Getting Handy in 2013 - Man Skills

[paulhouk03]

Any one changed their break fluid for their car before?

Can I ask why you want to change your brake fluid?

Been told u should change it every two years

Is this a lie ?

I'm a complete mug with anything to do with cars

[leethefish]

Any BMW specialists out there?

My 3 series is having real problems starting ....turns over but really struggles to fire up!

Had two separate mates/mechanics put the diagnostics test on it with no faults found !

Is it petrol or diesel?

Petrol mate

[RED-DOG]

Any one changed their break fluid for their car before?

Can I ask why you want to change your brake fluid?

Been told u should change it every two years

Is this a lie ?

I'm a complete mug with anything to do with cars

Yes. Well it's not a lie, but it's an exaggeration. I mean, it would be better to change your tires every week, but it's not necessary.

I have never changed my brake fluid, even on vehicles that I have had for 7 or 8 years unless it has been a necessity. i.e. as part of another job, like replacing a master cylinder for instance.

Unless you're having problems (Like a spongy brake pedal or something) just forget about it and drive on.

[doubleup]

Any one changed their break fluid for their car before?

Can I ask why you want to change your brake fluid?

Been told u should change it every two years

Is this a lie ?

I'm a complete mug with anything to do with cars

Yes. Well it's not a lie, but it's an exaggeration. I mean, it would be better to change your tires every week, but it's not necessary.

I have never changed my brake fluid, even on vehicles that I have had for 7 or 8 years unless it has been a necessity. i.e. as part of another job, like replacing a master cylinder for instance.

Unless you're having problems (Like a spongy brake pedal or something) just forget about it and drive on.

spoilsport

[RED-DOG]

Any BMW specialists out there?

My 3 series is having real problems starting ....turns over but really struggles to fire up!

Had two separate mates/mechanics put the diagnostics test on it with no faults found !

Is it petrol or diesel?

Petrol mate

Ah!

Had it been diesel I would have snap said heater plugs, but with a petrol it could be one of many things.

To start a petrol engine you need a good battery & starter motor, + fuel + air + spark.

Lets start at the beginning. Does it turn over quickly, like wuhwuhwuh  or slowly, like wuh.....  wuh.... wuh..... ?

[paulhouk03]

Any one changed their break fluid for their car before?

Can I ask why you want to change your brake fluid?

Been told u should change it every two years

Is this a lie ?

I'm a complete mug with anything to do with cars

Yes. Well it's not a lie, but it's an exaggeration. I mean, it would be better to change your tires every week, but it's not necessary.

I have never changed my brake fluid, even on vehicles that I have had for 7 or 8 years unless it has been a necessity. i.e. as part of another job, like replacing a master cylinder for instance.

Unless you're having problems (Like a spongy brake pedal or something) just forget about it and drive on.

ah thank you tom!

[leethefish]

Any BMW specialists out there?

My 3 series is having real problems starting ....turns over but really struggles to fire up!

Had two separate mates/mechanics put the diagnostics test on it with no faults found !

Is it petrol or diesel?

Petrol mate

Ah!

Had it been diesel I would have snap said heater plugs, but with a petrol it could be one of many things.

To start a petrol engine you need a good battery & starter motor, + fuel + air + spark.

Lets start at the beginning. Does it turn over quickly, like wuhwuhwuh  or slowly, like wuh.....  wuh.... wuh..... ?

Turns over fast Tom but
Some days I manage to get it started but not others !

[RED-DOG]

Any BMW specialists out there?

My 3 series is having real problems starting ....turns over but really struggles to fire up!

Had two separate mates/mechanics put the diagnostics test on it with no faults found !

Is it petrol or diesel?

Petrol mate

Ah!

Had it been diesel I would have snap said heater plugs, but with a petrol it could be one of many things.

To start a petrol engine you need a good battery & starter motor, + fuel + air + spark.

Lets start at the beginning. Does it turn over quickly, like wuhwuhwuh  or slowly, like wuh.....  wuh.... wuh..... ?

Turns over fast Tom but
Some days I manage to get it started but not others !

OK. Once started, does it start all day and run normally?

[leethefish]

Any BMW specialists out there?

My 3 series is having real problems starting ....turns over but really struggles to fire up!

Had two separate mates/mechanics put the diagnostics test on it with no faults found !

Is it petrol or diesel?

Petrol mate

Ah!

Had it been diesel I would have snap said heater plugs, but with a petrol it could be one of many things.

To start a petrol engine you need a good battery & starter motor, + fuel + air + spark.

