D.FYLAKTOS

Ι saw that spring in a YT video long time ago: Is factory installed or aftermarket? Many times in idle i hear a ''kar-kar-kar'' noise from the engine bay, i press the clutch pedal-release it and the noise stops. I wonder @Papez that spring could help the reset or it's there for another reason?

Pulleys and tensioners can be found but https://www.ebay.co.uk/b/bn_7118881588 https://www.ebay.co.uk/b/bn_1270946 i don't know details about @CptAhab model (cc, year etc). https://webautocats.com/etka/volkswagen/ca/181/109050 I have posted photos-parts etc in a topic, i had the same problem. https://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/524227-skoda-felicia-gearbox-leak/ A simple pressure test in a repair-shop could show the problematic spot. A hose, the water pump gasket, a connention?

Unfortunately olnly VIKA gaskets are available in a near by VW group parts store, i don't know if worth buy it. I wonder from where that sludge fall upon the bolt ? When i find time i will use a product ro remove that dirt and wipe it as much as i can,then in few weeks i will check to see if there is new.

I found another photo a bit more helpful: I see no leak from the right side of the gasket (as we see the photo).

Also visible below the spark plug. Do i have an oil leak and from where? Is dripping from previous procedure which didn't cleaned properly? A bolt tighten would fix this? Do i need a new gasket? And which one?

Few years back i noticed below the valve cap (here in GR we call it ''pseudo-cap") some dirt, was after the valve adjustment. The mechanic said that he used the same gasket with the add of some gasket glue, i went to his repair-shop, he tighten the screws, clean the area and for some years everything were OK. The above photo is from internet, below is mine as is now. Take a look from the left side as we look the engine bay. Although the gasket show some signs of wear i don't think that oil or fumes dripping from it but take a look in the base, some gunk (dirt) is gathered. Things are worst on the right side.

Those small led lights are ON only for a while, few seconds only. The amber for a set of extra warning light (while parking), the green for the rear camera (ON while the car is in reverse) and the blue for those extra bulbs on the front lights (that \ / shape small beam that i have discribed in the past for very dark one way roads) which are ON only for 2-3 minutes. At daylight all of them are in OFF mode.

Here is how it looks since 2021: In low light and dark:

Those photos are old, about 13-14 years ago. When i decide to change the centra console for 2nd time then the 1st project cancelled. So i bought another used ashtray, i marked-drilled and made round holes for the switches which this time would have round shape and a led light when they were in ON position. Unfortunately due to an USB crash i have lost some of my pictures and among them were those with the procedure so i have to show only the final results. Things didn't went 100% right, i could made the holes 1 mm lower so the ashtray (as a drawer) could go full back and fit perfect but now it's very difficult to do it.

Many years back after damaging both my rear light while try to parking i decise to go for a parking sensors but my car's electrician prevented me. Yes it's in many cars but that ''beep-beeep-beeeep'' is extremely annoying plus you don't have a completely image of what is going on in the back. A rear vier mirror with an 180 degrees camera is a Saviour,i have posted photos from mine, no matter if it's night-rain-for you can park far better than with parking sensors.

The first ones (factory) were from HELLA made in Germany, those made in Cz. There is no consistency in Chinese products no matter if it's a Led light or camera mirror, one day the list is full the very next day "this product not excists". No spare parts available, if it damaged even a little bit or broke you send it for recycle.

I would buy a cartridge 300ml at least and an expensive one as SIKA-HENKEL-Teroson.

I have seen this in the past with Maserati parts,exactly the same as in a Ferrari but more expensive, the same with Bentley parts which are exactly the same with a VW model (since VW owns the Bentley) but also more expensive ! Almost identical. I wonder if next time (which i don't wish it) worth to buy a set of Chinese.

Take a look a Chinese from Skoda-parts.com half the price of here in GR (in UK shops the original has 51 euro). https://www.skoda-parts.com/data/items/352/5fa278cc01ba2_xl.jpg Has a gasket on https://www.skoda-parts.com/data/items/352/5fa2808f140ab_xl.jpg plus the PMMA letter, the mark from the molding like the original etc. https://www.skoda-parts.com/data/items/322/5e2eb66ae69a9_xl.jpg isn't this strange? In the future i wonder where i could find a set of new gaskets?

As you can see the original had no gasket so i had to use the one from the existing. The left side was good but the right side had some marks of deteriorating. which means if there is another accident and try to remove it it maybe cut in pieces of became as ''toast'' as we say here (many pieces like detritus). As you can see from the factory they have used hot iron to ''erase'' the Skoda Logo and the part number, the question is why? They have the stamp Hella made in Czech Republic other letters as PMMA, marks etc as the previous but why they ''blurred'' those two things?

