Hi everyone.

Well I've done it. I have bought a Favorit! I paid £475 for it, which I think is over the odds as it goes, but I don't mind. I love it.

One problem that I have though, is that the temperature guage doesn't work.

I have attempted to include a pic, but it's from Facebook and so may well not work. If it does, is this the temperature guage sender unit?

Any tips for dealing with this problem?

Also, how do I clean grime from the engine bay and door hinges etc?

I'm a bit of a novice mechanically, but I'm hoping the the Favorit will help me to learn... not too fast though!

Anyway, if you can see the pic, please confirm that I am looking at the right part, if not any temperature gauge fixing suggestions....

Hi and welcome.

Your engine bay looks positively much cleaner than mine!. The main thing with cleaning the engine bay is that no water gets into the electronics. You can wrap tin foil around the electronics so it acts as almost like an umbrella. My approach would be to use an engine degreaser spray, let it work in, and gently hose it off (bearing in mind the electronics and water thing) - then take all the protective stuff off and get the engine running to dry it out.

Regarding door hinges and shuts a member here has a very unique approach I don't have the balls to try which involves directing a pressure washer at them (if I tried it there's be big puddles in the car, lol). Here's one of his posts on DW showing him at work http://www.detailingworld.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=138678 On those bits I just use warm water and car shampoo with a sponge, then when it's dried out put a little oil onto the hinges.

Yes you are looking at the correct part. And the Favorit is a good car to learn DIY mechanics on.

As for the temperature, start by removing the connector in the middle of the picture. Connect this with a short length of wire to the engine block and the level should read full when the key is in the on position. If it does not read full the problem is most likely with the wiring , the gauge itself or it's earth connection. If it does go to full reading most likely the sensor needs replacing. It is also possible you simply need to remove this connector, give the spade connector it sits on a little sanding down, and then it will work.

Also if you haven't driven long distances yet it is possible the thermostat has failed in the open position which would leave the temperature reading low until you'd driven for quite a long distance. Easy check for that though is to feel that the hoses are actually getting hot.

Let us know how you get on

Edited 18 October, 200916 yr by anewman

Best thing to clean door shuts etc. of grease, grime is to use white spirit and a cloth, will come up lovely, and harmless to the cars paintwork.

How about some piccy's??

Paul

PS. Does your temp. guage work at all, ie. move up just a little, or nothing at all?

Temperature Gauge Sender Unit picture by compson_media - Photobucket

Thanks - if anyone does want a better look, the pictures are here. The dealer did a pretty good job of dolling it up, and so it isn't quite as brilliant as it looks in the pics, but I am pretty excited. I love favorits!

http://i815.photobucket.com/albums/zz71/compson_media/DSCN0006.jpg

http://i815.photobucket.com/albums/zz71/compson_media/DSCN0007.jpg

http://i815.photobucket.com/albums/zz71/compson_media/DSCN0008.jpg

http://i815.photobucket.com/albums/zz71/compson_media/DSCN0010.jpg

http://i815.photobucket.com/albums/zz71/compson_media/DSCN0011.jpg

Yeah. I drove it from Weatherby (Yorks) to Essex and the gauge didn't move at all. Thanks to both. For your excellent advice.

Looks very tidy

That looks fab! :thumbup:What mileage has it done?

When you've checked out the temp guage as per anewman's advice, if it turns out to be the guage itself (although I think this is probably unlikely) I have a replacement you can have gratis for the cost to post you it, let me know.

Regards

Paul

That does look very tidy indeed!!! i want alloys on mine and a respray.

Anewmans right in saying the Favorit is an excellent car for DIY mechanics as you can pretty much take the car apart and put it all back with just spanners and a few screwdrivers!!!

I dunno what it is about Favorits, even though someone tried nicking mine I'm not getting rid of her, i've grown attached to the thing!! It runs well, easy to fix back up and if you've ever done a few handbrake turns on grass/gravel you'll know how good these babies handle!!!!

Was it This one you bought?

Thanks again. Yeah I'm going to have a look at the weekend. I'm pretty sure that it is the wiring. Yes it does look tidy, but there is in fact a fair bit of well disguised rust.

Cheers Favguy, that's really good of you to offer. I may take you up on it.

The car has done 45000 miles which I think is genuine. The impression I get is that its first owner really looked after it, but perhaps its second owner didn't so much.

Only guessing of course.

I don't have a jack, the spare wheel bracket, an owners' manual, or a code for the Blaupunkt radio. Most importantly, I only have one key! Didn't realise till I got home, and the dealer doesn't have a second.

Hey Ho.

Yes Sissko. It is 'that very one'.

Edited 22 October, 200916 yr by byronbunch
Something to add.

The ignition keys can be cut for hardly anything at a high street key cutters (they have no immobiliser chips in them). If you have a separate immobiliser key, these can no longer be copied, but the immobiliser is not too difficult to remove.

The thing that holds the spare wheel in the well is just a screw in thing. I think all it's meant to do is stop the wheel bouncing up in the air so it makes noise. Over the top is just a piece of mdf with rubber round the edges, would be real easy to knock one of those up. The jack is nothing special, it's just a scissor jack with a notch for the sill, I imagine you might find one that will do the job at a scrappie.

Owners manual doesn't say much. Things that may be of interest are the intermittent wiper feature (think it's only on the G models) where if you put the wiper control down, then take it off and put it back down again it makes the time difference between you switching it on to switching it back on the delay between the wiper starting again (sorry I explained that crap, but it works!) Also removing the headrest, putting the seat all the way forwards, and winding the seat all the way as far as it goes is supposed to create a "bed" Skoda call it. I don't think it really says anything else that isn't obvious.

If you want a scissor jack I have that knocking around my garage and about 3 wheel spiders if you want one.

I'll be round London way in November

Finally got around to looking ANEWMAN. Sure enough, when the wire is put onto the block, the guage flies up to the top, so I guess I need a new sender unit.

Thanks again.

Geoff.

You may as well replace the thermostat while you are at it :P

I have a Favorit scissor jack in the garage surplus to requirements too.