Yes, the cheap ones were generally fine for pre 2005/6 stuff but we struggled to clear codes on anything past that, like mates 2009 ducato. Wehn I say cheap, I don’t mean those £10 ones I mean a £40 one from back then
What's made you not grumpy but not smile either today?
- Thread starter dave
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What's made you not grumpy but not smile either today?
Over engineered? Oh hell yes, every time!
Looks not dissimilar to what I did in my garage except that I went down both sides and across the end with mine. My shelves are 18" wide and sited just above head height so they don't restrict working floor space. I have to congratulate you on the bracketry, mine are not as elegant as your's but they're strong as the main reason for building the shelves back then was to store all my Imp spares - I had a number of complete engines, 3, or was it 4, transaxles, I had half a dozen, front wishbones, etc, etc. The night after I got everything loaded onto them I stayed awake most of the night worrying the weight might drag the walls down! Glad to say it didn't! On reflection I realize my interest in Imps was probably not healthy and might even be described as an obsession! Was going to say I'm cured now, but then I started thinking about my interest in Pandas?
From my perspective cheap code readers, or code readers in general are just frustrating. Ok. they give you a code to research but are not a lot of help in diagnosing whatever the problem is.
I want something which gives me definitions, like MES, and then lets me explore the problem by seeing values and/or driving actuators. Has to be said though, without a certain depth of understanding about how these systems work most people are on a hiding to nothing and stand the risk of causing more damage to delicate electronic components. In truth I find MES is quite enough for me and lets me do most of the stuff I want to tackle myself at home. Also, as long as you've got a device - mine's a laptop, the software is cheap enough to buy and in my opinion a bargain considering how much it lets you do. You just have to get used to the rather different description for some of the operations/results - "mixture correction learning value" or "Lamba sensor integrator"? I can make a good guess but I've never seen these descriptions anywhere else? VCDS is a whole new ball game and is such a powerful tool I can't even do half of what it's capable, some of the coding and programming ability terrifies me. For instance there's the prospect of reducing the max revs limit but having done that you can't subsequently reset it to a higher limit! However, maybe I've been saved from my ignorance because Grant, at Gendan, tells me the version of VCDS I have, and more relevantly, the interface I'm using, won't be able to do much with the new Scala. He also tells me that there are certain aspects, Electric handbrake wind back and others, which are now blocked by the new protocols. Ross Tech are apparently working on a "work around" which they hope to have ready later this year. Mind you the new car will be under warranty for the next 3 years so I'm probably better not to touch it beyond doing stuff like putting anti seize on the wheel hubs to stop the alloys seizing on. By the time the warrant expires I'll be 80 and may even have been banned from driving by then!
You make a good point there. However true dealer tools are very difficult to get your hands on let alone actually make them then work because of all the "linked in" technology and licenses needed. I think stuff like MES and more especially VCDS are an excellent compromise. Not that cheap, but afordable and very usable. However, having said all that the need to factory link for some stuff to work is steadily closing down our options. My new Scala is a case in point where Grant (Gendan) tells me my present version of VCDS is going to be pretty impotent.
There are two things at play here:
The manufacturers getting their hands slapped for fiddling the figures, cheat modes etc and
Manufacturers wanting you to utilise dealers to sell more OEM parts and, ultimately, sell cars
Some organisation is finally taking shape, we have one big shelf along the garage wall so that everything is easily accessible and at the right level for access also well out of reach of tiny hands who might find these things interesting. I’ve also got both signs illuminated now. Still lots to do so still not smiling yet but definitely not grumpy
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Some say he's got more parts in stock than most Fiat main agents..
Today my replacement key fob batteries arrived...it's not telling me to change them but the range on the fob isn't what it was.
Other night having noticed that I opened up the e-manual on my phone version without keyless entry and start CR1620 and version with CR2032.
My CR1620s arrive, I pop the back off the key...to see it's a CR2032. At least I can get 4 of those for half the price of 2 1620s..
So if anyone needs 3 button batteries...
Today my replacement key fob batteries arrived...it's not telling me to change them but the range on the fob isn't what it was.
Other night having noticed that I opened up the e-manual on my phone version without keyless entry and start CR1620 and version with CR2032.
My CR1620s arrive, I pop the back off the key...to see it's a CR2032. At least I can get 4 of those for half the price of 2 1620s..
So if anyone needs 3 button batteries...
Don't normally monitor these things but filled up today..can't help diesel is more expensive than super unleaded never mind standard unleaded.
Don't know if it's the trend round the country obviously but 1.39 E10 1.48 for E5 and 1.50 for diesel..
Don't know if it's the trend round the country obviously but 1.39 E10 1.48 for E5 and 1.50 for diesel..
The Panda Nut
Nutty about Pandas Infected by Panda virus and OPD
Id definitely do the anti seize. I helped an old chap in Tescos quite a few years back. He had the wheel unbolted but couldnt remove it to change a flat. Fotunately I was in car work clothing so lay on the ground and kicked the wheel off. It took ALL my strenghth and 20 minutes of bashing before it let go. Fiats manufacturing tolerances are so wide its not nearly so much of a problem. You can usually climb in behind the wheel with all the required equipment and push it off from inside unlike VW where the hole is the same size as the hub....
