What's made you grumpy today?

[varesecrazy]

Driving the 08 diesel grande..a nice tidy car.. being used by my son mainly


Last time I had it for a few weeks was early Spring.. no issues.. other than discovering the Heater direction selector wont allow movement to SCREEN ONLY... ( I suspect a parking ticket has dropped in the way..) Issue is still there- blowers on full wont help me flick the thing out of the way


Other grumble.. vaguely related

Cars of this era have no direct FRESH AIR.. its all ducted through the dash.. and the engine coolant is permanently flowing through the same dash... result a constant warming of the @ 26'c air.. to give me @35... how refreshing


A pair of diverter valves at the rear of the engine would seem a great idea...
Less in the coolant system..and only have HOT in the dash in the colder months

 

[The Panda Nut]

Tooth and bridge fell out and the stubbis like a razor. Blast it.

 

[The Panda Nut]

All mended. Only £80..... But my dentist is a decent friendly man and he seems to really know what hes doing. Being seen a few hours after the message reached him is excellent service. I can show my teeth to the dog and scare him back to his corner again if required! If I was a Fiat that would have covered teh diagnostics and then we would be waiting two weeks for an appointment to see what parts are required.

 

[s130]

Oh I don't normally do this but I think you should watch video / subject all the way through.

This guy raises some very interesting and IMHO also very valid points / issues that is really upsetting.

Net Zero Green Ruinous Policy

Enjoy, cry and write to your MP

 

[Cheest]

My neighbor and I cleared out all the dead lower branches on the spruce trees between our properties a couple weeks ago. Now I can actually get to that side of the garage and clean up the area.

Yuck! The gutters were full of pine needles and there was vegetation growing in said pine needles. The siding on that side of the garage is covered in algae so will be getting hit with the pressure washer this weekend. Now I need to run to the home improvement store and pick up more gutter screens so I can actually finish what I started last fall. Probably should pick up some soap for the pressure washer, too.

 

[AndyRKett]

Oh I don't normally do this but I think you should watch video / subject all the way through.

This guy raises some very interesting and IMHO also very valid points / issues that is really upsetting.

Net Zero Green Ruinous Policy

Enjoy, cry and write to your MP

Aside from the infuriating over annunciation of every word Got instantly bored when he said the word “treasonous” and switched off.

Can’t be doing with armchair experts who get a lot of things wrong, can’t be watching a video of a motorbike handle bar endlessly for no reason

 

[s130]

Aside from the infuriating over annunciation of every word Got instantly bored when he said the word “treasonous” and switched off.

Can’t be doing with armchair experts who get a lot of things wrong, can’t be watching a video of a motorbike handle bar endlessly for no reason

See and hear what you say Andy .....

I quite like the handle bar ride. Makes a change, get to see other motor vehicles, roads, countryside etc.

Well you may react to "treasonous" and possibly you are right. That said going back to M.Thatcher days the one thing I think she got wrong (with good intent) was to denationalise our energy and transport. We buy energy from EDF, a French National company when we were fully self sufficient.

We also sold off a large portion of our North Sea Oil and Gas rights quite a few years ago. It now looks like we dumped pretty much of the last we had to Russia and Putin.

I'm not sure what you say this guy "got a lot of things wrong"? Some examples would help.

I'm not sure I agree with all this guy said but that is why I said "watch all of it". Even if only a small part of his facts/opinions are correct I think we can all see the long term trend on many of the items he raises. (Like no EV charging for people in terraced houses with only road parking ........) Also the road tax revenue decline has to be addressed. Also why should petrol vehicle drivers pay 60%+ tax whilst EV only 20%. (RAC want 5%). So long term 20% has to go to 60% just to maintain the status quo and gov income. I think those of us with a brain know that this will inevitably have to happen but what really pisses me off is that we sell off our natural resources rights (with green agenda) knowing quite well this is just short term carbon trading that does nothing really green and puts us at the mercy of the like of Putin and to lesser extent Arab producers who just loved our withdrawal from our own natural resources.

But like I said I don't normally enter into the political/policy arena and only posted this guy's link because there are elements of worrying facts. No I have not yet followed up on the RAC and Press information he references but I'm sure were he wrong and misquoting the RAC etc then he would have been challenged by now.

Anyway, this is my view, and I'll not follow-up any further for the sake of Forum harmony

 

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

See and hear what you say Andy .....

I quite like the handle bar ride. Makes a change, get to see other motor vehicles, roads, countryside etc.

Well you may react to "treasonous" and possibly you are right. That said going back to M.Thatcher days the one thing I think she got wrong (with good intent) was to denationalise our energy and transport. We buy energy from EDF, a French National company when we were fully self sufficient.

We also sold off a large portion of our North Sea Oil and Gas rights quite a few years ago. It now looks like we dumped pretty much of the last we had to Russia and Putin.

I'm not sure what you say this guy "got a lot of things wrong"? Some examples would help.

