Your fleet running reports

[Alex88]

Cold road + Chinese DitchFinder 3000's + solid rear axle Mustang = slightly brown pants

Road was dry, but the tyres still couldn't handle it. Car slithered down the road, but tbf, remained controllable. Traction control didn't even think about coming on

I'm buying some new wheels, so I'll get some Michelin's on at the same time.

The DitchFinders were only on as I needed tyres the same day for an MOT. Have been meaning to get them off.

[mik]

I'm buying some new wheels, so I'll get some Michelin's on at the same time.

Avoid the older-design Supersports if you can. Awesome in both wet and dry conditions when it's mild/warm, but like bars of soap below 6 degC - even when it's bone dry.

[Broccers]

I'm buying some new wheels, so I'll get some Michelin's on at the same time.

Avoid the older-design Supersports if you can. Awesome in both wet and dry conditions when it's mild/warm, but like bars of soap below 6 degC - even when it's bone dry.

I agree.

The conti 7s on the front of mine are actually quite good after doing 5k miles. Will put them on the rear when it's time .

[mik]

I agree.

The conti 7s on the front of mine are actually quite good after doing 5k miles. Will put them on the rear when it's time .

They won't fit dude

(I know what you meant )

[Rich B]

Yep, supersports are crap for 6 months of the year - P4S for me performance cars all year round.

[Matty]

Yep, supersports are crap for 6 months of the year - P4S for me performance cars all year round.

I think running SS all year round on my VXR8 was why I enjoyed it so much other than the couple of times I got completely stuck.

[Broccers]

I agree.

The conti 7s on the front of mine are actually quite good after doing 5k miles. Will put them on the rear when it's time .

They won't fit dude

(I know what you meant )

[nuttinnew]

The good thing about not having taken winters off for summer is not having to fit them now.

[Ascender]

@Ascender

Shiny

I am beyond mildly obsessed with these things. I think I may have a problem.

[jamcg]

Re wet belts, the oil isn’t the only issue. Look in a ford ecoboost owners manual and it’ll tell you to expect your oil level to rise if you do a lot of short journeys where the engine doesn’t get fully up to temperature (Which I can confirm it does, but I’m on chains so it’s not as much of an issue)- the piston rings don’t fully seal when cold and you get a shitload of fuel passing them straight into the oil- so the oil gets runny and full of fuel which rots the rubber, made worse by e10 fuel no doubt

The diesel ecoblue also has an issue where the high pressure fuel pump leaks into the block I believe which also fills the oil with fuel. Which rots the rubber

[Jobbo]

Re wet belts, the oil isn’t the only issue. Look in a ford ecoboost owners manual and it’ll tell you to expect your oil level to rise if you do a lot of short journeys where the engine doesn’t get fully up to temperature (Which I can confirm it does, but I’m on chains so it’s not as much of an issue)- the piston rings don’t fully seal when cold and you get a shitload of fuel passing them straight into the oil- so the oil gets runny and full of fuel which rots the rubber, made worse by e10 fuel no doubt

The diesel ecoblue also has an issue where the high pressure fuel pump leaks into the block I believe which also fills the oil with fuel. Which rots the rubber

Ah, definitely user error then

Dave may be willing to whip off his wet belt and replace it every few weeks but I don't think it's actually the right design for automotive applications.

[Matty]

Decided to commute in the Alfa to work, as on Friday it's quiet and I can normally park in the big reserved spaces and not get moaned at.

However, for some reason it decided not to turn the lights off when locked it and walked away (I mean, why would it). So came back later and....completely dead. Couldn't lock/unlock the car, open the boot, take the handbrake off, take it out of gear* or do anything at all. Modern cars really can be shit sometimes. Also had a few gathering around with the usual broken Alfa tropes.

Anyway, thankfully someone had a "Halo" jump starter. Was about the size of an A5 book, thought it wouldn't have a chance in hell of cranking a big engine, but sure enough, first turn! Very impressed given the size....then presented with every error message under the sun SERVICE DAMPERS SERVICE ACTIVE AERO SERVICE EVERYTHING and a Christmas tree of lights. Few miles and they seem to have disappeared, and now on the CTEK. It's the OG battery, but has otherwise been fine, so unsure about whether to replace it.....


*I didn't realise that if you can't start the car for any reason, you can't put it in neutral, and with the ZF box the only solution if you need to move it, is to jack the car up, and get to the release screw under the car?!? Which usually involves removing undertrays

[Sundayjumper]

I’ve not heard of that before. I’m sure the 530 & the Disco have an emergency release hidden under the centre console. Same gearbox. The ZF 8sp is in just about everything !

[Rich B]

Decided to commute in the Alfa to work, as on Friday it's quiet and I can normally park in the big reserved spaces and not get moaned at.

However, for some reason it decided not to turn the lights off when locked it and walked away (I mean, why would it). So came back later and....completely dead. Couldn't lock/unlock the car, open the boot, take the handbrake off, take it out of gear* or do anything at all. Modern cars really can be shit sometimes. Also had a few gathering around with the usual broken Alfa tropes.

Anyway, thankfully someone had a "Halo" jump starter. Was about the size of an A5 book, thought it wouldn't have a chance in hell of cranking a big engine, but sure enough, first turn! Very impressed given the size....then presented with every error message under the sun SERVICE DAMPERS SERVICE ACTIVE AERO SERVICE EVERYTHING and a Christmas tree of lights. Few miles and they seem to have disappeared, and now on the CTEK. It's the OG battery, but has otherwise been fine, so unsure about whether to replace it.....


*I didn't realise that if you can't start the car for any reason, you can't put it in neutral, and with the ZF box the only solution if you need to move it, is to jack the car up, and get to the release screw under the car?!? Which usually involves removing undertrays

“Character”!

[Matty]

I’ve not heard of that before. I’m sure the 530 & the Disco have an emergency release hidden under the centre console. Same gearbox. The ZF 8sp is in just about everything !

I can find a few BMW owners moaning about the same thing (with it being underneath) - might be an earlier version of the ZF that lets you release from inside the car?

[Gavster]

FFS. Eight days. After just eight days of ownership and the Ateca has broken down, this was meant to be a reliable one!

Coolant warning came on, so I checked the level and it was low, when driving the temp warning light also came on, but the coolant temp gauge never budged from 90º. Grabbed some proper VAG coolant and poured a litre in. Started the car, all fine. Then the warning came back on again. Checked the header tank and all of the coolant was gone . Also, the heater has stopped working properly, regardless of what temp I turn the heater to, it blows cold air. I assume these two are related. FFS

[nuttinnew]

[Sundayjumper]

Bugger. If it helps at all I’ve just done this to the Aston by not paying attention reversing into the garage.

It’s now on n-1 careful owners

IMG_3133.jpeg (96.07 KiB) Viewed 1268 times

[nuttinnew]

Ouch.

[Swervin_Mervin]

FFS. Eight days. After just eight days of ownership and the Ateca has broken down, this was meant to be a reliable one!

Coolant warning came on, so I checked the level and it was low, when driving the temp warning light also came on, but the coolant temp gauge never budged from 90º. Grabbed some proper VAG coolant and poured a litre in. Started the car, all fine. Then the warning came back on again. Checked the header tank and all of the coolant was gone . Also, the heater has stopped working properly, regardless of what temp I turn the heater to, it blows cold air. I assume these two are related. FFS

I hope it's not one of the ones with beads in the coolant header tank...