I didn't want to install an aftermarket one because: there would be difference in colour with the original on right side plus they have told me that due to cheap ABS plastic and not proper molding may not fir proper and water could come inside the trunk so i start searching for original in good condition. 3 shops and nothing happened, i was disappointed because the cost for 2 new original fro UK would be around 120 euro with the shipping-Customs fee (not in EU any more) and i didn't want to order a used one from local market without see it first because in the photo of the e-shop looks good but in real may differs. In the 4th shop (VW group parts) told me that they have new aftermarket for 30 euro and new original Hella for 40 euro, i was surprised and i asked: How come? They answered that have them in shelf for years and offered them in a good price to get rid of them. What's the reason to pay to have one new and one used? So i bought two of them (left-right side), in front of me brought the box cut the seal-tape and show them to me. I paid and went home very happy. Here are in factory wrapping but when i went to the car to installed them i noticed some things.

One of the scourges of Greek roads are abandoned motorcycles. Some they have suffered major damage and are not being repaired, some because owners have abandoned them because they no longer want them, other they are stolen, etc. The process to be removed from the from the State takes from 3 months to 3 years. All of that time this motorcycle it pollutes the environment and also takes up parking space. You can't park your car because such an abandoned bicycle is standing there often rotting and some of them are on the sidewalk ! Some sneaky locals use them to reserve space for themselves, some with shops put them in front so that no cars are parked and the storefront is not visible, some Cafe owners put them in front of the sidewalk to make it appear that they have other motorcyclists as their customers. If you try to remove it by yourself sometimes they shout ''leave it as is, it's mine" and other lies so you have to wait for the Municipality to take it or you have to act by yourself with other ways. Few nights ago we had mud-rain here, i was returning from work it was late, i was tired and i wanted to find a place to park my car to go home. I found one but there was a huge scooter which didn't allow me to park properly, was sone of the ones that i have described you above. Came out of the car, tried to move it a bit but was heavy, i was sin a hurry the ground and my hand were slippery so the disaster came. That damned scooter rolled back, i didn't manage to catch it at once so it hit my rear left rear light (or tail light), a ''craaack'' was heard and immediately i knew that i was in trouble. Chane my day schedule, search to find another, pay money which i had for other purposes, install by myself etc. I have changed them both in the past with original Hella and i knew how to do it but in the procedure i notice 2 weird things that's why i opened this topic.

The two gauges are installed and i have changed the switches with a pair in square shape. Is this the final stage? No... 😉

After made the marks i start to drill-cut-using rasp etc. For buttons i put this style although i don't like them so much. The middle part cause me a lot of effort but i remove it. The cut may look rough and ugly but keep in mind that the gauges and the switches have a ''rim'' outside that will cover everything.

This is the ashtray in a Felicia (not mine, photo by Google) and since i don't smoke inside the car and strictly forbid the passengers to smoke (even the rear door ashtrays are sealed) i had in the past the thought to use it for other purpose. This is how it look inside when you pull it out. In the beginning i attached a parallelogram-shaped gauge (in-out temperature, voltage) and you can see how the central console was modified back then. I wasn't completely happy but those days i didn't had the money and the time to do something more but after few years i have changed the console design and modified the astray completely. I will show you the whole project step by step.

Mine also were in bad condition due to age: Air intake manifold sensor. ECU.

Vacuum hose in my 1.3 look a bit weird, it's stiff not soft. I haven't experience from aftermarket like these: https://www.llracing.eu/silicone-vacuum-hose-turboworks-pro-12mm-black-mg-rd-024 https://www.ebay.com/itm/236000175771

I have installed Goodridge and EBC parts and i have bought from UK shops plus ebay.co.uk ana amazon.co.uk many products related to car and not only. No problems at all.

If you buy a used harness you have to clean every connector and check with multimeter every single pin and check every cable if it's OK (maybe some are bent and broken,not visible from outside), use a pin extractor,replace it etc... Making your own harness there would be an assurance that in the future you will never again have problems as long the car exists.

Turning back the time: back in the beginning of the 90's there was a need for Scart but much more longer than the 2m of the local market, the Electronic guy of the company had the idea so they bought me the connectors and the cable with lot of clones inside (that was a nightmare) and i spend many days welding pin-by-pin after checking the compatibility with multimeter (beep sound so OK the No1 cable in the first connector was also the No1 in the 2nd etc), for example: I had a pin extractor and a cell pin welder and i manage to make very long Scart. In car companies the Electrician has a board on the wall or in a desk and according to diagram is embroidering (here we call it also as Sewing) the harness. Nowadays with cables with colours or even numbers on them things are much more easier.