CRV bangernomics and brakes.

[velocemitch]

Cured the suspension knock the other day. £11.00 for a drop link and a bit of wrestling, job done. I do find it astonishing how much noise it made for such a tiny little plastic joint!.
Sent the Yeti packing back to VW finance and couldn’t help noticing it rattled more than the CrV, an annoying little rattle from the dashboard.

[welsh blackbird]

velocemitch said:

Yeah, about 30, it doesn’t really encourage driving like a loon, it’s more of a comfortable wafter.

Well, we've had our 03 CRV for about 4 years, and it's never bettered 25 MPG. It's also a bit gutless unless you rev the nuts off it, which obviously doesn't help the fuel consumption!

I've tried driving it like my gran (I can get 30 MPG out of my 530i E39), but it doesn't get any more frugal.

It's been regularly services, had new plugs etc, but it's no better. Anything else I should be looking for that could be using up excess fuel?

Also, the engine management light is always on. The garage has reset it a couple of times, but it comes back on again. What could this be? (The poor MPG predates the light coming on).

Other than that it's a good car. Very well put together and versatile. We use it as a dog car and general runabout. It's done 145,000 miles - I dare not work out the amount of fuel it's used to cover them!

[thatdude]

welsh blackbird said:

Also, the engine management light is always on. The garage has reset it a couple of times, but it comes back on again. What could this be? (The poor MPG predates the light coming on).

You need to know the code associated with the engine light coming on. This would start to point you in the direction of what could be an issue. If it's running fine, it might be a sensor going out of specification / not working

[PATTERNPART]

My neighbour's 1st Gen has nearly constant engine light. Garage reckons a new distributor would sort it but why bother. Having said that, when the light is out the engine starts instantly as opposed to after a few seconds when the light is on.

The other light is the ABS one. Allegedly down to a sensor but again that sometimes cures itself. I tried the brakes hard once and no, the ABS doesn't work if the light is on!

It is going for an MOT today. Fingers crossed not resulting in an expensive list. Its 1999 I think so pretty ancient and scruffy. Automatic. Drives quite well. Engine doesn't use oil. Has picnic table. Electric windows and central locking erratic.

[LordHaveMurci]

My OH's goes in for a service tomorrow at our trusted local garage, lets see what they find, if anything.

[LordHaveMurci]

Happy days, small service & the only extra work required was an Roll bar link, not bad for a 15yr old car with over 125k mls

Who knows, the snow tyres fitted may even come in handy soon!

[kurt535]

Hey all..

Am picking up a 2006 SE diesel with 22k on the clock tomorrow. One owner, never towed.

Dealer was a sod - final price settled on was £5.4k including 15 month (probably useless) warranty, Fault free MOT.

Deep breath, what could possibly go wrong????

[kurt535]

Update;

Collected car today. Problem made itself known though. Passenger washer works, driver side doesn't. E-mailed dealer once finally home to raise problem and question how it got a full MOT ticket 23-12-17 with this as its a fail.

As I am now feeling cautious about the purchase, Im going to put it through another 'MOT' at my local Toyota Indies who have been great to us and see what their tester comes up with. The result could give me assurances on the car or red flag it in which case I have recourse with the dealer.

However, the drive home today was great. Although it is only the 2006 Mk2 SE (so no real bells and whistles), the engine pulled very strong; fuel consumption was over 40mpg and it completed its first tip run tasks perfectly. Sitting higher is proving a novelty after 7 years of BMW 5's and the last 18 months in my Lexus. Even the steel wheels have grown on me. Very sadly, the car has also acquired a name as well - 'Lego'.....

Ah one query, has anyone fixed a gun case in the boot at all? Is it feasible or a PITA?

[velocemitch]

You’ve bought an 11 year old Car and are worried that the washer nozzle is blocked.....

[kurt535]

velocemitch said:

You’ve bought an 11 year old Car and are worried that the washer nozzle is blocked.....

Yup. Cos it means it shouldn't have passed the MOT completed on the 23rd. I cannot believe you would drive a car thats illegal and feel happy about that - especially one you just bought? Hope not.

Therefore, if the car has what's called a 'tame' MOT, then what else is lurking which the dealer hid?

On the upside, being from a dealer, recourse is fairly easy to pursue. However, I really do want the car to work out though as it's needed. We shall see what Tuesday's MOT throws up.

