Hello folks,
My rear bumper has fallen off. As usual, the steel structure inside it (the sacrificial Anode) has rusted away.
Being a common problem on these obviously makes finding a good used one rather challenging. Has anyone tried adapting the steelwork from the front bumper to fit?
Regards,
Si.
Hello folks,
I need new front brake discs and front and rear pads replacing. Before I go in blindly buying, does anyone have any recommendations or types to avoid?
I have seen Britpart grooved and drilled discs advertised, are they worth bothering with? Or do they just eat the pads quicker or even wear out as quick as the pads?
I am guessing Minetx or EBC for the pads
Regards,
Si.
Hello folks,
I recently fitted a reconditioned auto-box from Ashcroft Transmissions. All was going well until last night when I got a 'Transmission Fault' message and the box went into third gear 'limp' mode.
Thanks to my newly acquired Nanocom (thanks DaveAll) I was able to read the code - output shaft speed error.
I reset the code, set the Nanocom to display the live readings and with wife reading out the speeds I went for a little dive. All was good.
After she went back indoors and I had a bit more of a play I got another 'Transmission Fault' warning, this time the fault was the anti-stall solenoid (or words to that effect).
Again it was cleared and all is good.
I am suspecting I have a bad connection in the loom somewhere. The greabox plug is securely attached, though I will disconnect and check it is clean. What is the routing of the rest of the loom? Are there any multiplugs elswhere known to give problems (assuming this is just a poor coincidence)?
Hello folks,
I have bolted up a recon gearbox to the engine and I have a 1-2mm gap between the flex plate and the torque converter. Is this normal to allow a bit of float or should the flexplate be up against the torque converter?
Hello folks,
As the title implies, my P38 diesel has lost drive and is leaking transmission oil from the bell housing. I am assuming this is either a leaking/cracked torque converter or the input shaft seal on the gearbox.
I am competent with a toolkit (spent twenty odd years fixing jet aircraft) but I don't have access to a vehicle lift/ramp, just normal trolley jack and axle stands.
I have a few questions I am hoping the knowledge and experience on here might be able to help with:
1) Is removal of the transmission feasible at home?
2) Are any special tools or jigs required?
3) Should I remove the transfer box first to reduce weight or am I just inviting more problems and would be better off leaving it all as one unit?
I had the vehicle transported to my parents place as they have more space than me and have not yet been back to see how low the transmission fluid level has got. I carried out a fluid and filter change (along with new transmission oil cooler and pipes) about a year ago so the majority of the fluid was replaced. If the fluid level hasn't dropped too low is the box likely to be ok or will I have knackered the internal clutches?
If I do need a replacement box, has anyone any experience of these:
Recon Gearbox from Wales
Many thanks for any help and advice given. This could be the end of the journey but I am reluctant to write it off as I have invested a lot of time and money into it now (suspension, brakes, cooling, electrics, someof the interior) and I will never be able to afford one again.
Regards,
Si.
Hello folks,
My diesel auto has developed a strange problem. Once it gets up to about 70mph (or about 50mph up reasonably steep hills) it changes up a gear and despite having my foot to the floor the power actually backs off as do the engine revs resulting in a slight deceleration.
There are no warning lights showing, everything else appears normal.
Does anyone have any ideas?
Regards,
Si.
Hello folks,
I am finally wiring in the reverse camera facility on my touch screen head unit. It needs a signal to tell the unit to switch to the reversing camera view.
I dont's want to run a cable all the way to the reverse lights when the selector and the BECM are so much closer.
Does anyone know if I can piggyback from the selector unit? Or failing that, the BECM?
I am having issues with RAVE not opening on my laptop, hence the question on here in case anyone else has already done similar?
Regards,
Smiler.
Can it be done? Do I need to remove the blower units first? The drivers side is flaoting around with no sealing foam left allowing all the blown airs to escape. There is not enough space to collapse it to get it out without dragging it past the sections it attaches to. Any new foam seals won't stand a chance of surviving the abuse. How is it done?
Hello folks,
I have recently purchased a set of good condition Napa leather electric memory seats from a year 2000 Vogue to replace the manual seats in my 1996 DSE.
I have the highline BECM so I should just need the sub-loom from the BECM to the seat stations. But there seem to be a number of options. Does anyone know which flavour I require?
Also, will I need the services of a Nanocom to switch on that part of the BECM?
Regards,
Si.
Hello folks,
Are the interiors interchangeable across all years of the P38?
My door cards are getting very tired and are missing too many mounting clips now (tabs pulled out of the back) meaning they flap a bit so I am looking to replace them. Before I assume I just want to confirm that the slightly different looking (smoothed grab handles) later door cards will line up and fit straight onto my older vehicles doors.
ALso, I have a cream interior. I don't know what the official colour name is but is it the same as sandstone? Did they change the colour when they altered the interior? Just asking as if there was a colour change I shall look for a full interior as the drivers seat is saggy and my colleagues 5 bar seats are noticeably more comfortable.
Regards,
Si.
