Transh1t, the gift that keeps on giving..

[Ubique]

36k oil changes
Who ever thought that was a good idea, apart from the accountants?
Made to make leased vans appear cheap to run until they're out of warranty when Ford will no longer care. Seems to be the case with most manufacturers now, nothing made with longevity in mind, all built down to a price.

Exactly why Audi specify the first brake fluid change at three years, then every two years - to reduce the TCO for the lease companies.

 

[minimutly]

Low mileage means little.
Given it's a motorhome, how much of it's life has been spent sat idling?

None, with me anyway - why would it sit at idle?

 

[brewdexta]

I have a Ford Ranger with the 2.0L biturbo ecoboom engine. Soon after the third services, after about 22 to 25kmiles, I was surprised that I had a "replace oil soon" alarm on the dash.

It was only later that I realised that they probably didn't change the oil or oil filter in any of the previous services. I would have paid an extra few quid had known and given the option.

I now have it serviced by a mates garage. He thinks that failed DPF recirculation where additional diesel is injected, but not burnt, can't help with in-oil timing belts. This together with extended oil changes when belts are sensitive to oil chemistry sounds like a recipe for disaster.

 

[Melvyn Best]

------------

Another thing I am anal about is inflating spare tyres when fitted. Yes I will empty your boot "of your life" - that you too lazy to tidy up/throw away.

I always inflate spare tyres at least 10 PSI over the highest pressure that the road wheels are inflated to as nobody Evers seems to check their spares. Think I’ve only ever had one person comment about it , my answer was that it’s easier to lower the pressure when needed than to put more in.

 

[8ob]

can't help with in-oil timing belts. This together with extended oil changes when belts are sensitive to oil chemistry sounds like a recipe for disaster.

I dont understand how this weltbelt malarkey has suddenly become a problem, its not a new idea.

Bob

 

[sako243]

I dont understand how this weltbelt malarkey has suddenly become a problem, its not a new idea.

Bob

Probably because some proper old fashioned compound has been banned and the new better substitute only has one falicy in that it disintegrates in oil. The old one was probably banned on environmental grounds by lobbyists who have a vested interest in the new compound.

Me cynical, nah!

 

[dobbslc]

All those scrap cars are just wonderful for the environment...

 

[Nomad]

All those scrap cars are just wonderful for the environment...

Fancy electronics are the problem in my case
I've scrapped a very clean 2005 BMW 325i due to ABS pump (MOT failure) warnings, also got offered a very nice top spec "Roland Garros" Pug 206 for free as it had a similar ABS (MOT failure) warning - I declined and the owner scrapped it as she had just spent ££££ reconditioning other bits and now regarded it as a money pit.
Annoying as both were near immaculate cars with many years of life left, both got scrapped as they had warning lights* for a safety system that should never be needed. I took my test in pre-ABS times and knew if I locked the brakes during the emergency stop on the test I would fail for not being able to control the car. Is this progress?

* Did the cars have faulty systems or were the warning lights faulty?? We'll never know ...

 

[Bobupndown]

Fancy electronics are the problem in my case
I've scrapped a very clean 2005 BMW 325i due to ABS pump (MOT failure) warnings, also got offered a very nice top spec "Roland Garros" Pug 206 for free as it had a similar ABS (MOT failure) warning - I declined and the owner scrapped it as she had just spent ££££ reconditioning other bits and now regarded it as a money pit.
Annoying as both were near immaculate cars with many years of life left, both got scrapped as they had warning lights* for a safety system that should never be needed. I took my test in pre-ABS times and knew if I locked the brakes during the emergency stop on the test I would fail for not being able to control the car. Is this progress?

* Did the cars have faulty systems or were the warning lights faulty?? We'll never know ...

Do mot testers actually check each and every warning light on the dash illuminates and then goes out, or do they more naturally pick up on lights that haven't extinguished that should?
I'd be tempted to remove the bulb and present the car for a test, chances are it wouldn't be noticed.

 

[Bornfree]

36k oil changes
Who ever thought that was a good idea, apart from the accountants?
Made to make leased vans appear cheap to run until they're out of warranty when Ford will no longer care. Seems to be the case with most manufacturers now, nothing made with longevity in mind, all built down to a price.

My citroen relay which has a Ford 2.2 engine has 30k oil changes its now at 166k and still uses no oil between services.

 

[Nomad]

Do mot testers actually check each and every warning light on the dash illuminates and then goes out, or do they more naturally pick up on lights that haven't extinguished that should? I'd be tempted to remove the bulb and present the car for a test, chances are it wouldn't be noticed.

The BWM had a digital dash with a big flashing "Brake failure - may be unsafe to drive!" message that was impossible to miss, the Peugeot had nice clear idiot lights and it would have been fairly obvious if one of the big ones in the middle had no bulb in it.
A shame as both were otherwise very nice cars, it's madness that cars like that are failing MOTs / being scrapped because of a (possibly faulty) warning light

 

[bricol]

Fancy electronics are the problem in my case
I've scrapped a very clean 2005 BMW 325i due to ABS pump (MOT failure) warnings, also got offered a very nice top spec "Roland Garros" Pug 206 for free as it had a similar ABS (MOT failure) warning - I declined and the owner scrapped it as she had just spent ££££ reconditioning other bits and now regarded it as a money pit.
Annoying as both were near immaculate cars with many years of life left, both got scrapped as they had warning lights* for a safety system that should never be needed. I took my test in pre-ABS times and knew if I locked the brakes during the emergency stop on the test I would fail for not being able to control the car. Is this progress?

