Car D.I.Y.

[figbat]

I don't think there is a single product brand that is "Gummi Pflege", since this is simply German for "rubber care". I've seen products from Sonax, Nextzett and Liqui-Moly called "Gummi Pflege". No idea if they are all the same type of stuff - I have seen something saying that one of them is silicone-free.

 

[Drago]

I think the original was by Wurth?

 

[figbat]

I think the original was by Wurth?

Currently known as "Gummifit" and apparently silicone-free.
https://eshop.wurth.co.uk/Product-c...ifit/31083007030501.cyid/3108.cgid/en/GB/GBP/

 

[fossyant]

AFAIK they put some gas and ultraviolet dye in as a telltale to help find a leak, but it really needs to be someone that knows what they’re doing, not the rapid tyre & exhaust fit places

Had the Aygo re-filled at ATS tyres when we got it. Tested, "yeh holds pressure". Couple of days later, wasn't working. Bought a kit, refilled myself with gas and the 'sealant/lubricant' pack, then had a very good look round all the pipes, and found the liquid coming out of where one of the sensors is screwed to the pipes - it was bubbling out of the seal. Quick nip up with the adjustable, and we've had no issues since.

I've had a couple of pricey repairs on my car over 20 years, new a/c radiator as it was holed by road debris, and one of the pipes fractured with age. Cost is the parts most often.

 

[Richard A Thackeray]

Thursday 1st
Checked tyre pressures
Topped up washer-bottles
Checked oil level on all 4 cars

Friday 2nd
Went to work in the car, for a change
Got in it, at 14:15. & phone wouldn't charge
It wasn't an issue, as barring meal-break, it's on 'airplane-mode' & in my locker (was on about 95%)

First thought was a damaged lead, so the other was tried (2 x leads into a double USB adapter on the back of the centre console)
That didn’t work, neither did the cigarette-lighter socket, or the USB socket in a drawer ahead of the gear-lever
That was all I could really do there, but it wasn't a problem to the operation of the vehicle
Now if it had been a blown fuse stopping me from lowering all 4 windows, I'd have been a bit unhappier!!

Once home, & sorted out, I found the vehicle handbook & had a look at the fusebox illustration
After a false start by removing the wrong fuse, & it being okay, I sought suggestions on the 'Kodiaq Caravanners' (FaceBook) pages
Confirmation was given of the fuse number, as the same loss of sockets had happened to another member
Yes, the little devil had blown!!
Thankfully, it wasn't one of those 'micro-fuses' as I don't have any of those!!

 

[CXRAndy]

Oil/filter change on C3 today, steam washed the under tray

 

[screenman]

I think the original was by Wurth?

They are one of my distributors and sell some good products, especially mine.

 

[CXRAndy]

New battery, slightly larger in capacity and size, just fits with about 5-8mm clearance from edge of battery, terminals have 20 mm clearance.

Had to 3D print a wedge spacer to take up smaller width

Opted for AGM

 

[november4]

Did a recharge to Aircon on golf with a kit from amazon, saved £70 to what the garage quoted, then did one of these spray bomb mould things, with aircon in recirc mode.

Was down to 10psi and barely cold, now artic blast.

Is it the new gas is smaller molecule and escapes system easier, i wonder. Our older car has the old gas type and never needed a top up. When I uoutubed it, lots of golf diy recharge videos....maybe its just German engineering

 

[Tom B]

Did a recharge to Aircon on golf with a kit from amazon, saved £70 to what the garage quoted, then did one of these spray bomb mould things, with aircon in recirc mode.

Was down to 10psi and barely cold, now artic blast.

Is it the new gas is smaller molecule and escapes system easier, i wonder. Our older car has the old gas type and never needed a top up. When I uoutubed it, lots of golf diy recharge videos....maybe its just German engineering

Which kit did you buy?

My 12 year old cars AC has been gradually declining for years and needs a regas, that I keep putting off till next spring? I think it's just general loss as opposed to a leak.

The compressor has a rattly clutch when AC is off. The car will only last 3-5 years so I don't want to spend loads.

 

[november4]

check inside your bonnet, will be a label as to which refrigerent type then do a search on amazon, as it will be the older type I think, which is cheaper

I went with a one shot job, which has a pressure gauge but there are slightly better kits that also come with a trigger, to charge up in steps, available elsewhere

*note that ATS and others do it for you (older gas type) for the price of DIY newer gas, so worth chekcing local area (£65 versus £71 diy newer gas) the garage quote for recharge of newer gas to me was £140

https://www.atseuromaster.co.uk/ser...ing/aircon-regas-recharge/air-con-regas-r134a

 

[fossyant]

I went with the kit with the gauge (needed) and a trigger/thumb screw to release the gas. This place

https://www.thompsonsltd.co.uk/products/Motoring-Essentials/Air-Con-Regas/R134a-Compatibles

Also bought the leak sealer - mainly as I could see where the stuff was bubbling out from - turned out to be a loose sensor.

 

[Richard A Thackeray]

Forgot
I found out why the fuse had blown
The day before I'd used my tyre-inflator, & having looked at it, wanting to use it on one of the other cars, it wouldn't work
Inspection showed that the twin-core had bare-strands as it entered the cigarette lighter plug
So presumably, it was a short circuit

 

[Richard A Thackeray]

Wednesday 7th

Just had all 4 wheels off the ’free Corsa to paint the wheels (satin black)
It wasn’t a ‘mask up the tyre’ job, as all 4 are being replaced with new tyres next week

A couple of the wheels didn’t really want to come off, even with my impact-wrench

All of the wheels were a bit ‘scabby’
(a few winters worth of road-salt, for a start took the paint off)
The disc is like that, as it hadn’t moved for over 3weeks prior to taking that photograph

The wooden block is there, as I'd had the rear near-side wheel off to check the tyre, as it has a slow-puncture (that photograph was taken over 2 weeks ago)

They look better now, with some paint!
I hadn’t removed the bricks (wheel-chocks) after jacking up the near-side

 

[Richard A Thackeray]

Quick Question
(as l think the multi-meter is at the caravan)

Which is the positive in a cigarette lighter plug, or indeed, a DIN plug, please?

Is it the ‘front pin’, or the ‘spring-clips on the sides?
l might replace the plug on my tyre-inflater