D.FYLAKTOS

Moderators: I would like to delete or remove the above post because it's hurts feelings.

Here is how it looks today. I replaced the allen screws with inox Phillips screws, more tight and better looking. Maybe in the past i will search to find another cone like this one click longer. I think there was a Felicia edition with abjustable streering whell column, never saw one here in GR.

The @R_Blue has worked on this, you can see the mess, the new clamps etc. I grab the chance to show to any New member that will search that matter how difficult is to reach that item (the Heater Core) plus how difficult is to find original hoses. Non related could be a post about football, presidential elections, weather etc.

Another ''protective'' product is this: https://www.bumperarmor.com/standard-door-protector.html May look ugly and weird but who has the money to pay every time for 2 door repair and painting job?

This is how my Felicia steering wheel looked like in the past. Actually had no airbag and the central console was a bit different. I had the factory steering wheel replaced with another after market, it ruined and i have change it and did it another time. The main problem was that every after market steering wheel was siting much lower than the factory one, you can see in the photo that the gauges are visible. Here is a patent that i have done in the past, the photos are not good quality but you can take an idea. I kept the cone from the previous steering wheel and the front part and kept it to use it as a spacer. You can see the old configuration of the dashboard and the central console. I worked in the holes to make them wider and i used the allen screws that the new steering wheel had in the package although i don't like them. I will show you with a proper photo the difference, of course it's not like the original but it's better than the previous steering wheel.

I have found an old photo from the hoses to the Heater Core. The only way to work properly on them is to remove the battery but since it's extremely difficult (probably impossible) to found 2 original hoses i don't even want to think for a HVAC repair.

I have thought that solution in case that i will park in a not wide road, of course not so big panel (the 1/3 of it) and only for the side that is exposed to that narrow road. It's magnetic and secured with a cable but my brother said immediately: ''someone is going to cut the cable and steal it". I find it reasonable, when someone realises for what is for can cut the cable and when goes far away in his neighbourhood to have it for his own car. You may find this panel as funny, yes it is and may cause a lot of negative comments while the car is parked but think again the money that i have paid for door repairs.

It's not the first time, all of my 4 doors are scratched from reckless drivers while passing close by plus some b@stard teenagers (local and foreign) have cause dents in my roof and the hood hit them ''hammer-style". Since there are no witness and the scumbag didn't let a phone number (to make an arrangement) the insurance does not cover this. It's not the colour only, there is a bent on the door, I have to pay it and it's at least 300 euros (250 GBP) and 2 days without a car.

@Joob Take a look an older photo from my Felicia, it's the left side, age-heat-water etc can cause some problems. Now the insulation has been replaced, i used sandpaper and primary for the oxidation in the base of the battery, the O cover where the cables come out has been repaired etc.

Beneath the plastic cover there is a tray, there you can find a leaf, tree branch, pigeon wings, dog hairs etc. Photos from Google search, my car is parked far away from home i i can not go there to take pictures. If you remove that cover to clean the whole area you can find in the top the draining holes (left and right side), if you push the electricians wire tool (in GR is Atsalina) you can remove anything which stuck inside of them and if you open the door you will see then drop down from the door's pillar.

An extra thin coat of Dielectrical grease will do. Some buy products dedicated for this job, few examples: https://alphamare.gr/product/battery-terminal-protector/ https://crcindustries.com.au/media/catalog/product/ https://www.ueautotechs.com/cdn/shop/products/BatteryTerminalCoating.webp?v=1689851309 https://cdn11.bigcommerce.com/s-6a4rng/images/stencil/1280x1280/products/9289/34463/MC-008_l__47205.1578691978.jpg?c=2 depending of the environment that they live.

Be carefull do not push hard the O metal plate, you can clean the throttle and replace the gasket. Take care the plug-pins, don't put too much grease on the wire, put a plastic care product to the elastic base of the plastic cover that goes in the top of the throttle, tight properly the hose that brings air from the air-filter box.

It's far better to use a silicone style pistol than your hand, the nose could reach deeper spots. On the other hand i wouldn't use metal objects beneath the factory seal, there are plastic tools that the Upholstery guys use which will not hurt the seal which already is dry from age-sun-salt etc.

Ferrari 430, the owner of this car decide that needs exhaust Heat Wrapping. For sure there is no comparison with a Felicia but the owner decide that this would be a benefit for his car no matter what if an engineer could disagree.

@Joob Let's hope that this was your final problem and the engine will start and work properly, then it's time for the champagne.

In the past i have done this plus some white vinegar and solvent that women use in the kitchen. Except debris i wanted to remove any muck that was there for years. The arrow points the end of a tray which is beneath the black plastic panel in the Felicia. Water (rain, car wash etc) that goes on the right side goes to that tray and then on the drain channels, water that might goes to the left end up inside the engine bay. In the past i had ''sealed'' the sides and the front part of the hood like a |___| shape but proved that was a mistake, yes i had no water or dust inside the engine bay but the engine couldn't not ''exhale", the air was not circulated properly and the temperature inside was raised a lot.

Sometimes you can find a tiny amount of water in those areas because the black plastic cover does not have (like a Corvette) a sealant gasket with the car body. After many years the gasket (in the oval shape) due to friction with the hood (open-close procedure) maybe will get rubbed and let some water drops to pass inside but ''No big deal". As for the water inside the fuse box-factory sponge then the culprit is the wind shield sealant which has been vanished due to sun-age etc. First clean thoroughly the whole area, use alcohol with a cloth to remove any remains, let it dry or use compressed air and then you apply the sealant.

I disagree, common silicone won't work except if it's Aquarium type which can last even 10 years. There are more efficient products, ''windshield gasket sealant'' is the key phrase, an example: https://www.3m.co.uk/3M/en_GB/p/d/b40067005/ There are drain holes in the bottom of the door, check them if they clogged. For the drain channels of the sides you can use a tool that electricians have.

Left and right the engine bay are the water drain paths, here in GR we call them for fun as ''sink''. Are they free of debris, leaves etc? A little water in the sides of the engine bay can be found, rain passes throught the hood sides, it's not something uncommon. Are your door seals in good condition? Are they soft cared with special product or you leave them unattenand and got stiff?

The washers aren't clogged? Their plastic can with water is clean? In the bottom has any residues? You hear the sound of the pump while pressing the lever?

https://youtu.be/cubO1HT50s0?si=IgfsQeJQ5TINusL0

Sorry, VCDS it's a scanning tool for error codes.

I have faced some problems with the tailgate gasket and the rear glass seal in my Felicia. I have posted a video too but we are not the only one. Same problem with Porsche Panamera - Boxster - Cayenne, water drain holes are clogged and here is the tragic result.

https://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/491830-ngk-bkur5et-10-your-opinion-about-them/ https://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/503282-ngk-iridium-bkr5eix-11-do-they-look-good/ https://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/504479-denso-ik16-iridium-which-never-worked-for-me/ Only bad experiences i had with other spark plugs except the Champion platinum.

Lot of electrical issues. Have you run an error test with VSDS or a similar tool? Have you check the connections in the right lever on steering wheel column? The bulbs for the reverse are OK?