I'm not sure I agree with all this guy said but that is why I said "watch all of it". Even if only a small part of his facts/opinions are correct I think we can all see the long term trend on many of the items he raises. (Like no EV charging for people in terraced houses with only road parking ........) Also the road tax revenue decline has to be addressed. Also why should petrol vehicle drivers pay 60%+ tax whilst EV only 20%. (RAC want 5%). So long term 20% has to go to 60% just to maintain the status quo and gov income. I think those of us with a brain know that this will inevitably have to happen but what really pisses me off is that we sell off our natural resources rights (with green agenda) knowing quite well this is just short term carbon trading that does nothing really green and puts us at the mercy of the like of Putin and to lesser extent Arab producers who just loved our withdrawal from our own natural resources.

But like I said I don't normally enter into the political/policy arena and only posted this guy's link because there are elements of worrying facts. No I have not yet followed up on the RAC and Press information he references but I'm sure were he wrong and misquoting the RAC etc then he would have been challenged by now.

Anyway, this is my view, and I'll not follow-up any further for the sake of Forum harmony

I just can't help feeling that they (government) will not be able to dispense with the income cashcow which is the motorist. Getting us all to take up electric motoring and the fact that a lot of the money comes from taxing our hydrocarbon fuels is making the electric option look cheap and attractive just now but this won't last when they need the money. I also believe it'll be a long time before the availability of charging on demand wherever you may be in the country (or countryside) becomes reliable enough. Doubt if I'll ever be running an electric car.

 

[s130]

Doubt if I'll ever be running an electric car.

You never know ..... Big boot with nice big petrol generator - 5kVA @ £500 - Your own mobile "on the go" charge point Who said petrol / diesel is dead.

 

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

You never know ..... Big boot with nice big petrol generator - 5kVA @ £500 - Your own mobile "on the go" charge point Who said petrol / diesel is dead.

I'm not sure why but that makes me think of Rowland Emett! Not being electrically minded, how long would something like that take to recharge the car?

 

[vexorg]

I'm not sure why but that makes me think of Rowland Emett! Not being electrically minded, how long would something like that take to recharge the car?

Average electric car is about 60kWh battery, so 12 hours at best. But that will depend on the connection, a 13A plug cannot supply 5kW, it would be 3kW typically, 20 hours in that case.

 

[s130]

I'm not sure why but that makes me think of Rowland Emett! Not being electrically minded, how long would something like that take to recharge the car?

Well the little secret here is not about can a given generator fully charge a car but all about "Top-Up"

I'm hoping I've got the basic maths right but I'm sure / hope that others will confirm or pick me up accordingly.

A 5kW generator can deliver 20Amps ... 7 more than a typical UK household socket.

Typical house EV chargers deliver 32A.

Current petrol hybrid cars do not (to the best of my knowledge) have 5kW generators.

A typical small EV has 60 to 100kWh batteries.

So on UK mains at 13Amps for 100kWh FULL charge battery is 33 Hours
A typical 32A charger is 14 Hours

A 5kW - 22A generator would take 20 Hours.

Typical UK forecourt chargers have 90kW and 350kW chargers

So 350kW charge will fully recharge a 100kWH vehicle in 20 minutes (compared to 5 to 10 minute petrol refill time)
At 90kWh your are looking at 60 minutes

To cover 200 miles at 50MPH takes 4 Hours. A 5kW generator over 5 hours generates 25kWh. So yes 4 hours for a full recharge but in terms of travel time vs recharge one is level pegging. Add fuel and comfort break I think (hope) the maths and practicality (assuming you are happy to have a generator in the boot) balance out thus leaving the question:

Which is cheaper ?
Which is more time efficient on a long journey (charging whilst driving or stopping and charging)

All the above said it won't take long for the politicians etc. so close this loop hole ....

 

[vexorg]

So 350kW charge will fully recharge a 100kWH vehicle in 20 minutes (compared to 5 to 10 minute petrol refill time)
At 90kWh your are looking at 60 minutes

A long way of saying the same thing, but anyway, the high power charging isn't so linear, the cars control the charge rate as they have an issue with heat from the batteries, they back off the charging level as the batteries heat up.

 

[s130]

A long way of saying the same thing, but anyway, the high power charging isn't so linear, the cars control the charge rate as they have an issue with heat from the batteries, they back off the charging level as the batteries heat up.

Yep!

And I can see all the builders with vans using their generator to charge (or at least top up) their electric vans thus bypassing any future increase in electricity and the future tax on charging your car that the new now legally required and separately installed and metered home charge points will be dishing out.

 

[AndyRKett]

Car has gone off for its annual service and MOT, but also I have tagged on a cambelt and water pump change, this in itself has not made me “grumpy” but knowing what the bill is going to be at the end of it… assuming it doesn’t need anything for the MOT, even then that’s making me grumpy, not far short of £1000
Though they are VW specialists and use only VW parts so that bumps the price a little but I don’t want cheap knock off parts at garage prices anyway.

 

[StevenRB45]

Car has gone off for its annual service and MOT, but also I have tagged on a cambelt and water pump change, this in itself has not made me “grumpy” but knowing what the bill is going to be at the end of it… assuming it doesn’t need anything for the MOT, even then that’s making me grumpy, not far short of £1000
Though they are VW specialists and use only VW parts so that bumps the price a little but I don’t want cheap knock off parts at garage prices anyway.

