Brinkman

Yep, I saw this advert,the wiring harness shown is for cars up to 1997 and is identical to the one I already bought on E bay, the stalk adapter is not required,and I am a alittle confused because the ad says that an adapter is not needed for post 1997 carsanyway , my vehicle plugs do not fit ISO.The aerial amplifier adapter would be appropriate but I am still puzzled about the ISO adapter.Any one with an Alhambra know the answer?

I know there are a few posts on this but so far I haven't found the answer.This is on a 3/2000 1.9tdi.Need a standard ISO fitting in to aftermarket cd/mp3 player etc. taking a standard ISo connection. On the car there are 3 rectangular male plugs.One looks like a stalk control plug which doesn't bother me as I'vce heard the stalk adapters are notoriously unrelaible and expensive. The second is an 8 pin rectangular plug with Ford logo on the moulding, black.Then also a smaller rectangular plug , 6 pins,yellow, again with Ford stamped on it. Local audio shops seem to be totally perplexed when I mention Alhambra even though they know the plugs show "Ford".Also, I read that the radio reception will be poor because a special aerial adapter is needed to amplify the built in window aerial. Does anybody with similar vehicle have experience of this and if so do you know the part number/photo please. Halfords tried to sell me a kit for

This morning after a fairly heavy frost and running the engine on idle after about 2 minutes I turned on the aircon [to cold] to help demist the screen etc.Soon I could smell a rubber/plastic burning smell and blue smoke was appearing under chassis just fore of the nearside rear wheel. I turned off the aircon and then the engine and waited, restarted the car 2 minutes later on heater blower only and the problem did not repeat. This pm on the journey home I switched on the aircon onarrival home and the problewm did not repeat. Any ideas what's going on here, possibly a fan/rotor frozen ?/is there something I should be checking out urgently? :)

The three circular switches above the radio are for Left-Fan Speed, Centre-Heat and Aircon and Right-Direction of flow. I suspect there is just one bulb behind these because they are now not glowing at night and there does not seem to be a dedicated fuse.The Galaxy Haynes Manual is ok to a point but does not clarify what to do exactly.Has anyone changed the bulb?-do I prise off the knobs first then prise out the plate.I can see great potential for something getting easily damaged and will use some fabric and a small blunt blade but has anyone done this job.Is the bulb a 5w or 1.2watt etc etc??

Try phoning your nearest GSF or Euro Car Parts branch. Euro Car parts sell a lot more parts at the branches than their website would suggest. If you give them the engine type number they should be able to help.I would imagine they are both bound to be cheaper than Ford

Morris Lubricants XHD FE 10w/40.Semi Synthetic.

Has anyone ever had to change the dust cover [which on my offside is dry but split] on the rear brake piston? Don't want to remove the piston entirely but if that is necessary would it be wise to change the seal given that the dust cover has been breached? Presumably the seal and cover can be had as an overhaul kit-does anyone know if Ford Parts would fit my Alhambra given that the local Seat dealer isn't too clever on parts. Thanks

Have just checked rear pads which were fine but the offside dust cover on the brake psiton is split.The rubber is dry so I assume that so far nothing has got past the inner seal and caused fluid to leak out. Having removed the caliper from the disc I am comfortable about dealing with this myself but has anyone else done this job? Any unforseen snags?The Gal workshop manual does not specifically say you can renew the dust cover on its own.Does the caliper piston have to be fully removed to do this? Seems to make sense to only do what you have to bearing in mind the consequences of damaging the piston. Any information on parts availability [cannot see any caliper parts on Euro Parts website and my local Seat Dealer[Kings of Portsmouth/Southampton] are generally disappointing for parts availablity.I don't know if the parts are identical to a Gal.The Alhambulance caliper certainly looks the same as the Ford Manual. Thanks folks for any advice you can offer.Mmmmmm,sorry, yes I don't know why I posted it here instead of Tech either!!!!!!!!

I did my fuel filter recently for the first time.Yes,my clamp was also broken by the previous owner/garage! This sounds paranoid but many years experience teaches that with filters especially with oil filters and if working at the week end, check you've been sold the right one and the dimensions are the same. When I changed my filter I replaced those pinch type hose clips with new tight little jubilee clips for extra peace of mind. Finally, before you offer up the new filter, prime it with fuel first then fit it.This should help to reduce the possibility of air getting in to the system.I didn't do this because the manual didn't mention it and well, you know....so when I couldn't start the damn thing after nigh on an hour I had to take off the engine cover [1.9 Tdi], loosen [not remove] the fuel injector unions and give it a damn good pull on the ignition. I would advise care if you have to do this as some fuel will spray up and it should not come into skin contact etc. Replace the unions carefully to avoid ingress of dirt etc. A friend of mine also told me never to replace a fuel filter such as this whilst parked on a slope. I don't know if this is the best way of purging air from the system but it worked for me that day.

I've noticed the comments posted about a "facelift" Alhambra but here goes anyway-mine is a pre-facelift model. 54000 miles on the meter, and the Seat Dealer [before I dumped them] informed me that 60k was the interval change for this one -[looks a bit like those white private ambulances without the blues and twos] -anyway... Can anyone confirm this 60k is right , this 40k talk is starting to cause me a degree of insomnia Does the Alhambra follow the same pattern as the Gal with a 60k > 40k drop after June 2000?? Nope, won't be doing the cambelt change myself, I know enough to know I can't do that stuff, local garages charge