FabSwingers.com > Forums > The Lounge > any car mechanics?
any car mechanics?
Jump to: Newest in thread
 |
By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
|
Could be a few things. Unlikely to be a fuse as other things would be affected. It could be the sensor on the gearshift (basically a switch that turns the light on when reverse is engaged) or, more usually, corrosion on the terminals on the bulb holder. A good spray with something like Servisol Super 10 and a clean up may just cure it. Also check any earth connections in the boot and clean them up too ( they're under the carpet. Black wires secured to the bodywork). |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
|
By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
|
I missed where you said the indicator isn't working. Obviously change the indicator bulb and then check the indicator relay (big black or red thing in the fuse box) if you have the owners handbook that came with the car the location and how to change it will be in there. |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
|
By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
|
Just a thought but many modern cars have a single electrical connector which attaches to the back of the light cluster - could this have come loose?
They are typically a black or brown square plug and socket affair somewhere on the back of the light cluster inside the boot.
|
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
|
By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
|
"its the indicator on the offside wing thats not working. hand book coming out today"
You mean the side repeater. What car is it? They can sometimes be 'fun' to change. |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
|
By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago
|
"its the indicator on the offside wing thats not working. hand book coming out today
You mean the side repeater. What car is it? They can sometimes be 'fun' to change."
focus |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
|
By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
|
"its the indicator on the offside wing thats not working. hand book coming out today
You mean the side repeater. What car is it? They can sometimes be 'fun' to change.
focus"
The reverse light is in the bumper then, usually it gets filled with crap and the terminals corrode, a quick trip to the scrappy and a couple of quid should get you a new one, they take 5 mins to change and don't require and special tools (if memory serves they just twist in/out). For the side repeater bulb you need to prise the cover off with a small flat blade screwdriver (wrap it in kitchen towel to avoid scratching the paint), the bulb will cone out with a quarter anti-clockwise turn. |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
|
By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago
|
"its the indicator on the offside wing thats not working. hand book coming out today
You mean the side repeater. What car is it? They can sometimes be 'fun' to change.
focus
The reverse light is in the bumper then, usually it gets filled with crap and the terminals corrode, a quick trip to the scrappy and a couple of quid should get you a new one, they take 5 mins to change and don't require and special tools (if memory serves they just twist in/out). For the side repeater bulb you need to prise the cover off with a small flat blade screwdriver (wrap it in kitchen towel to avoid scratching the paint), the bulb will cone out with a quarter anti-clockwise turn."
thank u  |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
also i find with focu reverse light they fill with water so may be worth checking your fuses and when you get the light working id suggest drilling a little hole in the bottom of the light lens to allow water to drain away x |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
|
By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
|
"also i find with focu reverse light they fill with water so may be worth checking your fuses and when you get the light working id suggest drilling a little hole in the bottom of the light lens to allow water to drain away x"
A blown fuse will affect more than just one bulb/curcuit. If there was a fuse for each then the fuse box would fill the boot! Drilling a hole would also allow more water to get inside, one cure is to buy some sillica gel packages from eBay and pop one inside to absorb the moisture. |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
|
By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
|
"not the fuses.
off to the garage to get checked"
I told you it wouldn't be. It's either a dodgy earth or the bulb holder. Ten minute repair as long as you can twist your wrist to the left! |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
If you feel confident tackling it yourself, it'll more than likely be the reverse light switch as many have suggested... If you're not confident then a garage shouldn't charge any more than about £50 to sort it for you... X |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
|
By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
|
"If you feel confident tackling it yourself, it'll more than likely be the reverse light switch as many have suggested... If you're not confident then a garage shouldn't charge any more than about £50 to sort it for you... X"
It's either that or, more often, the bulb holder itself. The reverse light on a Focus is low down in the rear bumper and gets filled with crap and the contacts corrode. I've changed loads like this. |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
|
By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago
|
"Fair point - a bulb holder and bulb wouldn't be mega bucks and only takes a couple of minutes to replace so definitely worth a look x"
typical woman and wouldnt have a clue lol |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
|
By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
|
"Fair point - a bulb holder and bulb wouldn't be mega bucks and only takes a couple of minutes to replace so definitely worth a look x
typical woman and wouldnt have a clue lol"
Like I said, it's in the lower bumper, often the cover has fallen off. Disconnect the wiring plug ( that attaches to the bulb) then turn the whole assembly counter clockwise, usually they come away after turning 45-90 degrees. Fitting the new one is the exact opposite. Just double check there are no securing screws as not all models are the same.
You could also check YouTube and see if there's a walkthrough video, there often is. |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
"will leave it to the professionals unless someone wants to come do it for me"
I would offer but I'm blocked from viewing your profile so guess I'm not your thing... Take it to any garage in Boston that looks "busy" - There's one on Redstone I think it's Tony Vamplews - he's always good on price... If you take it to a quiet garage they'll usually find something else that you've got "wrong" with your car and charge you loads for that too...  |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
|
By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago
|
"will leave it to the professionals unless someone wants to come do it for me
I would offer but I'm blocked from viewing your profile so guess I'm not your thing... Take it to any garage in Boston that looks "busy" - There's one on Redstone I think it's Tony Vamplews - he's always good on price... If you take it to a quiet garage they'll usually find something else that you've got "wrong" with your car and charge you loads for that too... "
thank you x |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
"Poss bad grounding or corroded wire if it aint the bulb but also bulb contact points may be corroded"
Already been covered chap... (but then you know that, you've already read the replies haven't you...)  |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
|
By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
|
"Poss bad grounding or corroded wire if it aint the bulb but also bulb contact points may be corroded
Already been covered chap... (but then you know that, you've already read the replies haven't you...) "
No quick flick through but maybe thats how you got your responces from by reading |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
"No quick flick through but maybe thats how you got your responces from by reading"
I thought that was the general point of a forum? And here's me having got it so wrong for all these years.
