RickLeeds

Reconnecting the bulkhead hoses in the engine bay is much easier with two people. One standing at the front of the car and using one hand to push the hose. The other stands by the passenger door and uses their left hand to hold the hose union. I think only people who have had to do this will understand what I'm on about, but it's to do with getting a hand the right way round. (Caution, it does result in the two of you grunting and groaning and saying things like "Is it in yet?" "No, push harder!") Also, after this cold weather I can add one more variable to the equation. The washer stopped squirting one very cold morning, so I assumed the nozzles were frozen and the connection had popped off. It hadn't. Then I realised I couldn't hear the reservoir pump working. So the next thought was a fuse had gone as the pump over-loaded trying to pump ice. Managed to drive for a couple of hours (note to self, don't ask other half to look up fuse locations via txt messages again), when suddenly the pump was working again. All I can think is that the water in the pump froze solid and wouldn't even let it try moving. This was with a reasonable washer mix in, but it was -10 or so. I guess the position of the reservoir low down and away from the heat of the engine allows it to happen. Happened a few more times, so I'm now wondering about stuffing a bit of insulation around the reservoir.

Bought our used Fabia from Hayselden in Donny, but DM Keith Leeds is the local dealer. The fan relay needed replacing under warranty which they happily agreed to do. As Sod's Law would have it, whilst driving down the service light came on. Turned out this was a major service with cam belt change. Servicing and cam belt needed doing so I left it overnight and collected the next day. Now, possibly I'm old fashioned in this, but I'd have expected the car to have been washed, if not valeted. It wasn't. However, my main beef is that there was a good 20 miles put on the clock. My guess is that someone had been home in it overnight. Inexcusable if true. No way that either a service or cambelt change should put that on the clock.