What have you done to your car today?

[andy_mk3]

Dropped the Volvo off at yet another local garage that reviews 'very well' on Monday morning to have some leaking O rings that go to the heater matrix replaced.

I showed them this picture I had taken under the footwell, asked them to replace both O rings and clamps with gen Volvo ones as aftermarket ones leak, they said no problem and took the car.

Come 4pm I called asking if the car was done, he replied saying they've tried everywhere and can't get hold of the O rings and clamps, so I offered to have a look myself to help them out. Called my local Volvo, 5 minutes on the phone and £20 later the parts were on their way to them....Not that hard is it

Picked car up this morning and asked how it went, as it's meant to be a bit fiddly, he said it was fine, leaked a bit first time so they had to redo it and that it was fine now, fair enough, I paid and took the car home.

Within 10 minutes of driving it home I got a coolant smell through the air vents again, pulled over and took this, it was wet with coolant too.

Looks like their fix is just to bodge it terribly with silicone, they've only done one side too, which I'm thankful for actually, if that's what they're gonna do.

What do I do now? Give it back to them to no doubt mess it up more or cut losses and try find another 'decent' garage?

Does anyone around the Southampton area know any good garages? I've tried 6 now since I moved here, including a Volvo 'specialist' who thought a broken shock absorber was the cause of a 'clunk' when it was an ARB bush

Wow, that is utterly horrendous!

Tough call whether to go back or not, I don't think I would want them touching that again. But I think a refund might be due.

I know you can fit new o-rings but the new heater cores come with solid pipes (at least they do on a Focus), and we've always replaced the whole unit when they leak to ensure it's a permanent fix. Unfortunately this does involve removing the entire dash and heater assembly, it's close to a days' work.

 

[Funky-Melon]

Wow, that is utterly horrendous!

Tough call whether to go back or not, I don't think I would want them touching that again. But I think a refund might be due.

I know you can fit new o-rings but the new heater cores come with solid pipes (at least they do on a Focus), and we've always replaced the whole unit when they leak to ensure it's a permanent fix. Unfortunately this does involve removing the entire dash and heater assembly, it's close to a days' work.

The matrix from Volvo still comes as 2 bits and links under the foot well via O rings and clips, sadly. It's a pretty crap design.

I have a master tech at Volvo within the family but since I've moved he's no longer local to me. Was tempted to get the matrix done but the part alone is £300 (his rates) + 2.5h labour (family rates) and as you say, most the dash has to come out, so still ~£550 at Volvo to get it done right. I figured since I could see it leaking from the O rings it seemed worth a punt.

Can get after market heater matrix for ~£100 but is it worth the risk on an expensive labour job?

 

[lordrobs]

Today I removed my faulty dashcam (a cheep mini 0806 special) which after a few years good service now switches off after about 20 to 30 minutes. I'm pretty sure it is overheating, probably partly exacerbated by being in a convertible that is only driven on sunny days!

I was looking at older models so I could keep my mini USB hardwire kit but in the end I stripped the lot out, finding that I'd crushed the lead pretty badly when I thought I was being clever running it under the roof striker plate

I've got a DDPai Mini One on order to replace it. On the one hand, I've only felt the need to review the footage once in all the years I've had one but on the other... its <£50 and once fitted I don't even know its there and I don't have to touch it other than checking a couple of times a year that its still recording!

 

[lordrobs]

The headlight surrounds and number plate plinth on the Mazda were faded, stained and very tired looking. I was going to buy new ones as back to black type products didn't really do much to help then I remembered an old neighbour of mine who spruced up an old Corsa with black bumpers using some paint he picked up at Halfords.

After a quick wipe with some panel prep wipes and two coats of Halfords own brand black bumper paint they looked like new

Unfortunately I didn't realise that the fittings on the number plate plinth were single use type. TBH I could probably have re used them but combined with the fact that the rubber strip was fitted incorrectly by the previous owner and was warped to the point it didn't want to go back on now it had been off for a day... I gave in. I've got an MOT first thing tomorrow so I mounted the number plate directly on the bumper. Despite having the plinth there they'd used full length screws to mount the plate so there were all ready holes in the bumper to go back into.

I actually think it looks much better without the chunk of black plastic up front but unfortunately said plastic has taken its toll on the paint and there is a scratched border where it used to be I'll give it some thought as to whether I buy some polish with a bit of cut to it (AG SRP is currently all I have) and see if I can improve the scratches or buy some new fittings and rubber strip and re-mount the plinth.

Anyway TL;DR version - I can now drive in "happy face mode" without having some manky looking surrounds letting the car down!



Fingers crossed for the MOT tomorrow...

 

[Scottland]

Actually got rid of my MX5 yesterday, same year as the above

 

[Akagi]

Yep those front numberplate plinths are good for nothing. They are uglier than direct mounting the plate, and they vibrate against the paintwork eventually doing irrepairable damage (without re-painting)

Looking good with the newly painted plastics!

