Today I did something to my car (volume 2)

shietpilot

Hal1 wrote: »

If you used a gunson ezzibleed you'd be done in about 15 minutes :P.

Maybe, but not worth the extra spend just to do a brake fluid flush once every 2 years :pac:

pablo128

shietpilot wrote: »

Maybe, but not worth the extra spend just to do a brake fluid flush once every 2 years :pac:

They are only 25 quid in Halfords.

Alanstrainor

I ordered my replacement expansion tank online, and it hasn't arrived... looks like it'll be tuesday before it arrives! What a pain! Going to do the fuel filter while the car is up on stilts. It's long long over due.

shietpilot

pablo128 wrote: »

They are only 25 quid in Halfords.

Yeah and my vacuum pump is free since I already own it

Alanstrainor

Alanstrainor wrote: »

I ordered my replacement expansion tank online, and it hasn't arrived... looks like it'll be tuesday before it arrives! What a pain! Going to do the fuel filter while the car is up on stilts. It's long long over due.

I managed to get the fuel filter 90% out today, just a bit stuck on one side now. Decided to call it for the afternoon as I was getting tired. I have to wonder if that fuel filter I'm taking out is the original that came with it from the factory... if so it's been on the car 15 years and 135,000 miles :eek:

I also managed to get the damned expansion tank out too. So just have to wait for the new one to arrive. Woohoo!

Mar4ix

did some work on headlights.

originally looked like that:





Then i have sanded them with 800 grade sandpaper... were keepng them wet while sanding ...




Then sanded with 1200 grade :



After that i have sanded with 2000, but cant find picture on phone, must be deleted accedantly ... it did look half clearer.

and afterwords, i have polished with polishing machine and high grade paste:




And...

Tad Daaa:

GvidoR

I thought you had a blue Passat. :P

Mar4ix

GvidoR wrote: »

I thought you had a blue Passat. :P

Still have blue one and driving, this one is looking for new owners

Dale Parish

Have had a lot of work done on the e39 in the last few months so threw in for early NCT

Interslice

Dale Parish wrote: »

Have had a lot of work done on the e39 in the last few months so threw in for early

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Your front left caliper looks a bit sticky or there is air in it or something. Nct brake test isn't great..

Mar4ix

Dale Parish wrote: »

Have had a lot of work done on the e39 in the last few months so threw in for early NCT[IMG]http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/cc167/cnc95fan/IMG_1605_zps19fvxscn.jpg/URL][/QUOTE Rear wheel alignment is not great either, if that would be my car, i could look in to fron calipers, and rear suspension , if it possible do tracking on it.[/img]

Alanstrainor

Alanstrainor wrote: »

I managed to get the fuel filter 90% out today, just a bit stuck on one side now. Decided to call it for the afternoon as I was getting tired. I have to wonder if that fuel filter I'm taking out is the original that came with it from the factory... if so it's been on the car 15 years and 135,000 miles :eek:

I also managed to get the damned expansion tank out too. So just have to wait for the new one to arrive. Woohoo!

Age of fuel filter confirmed. 15 years old :eek:. WTF!! Good to have it changed now at least. Job done. Can't go anywhere because the whole coolant system is in bits. More work for next week!

shietpilot

Alanstrainor wrote: »

Age of fuel filter confirmed. 15 years old :eek:. WTF!! Good to have it changed now at least. Job done. Can't go anywhere because the whole coolant system is in bits. More work for next week!

I reckon fuel filters are the least changed filters on any car. Then you get folk crying about "bad diesel" destroying their fuel systems :rolleyes:

pablo128

shietpilot wrote: »

I reckon fuel filters are the least changed filters on any car. Then you get folk crying about "bad diesel" destroying their fuel systems :rolleyes:

Very few people change them on petrol cars though. I changed my fathers one last year. 16 years and 280k miles. It actually turned out to be the fuel pump and not a blocked filter in the end.

In my experience with diesel filters, they tend to block up rather than let crap through to destroy the fuel system. Not to say it doesn't happen, all the same.

shietpilot

pablo128 wrote: »

In my experience with diesel filters, they tend to block up rather than let crap through to destroy the fuel system. Not to say it doesn't happen, all the same.