Lets start at the beginning. Does it turn over quickly, like wuhwuhwuh  or slowly, like wuh.....  wuh.... wuh..... ?

Turns over fast Tom but
Some days I manage to get it started but not others !

OK. Once started, does it start all day and run normally?

Sorry for slow replies mate ....just sat down!

Yes just about.....if left a few hours it might take a couple of tries but only trouble really comes in morning !

Today for instance

I tried to start it at 7 am before I went to work I couldn't get it started
Alison tried it at 9 am same no start ...
She tried again at about 1 pm and it was fine and has been all day running fine !

[RED-DOG]

Any BMW specialists out there?

My 3 series is having real problems starting ....turns over but really struggles to fire up!

Had two separate mates/mechanics put the diagnostics test on it with no faults found !

Is it petrol or diesel?

Petrol mate

Ah!

Had it been diesel I would have snap said heater plugs, but with a petrol it could be one of many things.

To start a petrol engine you need a good battery & starter motor, + fuel + air + spark.

Lets start at the beginning. Does it turn over quickly, like wuhwuhwuh  or slowly, like wuh.....  wuh.... wuh..... ?

Turns over fast Tom but
Some days I manage to get it started but not others !

OK. Once started, does it start all day and run normally?

Sorry for slow replies mate ....just sat down!

Yes just about.....if left a few hours it might take a couple of tries but only trouble really comes in morning !

Today for instance

I tried to start it at 7 am before I went to work I couldn't get it started
Alison tried it at 9 am same no start ...
She tried again at about 1 pm and it was fine and has been all day running fine !

This is going to be a process of elimination Lee.

The first thing to check is the fuel supply. Lift the bonnet and then turn the engine over for 30 seconds or so. Is there a smell of petrol? If not it could mean that the fuel pump is faulty, or that the fuel is running back to the tank overnight and it's taking a long time to draw up again the next morning.

Can you open a fuel pipe at a convenient spot and check if there is fuel coming out under pressure when you turn on the ignition or crank the engine?

My early suspicions would be fuel pump or non return valve.

There is also an electronic cold start mechanism that allows more fuel into the combustion chamber.  (a bit like the old choke) That could be playing up, but I would have expected the diagnostics computer to have spotted that.

[DaveShoelace]

Wall Ties

I've been learning about those today (dont worry, I'm not working on them myself).

[vegaslover]

My overflow pipe had been leaking for a while but had got steadily worse over past week or so.
This is for the second toilet off my sons room, which has the cistern hidden behind cladding etc.

Very old siphon system but found two causes. First was the old screw needed adjusting for the ball float. Did that but still overfilling. So played around with the diaphragm and screw fitting as it was a little loose.

Took about 10 mins and now fixed!!!!

[leethefish]

Any BMW specialists out there?

My 3 series is having real problems starting ....turns over but really struggles to fire up!

Had two separate mates/mechanics put the diagnostics test on it with no faults found !

Is it petrol or diesel?

Petrol mate

Ah!

Had it been diesel I would have snap said heater plugs, but with a petrol it could be one of many things.

To start a petrol engine you need a good battery & starter motor, + fuel + air + spark.

Lets start at the beginning. Does it turn over quickly, like wuhwuhwuh  or slowly, like wuh.....  wuh.... wuh..... ?

Turns over fast Tom but
Some days I manage to get it started but not others !

OK. Once started, does it start all day and run normally?

Sorry for slow replies mate ....just sat down!

Yes just about.....if left a few hours it might take a couple of tries but only trouble really comes in morning !

Today for instance

I tried to start it at 7 am before I went to work I couldn't get it started
Alison tried it at 9 am same no start ...
She tried again at about 1 pm and it was fine and has been all day running fine !

This is going to be a process of elimination Lee.

The first thing to check is the fuel supply. Lift the bonnet and then turn the engine over for 30 seconds or so. Is there a smell of petrol? If not it could mean that the fuel pump is faulty, or that the fuel is running back to the tank overnight and it's taking a long time to draw up again the next morning.

Can you open a fuel pipe at a convenient spot and check if there is fuel coming out under pressure when you turn on the ignition or crank the engine?

My early suspicions would be fuel pump or non return valve.

There is also an electronic cold start mechanism that allows more fuel into the combustion chamber.  (a bit like the old choke) That could be playing up, but I would have expected the diagnostics computer to have spotted that.

Really appreciate you taking the time with this mate

There is no smell of petrol
I've no idea what a fuel pipe looks like !!

