Diary of an Ordinary Van

[madmark_50484]

When you say quickclear I assume your reffering to a heated windscreen that should have made a difference in that time. You say about chips in windscreen did you not just get it ??

[Vee4]

When you say quickclear I assume your reffering to a heated windscreen that should have made a difference in that time. You say about chips in windscreen did you not just get it ??

Ah yes, plenty of silicon chips (too many, in fact) in the new van, but windscreen chips were in the old Mk5. I was given an 'advisory' about it with the MOT. It was another item on the list in favour of a new van - I had to justify it to myself somehow.

I was just editing the message above as you posted, so check that for the results.

[Vee4]

Links to useful Mk7 topics (to be updated regularly):

(1) Annoying things on my Mk7 (why is this the first on the list?): viewtopic.php?f=5&t=46178&start=0

(2) Post up your Mk7 rust pics: viewtopic.php?f=14&t=41848&start=0

(3) Remote charging of key fob: viewtopic.php?f=2&t=49329&start=0

(4) Mk7 FWD gear ratios: viewtopic.php?p=370772#p370772

(5) Second Battery: viewtopic.php?f=5&t=52287&start=0

(6) Parking brake or handbrake?: viewtopic.php?f=5&t=52312

(7) Slot on Mk7 dashboard: viewtopic.php?f=5&t=46238&start=0

(8) DMF - can't live with it, can't live without it:

http://moodle.student.cnwl.ac.uk/moodle ... heels.html

http://www.schaeffler.com/remotemedien/ ... _de_en.pdf
(Check page 20 of this reference regarding the effects of 'chip tuning')

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YnaXB8q3uzQ

(9) Restrain yourself (some links relating to load restraints): viewtopic.php?p=474339#p474339

(10) Satellite navigation systems and installation: viewtopic.php?f=5&t=42067&start=0

(11) BTCS (Brake Traction Control System): search.php?st=0&sk=t&sd=d&keywords=btcs

(12) Low Emission Zone (LEZ): http://www.tfl.gov.uk/roadusers/lez/2526.aspx

(13) Mk7 fuse location: viewtopic.php?f=40&t=49206&start=0

(14) The dirt on sludge: viewtopic.php?p=426189#p426189

(15) Mk7 EGR valve bypass surgery: viewtopic.php?f=5&t=60324&start=0

(16) Oil - when to change and what to use: viewtopic.php?p=542800#p542800

(17) I want my MP3 (so use something other than the 6000 CD): viewtopic.php?p=542942#p542942

(18) Mk7 'lane change' indicators: viewtopic.php?f=5&t=67174&start=0

(19) Anti-hijack locking: viewtopic.php?f=5&t=68388&start=0

(20) Hill Launch Assist (HLA):

viewtopic.php?p=459895#p459895
viewtopic.php?f=5&t=68459&start=0

(21) Body and Paint Check (for the Corrosion Warranty): viewtopic.php?p=588483#p588483

Before anyone says, I will eventually change everything to the 'hidden URL' display mode.

[Vee4]

When you say quickclear I assume your reffering to a heated windscreen that should have made a difference in that time.

Slightly less mist this morning and the Quickclear was seen to be working. It cleared both sides equally quickly which was good to see because on the Mk5 it always cleared the left side first.

[Vee4]

I have a new game to play: it's called 'Beat the SIL' - can you change up through the box before the SIL (Shift Indicator Light) comes on? The running-in instructions in the handbook say not to labour the engine but it seems to me that if you are a slave to the SIL, the engine will be struggling at too low rpm some of the time.

SIL-related links:

1) Shift Indicator Light: viewtopic.php?f=5&t=50273&start=0
2) Can the annoying green arrow be deactivated?: viewtopic.php?f=5&t=42695&start=0

[ginsambo]

Sorry you had to scrap your Smiley. But looks like you got a result!

Regarding the LEZ - has that not been postponed now? - And what if (Like me) you love your MK5 so much you replace the 2.5Di with a modern low emissions engine? I suppose that doesn't qualify either, much in the same way as an aftermarket LPG conversion won't reduce your tax class?....

