what have you done to your car today ?

[iammooks]

Looking good. You did well not to get runs considering it's a vertical surface.

I'm doing the door handles again at the moment after they bizarrely cracked underneath the lacquer one random day after they'd been on the car for 12 months.

I was really, really impressed with the ProXL. I’ve not used a 2K paint before but I can see why they’re rated. To be honest, even before polishing, it makes the rest of the paint on the car look really dull.

We’ll see if I can avoid runs when I eventually do the front bumper - there are loads more nooks and crannies there for paint to get caught up in, but the main thing I’ve learnt after doing this a couple of times over the years is just to be patient - I spent most of my time yesterday cleaning, sanding and doing general masking and prep work, and it feels like it’s paid off.

I know my door handles need some work doing to them - I don’t envy you that job.


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[iammooks]

Noticed yesterday when I turned the engine over to run the compressor to pump the tyres that I had a check engine light. I thought at first it might have been something stupid like not having the number plate lights plugged in or because the grill was covered, but put everything back to normal and still a light.

Went out for a drive just now and there are no issues with boost, no limp mode, engine comes up to temperature normally, fans come on, coolant levels are fine, no weird smells from the engine bay, no noises...

I'll plug it in when I get back home to Brighton tomorrow, but I haven't got my scan tool here, so thought I'd see if anyone knows anything it could be before I drive 100 miles.

Just the kind of thing to happen to me. I've never had a CEL in 25 years of driving. Can't help but think it's something I've done spraying the car. I haven't put the lower grills back in or the plastic shroud that covers the top grills and headlights, but don't see that this would cause a problem.


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[Yellow fr]

I get the that light every now and again say glow plug 4 engine runs fine need to check the wires as it’s a common fault with the loom


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[iammooks]

I get the that light every now and again say glow plug 4 engine runs fine need to check the wires as it’s a common fault with the loom


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I'm pretty sure that's what it'll be. I'm on the original glow plugs after 163k and I have been getting an occasional glow plug light on the dash, along with some smoke on ignition.

I've had a full set of plugs for about a year now but I'm convinced I'm going to snap them taking them out. I'll give the loom a bit of a wiggle and see if that changes anything, but it looks like I'm not going to be able to avoid it.

At least it sounds like I'm not going to damage the engine by running it like that.

Thanks so much - bloody car still manages to give me the fear - you think you know enough to diagnose most things, but a CEL could be anything...


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[Alexis27]

Try disconnecting the battery and doing the old turn it off and on again

 

[Manic172]

Oooooo what got delivered today

Full unwrapping on the build page

 

[bruceR]

I'm pretty sure that's what it'll be. I'm on the original glow plugs after 163k and I have been getting an occasional glow plug light on the dash, along with some smoke on ignition.

I've had a full set of plugs for about a year now but I'm convinced I'm going to snap them taking them out. I'll give the loom a bit of a wiggle and see if that changes anything, but it looks like I'm not going to be able to avoid it.

At least it sounds like I'm not going to damage the engine by running it like that.

Thanks so much - bloody car still manages to give me the fear - you think you know enough to diagnose most things, but a CEL could be anything...


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Just make sure you run engine up to temperature and the glow plugs will come out easier - believe me I know


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[iammooks]

Just make sure you run engine up to temperature and the glow plugs will come out easier - believe me I know


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You sheared one? That's a nightmare for me. How did you get it sorted?

I'll definitely get the engine warmed up - god knows how I'm going to get access before the engine cools down with that boost pipe in the way...


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[MoToJoJo]

Might be worth giving the glow plugs a spray the night before

 

[bruceR]

You sheared one? That's a nightmare for me. How did you get it sorted?

I'll definitely get the engine warmed up - god knows how I'm going to get access before the engine cools down with that boost pipe in the way...


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Yeah I sheared the first one then panicked and stopped , got a local mechanic to drill & remove the bottom section and he mentioned that they should only be removed when engine warm/hot.
As for the pipe work, remove it to give better access - it’s easy
Also be prepared for it to be the wiring loom (bridge as VAG call it), this happened to me after replacing all glow plugs I still had light on so had to replace the loom.


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[Alexis27]

Found a mystery plug. Pretty sure it's something left over from when I disconnected the HIDs the previous owner fitted but can't remember

 

[Thai-wronghorse]

That looks like the plug for the auxiliary water pump.