Agreed, about the VW tolerances I mean. When I bought the Ibiza it was the first car I'd owned with alloys. Because the car was new I left the servicing to the dealer because I didn't want anything to give them an excuse to void warranty - which was just as well as she had to have a new turbo about 2 years in. However I never thought to grease the heel hubs and I had the very devil of a job getting the rear's off when I took over servicing on the expiration of the warranty. It never occurred to me that they'd not be removing the wheels when servicing but it was obvious the wheels had never been touched since she rolled off the line at the factory!
Helping someone change the wheel is OK , but I would draw the line at getting underneath to kick the wheel off when sat on their old wobbly car jack.
The Panda Nut
Nutty about Pandas Infected by Panda virus and OPD
I tried asking my dealer to vary the service on Noop to leave out the windscreen washers and wiper blades etc. as this is just padding, but asking them to take the wheels off and properly inspect the brakes etc. They were both unable to understand the concept of doing extra work I deem necessary to do a proper service and unwilling to accept that anything else might need a proper inspection. The suggestion about removing brake pads and cleaning things was totally alien to their limited intelligence and beyond their understanding. DId I want all the discs and pads changing, they could do that for nearly a grand! Im pretty sure that warranty aside the car is actually better of if noone touches it at all, rather than half baked "servicing". I really loathe doing car repairs and service, but slightly less than knowing the car isnt in perfect order. Im considering when to change to a lease with maintenance included, on the basis that I will then just drive it and throw it back at the end. I toally object to the obscene costs of leases but am going to have to accept it in old age. Owning is cheaper but I feel compelled to keep the car in as near perfect order as possible. OCD (Fiat Panda) affliction (addiction) running ahead there. If I get an electric car then I won't know how to service it which might help. I anticipate OCD must have it 100% charged at all times would be difficult to live with though. Keeping the cars full of pertol is so much easier.
As an aside, I was talking to my brother the other day and his car has depreciated more in 5 years than the entire cost of Noop. Some £12500... Nopp on the other hand could clearly be put up for sale for at least £500 more than he cost. He still looks sounds and feels brand new too. could get some more money back for his red roof rails, summer alloys wheels and roof bars too if I sold him. I like Pandas more than Range Rovers and this is one of the reasons why! PANDAS ON THE TOP!
Our other two Pandas are worth £1500 more than paid and about £750 less so three Pandas driven £80,000 miles and owned for a total of 14 years have cost a combined negative depreciation of £1250. I sat here a few nights ago and was looking at Jags. The depreciation was outright funny, so you can get some really nice ones for a smallish outlay. What killed it again, is the fact that I reckon getting out, especially in the garage would be impossible. So, they make a car for the man who has made it, or the retired person who wants a little luxury from their pension lump sum, but that rules out anyone under 60, and anyone over 60 or without money to waste or a pension lump sum. No wonder they struggle to make money. If they miss your 60th birthday they missed you altogether, and if they get the right day you respond "But its my birthday so I want a special discount". Maybe that explains the heavy depreciation?? LOL
The Panda Nut
Nutty about Pandas Infected by Panda virus and OPD
Every month or so I start thinking about the Seat. Its going to have to be replaced at some point, or Im going to have to have it back for a couple of months and deal with all the neglect. What do you buy, if you want to get a straight forward, well made economical 5 door car thast acceptable on safety and going to last a long time. Preferably without all the electronic nanny aids. Im looking again at VAG. Mii, Up, Ibiza.
My conclusion is that a very low milage job, is the way to go. Send it strighht in for new timing belt, clutch and a full brake job before my daughter gets involved. Am I right to rule out Ford, Spellantease and french stuff? I just dont trust them to build anything properly?
My conclusion is that a very low milage job, is the way to go. Send it strighht in for new timing belt, clutch and a full brake job before my daughter gets involved. Am I right to rule out Ford, Spellantease and french stuff? I just dont trust them to build anything properly?
I used to swear by Fords, but the newer small high performance engines don't fill me with confidence for the long term, much the same with much of the French stuff. It all seems to be geared towards the "throw away society". Maybe VW, but much like Mercedes living on it's past reputation.
A clue in the past was what the Taxi rank was full of, but they appear to be being forced to EVs.
My general preference has always been to larger slow revving diesels with regular oil changes.
A clue in the past was what the Taxi rank was full of, but they appear to be being forced to EVs.
My general preference has always been to larger slow revving diesels with regular oil changes.
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The Panda Nut
Nutty about Pandas Infected by Panda virus and OPD
Good point. I shall start looking. I suppose I should be looking at Toyota really.
The Panda Nut
Nutty about Pandas Infected by Panda virus and OPD
Damnit. SUns shining, Im going to have to mow the lawn. No excused are being accepted.....
That would be a possible answer.
I felt that their quality was good, but parts not so cheap in the past.
One of my old customers who really studied what cars he bought as he did a lot of business miles, now I no longer do any repairs, has gone to buying new Toyota's for him and his family fleet. Less impressed with the cost of servicing etc. plus the habit of changing parts before they need replacing, discs etc.
Sun has been shining here for hours, but I have managed to avoid the grass cutting as grass is long and ground still damp. OK for a hover, but I use an old commercial petrol one with driven roller etc. definitely overkill for the size of lawn, but with the wide cut it reduces the time wasted when I can be sitting in the sun with a glass of "something".