This is Really pissing me off now ....
I think Am going to have to get a specialist to come and look ..what are you doing today red? (-;

[RED-DOG]

Any BMW specialists out there?

My 3 series is having real problems starting ....turns over but really struggles to fire up!

Had two separate mates/mechanics put the diagnostics test on it with no faults found !

Is it petrol or diesel?

Petrol mate

Ah!

Had it been diesel I would have snap said heater plugs, but with a petrol it could be one of many things.

To start a petrol engine you need a good battery & starter motor, + fuel + air + spark.

Lets start at the beginning. Does it turn over quickly, like wuhwuhwuh  or slowly, like wuh.....  wuh.... wuh..... ?

Turns over fast Tom but
Some days I manage to get it started but not others !

OK. Once started, does it start all day and run normally?

Sorry for slow replies mate ....just sat down!

Yes just about.....if left a few hours it might take a couple of tries but only trouble really comes in morning !

Today for instance

I tried to start it at 7 am before I went to work I couldn't get it started
Alison tried it at 9 am same no start ...
She tried again at about 1 pm and it was fine and has been all day running fine !

This is going to be a process of elimination Lee.

The first thing to check is the fuel supply. Lift the bonnet and then turn the engine over for 30 seconds or so. Is there a smell of petrol? If not it could mean that the fuel pump is faulty, or that the fuel is running back to the tank overnight and it's taking a long time to draw up again the next morning.

Can you open a fuel pipe at a convenient spot and check if there is fuel coming out under pressure when you turn on the ignition or crank the engine?

My early suspicions would be fuel pump or non return valve.

There is also an electronic cold start mechanism that allows more fuel into the combustion chamber.  (a bit like the old choke) That could be playing up, but I would have expected the diagnostics computer to have spotted that.

Really appreciate you taking the time with this mate

There is no smell of petrol
I've no idea what a fuel pipe looks like !!

This is Really pissing me off now ....
I think Am going to have to get a specialist to come and look ..what are you doing today red? (-;

It's so difficult to try to diagnose a mechanical problem when your not actually there lee. It must be the same for people who try to help me with my computer problems.

Unfortunately it looks like you will need to take it to a garage and leave it overnight so that they can see the problem first hand the next morning.

[leethefish]

Any BMW specialists out there?

My 3 series is having real problems starting ....turns over but really struggles to fire up!

Had two separate mates/mechanics put the diagnostics test on it with no faults found !

Is it petrol or diesel?

Petrol mate

Ah!

Had it been diesel I would have snap said heater plugs, but with a petrol it could be one of many things.

To start a petrol engine you need a good battery & starter motor, + fuel + air + spark.

Lets start at the beginning. Does it turn over quickly, like wuhwuhwuh  or slowly, like wuh.....  wuh.... wuh..... ?

Turns over fast Tom but
Some days I manage to get it started but not others !

OK. Once started, does it start all day and run normally?

Sorry for slow replies mate ....just sat down!

Yes just about.....if left a few hours it might take a couple of tries but only trouble really comes in morning !

Today for instance

I tried to start it at 7 am before I went to work I couldn't get it started
Alison tried it at 9 am same no start ...
She tried again at about 1 pm and it was fine and has been all day running fine !

This is going to be a process of elimination Lee.

The first thing to check is the fuel supply. Lift the bonnet and then turn the engine over for 30 seconds or so. Is there a smell of petrol? If not it could mean that the fuel pump is faulty, or that the fuel is running back to the tank overnight and it's taking a long time to draw up again the next morning.

Can you open a fuel pipe at a convenient spot and check if there is fuel coming out under pressure when you turn on the ignition or crank the engine?

My early suspicions would be fuel pump or non return valve.

There is also an electronic cold start mechanism that allows more fuel into the combustion chamber.  (a bit like the old choke) That could be playing up, but I would have expected the diagnostics computer to have spotted that.

Really appreciate you taking the time with this mate

There is no smell of petrol
I've no idea what a fuel pipe looks like !!

This is Really pissing me off now ....
I think Am going to have to get a specialist to come and look ..what are you doing today red? (-;

It's so difficult to try to diagnose a mechanical problem when your not actually there lee. It must be the same for people who try to help me with my computer problems.

Unfortunately it looks like you will need to take it to a garage and leave it overnight so that they can see the problem first hand the next morning.

Thanks Tom ,

Had a third mechanic look at the car today and he has said he is 90% sure the problem is the crank sensor !
Which is what one of the other guys wanted to try next (he's already changed a relay)
So this is going to be done Saturday afternoon