DIY Car Maintenance

[NTECUK]

air bag. Some cars have what's called satellite impact sensors.
Clout one a bit hard and "bang".
It will caution you in the manual if its got one.

Originally Posted by NTECUK

air bag. Some cars have what's called satellite impact sensors.
Clout one a bit hard and "bang".
It will caution you in the manual if its got one.

Aye there was a Renault famous for that , also heard one about a BMW that would unlock the doors if clouted so that access could be gained by EMS if there was a really bad crash

[NTECUK]

Hopefully VW are a bit more sensible.My sisters got a Scoda (VW in drag) And that don't have any.
We have a Renault system on one of the models we work on . but as long as you read the book no worries.
Pathfinder and Navara with ESP we have to recalibrate the steering angle sensors when you dis/re connect the battery.

[DarrenSV650S]

Well I went to the scrappies and paid them £60 to swap over the alternator. I was thinking how brilliant it was, all fixed for a fraction of the new cost. Started it up, and it's still whining

He reckoned it might be one of the pulleys needing replaced.

I was thinking about getting him to do the wishbone too but after throwing £60 away I thought I'd call it a day


blegh

did you at least keep your alt that he took off as it may be ok if it is indeed the pulley?

still you could have paid the garage more to do the job for them to then say the pulley is goosed, but can we have x amount of ££ more than you paid the scrappie for the job we have just done.

[DarrenSV650S]

Yeh kept the old one

take it to citygate vw, they will charge you a lot less than main dealer... i got a full service for £70, main dealer price £300

Originally Posted by nikon70

take it to citygate vw, they will charge you a lot less than main dealer... i got a full service for £70, main dealer price £300

I think the petrol costs alone would hammer this . 482 miles from Carnoustie to London ...... and then back again .

[Wideboy]

Originally Posted by NTECUK

Don't do the wheel thing . Unless your thinner than a road wheel .
Get or blag a set of stands and use them .

that why i said "if the stands fail"

edit: no i didnt, i meant stands not jacks

How handy are you with bike mechanics?

The torque on the wishbone on a mk4 golf isn't anything special. Haynes are covering themselves by specing what tightness to put it at.... All you need is a 1/4" torque wrench which you can get from lidl. Replacing the wishbone isn't easy it will require a bit of muscle and if there's a ball joint involved you might need some hammers.

Do not get under a car on a trolley jack or a scissors jack very dangerous. And even if you're on axle stands make sure you're not alone.

The alternator is an easy swap for a new one or one out of a scrap yard. Just make sure you disconnect the battery before you start.

You can replace the bearings on the alt but with so many secondhand ones avalible there's no point.