Once they block up the fuel will go unfiltered through a by-pass valve to not starve the pump if I recall correctly

Alanstrainor

pablo128 wrote: »

Very few people change them on petrol cars though. I changed my fathers one last year. 16 years and 280k miles. It actually turned out to be the fuel pump and not a blocked filter in the end.

In my experience with diesel filters, they tend to block up rather than let crap through to destroy the fuel system. Not to say it doesn't happen, all the same.

The fuel that came out of the filter was pretty clean, there was some silt in the catch pan, but otherwise it wasn't so bad. I had heard people saying that they noticed a difference in power/response after changing it. But I reckon that's pretty optimistic. Started the car just there, and she fired right up after allowing the pump to prime for a few seconds. I couldn't run it long as the whole cooling system is in bits! But everything was nice and smooth.

Oh, and after spending considerable time underneath the car, I just can't believe how clean it is. Not rust at all anywhere on the underbody. I'll be sad when I have to get rid of it!

Toyotafanboi

The thing is I guess, that in 99% of petrol cars, the fuel filter isn't a scheduled serviceable item, unlike in diesels.

Alanstrainor

Toyotafanboi wrote: »

The thing is I guess, that in 99% of petrol cars, the fuel filter isn't a scheduled serviceable item, unlike in diesels.

The e46 has it as a scheduled item every 30,000 miles. I'm not too sure if there's a time applied to that service, usually it would be 30,000 or every two years. Although I suspect that changing the fuel filter every two years may be a bit OTT. Its funny, I feel that lots of these jobs I'm doing will be the last time they'll be done on this car. Especially given how difficult and expensive it is to run older cars with insurance and tax costs.

Hal1

The last time I bought and fitted a fuel filter was about 2.5 years now, and I got 2 of them at the time. I'd say it would be no harm doing the job again since I have it and tools ready to fit it. It's not that bad a job on the focus.

Noccy_Mondy

Hal1 wrote: »

The last time I bought and fitted a fuel filter was about 2.5 years now, and I got 2 of them at the time. I'd say it would be no harm doing the job again since I have it and tools ready to fit it. It's not that bad a job on the focus.

Yours a 1.4 or 1.6?

Hal1

It's 1.6 petril.

Noccy_Mondy

Hal1 wrote:

It's 1.6 petril.

No no, a 1.6 st :pac:

Hal1

Just a bit of colour coding here and there.

Noccy_Mondy

Have you the seats or any of the inside mods done?

Hal1

The seats are standard seats not half leathers. So it's just like any other focus on the inside.

Noccy_Mondy

Hal1 wrote:

The seats are standard seats not half leathers. So it's just like any other focus on the inside.

I know you did the intermittent wiper mod, did you do the trip computer one? Weighed up that one, but couldn't be arsed with it.

Hal1

I was about to but it didn't seem worth it. Too many sensors to acquire for it to work, washer bottle level sensor, outside temp sensor. The mk1 ghia focus has them all as standard.

Noccy_Mondy

Anything else that you did? Not doing anything else with mine, but just to see if I missed anything.

Hal1

I have fitted the mist washer jets like what's on the new focus. Gives much better coverage .

I found my mod list of what's been done.

Ford Focus Zetec 1.6 SE 16V 3 door sliver. (FORD FOCUS (DAW, DBW) 1.6 16V)

Mod list:

Exterior:
ST detango'd headlights
ST fog lights
ST lower grille

ST upper grille
Clear side repeaters
US rear lights

Twin reverse lights
Color coded front / side / boot trim
Colour coded door handles / washer jets

Mist washer jets
Smooth front wipers 16/26"
Smooth rear wiper 16"

Mud flaps
Boot lid struts
Reg plates

Clear front indicators
Fit blistein shocks / eibach lowering springs 30mm
17" st alloys

Interior:
Color coded air vents
ST door handles
Auto dimming rear view mirror
ST interior light (leds fitted)
Variable speed wiper

shietpilot

Nice list of mods there!

I'm planning to get a VAG washer fluid level sensor (VAG due to its small size) and retrofitting it onto my Focus :pac: