General Chat Of Nothing In Particular

[acecard]

had to replace 1 of the many headlight bulbs in my car this evening,twas 1 of the h1 jobbies.was going to do it after work but was a tad windy where i was so in the end i done it at my local sainsburys as i had to visit the place anyway,ended up taking the complete headlight out,changed bulb got home and rechecked TO FIND THE EXACT SAME BULB BUT ON THE OTHER SIDE IS NOW NOT WORKING.bloody things eh.

I think they must design it this way.

Exactly the same happened to me with sidelights on the mk2 - changed one and tested ok only to find inexplicably that the one on the other side which was working fine had blown.

 

I just wonder if the new bulb changes the dynamics of the circuit causing overload for other components. When first switched on a bulb will have low resistance causing a surge but this happens every time you switch on - maybe possible that the new bulb causes an initial higher surge which then blows others in the circuit.

Having said that, iirc the left and right circuits are separate i think for safety reasons.

Just clutching at straws..

Or maybe Ford have it hidden in the software - "new bulb detected" - "randomly blow another"  

:lol:

 

mk3 update - I like the DAB radio - if I'd have bought the alhambra it would only have been FM

[gregers]

i think you are correct about the bulbs.

makes sense really as the so called working old 1 was no doubt the same age as the blown 1 i changed(does that make any sense? :wacko: )

better get the (new)blown 1 changed pronto or ill be forever chasing the problem, :rolleyes: :lol:

[Scorpiorefugee]

Gregers, I had the same sort of problem with my last MKII. driving along one night and one dipped bulb went out. I went through the headlight out routine next day and the next time out at night the bulb the other side failed to com on. I had replaced both as a pair about 18 months earlier with expensive 'long life' bulbs.

 

The prospect of losing both on the same trip is a bit worrying especially because of the insane way the things are made making roadside replacements a joke. I believe that it is illegal to drive a car with any headlight bulb faulty.

On the subject of losing lights I have recently had some nasty experiences with the wife's Picasso which is now getting a lot more use after getting the MKIII. The headlight control has the same insane arrangement where the same action for flashing, head and dip control is used but also has the light switch as a rotary control on the end of the same stalk with a lip on to indicate position. The trouble is that if the stalk is pulled back to dip or head and it is done a bit off centre the lip causes the switch to rotate and ....no lights. On a pitch dark bendy road at 60 MPH that definitely causes a tightening of the buttocks, Certainly when it happens for the first time.

 

Who allows this sort of lunatic design?

Edited February 26, 2014 by Scorpiorefugee

[acecard]

The prospect of losing both on the same trip is a bit worrying especially because of the insane way the things are made making roadside replacements a joke. I believe that it is illegal to drive a car with any headlight bulb faulty.

 

and when you must legally carry spare bulbs like on the continent, what could you possibly do if one fails on the road without several hours of daylight at your disposal!!

[Scorpiorefugee]

I think we might start a new topic - " What questions should be asked when interviewing prospective car designers?" 

 

Perhaps...

 

How much experience do you have of innovating creatively dangerous improvements?

or,

Can you give an example of someone getting killed or seriously injured as a result of something you've designed?

Edited February 27, 2014 by Scorpiorefugee

[gregers]

simples isnt it design something that will last,company goes out of business because there is no on going monies coming in.

design something that fails after a certain time,and make it expensive to replace.company does very well in on going business.

 

i play golf,and about 2 years ago bought a garmin sat nav watch,cost me 150 quid(now it costs 99 quid).been super seeded now by newer models.

now this watch has a rubber strap moulded onto the body of the watch,and there have been a lot of reports where the strap breaks(mines still ok).

when this happens it has to go back to garmin at a cost of 70 quid for a new rubber body.

can you imagine the conversation in the r&d office,

now peeps shall we allow the customer to be able to change the strap from there local market for a few quid?or make them spend nearly 70% of the total cost of the item on a F*****G RUBBER STRAP.yep its the latter.

