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1

Omega Electrical and Audio Help / Re: Where to put the Parrot

« on: 21 November 2006, 11:57:51 »

I used to have a Nokia car kit fitted to mine. It fitted to a tee bracket that slotted in between the fakey wood and interior trim about level with the hazard light button on the left of the centre console. It was a proper part from a phone shop. Just can't remember where it was from or the brand name.

It was a nice installation and allowed the cables to be fed into the trim with no holes being drilled. It was out of the way but easily reached.

2

Omega General Help / Re: Headlight problem

« on: 30 August 2007, 08:14:38 »

I tried the hairdryer technique. It worked, but only temporarily. I suppose success is based on the reason why there is water in there in the first place.

After the condensation started to come back, dried out headlight again then I taped a sachet of Silica Gel (the sort you get in packaging for electronic items/bags etc) into one of the rubber bulb covers. Has worked for 6 months now.

3

Omega General Help / Re: Keep Alive Memory Error

« on: 16 March 2007, 10:25:09 »

.....(worth checking the throttle cable is not loose under the bonnet)

Aren't the Catera's effectivley rebadged Facelifts so wouldn't have a throttle cable?

4

Omega General Help / Re: Locking wheel nuts

« on: 16 March 2007, 15:29:33 »

You're probably right [smiley=sad.gif], but having a wheel nut key with a bent prong (thanks to a tyre fitter monkey) has the same effect.

The smart arse answer is get 'em really tight, but carry a section of scaftholding pipe to increase the force on the tyre iron. Handy also for road rage! [smiley=grin.gif]

5

Omega General Help / Re: Locking wheel nuts

« on: 16 March 2007, 11:00:04 »

Try these Dave found at Halfords
 
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogI d_10151_productId_196491_langId_-1_CarSelectorCatalogId__CarSelectorGroupId__varient__categoryId_71555_crumb_33958-31562-71551_parentcategoryrn_71555
 
or you could try the old socket trick  

They're the ones I was on about. I tried the socket trick. Worked on one, but mine had the spinners so the stiffer ones wouldn't come loose. These gizmos dig in and crush the spinner onto the nut and allow it to turn.

Another way (if getting desperate) is to tack weld a bolt onto the wheel nut and just use a standard socket.

I'd also agree with the sentiment about not using Vx nuts to replace the removed ones. I reckon that using an air gun to put the nuts back on is probably more secure than using lockers! [smiley=smiley.gif]

6

Omega General Help / Re: Locking wheel nuts

« on: 15 March 2007, 15:53:40 »

Vauxhall will sell you a key for £25ish if you have the car pass.

They'll also sell you a full set of new locking nuts with a key for the same price (only problem is the key won't fit the old ones)!

Mine were removed (far too easily) with the application of a special socket for removing locking wheel nuts and a little BFI. I don't think they cost too much, but do destroy the wheel nut (so make sure you have a new set or 4 normal ones (as I luckily did!)

Mind you, whats the point of putting locking nuts back on, the theiving little sods who nick alloys all have the removal tools!

7

Omega General Help / Re: Ghost in the machine!

« on: 16 March 2007, 11:01:43 »

It's not my fault. Honest! [smiley=evil.gif]

8

Omega General Help / Re: Getting the grime off my engine

« on: 14 March 2007, 08:46:27 »

I've "gunked" mine a few times, no probs. Warm up the engine. Switch off, brush on with a paint brush and work it in, leave it for 20 mins and rinse off with a hose. I just use a hose with a spray attachment with the tap turned down a bit. Avoid leccy bits and try not to get gunk on the rocker covers for too long if you can help it. It started to take the coating off mine in one corner.

Don't use pressure washer. More water at lower pressure is much safer and gets gunk off no bother. I often run the engine while I get the last bits off as you can smell if gunk is still present as it warms up.

I also use a parafin gun to get gunk on my Landy engine and blast it off with the hose, but thats a lot more forgiving to getting water everywhere.

9

Omega General Help / Re: Lack Of Power etc.......

« on: 01 March 2007, 08:28:51 »

You didn't fill up at Tescos did you? [smiley=smiley.gif]

10

Omega General Help / Re: Wet Headlight

« on: 02 March 2007, 10:30:44 »

The lens can be removed, but not easily as it's held in with copious amounts of Sikaflex type sealant. A stanley knife will cut through it though and the lens can be carefully prised away.

Are the rubber covers over the bulb holes at the back on correctly? Water can easily get in here, also a good place to use a hair dryer to get warm air in to dry them out.

11

Omega General Help / Re: Tesco 99 Ron Petrol - Avoid???

« on: 01 March 2007, 10:09:48 »

Recent events do answer the initial question though:

MPG using Tesco fuel will drop. Some people are only getting 3 miles on a full tank! [smiley=grin.gif] [smiley=grin.gif]

12

Omega General Help / Re: Tesco 99 Ron Petrol - Avoid???

« on: 01 March 2007, 09:27:25 »

No expert on Lambda sensors, but is it possible to clean them if you encounter a problem rather than replace them?

I don't know how thin the coating is on the sensor tips or how sensitive they are to damage by chemicals or other cleaning methods, but theorectically you could remove the contamination (whatever it is) and return the sensor to a serviceable condition. Unless the contamination has damaged or removed the coating of course!

I imagine that the Vx dealer will just replace any sensors that come up as faulty as a result of dodgy fuel (thats what TIS will tell them to do), and of course they will make a killing on them! The answer will probably be that they can't get any and your car will be off the road for two weeks!

13

Omega General Help / Re: Trip Computer

« on: 01 March 2007, 10:14:57 »

The range on the trip is dependent on your driving over the last so many miles.

Around town you may find that it tells you that its got 20 miles left, go on a dual carriageway or motorway and this'll increase to say 40 as your MPG will be better cruising rather than stop start.

Don't know how about the fuel light. Haven't run it dry (yet!). But last time the fuel light came on, the range thingy reckoned I had 16 miles left.

14

Omega General Help / Re: Just 2 more niggles!

« on: 26 February 2007, 13:42:22 »

Don't know about the locks, but I found the fuel filter staight forward (if a little fiddly), even for me! [smiley=grin.gif]

My advice. Take the wheel off for easier access and either get a small terminal screwdriver to press the clip tags down (and work it off one side a little at a time) or the correct tool for undoing the clips (expensive and probably unessesary). Oh, and vent the pressure off the system using the valve on the fuel rail first to prevent you getting to like the taste of petrol.

Be careful removing the cable tie thingy that holds the filter, its a little fragile.

15

Omega General Help / Re: Rear window obstacle detection?

« on: 27 February 2007, 12:46:39 »

Will give the clean a go first as it's the easiest. Will wait til the weekend though as it isn't a biggy now that the bloody thing is closed. Would have been though if it hadn't shut and had kept raining!

Will report back on success for those with the same problem.