kellaway86

The EGR/ASV wasn't as bad to remove as i was expecting, it was the god damn EGR Cooler that i wanted to smash up with a hammer! Yer once its back together its got to run alot better without all that crap restricting airflow!

Got a bit more work completed today before work. Decided to tackle all the dirty jobs today and get every thing cleaned up ready to go back together. All started with fire! IMG_0518.jpg by Daniel Kellaway, on Flickr A very dirty inlet about to get a good "bath" IMG_0521.jpg by Daniel Kellaway, on Flickr IMG_0520.jpg by Daniel Kellaway, on Flickr Fire + compressed air = Clean manifold! Here is the Youtube video of it on fire :D https://youtu.be/7yy7m6XdkkI burn1.jpg by Daniel Kellaway, on Flickr burn2.jpg by Daniel Kellaway, on Flickr After burning, some dry carbon remains. IMG_0525.jpg by Daniel Kellaway, on Flickr IMG_0527.jpg by Daniel Kellaway, on Flickr Got the Egr and ASV cleaned out, with a combination of chemicals and scrubbing! IMG_0532.jpg by Daniel Kellaway, on Flickr IMG_0533.jpg by Daniel Kellaway, on Flickr IMG_0535.jpg by Daniel Kellaway, on Flickr IMG_0536.jpg by Daniel Kellaway, on Flickr Set about giving the manifold and the turbo inlet pipe a good clean! The finished product! IMG_0540.jpg by Daniel Kellaway, on Flickr IMG_0542.jpg by Daniel Kellaway, on Flickr IMG_0544.jpg by Daniel Kellaway, on Flickr IMG_0545.jpg by Daniel Kellaway, on Flickr IMG_0546.jpg by Daniel Kellaway, on Flickr Next moved onto sorting the CV Boot Unmasked. IMG_0537.jpg by Daniel Kellaway, on Flickr New boot on, IMG_0550.jpg by Daniel Kellaway, on Flickr No pictures of the during, didn't want to get new CV grease all over the place! IMG_0553.jpg by Daniel Kellaway, on Flickr Next dirty job was change the leaking rocker cover gasket, it had been seeping down the back of the engine. IMG_0554.jpg by Daniel Kellaway, on Flickr Removed IMG_0556.jpg by Daniel Kellaway, on Flickr Here is where it had been leaking. IMG_0561.jpg by Daniel Kellaway, on Flickr And here, IMG_0562.jpg by Daniel Kellaway, on Flickr New one getting put in place, not many pics as you have to use some sealant! You use a couple of spots of sealant and then place the cover back on the head them torque down the 13 bolts in a pattern to 10NM. Cambelt looked in good condition! IMG_0564.jpg by Daniel Kellaway, on Flickr Thats it for today, got the rocker cover back on, and cleaned up the massive mess i had made. Hopefully next few days will get it all put back together!

EGR Delete / Blank / Manifold Clean So Ive decided to blank off the EGR and give the inlet and ASV a good clean. Im sure its due after 125k miles! BLT Engine EGR Setup IMG_0480.jpg by Daniel Kellaway, on Flickr Remove the elbow, IMG_0483.jpg by Daniel Kellaway, on Flickr Sign of things to follow, ASV looking "clean" IMG_0482.jpg by Daniel Kellaway, on Flickr ASV removal IMG_0485.jpg by Daniel Kellaway, on Flickr Some nice pesky hidden bolts! IMG_0486.jpg by Daniel Kellaway, on Flickr O boy! The ASV!! IMG_0492.jpg by Daniel Kellaway, on Flickr IMG_0493.jpg by Daniel Kellaway, on Flickr The EGR!! IMG_0498.jpg by Daniel Kellaway, on Flickr Inlet not looking the best! IMG_0500.jpg by Daniel Kellaway, on Flickr Turbo Inlet Pipe removed! IMG_0502.jpg by Daniel Kellaway, on Flickr BLT Euro 4 EGR Cooler removal! Had some right pain in the ass bolts to remove! IMG_0504.jpg by Daniel Kellaway, on Flickr Finally the Inlet manifold removed! IMG_0506.jpg by Daniel Kellaway, on Flickr IMG_0510.jpg by Daniel Kellaway, on Flickr Bit Choked up! IMG_0511.jpg by Daniel Kellaway, on Flickr Next drained the coolant so i can remove the EGR Cooler! IMG_0512.jpg by Daniel Kellaway, on Flickr IMG_0515.jpg by Daniel Kellaway, on Flickr Then take out on of the coolant pipes and loop it into the "T" to complete the circuit! IMG_0516.jpg by Daniel Kellaway, on Flickr IMG_0517.jpg by Daniel Kellaway, on Flickr That's as far as i got tonight, blanking plates should be here tomorrow, and already picked up new gaskets and O rings from TPS. Going to be doing a bit of DIY ECU tinkering as well as blanking the EGR will throw the EML on. Think she going to drive alot better with all that crap cleaned out!

