Car D.I.Y.

[fossyant]

TBH I'd be happy doing the mechanical swaps, but I'd be taking it to a professional to be doing the mapping

Just to add I'll be Supercharging my kitcar once registered, I know which tuner/rolling road specialist I'm going to, I'll be buying the ECU he recommends.

He plans on the mechanical swap, but will be going for proper tuning as it's mapped out to the individual car isn't it - not every one is quite the same. Been quoted £500 for a map, which is about right. I'm hoping he goes and does it at a friend's lock up as his friend knows a lot more about cars and runs a few including an old MX5 he uses for drifting.

 

[Deleted member 26715]

I'm hoping he goes and does it at a friend's lock up

Personally I'd pay the £500, his 'friend' can easily do that amount of damage getting it wrong, if they don't have access to a rolling road then the only option is to street test it, 'friend' sat in passenger seat with laptop whilst your son breaks all the speeding laws screaming around the place, to get all speeds in all gears

 

[fossyant]

Personally I'd pay the £500, his 'friend' can easily do that amount of damage getting it wrong, if they don't have access to a rolling road then the only option is to street test it, 'friend' sat in passenger seat with laptop whilst your son breaks all the speeding laws screaming around the place, to get all speeds in all gears

sorry wasn't clear - doing the mechanicals with a friend, then getting it professionally mapped.

 

[Drago]

Get the brand specific iCarsoft V2.0. Not cheap, but does ABS, stability systems, airbags, accessory electrics, pretty much everything. Bought one when I inherited the XC90 and its paid for itself several times over.

 

[fossyant]

Son has been busy making a replacement exhaust system. Not quite finished as he's expecting a sport cat, and is literally changing the back box now as the previous one did nothing and was too loud. He's welded it all himself, not super neat, but gas tight. Not bad for a beginner.

He also fitted a turbo from a 1.4 TFSI engine, which when tuned should give nearer 180 bhp, from 110.

He's done all this whilst we were away this weekend, and on his own. Just wish he would apply this enthusiasm to tidying his room.

Boys....

 

[fossyant]

Get the brand specific iCarsoft V2.0. Not cheap, but does ABS, stability systems, airbags, accessory electrics, pretty much everything. Bought one when I inherited the XC90 and its paid for itself several times over.

Hes got some VAG specific stuff, but it wouldn't recode the immobiliser and linked components. Got that sorted at a specialist.

 

[tyred]

My 205's clutch release bearing has developed a death squeal and the clutch isn't clearing properly.

Typically it would happen when I'm in the process of moving house and actually need a car to move things so unusually for a tightwad like me, I've farmed the job out to a mechanic friend as I don't really have time.

Now in possession of my Mum's Kia Soul.

 

[Illaveago]

Well! I've just come back from an MOT on our Venga . It failed on excessive play in the nsf track rod end. They quoted a price to do the job but I said that I would do it myself . They asked if I had heard any knocking noise whilst driving . I hadn't but then I haven't driven it much .
I got my wife to put it on a hard lock whilst I got down and watched the joint whilst she rocked the steering . I couldn't see or feel any play ! We tried it on the other side with exactly the same outcome ! I thought perhaps they meant bottom ball joint but that wouldn't require tracking . I would have thought that any play would have shown up , also I would have thought that the tyre would also show signs of uneven wear .
I have taken my cars there for years and have trusted them but I'm a bit suspicious!

 

[Drago]

Perhaps get them to show you?

I once had a car fail on a headlamp with an incorrect beam aim, butnthey told me they jad adjusted it and it would only be a tenner. Funny that, seeing as the adjuster was broken off and Id been using washers as shims to physically alter the aim. Lots of "oh's" and "ah's".

 

[gbb]

Well! I've just come back from an MOT on our Venga . It failed on excessive play in the nsf track rod end. They quoted a price to do the job but I said that I would do it myself . They asked if I had heard any knocking noise whilst driving . I hadn't but then I haven't driven it much .
I got my wife to put it on a hard lock whilst I got down and watched the joint whilst she rocked the steering . I couldn't see or feel any play ! We tried it on the other side with exactly the same outcome ! I thought perhaps they meant bottom ball joint but that wouldn't require tracking . I would have thought that any play would have shown up , also I would have thought that the tyre would also show signs of uneven wear .
I have taken my cars there for years and have trusted them but I'm a bit suspicious!

Knocking can often be caused by a vertical strut (cant remember the terminology). It's a rigid bar, 300mm ish long with a ball joint either end, very common item to go apparently.

 

[neil_merseyside]

Well! I've just come back from an MOT on our Venga . It failed on excessive play in the nsf track rod end. They quoted a price to do the job but I said that I would do it myself . They asked if I had heard any knocking noise whilst driving . I hadn't but then I haven't driven it much .
I got my wife to put it on a hard lock whilst I got down and watched the joint whilst she rocked the steering . I couldn't see or feel any play ! We tried it on the other side with exactly the same outcome ! I thought perhaps they meant bottom ball joint but that wouldn't require tracking . I would have thought that any play would have shown up , also I would have thought that the tyre would also show signs of uneven wear .
I have taken my cars there for years and have trusted them but I'm a bit suspicious!

You need to hold the joint while someone swings the wheel and you'll feel it give a bit compared to the good side, well if it is fubar you will.

 

[Deleted member 26715]

@gbb Droplinks, they knock more than track rods.

@Illaveago Does it say the track rod is worn, or something along the lines of dust cover deteriorated allowing ingress of dirt etc.

 

[fossyant]

Worn track rod dust covers are a fail.

 

[Illaveago]

It has got play ! I was wrong !
I jacked it up and took the wheel off and got my wife to rock it again . I could see movement in the ball joint . Once I had removed it from the hub carrier I could move the ball joint up and down . It must have taken up the slack on the deck .

 

[cosmicbike]

Knocking can often be caused by a vertical strut (cant remember the terminology). It's a rigid bar, 300mm ish long with a ball joint either end, very common item to go apparently.

That would be a drop link