[Fiend]

Yeah will do.

Fultnus, nope 5th Gear in Aidrie. Just who had a car available.

[Paul B]

I take it you're not Sheffside anytime soon? Matt at AutoHaus Dolby would be worth speaking to / paying for a diagnostic (actually I don't think he charges for the diagnostic).

[tommytwotone]

Equally not-near-you but IVC in Leeds are absolute top notch.

[Paul B]

I've been having issue getting the BMW ('04 320d touring) started of late. It seems to be either:

a) following a cold night
b) several short journeys in a row

It barely tries to turn over the engine in both cases, occasionally I can catch it with a bit of carefully added fuel but most of the time not. Thankfully we live on a hill and I leave for work later than everyone else!

Given it'll charge on a long run (i.e. ~60mph, ~10mins) I think this points to the battery (it may be the original 2004 battery) rather than the alternator / glow plugs? I'm torn between pushing it over the 200,000 mile barrier and sacking it off for something that requires less constant intervention. That said, if it's only a battery and it's taxed and tested until the end of Jan...

[tomtom]

sounds like battery to me. Could be the alternator - but suspect you'd be ending up with a dead car rather than a sluggush to turn over one. not the glowplugs imho..

[galpinos]

Surely the first thing is to stick a multimeter across it?

[Paul B]

but when, at night when I park up and then in the morning?

It may have a voltage readout in the fault finding mode that you can get on the dash with a combination of button bashing.

[tomtom]

but when, at night when I park up and then in the morning?

It may have a voltage readout in the fault finding mode that you can get on the dash with a combination of button bashing.

Yup - I think the 'correct' starting voltage is about 12.7v (before you turn the key under no strain etc..) If its in the low 11's or 10's then I think (please check there will be www info about this) its not healthy..

[Paul B]

It didn't start at the office. Bumping wasn't even easy. 7 mile drive back and using the on board readout I was getting around 14v which suggests the alternator is fine. Stopped, 13.6 then 12.6 about 30 mins later.
I'm expecting to bump it in the morning. New battery?

[Jim]

yes

[tomtom]

Got a trickle charger or booster battery thing? If so I'd get it prepared...

[Fiend]

Update:

The mechanic had a look at it today, there were no error codes coming through on VAG-COM, and he was pretty sure it was the tandem fuel pump that was loosing pressure slowly when the car was sitting (pretty sure the dealer only replaced the other fuel pump (the one before the fuel filter?)). He's kept it in for more testing though. He said it would be unlikely to be fuel pipes leaking as you'd notice the diesel, and the seals looked like the intact originals.

Does that sound feasible??

[butters]

It is pretty much what me and someone else was saying a while back so I have to say yes really. 

Seriously - it sounds right to me. 

[Fultonius]

Yeah, sounds pretty feasible. My original thought was that the main pump was having to prime the low pressure side (i.e. suck fuel from the filter/tank). I suggested a leak as that's what caused the same issue in our van - I hadn't thought of the possibility that the LP (tandem) pump might be faulty, but it sounds totally feasible.

[Nibile]

Not exactly sure where this belongs, but a good read nonetheless...
Wheelspin at 345 kmh... 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
http://gtspirit.com/2014/05/31/the-most-powerful-f1-car-ever/

[Fiend]

Probably here: http://ukbouldering.com/board/index.php/topic,19868.0.html

Latest testing with mine by Argyll Diesel Electrics concludes that there is a small amount of air getting into the system around the injectors, somewhere between the tandem fuel pump (which was replaced) and the feed pipe out to the fuel filter. Like you guys were suggesting. Possibly dodgy seals around the injectors...

[lagerstarfish]

had a bit of a CCFC moment yesterday

Mrs Starfish had a puncture (no spare), so I headed straight from the crag to pic the kids up from school

the auxiliary belt on my car went after a couple of hundred yards meaning that I had no power steering and that the alternator was not being spun - making me reluctant to turn on the lights or stereo

anyway - I got to school in time for the kids and then got my wife's car (she inflated it and managed to get home before it went flat again) to On The Spot Tyres before they shut to get a couple of new tyres fitted

turned out nice again, hasn't it?

[tomtom]

Blimey - lucky you managed to limp home... By which time I was zooming off in the opposite direction.. Glad all sorted without the need to use the glue and pump on MrsLagers tyre...

In the good old days I've used a shoe lace to replace a broken fan belt - but just around the crank and water pump to stop it overheating ...

[lagerstarfish]

the other issue was the car revving REALLY FUCKING HIGH whilst it was supposed to idle  - no idea how this could be related to the belt's absence

[Paul B]

What are people's opinions on the 2010 Civic Type S, probably the 1.8 VTEC?

Nat wants something a bit smaller to park on our road and the 320d is heading interstellar and will likely go wrong in the near future (gearbox?).

The battery was the original BTW, so 11 years old!

[tomtom]

I looked at the civics - was put off by many reviews saying bad seats. Though comfort/back pain was one of my main criteria. 1.8 diesel lump is supposed to be top of its class..

[shurt]

My exhaust decided to go west on the motorway on the way home from the in laws. Friday night is not a good time to call rescue people. Wish I had some car knowledge (spent my youth practicing the piano and climbing) break down man wiggled it and the whole silencer came off in his hand. Luckily we were only 30 mins from home. He said we could drive it home so that's what we did, sounded a bit 'sporty'.

Would rather not have a car bill before Christmas...

[tomtom]

Chances are it's not a mega bill if it's just the rear silencer that's fallen/rotted off...

[shurt]

Well that's something, thanks

[SA Chris]

Yeah should be OK, somewhere £50 - 80 depending on car. They might try and convince you to replace the rest of system as well, have a look if you can before deciding, if it does look totally shot it can save you repeating the exercise in a few months, but if you plan selling the car soon, don't bother.

I did a roadside running repair on ours when it came off using a roll of gaffer tape and a 2l coke bottle full of water, guy in garage was impressed with handywork.