CV Boot Fix Part 1 So decided to go get a genuine CV Boot so nipped to TPS and picked up one, and took the other one back to ECP, Not worth the risk of having to do the job twice! IMG_0445.jpg by Daniel Kellaway, on Flickr Also got a new 36mm 12 point socket from amazon for the hub nut! IMG_0446.jpg by Daniel Kellaway, on Flickr IMG_0447.jpg by Daniel Kellaway, on Flickr So got "my assistant " to hold the break for me while undoing! IMG_0450.jpg by Daniel Kellaway, on Flickr Once that's removed next is the 3 x 13mm bottom ball joint bolts! IMG_0454.jpg by Daniel Kellaway, on Flickr Next up the 6 x M12 spline bolts on the drive shaft, easy removal with the air ratchet! IMG_0457.jpg by Daniel Kellaway, on Flickr Give the shaft a knock or two and you have your self 1 x driveshaft! IMG_0459.jpg by Daniel Kellaway, on Flickr Split boot. IMG_0461.jpg by Daniel Kellaway, on Flickr Cut the boot open and put some gloves on! Its going to get messy! IMG_0464.jpg by Daniel Kellaway, on Flickr Yummy IMG_0465.jpg by Daniel Kellaway, on Flickr IMG_0466.jpg by Daniel Kellaway, on Flickr After using an entire roll of paper towel. IMG_0467.jpg by Daniel Kellaway, on Flickr Proceed to knock the knuckle off the shaft! Lump hammer required here as the ball peen not man enough! IMG_0468.jpg by Daniel Kellaway, on Flickr Knuckle Removed. IMG_0469.jpg by Daniel Kellaway, on Flickr IMG_0472.jpg by Daniel Kellaway, on Flickr Given a proper clean. IMG_0473.jpg by Daniel Kellaway, on Flickr Cleaned up with the wire wheel and masked for painting! IMG_0475.jpg by Daniel Kellaway, on Flickr Primer then top coat! IMG_0479.jpg by Daniel Kellaway, on Flickr Leaving that to dry over night and will put it back together tomorrow!

Used a similar one of these to free drive shafts and rear drums, you know they are stuck when you have to wind them in with the impact, then unleash the 7lb sledge on the end of it! Mine is a machine mart brand, but looks identical. Good tool for the tool box :)

Nice work lofty, few and far between who enjoy doing the job properly. I'm thinking about steeling your idea for my BLT egr, how ever not running meth but for hiding a boost gauge sender. By removing the piston and the excess metal and blanking off makes a nice stealthy egr delete. You going to be runing a fake vacume hose to it? How are you planning on sealing the piston to accuator off? Could see it possibly leeking and loosing boost out the accuator.

So been 12k miles and a year of motoring out of the VRS, she is due for an MOT and service. IMG_0415.jpg by Daniel Kellaway, on Flickr So took her down the local Mot place, and she passed! however not with a clean sheet! IMG_0412.jpg by Daniel Kellaway, on Flickr The tyres are going to be a easy fix, knew they were getting low. The Cv Boot was not expected, and its getting sorted ASAP. Dont want water and crap getting in the joint! The only oil leak ive been able to find is the lower inter cooler pipes have a slight weep on them. Noting to worry about and a quick clean will be fine. The exhaust clamp, yet again. Easy Fix. So went and grabbed some parts! IMG_0408.jpg by Daniel Kellaway, on Flickr IMG_0429.jpg by Daniel Kellaway, on Flickr IMG_0430.jpg by Daniel Kellaway, on Flickr Then got her home and in the garage and up on axle stands! IMG_0418.jpg by Daniel Kellaway, on Flickr First up was oil and filter change! IMG_0420.jpg by Daniel Kellaway, on Flickr IMG_0421.jpg by Daniel Kellaway, on Flickr IMG_0423.jpg by Daniel Kellaway, on Flickr Then air, IMG_0432.jpg by Daniel Kellaway, on Flickr IMG_0434.jpg by Daniel Kellaway, on Flickr Pollen filter, which wasnt to bad to be honest, but changed anyway. IMG_0435.jpg by Daniel Kellaway, on Flickr IMG_0436.jpg by Daniel Kellaway, on Flickr Sorted the exhaust clamp, was past its best haha! IMG_0439.jpg by Daniel Kellaway, on Flickr IMG_0442.jpg by Daniel Kellaway, on Flickr Replaced with a new ECP special! IMG_0444.jpg by Daniel Kellaway, on Flickr Going to sort the CV boot over the weekend, just waiting on a 36mm 12pt Bi-Hex socket to be delivered off Amazon. I've got a pretty decent selection of tools, but always seem to need more :D

