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Topics - Boatboy

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Omega General Help / Vacuum connections query

« on: 14 April 2009, 08:46:13 »

One of the spigots on the 'reducing T' fitting in the main rocker cover to brake servo vacuum line has broken off and as a result I only had one connection direct to the ECU

Temporarily I have taped up the broken spigot and spliced all the other vacuum pipes off the remaining fitting and all seems to work OK. (Thanks to Mark for the vacuum layout guide in the maintenance section.)

Is this a satisfactory long term solution, or are there any valves/restrictors in the broken fitting between the two spigots, and as a result of the fix I would know have too much or too little vacuum in various places.

As well as the obvious (air distribution now works again,) idle seems to be smoother and an iteresting 'stutter' when feathering the throttle at around 60 has disappeared, but I am interested to know what all the other vacuum dependent items actually do.

Steve

Newbie Welcome Area / Peach or pup? time will surely tell.

« on: 13 April 2009, 19:32:12 »

Hello all,

Bought a 1999 2.5 V6 GLS estate on good friday in the rain. Maybe a bit hasty, but seemed a good price for a long MOT with several new parts and i need the space for a long run to the sunshine this summer.

Already spent the weekend frigging the vacuum system as several connections were not connected due to a broken spigot on the brake servo line. Thanks to the member who posted the vacuum layout.

Next step is timing belt as vintage of the current one is unknown at 147k. When will the much recommended DVD be available again?

Steve

General Car Chat / Zafira sump plug struggle

« on: 13 April 2010, 13:58:28 »

I scoffed at my brother the other day when he told me he was taking his Zafira to quick twit to get the oil changed - how I wish I'd let him carry on.

In fact he did turn up at the allotted time only to be told they had no record of his booking and would not do it for the qouted £35 as they only had a 'better' oil in stock so the price would be £49.

So he ends up at mine carrying 5l of comma saying something like ok big mouth, show me how easy it is.
If only I'd kept my mouth shut. 2 hours later we still could not get the blasted sump plug undone, despite a long extension, new T40 bits and persuasion of the short sharp kind. And thats on a 7 year old car with 60k and main dealer fsh, so either it's been done up by a complete muppet with an air wrench set on bl**dy tight, or the only oil changes have been via the dipstick holes and it came that way from the factory.

Having no gas for my blowtorch, limited workspace on ramps and running out of time we decided to call it a day and he'll get it booked in the dealer's and insist that they drain it from the sump, but it makes you wonder if mudflap is right in his thread about diy v garage.

Steve

General Car Chat / Its scary what you find sometimes.

« on: 24 March 2010, 22:47:15 »

Long story short, noticed I was losing brake fluid. Waited for dry weather to check which corner of the money-skip had a leaky piston.

Couple of very wet weeks passed, very few miles but another top up needed, so with dry undersides I had a look/feel. All good.

Working back up the system, eventually found fluid on the abs pump rear face. The pipe that runs abs to o/s front (which was replaced for the MOT prior to my buying the car) was not clamped securely by the fitting, had been disturbed during some recent work, and now was not sealing.

Tried to nip it up to no avail, (there was no movement on the nut) so undid it to find there was no flare on the end of the pipe. The only thing stopping it firing out the fitting when the brakes were applied was a bit of burr on the end.

Replacement pipe - £4
Fitting - an hours cursing, scratched wrists and backache.
Look on the local motor factors face - Priceless.

At least thats one less fluid working on a constant loss basis.

Steve

General Car Chat / More praise for Darth Loo Knee

« on: 30 January 2010, 17:16:35 »

He'll get big headed I know, but last Sunday he turned up fully equiped and braved the wind rain and darkness to change my head gaskets, timing belt, water pump, cam cover gaskets and exhaust manifold gaskest, whilst dispensing helpful advice and 'entertaining' with a song or two.

I'm very pleased with the result, and the price was not only very reasonable but included replacement oil, filter and coolant.

All in all highly recommended. Shame about the singing though.

Steve