Haladams

Not an uncommon issue on older cars, esp the 1.9. Do not leave the temp sensor unplugged - you might need it one day... cooling is pretty bomb proof on the 1.9 and may not need intervention, but your call. 1. Have a really good service. Even give the top end an old fashioned de-coke. 2. Make sure your glow plugs are good. Better, fit four new ones. 3. Look on ebay for 'Diesel hot start'. Often associated with Range-Rover or BMW. A simple little black box about a tenner. Install per instructions. 4. Buy and fit a High Torque starter. All worth every penny. Each time you start - hot or cold, wait for the orange light to go out and hit the starter for an instant start. Keep the engine well serviced, with especial attention to the glow plugs and use the best quality fuel that you can. I did this six years ago and never looked back. I hardly hear the engine turn over before it starts.

I'd be happy to try Kayaba this time around - what do most think is best, gas or oil? Mostly the truck will be empty, with maybe one or two full loads per year...

Good morning The Felicia model seems to have now dropped off the Koni catalog, but I am sure others are using the same shock absorbers - notably the Fabia or Favorit maybe? Does any one have records of part numbers from the old days? I badly need two rears for a 1.9D pick up and will take two fronts if I can find any. Alternatively, part numbers of other solid manufacturers - eg Spax? I am fed up with the cheap supply from the likes of Autodoc. Thanks for any help!

I paid for 21Gb of PDF files of the workshop manual. If this is pirated software, ok then someone has 9€ of my cash! Had it downloaded and popped up immediately as a readable file - as mac downloads generally do - then, for me, it would have been cheap at the price. Free on torrents means nothing to me! but if it involves perfprming all the garbage in the download instructions, I am happy for it to remain as meaning nothing! I have a Haynes now, so will delete the downloads if they are no good to anyone.

Send me your email address and you can have the Elsawin files I bought before I realised they are only good for a Windows PC. I attach the mallarchy procedure to get them up and running - double dutch to me, but I understand such mechanics are part and parcel of using Windows. So if you like this sort of thing, they are yours! Put a couple of pounds into an animal charity. elsawn 2017 installation instructions_76f0c3808f4bc5b7d7c6323878d03ccf.odt

I have a complete Pick-up body rolling chassis out the back with zero rust on the suspension panels, with doors and bonnet but no tailgate. It is in what I would call 95% condition - a modicum of body work and a repaint. It is in SW France. Free to anyone who wants to arrange collection!

Thanks. Yes, your table shows the 3.35 final drive listed with the 14S box that is pre 1997 as I stated. It does not show it as an option on the newer 14SK box that was used in 2000. This could be for one of two reasons: Skoda deemed the 3.35 ratio as too low for most requirements and standardised on the 3.5 ratio, or, there is a physical difference perhaps with the bearing size. I have one on order but they are hard to find apparently, so I will find out when I start to assemble the box!

I wish to lower my final drive ratio from 3.58. Does anyone know if the pre 1997 final drive with the 3.39 ratio (p/n 002311359L) fit the gearset and differential of a post 1997 gearbox - ie can it replace the 3.58 final drive (p/n 002311359P)? It looks as if it can from pictures, and indeed the part number suggests that it is possible, but if anyone knows for sure, might save me 200€ in finding out the hard way! Thanks and happy new year!

If you fancy a run down to the South of France with a small car trailer, or if you can organise a collection, I have a rolling Pick Up body that is rust free (I think it spent its life in North Africa) and it is yours for free. The body as I say id rust free front and rear, but it has had carpet and a ply base glued into the cargo well that will need some persuation. There will be no engine/gearbox in it and there is no VIN number plate or stamping.

Have you tried any of the engine recon organisations? I have had a quote for an exchange box in France, the only caveat being that they might not be able to guarantee the earlier type - I think the difference is a couple of points in the final drive ratio.

An MOT teser? You are a handy person to know then😀 But it sounds as if you still have a small licence to use your judgement. Here it is pure box ticking. I respect the reasons for it, there are far too many rotten cars on the road. There is a Caterham for sale that needs work on it, so I think I will take the little truck back to standard and use it for what it was intended for. But here I have hit another snag! I only have 15" wheels other thqn the 17s. I popped back to my CT chap to ensure they'd be OK. He said yes, aas they are listed on his tablet with 205/45 tyres BUT make sure that they have load rating 83 or more as the Felicia truck has a higher load capacity than the car where 81s are fine. Fine, except no one appears to make 205/45 with 83 load certification. Lots at good prices of 81s, but no 83!😭 But all not lost, loads of 83s in the 13" rim size. Only snag is - yep, you guessed it - impossible to find Felicia 13" rims...😭😭

This would not have to go through a CT! Just to add to lots of crazy things here, any car in circulation prior to 1960 does not need testing...

HaHa! I love your style!😎 You are instantly hired to be my Mr Fixer!🤠 Unfortunately in France these days, we just have to comply. It was well advertised that the CT was going to be tougher, ad it is! There is quite a good following in France of M1 Caddy and Mini enthusiasts. I have read that these guys have been badly hit as well. A real pity as in truth you will find that the condition of enthusiast owned cars is a lot better than not. There was a very well built Pick Up I was interested in down in Portugal - turbo engine, aircon, 17" wheels, recarros etc with I think was a Golf front end. Very tidy it was but pricey. I am glad I left it alone now😀 I will toe the line I guess. There are a few kit cars that are legal in France, so I might buy one of these so that I can tuck myself away in the workshop. I might even find one that can use Mondeo and Golf brakes...😀 No, all listed under the Defaillance (Majeures) section. The only thing under the Mineures section was a 'support de moteur arriere - anomalie de fixation' I spoke with my neighbour last night who is a Porsche enthusiast who told me that there is a wide following here in the inspection circles that steel braided brake hoses are not liked because the braid can hide a physical defect in the hose material that is not visible. OK, yes, it is possible but...? He also thought having an ancilliary light not doing anything should not be a majeure. He also said I might have been asking for difficulty going in there with the car so immaculate right down to new shiny white 17" wheels. A self respecting farmer with an 18 yeqar old pick up would have a mud build up underneath and even mud inside and would sail through😀😀 I will buy your Pal's name next time😀

Whoa up Guys! I am not complaining! Or being critical of the system! I had hoped the proliferation of emojis might have conveyed my tone! I am simply saying that the irony of a car being too good in some points may cause an examiner to look further. And yes, anyone in France, do not modify a car to make it any better..! If anyone is concerned, the old front running gear is back on, tyres are on order for tomorrow and bog standard brake hoses on order from Autodoc. Rear brakes will be on tomorrow and then back for final tick in the box next week. All good😀

Yep, only in France! My mistake really - I chose the first appointment after his two hour lunch. Everyone here knows the only way to get through these things quickly and safely is choose the 1130 -1145 slot as they want to be out the door at midday...😀 How is it in the UK these days - do the MoT chappies go through everything with a fine toothcomb? Here they have rather a natty dual rolling road where they can set the roll on individual sides plus I noticed there is a vibrator just before the rolling drums that he parked on for a minute to test the shockabsorbers - mine showed between 1% and 5%, but a percentage of what, I don't know. Do they have this in the UK?