Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[Ray White]

That sounds good, Dave.

I really must try to step up to the plate for once

Having never downloaded software before....what happens if I press the green button?

[ukdave2002]

I just tried it!

Good news is that it is virus free, so looks like a genuine bit of useful openware.

You get the following menus, these will probably make more sense to you being familiar with the P38 EAS.

[Ray White]

IT all sounds a bit too good to be true ...but if I can override the message it will be a real game changer.

AS it happens, Jean has managed to dig out an old DELL computer (with windows) and it is presently on charge. If it still works O.K. then the next step is to find or buy a "serial" cable from somewhere. Then we can download the software and see if it will talk to the EAS.

(I have to be a bit careful around Jean at the moment as she is in the middle of doing the Cattery books for the taxman.!)

I will try again tomorrow.

Thanks a lot.

.

[Rootes75]

Well, I tell you what, I'm pretty sick of modern cars.

Around 3 weeks ago the clutch went on my daily, a 2013 Ford Focus. I've had it 8 years and its been the most reliable car i've owned. Well, near ?1300 later the car was fixed, new dual mass flywheel bumped the price up considerably.

She went in for MoT yesterday only for me to be told the rear subframe has rotted and needs replacing...estimate ?1500...bloody hell.

Add the two costs together and that's over what she's worth so its time to call it quits, accept that the ?1300 was an absolute waste and sell it on for spares or repair. I am not happy.
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Various Rootes Vehicles.

[Rootes75]

Well, I tell you what, I'm pretty sick of modern cars.

Around 3 weeks ago the clutch went on my daily, a 2013 Ford Focus. I've had it 8 years and its been the most reliable car i've owned. Well, near 1300 later the car was fixed, new dual mass flywheel bumped the price up considerably.

She went in for MoT yesterday only for me to be told the rear subframe has rotted and needs replacing...estimate 1500...bloody hell.

Add the two costs together and that's over what she's worth so its time to call it quits, accept that the 1300 was an absolute waste and sell it on for spares or repair. I am not happy.
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Various Rootes Vehicles.

[badhuis]

I feel for you Rootes75.
My Jaguar X-type 3.0 Estate needed also a rear subframe swap 2 years ago.

I am in a similar position now, decided to sell my 22 year old X-type instead of tackling the current problems myself.
The fact that vague electronic issues seem to come up more often helps in making that decision. Still, not easy after nearly 10 years of mostly reliable motoring with the car.

But as a Rootes enthusiast you may be happy to learn that coming Saturday I will become the owner of a Humber Super Snipe Estate. No vague electronic issues there!
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a car stops being fun when it becomes an investment

[ukdave2002]

I had a similar experience with a 2000 plate Omega, I'd bought it when it was a year old with 7500 miles on the clock, Omegas lost 50% of their value in the first year so it was cheap Had an LPG conversion then over the next 4 or 5 years put another 150,000 miles on the clock all good, then it then seemed to require a £250 repair every month, somethings like brake discs and coil packs were consumables so to be expected, but it was then a starter motor, alternator, head gasket, air mass sensor and so it went on, In less than year I was spending more on repairs than the car was worth, so time to get shot.

However I always considered that car to be great value, when you look at the total cost per mile including depreciation , repairs etc it was a very cheap car to run, and that perhaps how you should look at your Focus?

[alastairq]

[Rootes75]

I'm not prepared to carry out the repairs myself. Not this time. I just don't feel its worth it.

One thing the garage did say was that any decent mechanic when the car is up on the ramps would have spotted it as they walked under the car...so I'm not too happy with the garage that just fleeced me for the clutch, their customer service was particularly poor aswel.
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Various Rootes Vehicles.

[Ray White]

[Ray White]

The P38 has passed it's M.O.T. !!!!!

No names; no pack drill.

The event, however was not without drama. !

Famously, I have a habit of not being able to leave well alone. Before taking the car for its test, I thought I should perhaps put a bit more air in the suspension. The upshot of doing that was to become apparent when I arrived at the garage.

I drove into the testing station and got out. Shortly after the car had been logged on, there was a loud explosion from under the bonnet and the suspension collapsed.

The noise attracted the attention of a mechanic (who I also know) who came running to see if we were O.K. At first he thought an air bag had exploded. Then came two more explosions and he mused it could perhaps be a high pressure relief valve. I knew what the problem was but kept my council for the time being.

As the car had been logged on, it had to go through the test even though the outcome should have been a fail. However, as the tester knew I would correct the fault he passed the car.

The story might have ended there but as it happened the problem couldn't have happened at a better location. I parked the car up in a corner of the fore-court and lifted the bonnet. What had happened was the plastic tubing that I had used for the Shrader valves had failed. It was not strong enough to withstand the extra pressure that I had added.

I removed the T pieces that connected the air bags to the valve block and Shrader valves and connected the valves directly to the air bag lines directly. I then drove the car round to the garage and asked to use their air line. The mechanic was intrigued with what I had been up to and assisted with inflating the suspension.

With a reasonable ride height restored; I drove home...but not before getting the thumbs up from the M.O.T. tester.