c_maguire

A little over £20 will get you an OPCom package (cable and interface with CD) which you can run from a laptop. For an end user this is a very comprehensive package for absolute peanuts. Virtually full dealer access.

As far as your car goes, you need to thrash it more. I got my CDTi 150 van with 35K on the clock. The swirl flap bar fell off shortly afterwards but there is a mod you can buy on eBay that has been on now for 65K more miles without an issue. I cleaned the EGR shortly after I got the van and haven't touched it since. I checked yesterday and the van will still get 140 on the clock, it's always had a turbo whistle though.
I recommend you sit at 100mph everywhere outside of built up areas.
Problem solved.

ALi-B

iTrader: (1)

Op-Com...aka Vaux-com in the UK is good (https://www.ilexa.co.uk/diagnostic-t...rage-list.html ). Bargain to be honest; just add laptop.

Considering kit available out there, Like Autologic which is over £5K just to start, you kind of get the idea of scales of costs with diagnostics kit. I currently have a Modis ultra on a evaluation loan and already found some bits lacking (no "DF" codes on Renaults ).

Point to make with all this kit is...all it will give you is a fault code and live data, some coding on Vaux-com too which is handy if you swap radios/climate control and replace airbags etc. What you do to interpret that information is down you your own knowledge, experience and any technical resources available (workshop manuals, service bulletins, technical advisories, and support help lines etc) - or you can chance it by blindly replacing associated parts. Autologic have a pretty good tech support when it comes to coding ECUs and stuff: Ilexia, not much as all in terms of vehicle related issues (just help with software bugs etc on using the product itself). Its the support and resources that makes the difference from DIY kit to dealership Kit.

Regular and sustained Italian tune-ups are a must on most cars these days. Petrol and diesel. Not good for the license though LOL.

chocolate_o_brian

iTrader: (22)

Least it's sorted, Jeff.

As per mine, now has swirl flaps removed, no DPF and pulls like a train again.

EGR is next on my list to clean/delete.

ditchmyster

iTrader: (7)

I don't think it's ever changed re the "Italian tune up" it's always been the case with cars I've owned or friends and family members, Cars running funny take it out and give it a good hiding thrap the knackers off it, hand the keys back to the un suspecting owner with a smile. and a 'it just needed it throat clearing.'

alcazar

iTrader: (2)

The annoying thing, for me is that this car rarely does any mileage round town, it's generally straight onto a motorway and up to 70-80mph...which the dealers tell you is ideal to clean out all the junk.

Obviously not so.

When it went, it had just done over 800 miles at an almost steady 80mph.

alcazar

iTrader: (2)

Looking at the delete for mine.

With the costs recently, looks like the Scoob will be going soon.

Won't be breaking it, just sell for whatever.

ditchmyster

iTrader: (7)

How long have you had it, from memory I'm thinking about a year, and what has it cost you in repairs, just out of curiosity.

chocolate_o_brian

iTrader: (22)

I'm thinking you're edging towards another "I told you so" post.

Go on, tell me I'm wrong

ditchmyster

iTrader: (7)

Actually you are wrong it's just plain old curiosity to see how the reality stacks up, going to be needing a new hack for the Mrs this year as the rear arches on the Rover are almost non-existant unfortunately, she's been asking about shoot chuckers as she does a fair amount of miles and I could do with a little ammunition as well as a bit of a cost guide to see if the numbers could stack up over her milage.

chocolate_o_brian

iTrader: (22)

kevo10

Used to drive a golf gttdi and found out , to its detriment, that pootling round all the time, isnt gd for diesels. Kept going into limp mode due to the Variable Vanes on the turbo sticking. Good blast , and a properone at that, does them good. Probably beneficial to most cars , whatever the fuel type.

alcazar

iTrader: (2)

Bought in January 2013, so just over two years.

Gearbox repair: £500.
New clutch at same time, £280.
Brakes front: £100.
Brakes rear, £80,
Two new springs, £90,
Fans for heater, £288,
This last lot, £370

Not counting tyres etc.

Would I have another Vauxhall?