That's pretty epic for a cambelt and waterpump, even allowing 400 quid for a major major major service and MOT that's more than the apparently hard to change and expensive BIO on the Citroën at the main dealer (550 for a belt and pump).

Not quite Ford ecopop 1500 quid with vat but pretty mad for a change conventional belt at an independent.

 

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

Just by way of comparison, in case anyone is interested, last year my local indy charged £131.92 for the belt kit (on my EA211 engined Ibiza the water pump is on the back end of the head so not part of the valve drive train). Then there was £4.25 for the "use once only" crank pulley bolt - all the pulleys are free (not keyed) and £4.25 for a new aux drive belt. There were several other small items like an "O" ring and screw plug for the VVT pulley which added about another £10. Labour was £175.00.

I also got them to renew the spark plugs - posh Iridium type - because I've heard horror stories about how difficult the coil packs are to get out without damaging them - he's going to show me how to do it and the "special" tool he uses so I can do them myself next time. They also did an aircon service/recharge and renewed the brake fluid using their pressure bleeder (worth it to "save" the master cylinder in my opinion)

The entire bill, including VAT came to £587.89 All genuine VAG parts supplied by TPS. which made my eyes water a little, but, on reflection, I think it was a fair charge.

 

[StevenRB45]

Just by way of comparison, in case anyone is interested, last year my local indy charged £131.92 for the belt kit (on my EA211 engined Ibiza the water pump is on the back end of the head so not part of the valve drive train). Then there was £4.25 for the "use once only" crank pulley bolt - all the pulleys are free (not keyed) and £4.25 for a new aux drive belt. There were several other small items like an "O" ring and screw plug for the VVT pulley which added about another £10. Labour was £175.00.

I also got them to renew the spark plugs - posh Iridium type - because I've heard horror stories about how difficult the coil packs are to get out without damaging them - he's going to show me how to do it and the "special" tool he uses so I can do them myself next time. They also did an aircon service/recharge and renewed the brake fluid using their pressure bleeder (worth it to "save" the master cylinder in my opinion)

The entire bill, including VAT came to £587.89 All genuine VAG parts supplied by TPS. which made my eyes water a little, but, on reflection, I think it was a fair charge.

Looking on VWs website they do "fixed price" timing belts only 549 of your fine English pounds sir. Or timing belt and water pump at 789.

Which for a dry belt would seem to be flipping insane, you could literally get a chain changed for less although not at a VW dealer clearly. There's probably a laptop and 3 special tools needed...

Would seem the independent is undercutting them significantly. Same information gives a major service and MOT as 391.

So basically 1200 quid at a main agent for similar as long as nothing additional is needed. Which would seem to be vaguely hilarious for an ordinary car with nothing wrong with it.

 

[AndyRKett]

Just by way of comparison, in case anyone is interested, last year my local indy charged £131.92 for the belt kit (on my EA211 engined Ibiza the water pump is on the back end of the head so not part of the valve drive train). Then there was £4.25 for the "use once only" crank pulley bolt - all the pulleys are free (not keyed) and £4.25 for a new aux drive belt. There were several other small items like an "O" ring and screw plug for the VVT pulley which added about another £10. Labour was £175.00.

I also got them to renew the spark plugs - posh Iridium type - because I've heard horror stories about how difficult the coil packs are to get out without damaging them - he's going to show me how to do it and the "special" tool he uses so I can do them myself next time. They also did an aircon service/recharge and renewed the brake fluid using their pressure bleeder (worth it to "save" the master cylinder in my opinion)

The entire bill, including VAT came to £587.89 All genuine VAG parts supplied by TPS. which made my eyes water a little, but, on reflection, I think it was a fair charge.

So looking into it, and to be fair there are so many versions of the same engine I really have no idea I think this engine has two balance shafts and whole bunch of tensioner pulleys it’s a EA288 euro 6 with 150ps I know where extra balance shafts are involved it can mean multiple belts in the timing train so who knows.

I knew the bill was coming as with Volkswagen just for the cam belt and no other work done was over £500 and this was back in 2015 before the price of everything exploded through the roof

I also don’t mind paying for quality and this garage have only ever given the absolute best service

 

[AndyRKett]

Looking on VWs website they do "fixed price" timing belts only 549 of your fine English pounds sir. Or timing belt and water pump at 789.

Which for a dry belt would seem to be flipping insane, you could literally get a chain changed for less although not at a VW dealer clearly. There's probably a laptop and 3 special tools needed...

Would seem the independent is undercutting them significantly. Same information gives a major service and MOT as 391.

So basically 1200 quid at a main agent for similar as long as nothing additional is needed. Which would seem to be vaguely hilarious for an ordinary car with nothing wrong with it.

I must have been replying as you replied lol

Yes these are the sort of prices I was already aware of, still getting all VW parts, at a VW specialists, actually knowing the ones that work at the dealerships they can be kids working their dues to build their knowledge where as the independent ‘insert dealer here’ specialists tent to be ex master techs who are fed up with doing a half arsed job to cut corners and costs at the dealerships.

I remember the quote was £900-something certainly a saving of a few hundred over dealerships price