[Orcadian]

If the washer jet was missing or broken or the pipe work not connected, then I would also be suspicious of a soft mot, otherwise it’s just one of those things. If this car had been sitting at the dealers then it’s more than possible that it’s just some crap that’s found its way to the nozzle and might well have worked for the test and then stopped for you - all of my brake lights were working yesterday but one is not today.
Did you check the MOT history to see what problems it’s had in the past?

These are pretty bomb proof vehicles, I hope you get to enjoy it to the full. We love our 2004 Petrol Premiere

Ian

[velocemitch]

My washer jet on the drivers side worked two days ago, but don’t today. It’s the second time it’s happened obviously prone to gunging up. Can’t imagine a more trivial problem to be honest. As has been said these things are pretty bullet proof if all you need to worry about is blocked jet , you are doing well MOT or not.

[kurt535]

Ty all,

I worked out the way to remove the pipework today. ill start off using a pin/wd40 on the nozzle before trying compressed air up the driver's side tube. Possibly, due to the age of the car and lack of use, the rubber hose has perished and bunged itself up. Anyway, we used the car today for more 'work'. Brakes are also an aquired taste but understand there are things people to to sharpen them up which I might do but, as Ill be towing fairly frequently, non-sharp brakes just might be an advantage!

Results back from mirror MOT:

- new rear disks and pads were needed and as is, were definately not a pass
- new plumbing ordered for the driver jet wash, its totally blocked all the way down to the right angle bend you get

So, it was a tame MOT. Could have been far worse though On the upside, no other issues were found and the Toyota boys felt the car is worth undersealing and looking after. Phew!!

Edited by kurt535 on Tuesday 2nd January 20:16

[kurt535]

Update:

1. Car dealer wholly reimbursed the works my car required which i had completed by a company where I live. I had expected a real ding dong fight for cash rebate but they agreed without any objection. One thing that I suspect helped was having a second MOT and report sent to them. However, putting aside my cynical side, many thanks to them
2. Honda is proving massively useful whilst returning 40mpg
3. OE Bosal detachable tow bar fitted - £480. I got this (although I am not a fan of detachable) as I learnt it was specifically designed for the Mk2 CRV.
4. I intend having the truck undersealed at Rust Busters Spalding
5. ICE shopping list is still being formed.

[velocemitch]

Glad it’s sorted, I think the rear discs are a weak spot, but to be fair if they work to the required standard it’s not an mot failure so it may not be ‘tame’ as such. The garage did the right thing to sort it though.

The Bosul Towbar will be the same as fitted to ours, if it’s new I’m sure it will be fine, but ours being as old as the car is a real pain to attach, it’s not a good design and you have to twist and push the circular bit incredibly hard to get it retract properly. I’ve tried three now and they have all been the same, there are a few videos and such like on utube showing you how to ‘fix’ them as they jam up.

[kurt535]

velocemitch said:

Glad it’s sorted, I think the rear discs are a weak spot, but to be fair if they work to the required standard it’s not an mot failure so it may not be ‘tame’ as such. The garage did the right thing to sort it though.

The Bosul Towbar will be the same as fitted to ours, if it’s new I’m sure it will be fine, but ours being as old as the car is a real pain to attach, it’s not a good design and you have to twist and push the circular bit incredibly hard to get it retract properly. I’ve tried three now and they have all been the same, there are a few videos and such like on utube showing you how to ‘fix’ them as they jam up.

Bloke who fitted the hitch suggested:

- giving it a good jet wash works well
- only use silicon grease on the working parts, use hardly any during the summer due to dust sticking
- use wire wool to clear connection parts before attaching bar
- don't leave the bar attached as it rusts up

But I am confident mine will also get stuck !!!

[kurt535]

Dear Diary,

Stage '1' remap booked in to give car an extra 20 horses and more torque...£200

[LordHaveMurci]

My OH's has had some serious use this last couple of weeks, Devon to Northampton then Devon to York & back, never missed a beat despite some horrible weather.

She's had it 6mths now & is really pleased with it.

[velocemitch]

MOT day for ours.

[kurt535]

velocemitch said:

MOT day for ours.

How did it go?

And do heavier duty clutches exist for these cars at all?