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General Car Chat / deja-vu (again) - ghost of the Power Sounder

« on: 29 May 2024, 13:57:59 »

I discovered today that my 2008 Ford Galaxy has a power sounder.

When I started (and stopped) driving it 5 years ago I think I noticed a lack of sound on locking and unlocking and when the alarm was triggered but didn't have time to investigate.

Coincidentally I bought a bluetooth OBD2 adapter and used 'Forscan Lite' to check for DTCs but didn't find anything obviously worrying at the time (I was particularly worried about the 6 speed DSG gearbox)

Now that it has been brought back from the dead and is being driven regularly the "service security alarm soon" messages were starting to worry me so I bought another adapter (from Amazon), plugged it in and.............. nothing. No lights, no bluetooth to pair with. bugger. assumed that it was DOA.

Had another look this morning and couldn't find any power at the OBD2 socket. Digging around on the internet it appears that the OBD2 socket either shares a fuse with the cigarette lighter or maybe the power sounder.

Need to find the fuse box and/or the power sounder now. Feeling rather glad that Ford had the sense to fit a fuse in the circuit (unlike VX).

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General Car Chat / Motor Factors?

« on: 11 May 2024, 22:50:41 »

I need a starter motor for a 2006 Ford Galaxy 2.0l duratorq TDCi.

Where do people source parts nowadays?

I see repeated complaints about ECP but people keep going back for more $:-\$ They list a 'starline' starter for £123.

GSF list a 'WAI' starter for £82. Never heard of 'WAI' but always been happy with GSF so would be happy to go with that one.

Prices for parts from manufacturers I recognise (Bosch, Valeo, Lucas etc) are somewhat higher............

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General Car Chat / Car Insurance - Recommendations?

« on: 01 May 2024, 07:55:10 »

Who/where/what insurance providers do people use?

I haven't needed to buy insurance in the UK for a few years so completely out of touch with which ones are good / expensive / useless etc.

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General Discussion Area / SMETS2 smart meters

« on: 25 April 2024, 19:51:13 »

Finally got around to agreeing to have the meters replaced. Both gas and electricity were over 20 years old so 10+ years overdue.....

Waited all afternoon on Monday - no show.

Rescheduled for this morning - British Gas installer arrived and got on with swapping the meters.

Electrical meter swapped first and left to establish communications while the gas meter was swapped.

Gas meter swapped. Waited. Waited a bit longer.

I now have two shiny new dumb meters

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General Car Chat / Old Diesel Fuel

« on: 20 March 2024, 08:43:31 »

How bad is old diesel?

A few years ago (5 or 6 years?) the oil companies started adding bio-diesel to the mix.

Talk at the time was that the bio content would/could support bug growth That stored diesel would turn to jelly and/or corrode the components in fuel injection pumps and injectors.

What are the chances that a Diesel car that has been stood for 5 years will ever run again?

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General Discussion Area / Oops! (or is Cassington far from Brackers?)

« on: 03 October 2023, 09:25:15 »

https://www.bbc.com/news/av/uk-66989386

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General Discussion Area / more rain

« on: 28 January 2023, 09:48:09 »

Got a bit wet cycling to work yesterday.

249mm (10") rainfall in 24 hours

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General Car Chat / EV car chargers

« on: 12 April 2022, 11:05:44 »

https://news.sky.com/story/isle-of-wight-councils-electric-car-charging-points-hacked-to-show-porn-12584211

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General Car Chat / Stretch Belts

« on: 02 February 2022, 04:31:48 »

Changed the oil on my Mazda Premacy a couple of weeks back and thought it was about time to change the rubber belts.

The Mazda is based on the same floorpan as a Ford Focus and shares lots of parts.

It has chain driven cams and two poly V belts. The main one has a tensioner, to get it off you have to first remove the air con compressor belt that doesn't have a tensioner.

Workshop manual says to cut the old one off and to turn the engine over and use a wedge to force the new one on.

Thoughts anyone? Is it pish easy to do? Or a mare of a job?

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