 

one thing i have thought about guarantees etc,if you follow a lot of advice from the likes of martin lewis etc about tv's and white goods where you MAY be able to claim up to 5 years from purchase,NOW why cant that be replicated it to cars?.

my washing machine is on constantly through out the day,so gets a lot of abuse.

[Scorpiorefugee]

Whoa there!

 

Acecard posted about his sad loss of a well designed car and we've progressed through to discussing Gregers's dirty washing. :24:  :27:

 

I think we've got to the point where we should be on another topic or even another site.

 

Gregers!   Do your duty man! :26:  :26:  :16:  :16:

Edited February 28, 2014 by Scorpiorefugee

[acecard]

Can't even agree about greger's dirty washing.

Our washing machines also suffer abuse (who needs to be kind to a washing machine?) and they repay this by breaking relatively frequently.

They usually last for 2 or at best 3 years and then its the scrapheap.As Scorpio indicated, its a throwaway socirty and who wants to spend time and money on repairing a device which is almost as expensive as the latest souper douper model.

Same goes for kettles, ours failed again yesterday. They usually give up the ghost after about 12 months. Tried buying more expensive models but they do the same. Just buy the cheapest now and replace it.

you'd have thought kettles with the limited scope of their purpose and without any ecu would last longer..

[Scorpiorefugee]

Well, since we are on the subject of washing machines, (How did we get here?) we have a student let with 7 students and have had now settled for LG direct drive ones for them and home. So far they've been rock solid and unbelievably quiet. Motors Guaranteed for 10 years with no brushes to worry about and play a little tune when they've finished. I just hope I haven't spoken too soon 'cos they're damned near impossible to get into.

Well, You have to look don't you? :19:

[acecard]

Well, since we are on the subject of washing machines, (How did we get here?) we have a student let with 7 students and have had now settled for LG direct drive ones for them and home. So far they've been rock solid and unbelievably quiet. Motors Guaranteed for 10 years with no brushes to worry about and play a little tune when they've finished. I just hope I haven't spoken too soon 'cos they're damned near impossible to get into.

our tumble dryer plays a tune every 30 seconds after its finished- we soon put a stop to that!

it is now very difficult to get inside these white goods or even to work out how to get inside, the chassis appears to be welded together after the motor, drum etc have been put in place. Maybe the manufacturers do use Ford advisors after all.

[acecard]

i play golf,and about 2 years ago bought a garmin sat nav watch,

gregers, would that be to help find the ball? :16:

[Scorpiorefugee]

 gregers, would that be to help find the ball? :16:

No, but it might help him to find his way back to the club house when he gives up. :16:  :16:

 

" Maybe the manufacturers do use Ford advisors after all."

 

At least we're beginning to get back on topic. :46:  :46:

 

How's the car by the way? :lol:

Edited February 28, 2014 by Scorpiorefugee

[gregers]

apologizes i was a tad phissed last night :unsure: somewhere within that drivel i posted was a comparison???

 

i never give up when im playing golf,even if it starts blowing a hoolie.

just for your info,you bunch of heevans :D it tells me what the distance is too the greens,front/middle and back.very useful bit of kit to have.

oh and i certainly dont need any help to find my way back to the 19th.

 

im thinking of splitting this thread from where it starts to get a tad silly and just make a 'general chat thread'?

you lot happy with that?

as it seems to be the most liveliest thread on here at the moment?.

[Scorpiorefugee]

The silly bit was where I gave away a perfectly serviceable MKII and spent the kids' inheritance on a MKIII.

Although, thinking about it, that was on another topic.

Before we go, where did the washing machines come in again? :5:  :5:  

[gregers]

:49:

[acecard]

yep, move it, the subject and content must be confusing ne1 searching anyway

[gregers]

righto blokes,ive tried to keep the proper questions,and have made another thread about them.but by doing so makes this 1 look a tad messy?let me know what you think.

ive also changed the title of this 1 and will move it somewhere else.