* Did the cars have faulty systems or were the warning lights faulty?? We'll never know ...

Of all the crap fitted to cars, ABS is the one thing I would keep - in-fact I retro-fitted it to my Lancia, as an earlier one had it. I didn't often trigger it, but when you NEEDED to stop, it prevented an accident. You cannot prepare for someone simply running out in front of you, or pulling out of a junction.

I can cadence brake, I can stop hard without locking (I have three cars without ABS), but in that split second of panic STOPPPP, it saves metres of distance, or allows steering around.

Would you remove seatbelts as you've never needed one . . . yet? A taxi in Brazil - on reaching for seatbelt, discovering it's not there - driver had cut them out as "untidy" . . . Very next day, in another taxi, rear-ended by a car skidding to stop, it's bonnet a long way under the back of the taxi, the taxi up in the air!

Touch wood, ABS warnings on my cars have been sensor failures - on the Lancia, that was quite expensive as the sensors don't seem to be used anywhere else. On the Alfa - pence (well, maybe a couple of quid) - so cheap I bought spares, just in-case. But I do have a complete spare ABS system tucked away for the Lancia if needed.

 

[Bobupndown]

The BWM had a digital dash with a big flashing "Brake failure - may be unsafe to drive!" message that was impossible to miss, the Peugeot had nice clear idiot lights and it would have been fairly obvious if one of the big ones in the middle had no bulb in it.
A shame as both were otherwise very nice cars, it's madness that cars like that are failing MOTs / being scrapped because of a (possibly faulty) warning light

I think something like this would have 'fixed' the 205

Mini LED car SRS airbag abs light timer switch 1 to 10 sec kit delay off 12V box | eBay

Repair the constantly lit airbag light with our special kit! Output: 0.15A - The yellow wire connects to the positive of the airbag light, the negative to ground. This approach will expedite the resolution process.

www.ebay.co.uk

 

[Nomad]

Would you remove seatbelts as you've never needed one . . . yet? A taxi in Brazil - on reaching for seatbelt, discovering it's not there - driver had cut them out as "untidy" . . . Very next day, in another taxi, rear-ended by a car skidding to stop, it's bonnet a long way under the back of the taxi, the taxi up in the air!

Touch wood, ABS warnings on my cars have been sensor failures - on the Lancia, that was quite expensive as the sensors don't seem to be used anywhere else. On the Alfa - pence (well, maybe a couple of quid) - so cheap I bought spares, just in-case. But I do have a complete spare ABS system tucked away for the Lancia if needed.

Happily I used a Mk1 Cortina convertible as daily transport for many years, the B-posts (including what is traditionally the top mounting for a seat belt) had been removed, I could have fitted lap belts but preferred to keep the car without seatbelts the way I got it.
If wearing belts was optional I would have fitted them, I just didn't want to *have* to wear them every time I got in the car.

Rear seatbelts are a fairly modern thing, many classics from the 70s including my Marina have never had rear belts fitted, it only became law to wear belts for back seat passengers in 1991 (wow!), front belts only became mandatory in 1983, info from https://www.heritagepartscentre.com/uk/blog/does-my-classic-car-need-seat-belts.html

Seatbelts have their uses, they also have downsides ... I'll not type up all my experiences but I'd be a lot happier if was optional to wear them rather than compulsory Same for motorbike helmets.
I spent several years full-contact car racing, also walked away from a high speed crash on a Kawasaki 1100 during a practice day at my local circuit - it's not quite the same when I'm going to the shops in Wales under 20mph - I can go faster on my pushbike with no helmet needed. Personal choice is a wonderful thing

 

[premmington]

Sat' morning I did rear axle discs and pads on a four year old transit van.

One hour plus a side - inboard discs - big hammers. Special 8S socket to get discs off the hubs.

Just nothing is cheap or easy on these Transits...

I would not own one for myself....

 

[addjunkie]

Sat' morning I did rear axle discs and pads on a four year old transit van.

One hour plus a side - inboard discs - big hammers. Special 8S socket to get discs off the hubs.

Just nothing is cheap or easy on these Transits...

I would not own one for myself....

Bad enough working on a Transit, but working on a Saturday morning, do people still do that, I though 4 day weeks were all the rage under our new elected bunch!

 

[Bornfree]

Bad enough working on a Transit, but working on a Saturday morning, do people still do that, I though 4 day weeks were all the rage under our new elected bunch!

6 day's is still the norm here in the people's Republic of Norfolk

 

[oldbikedavey]

Accountants really hate things that work, I think.
There's something of an air of a death cult that surrounds accountancy....

 

[minimutly]

Update on the Transh1t.
I stripped and rebuilt the power steering pump, put it back in and it made no difference. I bought new fluid, apparently this needs to be the green, not red. Question is, what was used to fill it, and if it was the wrong type did that damage anything in the rack? The pump is moving fluid, but I can't detect any pressure there, even sickening off the clamp on the rack just gives a dribble, rather than a squirt.

On other issues in trying to improve starting I fitted a bigger battery, the existing one had drained over the winter and was a tad undersized. Did it make a difference? No, not a bit, turnover is still sluggish and firing is erratic until 10 or 12 seconds of cranking, then with a bootful of throttle it catches and fires cleanly. I've been advised to measure backflow on all the injectors - is there a lot of parts available for this - I have plenty of tubing but would need the injectors connectors.

 

[Seadog]

"Van of the year" seen this morning