I had a mate who uses to say things twice. We called him Dave Ja Vu. We called him Dave Ja Vu.  |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
"any mechanics wana give me a price on doing head gasket on mr2"
DIY looking at about 6 hours, £50 to have head skimmed, £120ish for a head gasket kit, depending on the conditioning of the engine & a few tea breaks in between  x |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
|
By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
|
"any mechanics wana give me a price on doing head gasket on mr2
DIY looking at about 6 hours, £50 to have head skimmed, £120ish for a head gasket kit, depending on the conditioning of the engine & a few tea breaks in between x"
You forgot to add stretch bolts (£40) and timing belt (£100ish with tensioner and followers). It would also be a good idea to change the water pump at the same time (about £40).
Not sure how easy it is on an MR2, mid-engined cars are usually a pig with engine in place. |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
"any mechanics wana give me a price on doing head gasket on mr2
DIY looking at about 6 hours, £50 to have head skimmed, £120ish for a head gasket kit, depending on the conditioning of the engine & a few tea breaks in between x
You forgot to add stretch bolts (£40) and timing belt (£100ish with tensioner and followers). It would also be a good idea to change the water pump at the same time (about £40).
Not sure how easy it is on an MR2, mid-engined cars are usually a pig with engine in place."
I thought the head bolts came with the gasket set? My bad lol  Fair comment on timing belt/tensioner/idlers & water pump... Good sound advice that. Depends what model MR2, I had a J reg MK2 and it wasn't bad for room although if I'd have had an engine hoist at the time I'd've saved loads of time x |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
|
By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
|
I've worked on engines from the size of a double decker bus down, never changed head bolts, unless they are already snapped. As long as they are torqued up they will be okay. Used to stretch the bolts with hydraulic jacks on larger engines than do the nuts up finger tight.
If you were building a race engine then you might with money no problem replace them every time but for a standard engine I wouldn't bother. |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
|
By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
|
"my reverse light stopped working bulb changed no effect. so now thinking its the fuse gone as also an idicator not working.
any ideas im clueless lol"
Don't reverse.
It's quicker to go forwards.
Only reverse in daylight. |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
|
By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
|
"I've worked on engines from the size of a double decker bus down, never changed head bolts, unless they are already snapped. As long as they are torqued up they will be okay. Used to stretch the bolts with hydraulic jacks on larger engines than do the nuts up finger tight.
If you were building a race engine then you might with money no problem replace them every time but for a standard engine I wouldn't bother."
You can't re-use stretch bolts, they won't fit!
The clue is in the name. Once they're torqued the threads stretch to prevent them loosening due to vibration and heat cycles. Trying to refit them will damage the block. |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
|
By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
|
"I've worked on engines from the size of a double decker bus down, never changed head bolts, unless they are already snapped. As long as they are torqued up they will be okay. Used to stretch the bolts with hydraulic jacks on larger engines than do the nuts up finger tight.
If you were building a race engine then you might with money no problem replace them every time but for a standard engine I wouldn't bother.
You can't re-use stretch bolts, they won't fit!
The clue is in the name. Once they're torqued the threads stretch to prevent them loosening due to vibration and heat cycles. Trying to refit them will damage the block."
Most stretch bolts are able to be used more than once, usualy denoted by a centre pop mark on the top if they have been used before. The length can be checked with measurements in a tech data manual |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
|
By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
|
"I've worked on engines from the size of a double decker bus down, never changed head bolts, unless they are already snapped. As long as they are torqued up they will be okay. Used to stretch the bolts with hydraulic jacks on larger engines than do the nuts up finger tight.
If you were building a race engine then you might with money no problem replace them every time but for a standard engine I wouldn't bother.
You can't re-use stretch bolts, they won't fit!
The clue is in the name. Once they're torqued the threads stretch to prevent them loosening due to vibration and heat cycles. Trying to refit them will damage the block."
Well i should have said studs not bolts above my mistake, I haven't stripped a car engine since my mk1 golf, but that had studs and nuts iirc. If they're using bolts then that may be different. If the bolt threads are that distorted how do they come out? I did study metallurgy as part of my apprenticeship though, if you go past the elastic limit of the metal it won't go back to it's original dimension. Any torque applied to a bolt or stud will stretch it, it's only when you go past the elastic limit that it doesn't return to its original length.
Just had a quick read up on it and the danger seems to be from possibly shearing the bolts on second use. The only threat to the block being unable to remove the remains of the bolt if they were to shear. If it was to distort the thread that badly they wouldn't come out. But hey, I'm only a mechanical engineer.  |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
|
By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
|
I work in a garage and reading through this thread, all i can think about is if any of the 20 fella's i work with is a cross dresser/tv!
Sorry and i dont mean any offence to you's, really dont! |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
|
By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
|
"I work in a garage and reading through this thread, all i can think about is if any of the 20 fella's i work with is a cross dresser/tv!
Sorry and i dont mean any offence to you's, really dont!"
I read somewhere 2 in 10 either are or want to fuck one   |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
|
By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
|
"I work in a garage and reading through this thread, all i can think about is if any of the 20 fella's i work with is a cross dresser/tv!
Sorry and i dont mean any offence to you's, really dont!
I read somewhere 2 in 10 either are or want to fuck one "
I must be one if them 2 then as I'd like to fuck one lol |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
» Add a new message to this topic
