Car Care "Q" & "A"s"

Post by **dr dave soul monsta** » Fri Sep 23, 2005 9:02 am

Got problems with your motor lets see if any one on the forum can help .
Im sure guess will have some amusing replies to some questions !!!

Post by **buksida** » Fri Sep 23, 2005 10:12 am

Good idea, I may start a Computer Q & A if theres enough demand for it.

Post by **lomuamart** » Fri Sep 23, 2005 12:31 pm

I thought you already had going by the number of times I've had to visit your repair centre with my heap of junk.
BTW, the toothpick idea to keep the start button depressed was brilliant. I've only had to replace it once so far

As far as motors are concerned, I'm afraid that all I'll be able to contribute is "give it a kick and if it dosn't respond, it's dead".

Post by **dr dave soul monsta** » Fri Sep 23, 2005 4:41 pm

lomuamart

I'm afraid that all I'll be able to contribute is "give it a kick and if it dosn't respond, it's dead".

that works fine with Buffalo not quite the same with the modern motor car

Post by **lomuamart** » Fri Sep 23, 2005 6:03 pm

Wot's a Buffalo, with a capital "B"?

Some new form of transportation?

Sat Sep 24, 2005 11:01 am

No its a very old form of transport made under license from Honda usually a 2 stroke also comes in handy for natural gas and fertilizer

VincentD · Post by **VincentD** » Mon Sep 26, 2005 2:23 pm

Thought you meant something else.

'Car care' to the locals really means a 'professional' wash and polish, usually with a high-pressure water jet

. They then clean the insides with an industrial strength vacuum, taking with it all your spare change

, finally proceeding to smear every single surface (this includes the steering wheel

) with a sticky, smelly substance that poses as interior wax, compelling you to keep your windows open for the next three days

, and attracting every single dust mote south of HH.

Some even go as far as pressure washing the engine compartment, and then blowing this dry with compressed air. (This act alone once cost me a new set of spark plug cables - they were damaged due to water ingress)

Then they charge you for it.

Post by **chelsea** » Mon Sep 26, 2005 2:49 pm

If you have a late model car that has electronic ignition or any form of computeriesd control for the fuel injections system, the vehicle should never be cleaned in that way, as it can cause all sorts of damage to the electronic systems.

You were lucky that it only cost you a set of leads, I have known of people who end up having to replace most of the electronic ignition systems because it has been done that way.

Post by **niceday** » Mon Sep 26, 2005 3:27 pm

If something does go wrong with the car, it's worth checking it onesself or if not a friend first before bringing it in. Just in case the garage man isn't honest.
Recently my aircon went. checked it and it was only a half inserted sparking fuse in box beside battery.

The cars do well here considering the heat and slow traffic in bkk.
My car has a second smaller radiatior and fan in front of its main one. Do most cars over here have 2 radiators?

Post by **chelsea** » Mon Sep 26, 2005 3:33 pm

If you have a second radiator and fan in front of your original one (as per your post). I would imagine that it is not in fact a radiator but is the condensor and fan that is fitted in conjuction with your air conditioning unit.
The condensor unit normally has a couple of pipes coming out of it, and you are also not able to put water into it.

VincentD · Post by **VincentD** » Tue Sep 27, 2005 8:38 am

chelsea wrote: You were lucky that it only cost you a set of leads, I have known of people who end up having to replace most of the electronic ignition systems because it has been done that way.

I totally agree. I don't usually use those service station cleaning services that have a valet to take it around while you wait, so I didn't know what happened till later. I was totally, absolutely p!$$ed off. Also beware of exhaust shops that do arc welding...

niceday wrote: My car has a second smaller radiatior and fan in front of its main one. Do most cars over here have 2 radiators?

I've got three...

(Actually the third is an intercooler...)
But seriously, some people do add an additional pancake fan (either wired in parallel with the cooling fan, or with a seperate switch) to help cooling in bad traffic. In my opinion, it shouldn't be needed as the engine cooling system should be adequate. If that's really so, it's bad design and I won't want to drive that particular brand/ model.

One last point. I've never had trouble with the dealership I send my car to. They've always been extremely helpful, and do honour warranties on spare parts. I do a fair amount of work on the car myself, being mechanically minded, plus it being something of a hobby. It's the shade tree mechanics that I worry about.