SOC Admin
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Everything posted by SOC Admin
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Hi...welcome to the Club Blue antifreeze has traditionally been identified as Glycol Ethanol and there are several environmentally friendly (Organic) antifreeze on the market in several different colours. Also, it gave vehicle manufacturers carte-blanche to use a specific colour to identify it as their brand and only their brand can be used (bit of a marketing ploy). If you wish to flush out the old coolant and replace with new then I advise you pop into Halfords or similar store and look up the recommended one for the engine (which may actually now be a different colour).
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Subaru UK is marking ‘National Walk Your Dog Day’ by organising a test drive event with a difference: you can bring your dog along, tooA new national survey conducted by Subaru UK found that while 80% of dog owners’ car purchasing decisions were driven by their pet’s needs, only 20% had tried out a car with their dog before buying. Subaru UK is looking to equip customers with the tools to make more informed buying decisions, taking their dog’s requirements into account. Over the course of the campaign, Subaru’s dog-friendly retail network will offer guests, both human and canine, the opportunity to try out the latest Subaru models and see if they pass muster for both parties. Subaru’s ‘safe, tough and fun’ model lineup has long had a loyal following among dog owners who value the range’s go-anywhere ability, practicality and award-winning durability. The fun initiative also has a serious goal: educating the public on how to legally and responsibly transport dogs in cars - a critical but often overlooked area of road safety. Subaru UK commissioned a survey of UK dog-owning drivers across all vehicle brands to establish their practices and behaviours when transporting their dogs. It revealed that a significant proportion were unaware of the basic laws and best safety practices surrounding transporting dogs in their vehicles, and that more needs to be done to urgently close this knowledge gap. Lorraine Bishton, Managing Director of Subaru UK & Ireland, said: “We’re pleased to launch our initiative, inviting potential customers from around the UK to visit retailers, and try out Subaru’s model range with a four-legged friend in tow. We’re looking to empower people to make more informed car-buying decisions, helping them to find a vehicle that works for them and their pet.” “The initiative aims to shine a spotlight on the critical area of dog transport safety. Following the results of a survey we commissioned, it is clear that more needs to be done on education in this area, to ensure dog owners comply with the law, and keep pets safe when out on the road. Throughout the campaign, our knowledgeable retailers will be on hand to offer dog-transporting safety advice, a refresher on the relevant sections of the Highway Code, and a healthy supply of dog treats as well. We are determined to do our bit to drive awareness of how to keep all occupants safe, including dearly loved four-legged friends.” The survey revealed that 1 in 5 dog owners are currently breaking the law by failing to secure their pet behind a guard or cage in the boot, or in a tethered harness when travelling in the cabin. The contravention of these laws can lead to a £5000 fine and can invalidate a driver’s car insurance - something that a third of dog owners surveyed were not aware of. Additionally, a third of respondents were unaware of the existence of crash-tested dog harnesses. A similar proportion were unaware that it was best practice to secure your dog either in a crate or behind a dog guard in the boot of an estate or SUV. Worryingly, half of those surveyed did not know it was a legal requirement to deactivate airbags when dogs are travelling in the front seat of the car; the failure to do so can put pets’ safety at risk. The test drive opportunity will address these important elements of dog safety in an environment that is casual and fun for both owners and pets alike. Participating Subaru retailers' staff will be on hand to offer refreshers, general advice on how to transport dogs safely and comfortably, as well as pointers on which Subaru model may be most suitable for their type and size dog, from the Outback estate and Forester SUV to the slightly more compact Crosstrek. -
Usually a Sigma alarm (aftermarket fitted) would have an inline fuse for power / ignition feeds but also check a connection has dropped off under the dash
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Did you disconnect the battery before working on the wiper linkage? If so, then this is more likely the cause of the alarm being out of sync. Alternatively, it may be worth following your work in reverse in case you missed something (done it myself loads of time)
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CatMan - based in Southampton but do mail order
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good luck with the sale - they're in quite condition by the look of it
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Oh I'm glad to see it is because you have parted with the car and not the dog :-)
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I would trawl breakers yards or eBay if you don't get any joy on here
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I had to look hard to see any damage on it and would certainly help someone out who isn't worried about a small bit of damage
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Not sure of the benefits of the update - a bit like Apple phones, the updates usually only cover camera or other functions which I wouldn't class as a priority. However, with the phone there are bugs and also security updates but not so sure the Outback is that similar in update content. I think the benefits are outweighed by the cost and time to update (in my opinion) - I would still be running Windows 95 if I could :-)
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That's great to hear it was a cheap solution to improving your headlamp output. Not sure about the dash panel unless it had some high resistance in the lighting circuit ?
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Let us know how you get on with it and the improvement in lighting if noticeable.
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It may be worth looking at Braided Brake Hoses (such as Goodridge) for the first immediate improvement for less than £100
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I would agree that they are not road legal as they are usually mounted on the vehicle in a region which is not accepted by VOSA, DVLA, etc. and clearly states that driving lights need to be positioned on each side of the car at the front. Beyond that, if you fitted some on the grill area or lower down where fog lamps would be then for occasional use and especially rural areas I dont see the problem if you can switch them down as soon as a vehicle approaches. Also, it would be worth changing the headlamp bulbs for Philips or any other aftermarket bulbs with higher intensity and performance - Halfords sell a good range and they really do make a difference at night and are street legal
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I have been in a similar situation more than once with cars and motorbikes. One thing I learned (but can't remember who original told me) is that if they take the car to a storage unit for salvage this essentially means they have your car and you won't be able to get it back like a one way system. When they have your car, a figure they give you is a lot lower and also payment is quicker so most people tend to opt for this, not knowing it can be done another way. I always get the car recovered to my home and instruct the insurance company that I want an independent assessor to come out to assess it on my property....the car doesn't then leave my possession....which is always handy if you want to buy it back to repair yourself. Be aware, the very first thing they check are the tyre conditions, wear, legal tread depth, etc. So if you're tyres are not up to scratch then they will refuse and insurance payout (quite rightly so as well). Once the assessor has seen the car and given his/her findings to the insurance company then they will pay out, usually a higher figure but this can take sometime longer for settlement. But at least you have your car in your possession and gives you an option to buy back. However, like I said, most people just want a quick resolution and get the money to replace their existing car. Don't quote me on any of the above and take independent advice from an insurance broker to determine the best route forward.
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My first thought would be wiring from the car coming through to the tailgate which is encased in a rubber gaitor. What tends to happen is when the tailgate is opened and closed it bends the wires to the point that they break. If this has occurred it is difficult sometimes to see it where it is located but you can also test for continuity with a multimeter. Also, if some wiring shorted out then possibly check all the fuses to see if any have popped. Also, check for all earth points leading to and from the tailgate for corrosion.
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I would start with removing the bonnet switch, cleaning and examining it - test with a multimeter that there is continuity when opened/closed and also the connections for dirt, corrosion, etc. If all else fails then bypassing will work, but not sure how many thieves would pop the bonnet which they still have to enter the car to release so its not a major thing in reality.
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Thats a great outcome and worth the hard work and effort then, Never seen a digger used to load an engine in before :-)
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Maybe a hunt for seats on eBay may result in some more info on what fits what... Some retailers use the search facility to put in the models that the seats will fit and this can be helpful to know before jumping in to buying them
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Another fine model from an era when they were built well. Hopefully you'll find a buyer soon enough
