Car D.I.Y.

[Drago]

After a bit of measuring and interweb browsing I discovered that the boot of the Sloda Octagon estate is dimensionally very close to my Mini with the seat delete in place.

With that in mind I ordered a boot liner to fit the Skoda and can confirm it's a 95% good fit in the Mini, certainly close enough that it is very satisfactory. Bruce can now travel with me safe in the knowledge he won't be leaving labrador pine needles all over the carpet and carpeted trim panels.

 

[fossyant]

After a bit of measuring and interweb browsing I discovered that the boot of the Sloda Octagon estate is dimensionally very close to my Mini with the seat delete in place.

With that in mind I ordered a boot liner to fit the Skoda and can confirm it's a 95% good fit in the Mini, certainly close enough that it is very satisfactory. Bruce can now travel with me safe in the knowledge he won't be leaving labrador pine needles all over the carpet and carpeted trim panels.

Labrador fluff goes everywhere

 

[Drago]

Labrador fluff goes everywhere

Oh aye, it's the fur equivalent of the Spanish Inquisition.

 

[raleighnut]

Oh aye, it's the fur equivalent of the Spanish Inquisition.

Pah Labrador fluff is nothing compared to a GSD

 

[grumpydad]

I discovered that I can get 2 xenon headlight bulbs for £57 from a local auto parts shop and not the £506 that BMW would charge for the same bulbs, also discovered that on the 4 series BMW, it is a 5 minute job to replace said bulbs and it is not necessary to go to your nearest BMW service centre.

 

[CXRAndy]

£506 for bulbs , robbing bastard's BMW

 

[Adam4868]

I was in an auto electricians I know the other day...had a Merc in that had a headlight and side indicator out.Said it was a pig of a job because it was programmed to the cars ECU and to get into it was a nightmare,and expensive !
I absolutely detest car electrics...even more so nowadays with ECU etc,I've got a cooling fan that stays on permanently unless I pull the fuse.Must have a break in a wire or similar somewhere but I'm done looking.Going to have to wire it to a switch when I get time...dare not leave it at auto sparks with the prices he charges.

 

[grumpydad]

I was in an auto electricians I know the other day...had a Merc in that had a headlight and side indicator out.Said it was a pig of a job because it was programmed to the cars ECU and to get into it was a nightmare,and expensive !
I absolutely detest car electrics...even more so nowadays with ECU etc,I've got a cooling fan that stays on permanently unless I pull the fuse.Must have a break in a wire or similar somewhere but I'm done looking.Going to have to wire it to a switch when I get time...dare not leave it at auto sparks with the prices he charges.

7 or 8 years ago we had to scrap a Peugeot due to a fault in the electrics that couldn't be traced, absolutely nothing wrong mechanically with the car, we had recently fitted a new exhaust and tyres for an mot and then a couple of weeks later it would go into limp mode for no reason, which wasn't much fun when it would happen while over taking, it would literally go from 60 to 25/30 without warning. We had various mobile electronic specialists look at it and even took it to a Peugeot main dealer, no one could pinpoint the fault, we did start to replace parts that might be causing the issue, but soon realised that we could end up spending way more than the car was worth, so it ended up sitting on the yard for a few months while I sold parts off of it, Electronics are ok while they work, but they are still the weak link in modern vehicles. I don't know if it happens in cars yet but if contractors/farmers don't keep up with payments on their tractor/plant purchases, the dealer can immobilise the vehicles from the safety of their office.

 

[gbb]

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01FURYYEU?smid=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&tag=pepperegc-21&ascsubtag=27005684
£11for 5 ltr. Without buying in bulk, I suspect you won't beat that price anywhere.
It will be (based on my 2 previous purchases if this stuff) be just out of shelf dare...but hey, it's sealed.

 

[gbb]

I was in an auto electricians I know the other day...had a Merc in that had a headlight and side indicator out.Said it was a pig of a job because it was programmed to the cars ECU and to get into it was a nightmare,and expensive !
I absolutely detest car electrics...even more so nowadays with ECU etc,I've got a cooling fan that stays on permanently unless I pull the fuse.Must have a break in a wire or similar somewhere but I'm done looking.Going to have to wire it to a switch when I get time...dare not leave it at auto sparks with the prices he charges.

I remember Vauxhalls I think had this
it would often be a resister burned out. Relatively cheap and simple fix perhaps.

 

[CXRAndy]

,I've got a cooling fan that stays on permanently unless I pull the fuse

.Must have a break in a wire or similar

A broken wire would result in no fan motor working, either on the supply or ground side. Your problem is either a short where there shouldn't be, a relay with shorted contacts, or the ECU is commanding the fan on.

7 or 8 years ago we had to scrap a Peugeot due to a fault in the electrics that couldn't be traced, absolutely nothing wrong mechanically with the car, we had recently fitted a new exhaust and tyres for an mot and then a couple of weeks later it would go into limp mode for no reason, which wasn't much fun when it would happen while over taking, it would literally go from 60 to 25/30 without warning. We had various mobile electronic specialists look at it and even took it to a Peugeot main dealer, no one could pinpoint the fault, we did start to replace parts that might be causing the issue, but soon realised that we could end up spending way more than the car was worth, so it ended up sitting on the yard for a few months while I sold parts off of it, Electronics are ok while they work, but they are still the weak link in modern vehicles. I don't know if it happens in cars yet but if contractors/farmers don't keep up with payments on their tractor/plant purchases, the dealer can immobilise the vehicles from the safety of their office.

This is because quality diagnostic technicians are like rocking horse poo.


Only of we had auto diagnostic guys like Eric from South main Auto or Ivan from Pine hollow. Regrettably both are US based. Ivan is particularly skilled in super awkward issues

 

[Gunk]

or the ECU is commanding the fan on.

Or a faulty thermostat

 

[oldwheels]

I remember Vauxhalls I think had this
it would often be a resister burned out. Relatively cheap and simple fix perhaps.

My Peugeot Partner had an intermittent cooling fan problem with the fan staying on. Traced to dodgy resistor which has just been replaced. Resistor was £95 plus vat and labour £125 plus vat again.
There was one other very small job resetting the service due indicator which will be part of the labour.

 

[Adam4868]

A broken wire would result in no fan motor working

Not necessarily because when working if you unplug the fan it stays on constantly.
Anyway I wouldn't normally be that bothered but this vehicle has a DPF...don't get me started there ! So needs the fan for when it regens.
Oh how I long to go back to when diesels were so simple...no diagnostics and I could get a million miles out of a engine,with the odd battery,starter or alternator.
Happy days 😁

 

[gbb]

My Peugeot Partner had an intermittent cooling fan problem with the fan staying on. Traced to dodgy resistor which has just been replaced. Resistor was £95 plus vat and labour £125 plus vat again.
There was one other very small job resetting the service due indicator which will be part of the labour.

Right track then but obviously wrong re the cost.