Yup, mine was starting to get very smokey on start up and it's now as clean as a whistle. Yup it's crazy how fast they start with a new battery!

Small update, been trouble free motoring for the last few thousands miles, just general keeping the VRS clean and getting out and using it! As the cold nights started coming in i noticed the battery becoming ever so weak, considering its the original battery at 9 years old its time for a change! New Exide EA640 4 Year warrenty 64Ah with 640CCA! - £48 delivered next day bargain! Euro Car Parts wanted over £75 for the same battery! IMG_8461.jpg by Daniel Kellaway, on Flickr Whipped the old one out in the freezing cold due to my garage having a family members car in for repair! IMG_8462.jpg by Daniel Kellaway, on Flickr 9 Year old original! IMG_8463.jpg by Daniel Kellaway, on Flickr Installed in its new home! IMG_8465.jpg by Daniel Kellaway, on Flickr Jumped in the car and wow, i hadn't really noticed how bad the old battery had got! Engine jumped to life extremely fast! Should see me right for winter!

Ive been burned in the past with cheap lower arms. I was on the look out for some febi or lemforder arms to pop up for a reasonable price but couldnt find any. Wanted to polly bush the whole arm. Hopefully going about it this way i wont have to change the ball joints again.

Yup, for £30 its got to be worth a try, even if it turns out not to be, least you know for 100% it wont be that part of the system.

So the old console bush. IMG_8047.jpg by Daniel Kellaway, on Flickr Removed with a combination of hacksaw and chisels. IMG_8048.jpg by Daniel Kellaway, on Flickr IMG_8049.jpg by Daniel Kellaway, on Flickr IMG_8050.jpg by Daniel Kellaway, on Flickr Old V New IMG_8051.jpg by Daniel Kellaway, on Flickr Tapped in. IMG_8053.jpg by Daniel Kellaway, on Flickr Quick photo of the new track rod ends while im here. IMG_8056.jpg by Daniel Kellaway, on Flickr Arms ready to go. IMG_8057.jpg by Daniel Kellaway, on Flickr Installing the front bush. IMG_8059.jpg by Daniel Kellaway, on Flickr IMG_8060.jpg by Daniel Kellaway, on Flickr IMG_8061.jpg by Daniel Kellaway, on Flickr IMG_8063.jpg by Daniel Kellaway, on Flickr Reinstalling new ball joint. IMG_8065.jpg by Daniel Kellaway, on Flickr IMG_8067.jpg by Daniel Kellaway, on Flickr Ready to go. IMG_8068.jpg by Daniel Kellaway, on Flickr New M12 bolts. IMG_8069.jpg by Daniel Kellaway, on Flickr After some fighting and swearing got the lowers arms back in and bolted up. Took some hammering and aligning but got the job sorted. IMG_8070.jpg by Daniel Kellaway, on Flickr IMG_8072.jpg by Daniel Kellaway, on Flickr IMG_8073.jpg by Daniel Kellaway, on Flickr Got the wheels back on and went for a drive, massive improvement yet again. Alot more precise turn in and not as much wondering around on the road! Well worth the time and money!