I could have a horse drawn MK5 with no engine and I'd still have to pay £185, or has that gone up now too, doesn't seem fair somehow.

At least people won't think your dodgy now. I went to look at a Mk6 the other day at an MOT station in my Smiley and they called the owners as they thought I'd come to case the joint in my trusty pikey mobile.
Mk5's induce a really extreme negetive reaction in people - thats why I want to custom my front end.

Keep an eye on your lap joints underneath your Mk7 - if they are built like Mk6's once the rust gets in it seems it can do a lot more damage than to a MK5. Also, I think the sills and wings will rust the same untreated, they certainly do on a Mk6.

[Vee4]

Regarding the LEZ - has that not been postponed now?

That is postponed until further notice, but I don't know how much notice:
http://www.tfl.gov.uk/corporate/media/n ... 11096.aspx

At least people won't think your dodgy now.

I expect I will have less trouble with the Old Bill, as they were always stopping me while I was driving through a posh area of south west London late at night. It became so frequent that as soon as I saw the police car, or unmarked car behaving like a police car (it's the sudden U-turn then tailgating you while they call in the reg.), I would just pull over and stop to save them the trouble! Funnily enough, I don't think my customers were too bothered, because the old Mk5 was a bit like me - tatty round the edges, but reliable and always turned up on time!

Keep an eye on your lap joints underneath your Mk7 - if they are built like Mk6's once the rust gets in it seems it can do a lot more damage than to a MK5. Also, I think the sills and wings will rust the same untreated, they certainly do on a Mk6.

This Mk7 was made in Turkey (TT in the VIN) and there have been comments from other members to the effect that the Turkish build is less likely to rust. I might start a section to pull together the evidence. It brings a new meaning to the old rhyming slang, "You're 'avin a Turkish ..."

[Vee4]

Today's puzzles:

1) To figure out how to add arrows or other markings to pictures and insert them in the body of a post. Seems to work:



2) Tie down the loose cooling system hose.

As you can see, there are many hoses and looms flying around inside the engine compartment. Perhaps that is made worse by the cross-mounted engine because the hoses don't fall into place as they would with a conventional layout. The hose with the plastic V-junction and marked with the red arrow is flapping around, so I couldn't resist fixing it loosely to the intercooler hose below it with a releaseable cable tie.

[ginsambo]

You can tell you used to having a Mk5 - You just can't leave it alone can you!

[Vee4]

You can tell you used to having a Mk5 - You just can't leave it alone can you!

There is undoubtedly an element of 'new toy' syndrome with the Mk7, but I'm still finding my way round. There was never anything to do on the Mk5 - it had a Di non-turbo engine, a transmission and four wheels. For me, that's all a van really needs. Brakes and lights are useful sometimes, but that's about it.

[ake]

I'm sure that given time you'll grow to love your MK7 as much as your MK5, I know I have, my MK7 has done 57k now and I love it ( but still miss my MK5 )

[Vee4]

I'm sure that given time you'll grow to love your MK7 as much as your MK5,

I'm sure I will, as long as it does not cause me lots of grief with breakdowns - even then, I'll probably forgive it!

[Vee4]

Today's task:

Take the van in to have the leaking screenwash fixed. Push-bike in the back and off to the dealer. Apparently, the seal was faulty where the motor fitted to the reservoir and the body of the motor was cracked. It seems to be OK now. I made a pipette to check the fluid level in future as it can't easily be seen from above or under the wheel arch.

I don't know if I'll come to regret this, but I asked for the 'anti-hijack' locking to be turned on. I thought it was supposed to be on by default, but it wasn't on when I took delivery. That too seems OK now.

[ake]

Its good to talk, but a picture paints a thousand words, So where are they

[Vee4]

a picture paints a thousand words, so where are they?

But this is an Ordinary Van, so you could just look in the Ford brochure! Seriously though, the picture of the engine compartment above was my first experiment in posting pictures so hopefully there will be more. From loyalty to the Mk5, I'm still agonising over whether I should change the avatar.

Today's task: to organise the spares kit, of which more later (or tomorrow).