Car maintenance

[intern]

That would be like draining your oil and forgetting to replace the sump plug before filling up with new oil.....

 

Check, check, check and the recheck to be sure. All the tools back in the tool box? Check again to make sure 

When I had a Volvo the idiots at Volvo in Greenside didn't tighten the sump plug and forgot to drain the ATF before putting new ATF in. Overfilled caused some interesting issues. So it's not just us backyard mechanics by any means.

[intern]

True that, majority of the ELM327 modules you get from Chinese sellers on eBay are just about useless, if lady luck shines down you may find it'll read some codes on your car but generally not.

 

R2000 for a decent one is hardly a lot considering you can use it on many cars, do some pretty sophisticated diagnostics on your uys and use it for years/help your mates with their cars etc.

 

Most dealers charge R500- R1k just to plug your car into their diagnostics machines.

This are true. When I read up about ELM327s, the consensus was that it is cheap and nasty, but being 15 NZD, I thought, bugger it, let's see how it goes. The one I have works fine - but I am keen to check out something more comprehensive as suggested by Jim

[intern]

Probably fairly true, I cant think of a modern car with rear drum brakes, they have become almost obsolete.  

 

The shoes are very easy to re-line and many a small business did just that in by gone years, although I haven't really seen too many in recent times, but they would still be there, commercial and industrial machines still use drum type brakes, you may just need to hunt around a bit. 

I had a 2012 Mitsubishi Triton which had rear drum brakes. While still under warranty, I took the vehicle to Simon Lucas Mitsubishi, which fitted - get this - PIRATE PARTS to replace the seized up drums (from sea water/boat launching). I discovered that because the bolts worked themselves out of the Chinese cheapie hubs, meaning the rear wheels wanted to fall off. How bad is that!

The dealership said 'oh we use pirate parts to keep your cost down'. I said 'on a f$^((*N*= vehicle under warranty!!!' and also, called another dealership to price check. Uh, same price for OEM spares. I was SHOCKED, I tell you SHOCKED.

Anyway, Mitsubishi NZ couldn't give a stuff and while the dealership put OEM on 'at no additional cost' (as if they were doing me a favour) I sold the car immediately and will never own another Mitsubishi again.

 

And then, there is the shame of having had a Triton in the first place, which I just can't seem to shake off...

[Skylark]

This are true. When I read up about ELM327s, the consensus was that it is cheap and nasty, but being 15 NZD, I thought, bugger it, let's see how it goes. The one I have works fine - but I am keen to check out something more comprehensive as suggested by Jim

It's a bit of a minefield looking for a decent one and then some brands need a dedicated reader like VAG/Mercedes-Benz /BMW each need their own apparently. I wouldn't mind spending a R1k or 2 if I knew it was reasonably universal and good quality.

 

Some of these readers can do some dodgy stuff like fiddle with the mileage etc.

[Grebel]

It's a bit of a minefield looking for a decent one and then some brands need a dedicated reader like VAG/Mercedes-Benz /BMW each need their own apparently. I wouldn't mind spending a R1k or 2 if I knew it was reasonably universal and good quality.

 

Some of these readers can do some dodgy stuff like fiddle with the mileage etc.

 

I have it under good authority that for the pricely sum of R150 a few years ago there was a chap in West Street in Durban that would give your mileage a trim.... You just gave him the numbers and he typed them in.

 

Don't for one second think that if a car has a digital ODO that the mileage that is shown is gospel. If you buy a car make sure that all the supporting service documentation is available and ties up.

[cfcjim]

As a safeguard against odo tampering, there are other areas in modern vehicles where the mileage/running hours are stored. There are around 28 separate ECMs in my D4, so  I expect there to be many locations where accurate information is written and would only be able to be flashed (set to zero) not edited.

 

But in the words of Ian Dury "There ain't half been some clever bastards".

[cfcjim]

This are true. When I read up about ELM327s, the consensus was that it is cheap and nasty, but being 15 NZD, I thought, bugger it, let's see how it goes. The one I have works fine - but I am keen to check out something more comprehensive as suggested by Jim

http://www.icarsoft.com/

 

They've got loads.

[Long Wheel Base]

Probably fairly true, I cant think of a modern car with rear drum brakes, they have become almost obsolete.  

 

The shoes are very easy to re-line and many a small business did just that in by gone years, although I haven't really seen too many in recent times, but they would still be there, commercial and industrial machines still use drum type brakes, you may just need to hunt around a bit. 

Cars yes like you say pretty much a thing of the past. I wonder if the small little cheaper cars like polos or i10 and so on have drums at the back?

BUT bakkies still have them and we know how many of those are in this country. My NAVARA has about 150 000km on the clock and I have yet to replace shoes so will be interesting to see when the time arrives

[Mike Bike]

Delphi make a very nice Bluetooth reader and also a fantastic software package it come with. I haven't had any trouble reading or clearing any vehicles. Also been able to program injectors and other fancy tricks with it...no mileage correction facility though.

[LBKloppers]

Yah, I hear you mate, it sounds a lot and it is a lot, but on the other hand (and I know dont need to tell you  ) the cost of these manufacturer specific diagnostics is immense, plus the training for the technician, the hour labour etc, etc. I am out of touch with local SA dealer hourly rates but I would guess its at least around 600 bucks an hour.?? Probably more.

 

As an aside the genuine Audi's diagnostic system is second to none in my opinion, I have always had Audi's, I am a big fan of them, and as an example,... remember the old Audi tiptronic system?....... how it often started to get sluggish on older cars,... to sort it out Audi would have to clean the memory and refresh the controller system, this was a Audi specific scan and correct, there is no alternative to this, I used to know a few guys in Audi and a genuine Audi diagnostic scanner and programme was very expensive, then you needed to send the technician for training and then update the programme all the time for upgrades, new models etc, and, Yup you guessed...     Audi doesn't supply upgrades for free.   

 

But,... I am sure they found the issue Grebel, or what did they say....?

 

OK You clever okes, time for a test. I have an old 2009 Caddy with the BLS type engine and she was running VERY rough. She smoked and lacked power. Diagnostics didn't pick anything up. I had the injectors refurbished and nothing changed. I know the answer, but what do you think happened?

[Mike Bike]

[quote name="LBKloppers"

 

OK You clever okes, time for a test. I have an old 2009 Caddy with the BLS type engine and she was running VERY rough. She smoked and lacked power. Diagnostics didn't pick anything up. I had the injectors refurbished and nothing changed. I know the answer, but what do you think happened?

 

I'll put my money on stuck EGR valve which in turn damaged MAF sensor

[Grebel]

What Mike Bike said. Sounds like over fueling with the smoke (Assuming it is black smoke) Either that or the water temperature sensor close to the thermostat housing was faulty and sending false readings to the ECU causing the overfueling and the rough running...

[Wannabe]

I'll also suspect the EGR. Black smoke, lack of power and heavy consumption!?

[RocknRolla]

I agree.

[Skylark]

Delphi make a very nice Bluetooth reader and also a fantastic software package it come with. I haven't had any trouble reading or clearing any vehicles. Also been able to program injectors and other fancy tricks with it...no mileage correction facility though.

That sounds good, link to the reader?

The linked software is perhaps worth half the price, the cheaper options have arcane poorly designed software that needs a doctorate to decipher.

[Mike Bike]

That sounds good, link to the reader?

The linked software is perhaps worth half the price, the cheaper options have arcane poorly designed software that needs a doctorate to decipher.

I bought mine off a chap who advertises on gumtree. Offices in Rooihuiskraal. Type Delphi DS150E into google. Paid R1500