[chrispb123456]

You could send it to Glen :16:

[Scorpiorefugee]

Gregers, It couldn't get any worse so, now you've moved it, If we can't find it you can just make it disappear completely.

Chrispb, I was hoping you'd turn up. You put some info in a while ago about software updates and I've been trying to get some sense out of my local Ford garage and they are not being over helpful. I did start a new topic but that seems to be descending to the same level as this If you have anything that may help I should be grateful if you could pop it in somewhere.

Ta! 

[gregers]

You could send it to Glen :16:

why bud?

if i done that this thread no doubt would be up to about 60 pages. :25:

[chrispb123456]

Gregers, It couldn't get any worse so, now you've moved it, If we can't find it you can just make it disappear completely.

Chrispb, I was hoping you'd turn up. You put some info in a while ago about software updates and I've been trying to get some sense out of my local Ford garage and they are not being over helpful. I did start a new topic but that seems to be descending to the same level as this If you have anything that may help I should be grateful if you could pop it in somewhere.

Ta! 

Firstly check on the ford etis site and see if there are updates for your car, secondly our car is a Motability car so I wouldn't no if there are any charges for this.

When the guy from the dealers came to pick the car up for it's second service I said I had looked on the etis site and updates were available for the engine ecu and for something else that I cant remember but know it wasn't relevant to the problems I was having.

He said they would check as a matter of course anyway and would let me know when he brought it back, when he brought the car back he said the update to the engine had been done.

All I can say whatever the update did it greatly improves the low speed driveability.

I have to reverse up our drive from a full left hand lock, it was virtually impossible to hold it on the clutch while doing this it was either far to many revs (smell the clutch burning) or it would just stall.

But it would also catch you out at junctions aswell sometimes leaving you stranded while you wait for the delay on the start/stop button for the engine to fire up again. 

[chrispb123456]

why bud?

if i done that this thread no doubt would be up to about 60 pages. :25:

It may have overtaken the booster heater thread!

[Scorpiorefugee]

Gregers, I forgot to say thanks. That's another beer I owe you if I ever get back to Eastbourne again.

 

Chrispb, Thanks for that again. It does sound like there is a way forward with this problem which seems to be all to do with the "improved" lower emmission engine. Mine does seem to have learned a bit along the way as I no longer stall it and I'm convinced it's not me adapting but it still takes a lot of concentration to drive it smoothly at low speeds. I might just go in dumb and be persistent and I'll report back on my other topic. From what Acecard has been reporting between the distractions he is also having a bit of trouble with this an his seems to be a lot newer than mine. 

My problem with the awful suspension and nerve wracking behaviour on bends and rough surfaces does seem to have been mainly down to the run flat tyres so it now seems worth pushing for more improvements but it has to bring the credibility of Ford design into question when the faults are so obvious to so many drivers even or maybe especially from new. With the run flats I found it almost undriveable from a safety angle because it just bounced about all over the place, even when the pressure was reduced.

I asked before if you noticed any change to fuel consumption or general power flow after the update. I'm still stuck at around 42 mpg.

[chrispb123456]

There was no change in fuel consumption still doing 37 ish but have to be honest I don't drive like miss daisy and am very near to three digits when coming home at silly o'clock

Never thought much about the run flat tyres but have to agree the road holding on rough roads on bends is terrible

[Scorpiorefugee]

Thanks for the feedback Chris. Having reached an age where it doesn't matter much when I get anywhere I do tend to stick to limits these days but I can well understand you getting 37 mpg at higher speeds. In fact, since I only manage 42 with a feather touch on the throttle I reckon you are doing pretty well. It does improve dramatically at lower speeds so it's all probably down to windage. Do I take it from your last comment that you are running on run flats. If so then I can heartily recommend chucking them 'cos they're bl00dy lethal. This may be a misunderstanding 'cos I thought you had already indicated otherwise. I just get confused some days. :5:  :5:  :5: