Jace
27-09-2009, 08:33 PM
I've been settling into the car and have been noticing small problems here and there.
On the plus side, all the things that commonly fault are working fine (sorta).
Onto the negatives.
Advise me, or theorize with me about how to solve these problems.
Power Windows
The issue I have with these are that the front switch doesn't operate the rear/rhs window, nor does the turn-the-key-in-the-door-lock trick.
But as my intoxicated friend made apparent to me yesterday, the motor does in fact slide the window down just fine.
Apparently he held the switch in the down position, and used his greasy/sticky hand to wipe the window downwards.
I've tested it out, and it seems to work from the rear switch now, but still wont work from the front switch or the door lock.
I will the take the switch section of the dash apart and clean the contacts in the switches (hopefully it's as simple as what my experience tells me).
???
Front Seats
My seats are rattly and loose, almost as if they're not fixed down properly.
They are also super stiff to slide forwards and backwards.
It wasn't totally obvious how to remove these (when I looked it was dark).
Are these easy to remove, lubricate and tighten up?
???
Steering Wheel/Column
My steering wheel has forward and backward play in it. 1cm at the most, but it's annoying me. It also fouls on the housing for the wiper/indicator stalks (or a little further down the column) and makes a scratching noise when turning. Super annoying.
???
Wiper Stalk
The problem with this is that if I wipe the rear windows (by pushing the whole stalk forward) is sets itself to intermittent and won't turn off unless I turn the ignition totally off, then restart.
As well as that, the front wiper settings are all touchy and annoying. If I just want to wipe the front once, it usually clicks onto '1' unless I am super careful and pay more attention to my fingers than the road. Both that, and the indicator stalks, are sort of crunchy (in that they make a crunching noise when I move them either forwards or backwards)
I'm hoping this isn't going to be worn down sensors or anything annoying.
???
Other Little Stuff
Lots of rattles and vibrations, mostly coming from the doors I think.
I will hopefully get around to pulling them apart and seeing what's what.
There's a small panel missing from the dash, right underneath the rear window switches. It has a large plug poking out of it. It seems to be aftermarket, because it doesn't actually recess behind the forward most part of that section of the dashboard/console (too big to just put a simple cover over). I get the feeling that it's to do with a handsfree phone kit.
Small microphones, which are obviously parts of a phone kit.
They are in the corner where the 'A' pillars meet the dashboard.
I'll get a picture of these, as well as the mystery plug and missing cover on the dash tomorrow if I remember to.
Best way to remove these (small screws into the pillars :()
I thought I'd ask the questions before I start ripping things apart.
Warn me, or help me out in any way you can. Money's tight as at the moment, so I don't want to replace anything unless I absolutely have to.
I'm pretty good with DIY stuff. I work for a plastics company too, so fixing broken tabs or whatever is a breeze for me.
Jace.
[wont bother with pictures because you know what I'm talkin' bout]
On the plus side, all the things that commonly fault are working fine (sorta).
Onto the negatives.
Advise me, or theorize with me about how to solve these problems.
Power Windows
The issue I have with these are that the front switch doesn't operate the rear/rhs window, nor does the turn-the-key-in-the-door-lock trick.
But as my intoxicated friend made apparent to me yesterday, the motor does in fact slide the window down just fine.
Apparently he held the switch in the down position, and used his greasy/sticky hand to wipe the window downwards.
I've tested it out, and it seems to work from the rear switch now, but still wont work from the front switch or the door lock.
I will the take the switch section of the dash apart and clean the contacts in the switches (hopefully it's as simple as what my experience tells me).
???
Front Seats
My seats are rattly and loose, almost as if they're not fixed down properly.
They are also super stiff to slide forwards and backwards.
It wasn't totally obvious how to remove these (when I looked it was dark).
Are these easy to remove, lubricate and tighten up?
???
Steering Wheel/Column
My steering wheel has forward and backward play in it. 1cm at the most, but it's annoying me. It also fouls on the housing for the wiper/indicator stalks (or a little further down the column) and makes a scratching noise when turning. Super annoying.
???
Wiper Stalk
The problem with this is that if I wipe the rear windows (by pushing the whole stalk forward) is sets itself to intermittent and won't turn off unless I turn the ignition totally off, then restart.
As well as that, the front wiper settings are all touchy and annoying. If I just want to wipe the front once, it usually clicks onto '1' unless I am super careful and pay more attention to my fingers than the road. Both that, and the indicator stalks, are sort of crunchy (in that they make a crunching noise when I move them either forwards or backwards)
I'm hoping this isn't going to be worn down sensors or anything annoying.
???
Other Little Stuff
Lots of rattles and vibrations, mostly coming from the doors I think.
I will hopefully get around to pulling them apart and seeing what's what.
There's a small panel missing from the dash, right underneath the rear window switches. It has a large plug poking out of it. It seems to be aftermarket, because it doesn't actually recess behind the forward most part of that section of the dashboard/console (too big to just put a simple cover over). I get the feeling that it's to do with a handsfree phone kit.
Small microphones, which are obviously parts of a phone kit.
They are in the corner where the 'A' pillars meet the dashboard.
I'll get a picture of these, as well as the mystery plug and missing cover on the dash tomorrow if I remember to.
Best way to remove these (small screws into the pillars :()
I thought I'd ask the questions before I start ripping things apart.
Warn me, or help me out in any way you can. Money's tight as at the moment, so I don't want to replace anything unless I absolutely have to.
I'm pretty good with DIY stuff. I work for a plastics company too, so fixing broken tabs or whatever is a breeze for me.
Jace.
[wont bother with pictures because you know what I'm talkin' bout]