed it fires up.

    Near the end of this now. Car is running, allowed the engine to get fully up to temp, checked that everything seemed normal enough and went for a few short drives around the estate.

    But, the battery light is still on. I have a battery/alternator tester and that says the battery and alternator are good. And given the car was running for an hour or so that points to things being more or less good too. All electronics also working (much better than before, just goes to show there were small signs that things were not right, slightly slow wiper blades for example!)

    So here's the sequence of events. I fired it up yesterday and it was lumpy as hell, battery light on still and struggling to stay running. Thought the alternator must still be the fault given the battery light displayed. Gave up yesterday and had another go this morning (in the freezing sub zero weather!). Started the car just to see what happened, and let it idle for much longer, still not terribly happy. Revving made it idle worse and nearly stall.

    What the hell!

    Then I remembered I had a cheapy lidl battery/alternator tester and connected it up. Alternator charging. So that was a pretty good feeling. Left the car idling for 30 minutes or more, it often dipping below 400 revs. Did a bit of googling and it's a common problem. ECU doesn't like being disconnected from the battery for long, needs to re-learn how to idle correctly. Solution is to drive it, so I did. And it went well, it quickly started to idle normally and drive all normal.

    I restarted the car a few times after driving a few kms but the battery light remains. Need to read the codes now. But things are looking decent I think.


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  • #9142
    Toyotafanboi
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,917 ✭✭✭✭Toyotafanboi


    I would test the battery. I would say between the initial breakdown, being left flat for a number a number of days, particularly over this cold snap that now your battery is bolloxed.


  • #9143
    wonski
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13,685 ✭✭✭✭wonski


    Any chance this is some sort of error stored in the ecu that has to be cleared?

    I remember the BMW stop start equipped cars had batteries to be coded in etc.

    Could be something similar, but should work correctly anyway.

    All cars ecus adjust parameters to run the engine, so don't think it should drop the revs or anything like that. Do the opposite really - keep the engine running no matter what unless it is not possible and/or display error on the dash.

    Last time I had problem with alternator, it was the Merc, pretty much everything was disabled to keep the engine running. All non essential electrics were switched off immediately.


  • #9144
    Alanstrainor
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 23,157 ✭✭✭✭Alanstrainor


    Toyotafanboi wrote: »
    I would test the battery. I would say between the initial breakdown, being left flat for a number a number of days, particularly over this cold snap that now your battery is bolloxed.

    Yep seems likely, although it did charge to 13.6v or so last night, which would suggest it's pretty good.

    After having some time to think, I'm going to check the plug to the alternator. This is the plug for the ECU, not the positive terminal. Very fiddly to get off/on so I think it's likely that it's not on right. That could explain why the car runs fine but the light is on.

    But sure, I really don't know at this stage! I'll buy a battery if things still aren't right after some more troubleshooting.

    Thanks lads, much appreciated! Thank fook for having 0 need for a car at the minute!


  • #9145
    wonski
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13,685 ✭✭✭✭wonski


    I wish you all happy 2021, hope it will kick 2020 in the ass and send it where it belongs :)

    After doing over 1k km over Christmas the unwanted message 'low oil pressure' started showing up when navigating the roundabouts and sharp turns.
    Normally it is a death sentence for Alfas, but a little top up got that sorted. For now.


  • #9146
    Top Dog
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,176 ✭✭✭Top Dog


    Sold it :eek: well, sold one of them :D

    537937.jpg


  • #9147
    vintagevrs
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,392 ✭✭✭vintagevrs


    Would love to know the story behind the reg. Did someone spend money to put a 325i reg on a 318?


  • #9148
    Top Dog
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,176 ✭✭✭Top Dog


    vintagevrs wrote: »
    Would love to know the story behind the reg. Did someone spend money to put a 325i reg on a 318?
    I imagine they must have done. Irish car from new. It was a good bit cheaper to reserve numbers back then, though I imagine it annoyed some 325i owners :pac:


  • #9149
    punisher5112
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 24,633 ✭✭✭✭punisher5112


    Only option is fit a 325 into her...... She be 1.8 lad on the buck


  • #9150
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 0 ✭ [Deleted User]


    Alanstrainor wrote: »
    Yep seems likely, although it did charge to 13.6v or so last night, which would suggest it's pretty good.

    After having some time to think, I'm going to check the plug to the alternator. This is the plug for the ECU, not the positive terminal. Very fiddly to get off/on so I think it's likely that it's not on right. That could explain why the car runs fine but the light is on.

    But sure, I really don't know at this stage! I'll buy a battery if things still aren't right after some more troubleshooting.

    Thanks lads, much appreciated! Thank fook for having 0 need for a car at the minute!

    Haven't really posted here in a long time but I feel your pain when it comes to alternators so felt I had too. I've a bit of a story. Mine died on Stephens night about 15 miles from home...in that weather. Rang for breakdown assist but 123 or RSA ballsed up their automated service so was slightly stranded. Thankfully, the only buddy of mine that I knew wouldn't be on the sauce that night came to my rescue. Abandoned the car and went home.

    Chanced breakdown assist again the following morning. No luck. Automated service kept transferring me back and forth between 123 and RSA. Asked for a loan of a jump starter in the lads Whatsapp group in the hope that I'd get enough charge in the battery to get the car in the road (wishful thinking there). One of the lads gets back to me with a pic of his newly bought transporter trailer that he was mad to take for a spin. Another buddy with a jump starter who was mad to get out of the house for a while. Car was back in my driveway within an hour. Three top lads got me out of the shít here and would take nothing for it. I'll sort them out somehow eventually.

    Fast forward to the following day and I accept the fact that I'll be carless until January 4th at least. I decided I'll rip the alternator out and have a look. Nothing left on the brushes. Mentioned it that night to one of the lads in work. Low and behold his neighbour is an auto sparks. Had a new set of brushes handed to me the following night for the pricey sum of a fiver. After work I took a gamble, whipped out the soldering iron and followed a youtube video and now I'm back on the road...for a fiver.

    So 4 lads, well 5 if I include the auto sparks who could have just enjoyed their xmas time off got me back on the road just for something to do. I lucked out big time with my choice of friends.

    TLDR: I fixed my alternator for a fiver and have great friends :pac:


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  • #9151
    wonski
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13,685 ✭✭✭✭wonski


    Thumbs up to your friends.

    Not the best start of the year, but always good to know there are friends to help when you need them :)


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