So....how did the M.O.T go? (or overseas equivalent)

[Bern]

Weirdly, both my VWs went straight through this year, in fact so did the Disco and the Mini. The Elan was the only one that failed!

[dapinky]

For some reason, the VW (T5 Caravelle) has more problems with the rear brakes than the Elan...... I wish it was the same simple brake system that you've got on the T4 - but VW decided that it needed sliding calipers instead of drums . The sliders seize up if ignored, and the handbrake still only registered 16% after a lot of work (new discs, pads, callipers about 6 months ago, so bedded in and operational/adjusted). Needed to give it all a good clean (sliders were also new 6 months ago), grease, adjust etc and scraped through at the re-test.

[Bern]

I had a T4, but have had a T5 for quite a few years now. And yes I did have that problem on the rear brakes, and last year it needed a new front caliper as the piston was completely seized! A new lock for the passenger door has just arrived. at the moment the lock only unlocks sometimes, which wouldn't be too much of a problem if you didn't have to open the passenger door to open the fuel filler door! Er, and I need to change the clutch on the Lupo this weekend. But to be fair 120k on one clutch isn't too bad.

[dapinky]

Oh, I know only too well the delights of the T5 locking system. Sometimes the RNS sliding door doesn't unlock from the outside - even though the lock is heard clicking (solved by discovering that the plastic push-down catch was jaming and the elctric servo wasn't enough to push it fully upright again.... simply removed the plastic knob). I have had issues with the tailgate catch (which is meant to electrically draw the door fully shut) - ended up disconecting the plug and adjusting the catch to a possition where it latches shut and doesn't rattle. Sometimes the drives door doesn't unlock remotely (only about 1:25, so not enough to worry about, but annoying when it happens). Apart from that (and the brakes), oh and the turbo, and the new cylinder head/camshaft it's a really reliable car (but I wouldn't swap it 'cos it does everything I need it to).

[Bern]

Sounds like you've had more problems than I've had! But you are right, if I had to keep just one of my fleet it'd be that one because it does it all!

[Fredjohn]

For some reason, the VW (T5 Caravelle) has more problems with the rear brakes than the Elan...... I wish it was the same simple brake system that you've got on the T4 - but VW decided that it needed sliding calipers instead of drums

Dave my T4 has rear discs with sliders. One was seized recently but cleaned it up and fitted new pads at the same time.

[dapinky]

Hmmm, when I did the brakes on an ex-colleagues T4 he had drums at the back.... I assumed they all had them, but obviously not! (yours is the 'posh' caravelle though, not just a panel van..... maybe that makes a difference? Who knows with these vehicle designers.)

[GeoffSmith]

HTH…

[Brit-Car-Nut]

Since the company names are the same, is that another Jeemy company?

[Rambo]

Since the company names are the same, is that another Jeemy company?

Yes. Skyblue is one of Jeemy's companies

Legal information
Seller
The Sky Blue Group t/a *svsperformance
Email
info@svsperformance.co.uk
Phone
08000843084
Address
James Duncan
Unit A(2)
Halflandbarns
North Berwick
East Lothian
United Kingdom
EH39 5PW

[dapinky]

HTH…

I'd already found those for sale when I was looking at the ebay 'shop' to see how many items he is currently able to maintain listings for......

.... however, they are for the front (and the rear are the problem ones) - and I can get them a lot cheaper from elsewhere.

[GeoffSmith]

HTH…

I'd already found those for sale when I was looking at the ebay 'shop' to see how many items he is currently able to maintain listings for......

.... however, they are for the front (and the rear are the problem ones) - and I can get them elsewhere.

Unnecessary words removed.

[dapinky]

[Simon_P]

Having done the bodywork on the Blue car I took it for its MOT yesterday to see how it would get on. As I do my own mechanics I don't like the embarrassment of failing an MOT so I checked that It was fine before I left home. Its been off the road for 4 years and I've never driven it before so i wasn't expecting much.

By the time I got there rear brake piston leaking annoying as I just changed the knackered caliper for one that "works", both front outer CV joint boots were defectives, N/S one the band came off and it has emptied grease all over the place. And the black mouldy gunge in the washer pipe has blocked the washer jets. oh and the exhaust joint has a small leak so it throws the emissions reading off.

Miserable fail!

Strangely relaxed as I have a pair of refurbed calipers so that's a quick job. I reckon the front suspension might put up a fight as it doesn't look like it has been disturbed for a while and the hub nut is a little tight.

[Bern]

Passed the MOT yesterday with no work required other than removing the passenger seat belt to dry it out.

I haven't used it for 5 weeks so thought I'd take it to work today. As I left the village I lost 1st, 3rd and 5th gears, so had to limp home and take the Mini instead!

I guess it must be the cables, I'll take a look tomorrow. Typical!

[Rambo]

Is a wet seat belt an MOT advisory or failure then ?

[Bern]

Kind of! If it's wet it doesn't retract properly which is a failure.

[elaverick]

Last Christmas I gave them my car, the very next day it failed it’s MOT. This year to save me from tears, I fitted a mountain chip with an S2 program and an oxygen sensor, and now it’s been reduced to a careless whisper...

After much fettling (well, twisting of the co pot) after last years failure Williams Automotive got the CO reading down to 3.39%.. although the tester said he had to run it for ages to get a passing reading. With the o2 sensor and appropriate program this years reading was 0.50%. So naturally, I’m delighted with this result. Extra performance and an output that sails through the test. Couple of advisories on top of this. One on handbrake efficiency (it’s crap, so I fully expected that), offside front tyre cracking/perishing (tyres are 10 years old this February so they’re on the todo list) and one of the bulbs for the registration plate is out (need to find out how to change these, I’ve got a feeling it involves going in from the boot compartment but I’d welcome a steer on this).
All in all a good report for the car.

[Saltire]

I changed my number plate bulbs for LEDs a while ago. As I remember, you have to take the rear lamp eyebrows off first, then remove the main black plastic piece at the rear. On my car, that was held on with double-sided tape and Sikaflex, and was a b****r to get off without cracking it.

Once you have that off, I think there are two bolts through the boot wall which fix the light unit to the car, and a screw to release the lens and access the boot.

All fairly straightforward; the worst part is the rear black plastic panel.

[Bolsom]

I took all 3 cars in. The elan had been off the road for about 8 months. I had a mouse nest in the fan and using it
(the fan) for the first time in many months it started smoking. I was unaware of the nest and left it in the garage
for some months until my son came over and sorted it for me.
He runs a small garage and is rather good at these things. I am 82 and not quite as flexible as I once was.

I have a 2001 focus which I enjoy - or did until it started running on 3 cylinders. The local French garage said its the injectors 2,300 euros!
fancy that I thought, well that's almost what I thought. When my son was here he used a black box to determine it was cyl1 and it had lost the injector
code. He rectified this and it purred like a kitten. Passed first time. (Zero expense)

I also have C-Max which I bought when the focus died - (there is no public transport nearby) That sailed through.

So OK now for 2 years - sigh of relief!


Oh I forgot, I also passed my MOT for my prostate - OK for another year - I hope!


Colin

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