So been doing a few more bits to the Fabia over the last few weeks. Had new Lemforder track rod ends fitted and tracking re-aligned, didnt bother doing this my self as the garage chucked the track rods on for free with the alignment The old ones where pretty loose and looked original, sorry no pics this time! Next up was the lower ball joint and the fitting PSB Polly Bushes to the lower arm to fully finish off my suspension refresh! Started off with the usual, cleaned the garage out and got the car in and up on stands! IMG_8008.jpg by Daniel Kellaway, on Flickr New Goodies. IMG_8009.jpg by Daniel Kellaway, on Flickr IMG_8010.jpg by Daniel Kellaway, on Flickr IMG_8014.jpg by Daniel Kellaway, on Flickr Old Ball joints, Yum IMG_8016.jpg by Daniel Kellaway, on Flickr Whole arm IMG_8018.jpg by Daniel Kellaway, on Flickr Nut removed with a fight! IMG_8020.jpg by Daniel Kellaway, on Flickr Now, the main lower arm bolt on these is well known to be stuck solid and break off inside of the lower console sub frame, mostly due to the miss match of steel bolt in a aluminium casting. I was fearing the worst so had purchased two new lower consoles from ECP for £117 and some new bolts from TPS in case mine where to break so i wasn't stuck car less. Gave the bolts a good soak in Plus Gas, I've never used Plus Gas before but had heard good reviews and i wasn't disappointed. So with some praying and a few love taps with the big hammer before i even tried to remove them, i stuck the impact on them and went for it. To my wallets surprise and delight they came flying out! IMG_8022.jpg by Daniel Kellaway, on Flickr Looks like when the console bushes have been changed in the past the lovely mechanic who did the job gave the bolts a good coat of anti-seize If i could buy that man a beer i would! Grabbed the pickle fork to break the lower ball joint tapers. IMG_8024.jpg by Daniel Kellaway, on Flickr IMG_8026.jpg by Daniel Kellaway, on Flickr Removed from the hub, Ball joint had quite a bit of free play in it on the passengers side. IMG_8027.jpg by Daniel Kellaway, on Flickr After some rotating the arm and some swearing the arm was free. IMG_8028.jpg by Daniel Kellaway, on Flickr In the vice for ball joint removal. IMG_8029.jpg by Daniel Kellaway, on Flickr IMG_8033.jpg by Daniel Kellaway, on Flickr IMG_8034.jpg by Daniel Kellaway, on Flickr Got the drivers side pulled out and found the ball joint was split and very loose. IMG_8035.jpg by Daniel Kellaway, on Flickr IMG_8036.jpg by Daniel Kellaway, on Flickr Now on to removing the front smaller bushings. Cut the excess rubber off then with a combination of m12 threaded road and some sockets push the old bushings out. IMG_8037.jpg by Daniel Kellaway, on Flickr IMG_8038.jpg by Daniel Kellaway, on Flickr IMG_8039.jpg by Daniel Kellaway, on Flickr IMG_8040.jpg by Daniel Kellaway, on Flickr IMG_8041.jpg by Daniel Kellaway, on Flickr IMG_8042.jpg by Daniel Kellaway, on Flickr Both bushes removed and lower arms ready for a quick clean up. IMG_8043.jpg by Daniel Kellaway, on Flickr IMG_8044.jpg by Daniel Kellaway, on Flickr Couple of coats of zinc primer followed by some matt black. IMG_8045.jpg by Daniel Kellaway, on Flickr

Could be a blocked/collapsed radiator core? Mite be worth chucking a new one in it,they are very cheap for what they are. If your handy with the spanners they are kids play to change.

Chuck that circoli thermostat in the bin, i had one ran it for about a week and swapped it out for a genuine from TPS. Was around £25. The difference was night and day! Them ECP thermostats are not worth the time and effort!

Meyle HD is the way forward! They just ooooze quality. Eliminated my knocking from the front!

Nope covered in VW Audi logo's Exactly the same as what came off the car. IMG_6368.jpg by Daniel Kellaway, on Flickr

Good luck on getting it sorted. I mite pop down to croft later on for a nosey!

Genuine Skoda OEM is £39 per side. Why bother with aftermarket when its only a couple of quid difference!

That makes sence to me but cant find them. Are they under the heat shield?

IMG_7271.jpg by Daniel Kellaway, on Flickr

So, i discovered a few weeks ago that my gear selector cables where rattling off the front heat shield on my VRS. I though i had solved the problem by moving them about and the heat shield and attaching some cable ties. However the rattle returns after about a week and i have to re position them again. Is there meant to be a clip for these to attach to as i cant see one anywhere on mine and sure enough after a week or so the rattle returns and the cables touching the front heat shield again. Any ideas? Don't want to be overly removing the heat shield if i can help it!

I use TPS at Stockton, great bunch of guys and gals. Always got plenty of time for walk in's and very helpful and knowledgeable Will even order stuff in over the phone. I'm not trade but the invoice is made out to Trade Counter Sales.

Wow, thats alot of build up. Apprently oven cleaner is good for cleaning out carbon! Im in the mind set to remove my egr completly now on my blt.

£79 for a pair of genuine from TPS. Cheaper and much better than eurocarparts thats for sure. As everyone else is saying new bumpstops as well.