I'd have to think about it....I don't have Andy's disposable income for a Beemer, don't like Volkys, and Seat are too small for my liking, (Leon), undderpowered, and have reliability issues which can be expensive.

Meanwhile, Focus is awful to look at, like a Jelly-mould and the engines aren't as powerful as VX ones. Mondeo is just too big.

ditchmyster

iTrader: (7)

That's a fair whack, sounds like you have been a tad unlucky and copt for a bit of a wrong un, or are they all common faults?

I guess you can scratch the brakes off that and the clutch makes sense while the box is out, broken springs could happen to any car, so baring a badly treated gearbox it's just this last lot that's modern diesel related woes.

Still a fair whack mind but then again could be viewed as getting off lightly, the rest would also have happened to a petrol version I suppose so it's only the £370 which you can make up with better mpg over time.

Now you've sorted it one would hope that it's good for another 70k.

chocolate_o_brian

iTrader: (22)

The first paragraph is what I was thinking of. I've been in it and it's a decent car. Jezza knows what to look out for obviously but not everything can be accounted for/pre-empted (sp?) beforehand. Same with my dodgy swirl flaps/ignition module. Until the DPF was shagged from said other faults, it was too late

Regards the disposable income, it's only as I have a smallish house and one child. Not two of each. That's not having a go either, Jeff, we just choose how to spend our money different (like you with a certain red Subaru 17 years ago ).

ALi-B

iTrader: (1)

That's cars for you; I honestly cannot think of one marque post 2000 that wouldn't be any different; Petrol or diesel. Especially diect injection petrol (stratified charge injection)....these are the next ticking time-bombs, mark my words.

ditchmyster

iTrader: (7)

I must have got in under the wire and had a bit of luck, the Rover 25 has cost around £500 in repairs over 70k miles, clutch (old people first owners) and the head gasket (Ferrari racing) and a few other little niggles most recent new battery and a remote control fob for the alarm at a gob smacking £80 coded in. All in all it's been a cracking shed bought for £800, motoring doesn't get any cheaper, tempted to see if I can find another one with sub 60k.

alcazar

iTrader: (2)

[QUOTE=chocolate_o_brian;11659075

Regards the disposable income, it's only as I have a smallish house and one child. Not two of each. That's not having a go either, Jeff, we just choose how to spend our money different (like you with a certain red Subaru 17 years ago ).[/QUOTE]

No, I understand, more power to you.

alcazar

iTrader: (2)

Had the same conversation with Franck Brun, the garage owner here.

He just says, "Elles sont trop compliques"...they are too complicated.

When I had my first few cars, if it went wrong it was points or carb...nothing else.

And both could be sorted by a semi-competent mechanic.

chocolate_o_brian

iTrader: (22)

Apart from a couple electrical gremlins, I or the pair of us did all the faffing including doors, exhausts, modules, servicing, timing etc. on my old 205 GTi.

I wouldn't try half of that on the Bimmer now given all the sensors and stuff to bugger up.

ditchmyster

iTrader: (7)

That's the reason I stick to older less complicated cars or Subarus, there's a small fortune to be saved if you can DIY, I had a £700 quote for the Rover HG, DIY cost me £120 and still going, it's done more than 30k since I changed it.

If I can't DIY it, I won't buy it.

chocolate_o_brian

iTrader: (22)

I like that saying!

The only thing with older cars is sourcing the decent examples, like decent miles, rust free bodywork, strong engine/transmission. The usual stuff. I liked the little Peugeots I had for that reason. Brilliant engines and bodywork let down by average electrics.

ditchmyster

iTrader: (7)

I just go on Auto Trader without any idea what I'm looking for beyond 5 doors and sub 60k miles and £1k then see what pops up close by, there's usually no shortage of cars in that bracket owned by some old dear or bloke that's just popped his clogs or traded in, had quite a few little gems over the last 15yrs using that method.

The Rover had 2 owners and less than 40k for £800 and was 15miles away, clutch gave up around 60k and the HG went at 72k, last time I saw it it had 110k, no point in buying my mrs a sweet looking motor as she's a bit rough and tumble with cars, she's more of a tank girl.