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[Alexis27]

Eeek. Where does that plug into then?

 

[Thai-wronghorse]

Here

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[iammooks]

CEL went out as soon as I got on the road to come home and didn't come back on. I'll get round to doing the glow plugs and loom, but as always, there's something else.

Brakes felt soft - well, softer than usual - and it felt like they were biting much lower down on the pedal than usual. I've wanted to get them bled again by a garage as I really can't be doing with that at the moment, and am hoping the garage that did a good job when I had my MoT is willing to go a bit more in-depth when it comes to getting air out of the calipers. I'm happy to pay more if they take the calipers off and wind them back to see if that really gets the air out, but I'm hoping they'll pick up on whether there's anything else that could be wrong.

Took it easy on the drive back - most of it was motorway or dual carriageway. Managed to get just under 60mpg. DERV life...

 

[Alexis27]

Here

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Cheers, dead obvious when you stick your head underneath with a torch.

It could have been unplugged for years in theory. No wonder the turbo went pop at only 80k.

 

[Yellow fr]

Gone to fit a new door lock on the drivers front only to find that the cable from the lock to the handle inside the car has only one strand off wire in the hook that goes onto the handle to open the door
Then to find that the new lock is faulty when the door is closed the interior lights are staying on and you can’t lock the doors with the key fob

Also had the n/s/r door todo but have run out off time as did the shopping first and a few other things too and did not start doing the locks till gone 15:30 had to nip into work to see if we had a spare one there but no and had to pick the wife up feed the dogs and take them for a walk to so to late now to start doing the back one so that will have to wait hope it stays opening to middle off next week when I have time to do it again


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[Sparkie]

CEL went out as soon as I got on the road to come home and didn't come back on. I'll get round to doing the glow plugs and loom, but as always, there's something else.

Brakes felt soft - well, softer than usual - and it felt like they were biting much lower down on the pedal than usual. I've wanted to get them bled again by a garage as I really can't be doing with that at the moment, and am hoping the garage that did a good job when I had my MoT is willing to go a bit more in-depth when it comes to getting air out of the calipers. I'm happy to pay more if they take the calipers off and wind them back to see if that really gets the air out, but I'm hoping they'll pick up on whether there's anything else that could be wrong.

Took it easy on the drive back - most of it was motorway or dual carriageway. Managed to get just under 60mpg. DERV life...

Do you have the Brembos?
They are a pig to bleed even with all the gear.
On mine had to start with master cylinder then bleed brakes about 3 times last time!!
Finally got a positive firm pedal.


Badger5 Custom Map + TIP,
3”Custom exhaust, FMIC, Bosh 550’s, BC Coilovers, ARB’s +loads more.

 

[iammooks]

Do you have the Brembos?
They are a pig to bleed even with all the gear.
On mine had to start with master cylinder then bleed brakes about 3 times last time!!
Finally got a positive firm pedal.


Badger5 Custom Map + TIP,
3”Custom exhaust, FMIC, Bosh 550’s, BC Coilovers, ARB’s +loads more.

I've got the FR, so I've only got the standard brakes. I've been thinking for a while about trying to get hold of some Brembos, but whenever I've looked, they've been silly money.

My problem now is that after years of sponginess, I have no idea what good brakes even feel like. I remember test driving the car way back in 2008 when I bought it, and remember thinking they weren't anywhere near as direct as even my Renault Laguna(!) that I had at the time, but I've been to three garages now and none of them has been able to sort it, but the last thing I want to do is start replacing things like master cylinders if it's not going to solve the problem.

Actually, the last garage (last week) was really good. They told me to take it round the block and live with it a week or so and let them know how I get on. It hasn't improved, so they say I don't need to pay - which is really refreshing.

I've had some really good help from a lot of people on here though - @Yellow fr in particular has been amazing. Everything he's told me to try has improved things, so I might just have to resign myself to winding back the calipers, taking them off the carriers and bleeding as much as possible. I reckon I'd do it if I could just have all four wheels off the ground and work my way round...

 

[Rich.T]

For some unknown reason, both my rear doors have started to work again. One does or the other but never both.
So went to the local car wash and had an inside and out done.
Looks mint now.
The interior has needed a Hoover since the autumn.