Hello folks,
My colleague has taken the plunge and bought himself a P38. It is a well maintained 99/00 DT. It doesn't quite have as many extras as my older DSE. According to Martys Nanocom mine has the highline BECM fitted. Would a 99/00 DT be likely to have a highline BECM? Would it be likely to have any of the wiring in place for extra equipment such as heated front screen? He is looking to keep this vehicle long term so it would be nice to know what options are potentially open to him for improvements.
Regards,
Si.
Not really an oily bit but it does appear to have a leak so I guess it still fits.
My lower tailgate and my boot underfloor appear to be filling with water. Before I start the hunt are there any known common areas where water gets in?
Sun roof drain channels are all clear and connected. Not that they would explain the lower tailgate filling with water.
Regards,
Smiler.
Hello folks,
I know the majority of you have the V8 model but I was wondering if anyone out there knows what current draw I should see when the glow-plugs are active?
I am learning how to use my new tool but I appear to be drawing over 90 Amps when the glowplugs energize. Is this about right? The glowplugs are about 6 months old.
Hello folks,
I am looking to buy a replacement brake modulator/master cylinder to rebuild for my DSE as I am not happy with the one fitted. I rebuilt it last year but it had suffered some internal corrosion. It seemed to clean up ok but I beleive that there is some internal leakage as the ABS pump fires up every so-often and the pedal goes soft over time (I am confident that it is not air in the system).
My vehicle ia a '96 model without Traction Control. As I understand it the early rear axle only Traction Control version still has the same physical connections as the non-traction control model. I would like to fit a TCA model along with the correct control module and see if it gives me traction control. If I can pick up the two bits cheap enough then there's no harm in trying.
To that effect, does anyone know the part numbers for the different flavours of Brake Modulator / Master Cylinder?
Regards,
Smiler.
Hello folks,
Got a new one on its way to me. Rave says I need to removed the front bumper, is this really necessary?
Regards,
Smiler.
Hi folks,
My P38 drives really nicely but has developed a horrible shimmying through the steering when braking. There is a bit of play in, I suspect, the steering box (all rod ends are good, hub swivel ball joints replaced with good quality items 2 years ago, can't feel any slop in steering column linkages under the bonnet) but I feel no vagueness or wandering of the steering at all. The front discs are fairly recent and there is no pedale pulsing or dragging of the brakes. Take your foot off the brakes and it stops. The car drives straight and true so I don't believe any of the axle bushes are worn. Are these classic symptoms of anything? If it where an E34 5 series BMW I'd go straight for the upper track control arms but it isn't and so it doesn't have any.
Any help greatfully recieved.
Regards,
Smiler.
Hello folks,
Having spent the last few months ferrying around bits of Scimitar, sitting watching me work on the Scimitar and even not getting much mention in the magazine (because the focus is on the Scimitar), my long suffering and neglected P38 is making its feelings felt.
I knew I was carrying a few snags on her and she was due a service but two recent new issues have made me stop and take stock of the old girl. Particularly as I'm taking her to a small local car show in a few weeks.
So the current list is:
Engine
Oil & Filters
Crankcase breather loose and leaking oil
Turbo heat shield shot
Aux drive belt
Mechanical
EAS Valve block and pump seals
Steering backlash (suspect box adjustment)
Drivers window regulator - recent failure, worn (started making machine gun noises at top of travel)
Air-con hasn't worked since purchase
Electrical
Very reluctant to lock from key-fob, but unlocks instantly - recent failure (brand new key one year ago)
Heated seats haven't worked since purchase
Instrument cluster info display screen dull on left end (back light bulb?)
HEVAC does not regulate temperature
Transmission temp sensor (new fitted, just not yet attached to transmission cooler as can't get front bumper off).
Body & Fittings
Needs a blumin good clean and polish!
Pollen filters and foam scuttle panel insert.
Nearside front indicator housing loose due to broken clip.
Dashboard warped around outer end of passenger side windscreen demisting vent.
Air ducting joints need sealing as poor air flow.
Rear bumper not fitted correctly at center, sitting high as it has worn paint from lower tailgate.
Tailgate release button weather seal perished
Upgrades
Fit reversing camera to go with new touch screen android head unit.
Read instruction manual for new touch screen android head unit.
That's quite a list, and I suspect that there may be one or two more that I have either missed or are unaware of yet. I feel quite ashamed.
How does it compare to other peoples 'snag lists'?
Regards,
Smiler.
Hello folks,
Could someone please point me in the direction of the decent suppliers of the O-ring and Pump Seal kits? I know that there are numerous kits out there of dubious quality (fallen fowl of that in the past) but can't remember who the supplier of my last kits was that were actually fit for purpose.
Cheers for any help,
Smiler.
Hello folks,
When braking from anything over 40mph I am getting shimying through the steering wheel. This has only just started happening.
I willget underneath and check all thefront bushes tomorrow afternoon but just thought I'd mention it on here in case it was a known symptom of a particular failure. If it where a BMW E34 then it would be the upper track control arms.
It has also highlighted some play in the steering which I need to locate (steering column splines or steering box).
Thanks in advance,
Smiler.