 

[thewanted]

Lolz. To be fair she only ever got the licence and then we moved away.

Battery was totally drained during the tow so will find out on Monday whether it’s totally FUBAR’d or not..

Any update on the i3?

 

[Flack88]

Fitted a new AEM Wideband for peace of mind. I do get distracted by the lights going up and down however

 

[lordrobs]

Yep those front numberplate plinths are good for nothing. They are uglier than direct mounting the plate, and they vibrate against the paintwork eventually doing irrepairable damage (without re-painting)

Looking good with the newly painted plastics!

Cheers. It looks a little odd from some angles unfortunately because the plate sticks up above the curve of the bumper so you can see the back of it. Mounting it a bit lower but might help but as there are already 3 pairs of holes in the bumper I can't bring myself to do it. A smaller plate would look much better but that isn't an option because of where it has been drilled

 

[Akagi]

Cheers. It looks a little odd from some angles unfortunately because the plate sticks up above the curve of the bumper so you can see the back of it. Mounting it a bit lower but might help but as there are already 3 pairs of holes in the bumper I can't bring myself to do it. A smaller plate would look much better but that isn't an option because of where it has been drilled

I tried to use an adhesive plate once... Turns out I'm useless at applying vinyl to curves. It ended up in the bin.

 

[lordrobs]

I tried to use an adhesive plate once... Turns out I'm useless at applying vinyl to curves. It ended up in the bin.

I was considering an adhesive one but the holes for the plinth are about 12mm so I'm pretty sure they would show through.

 

[geekman]

Anyone know if a slight misting of coolant around a thermostat housing would cause the expansion tank to need topping up every 1-2 weeks? Borrowed another car whilst mine is at the assessors and it’s losing coolant but that’s the only thing I can see. I can't see any drips which would make me think that the leak isn't severe enough to be the issue. What do we think?

 

[mjt]

Any update on the i3?

Negative. Currently crying myself to sleep with a 3-cylinder 114i which stings of fags.

Apparently the insurance assessor has been out to see the car, but the body shop is waiting for the electrics expert to come out from the main dealer workshop (this dealer has their own body shop). The problem is that Belgium pretty much shuts down in the summer so everyone is “on holiday”. Will call the Manager tomorrow as it’s been a week since the insurance guy came to have a look and 2 weeks since it was delivered. Last I heard is that it fails to start and fails to charge. Connected Drive app hasn’t updated the car since Saturday and it’s been stuck at 50% charge.

 

[Invertigo]

You know that feeling where you go 10 years never having had a car tyre puncture, then within 2 new sets of tyres get 3 screws embedded into them in less than 1k miles? Yeah...

So following on from managing to get 2 screws in my new PS4 tyres on the Z4, this morning I go out and find a flat on my Cupra, a car that's done 500 miles since new. Fortunately, it was near the middle so repairable, but it's so very frustrating.

 

[Akagi]

You know that feeling where you go 10 years never having had a car tyre puncture, then within 2 new sets of tyres get 3 screws embedded into them in less than 1k miles? Yeah...

So following on from managing to get 2 screws in my new PS4 tyres on the Z4, this morning I go out and find a flat on my Cupra, a car that's done 500 miles since new. Fortunately, it was near the middle so repairable, but it's so very frustrating.

That sucks!

In 6 years / many miles i've had one puncture from road debris penetrating the tyre, and I've had to replace two tyres because of inner sidewall damage from potholes.

 

[Agent_Smith357]

Had the front wishbones pollybushed.

 

[Diagro]

I wish people wouldn't throw screws into roads.

I've previously witnessed kids doing it years ago.
They were throwing screws off an A road bridge....

 

[Akagi]

I wish people wouldn't throw screws into roads.

I've previously witnessed kids doing it years ago.
They were throwing screws off an A road bridge....

When I was at school someone got in deep doodoo for putting a beaker from the science cupboard in the middle of the main road with a massive nail sitting in it at an angle pointing towards oncoming cars tyres.

I think their parents were called in and the Police came and "had a word". Not sure if they got expelled or not!

Id never really considered that some screws and debris might end up in the road because of little ****s putting it there.

 

[Dis86]

I wish people wouldn't throw screws into roads.

I've previously witnessed kids doing it years ago.
They were throwing screws off an A road bridge....

When I was about 15 and lived at home some scrotes went round and put screws at an angle behind the tyres of every car parked on the street. It meant whenever the drivers reversed off their driveways they were guaranteed to get a puncture. Must have been about 10 cars needing 4 replacement tyres before people worked out the problem.

 

[Flack88]

Took out my DS1.11 from the last track day as they were squealing like mad on the road and doing my head in even though the stopping power is mental. Went for some new Yellowstuff instead of DS2500 as they also squeal like mad and leave terrible pad deposits. Also the Yellowstuff were only £49 for a set should be fine for road use.