a fairground life (eco or not eco that is the question)
Today's mission was to sort out the Kia's problem. So at 9am I drove it down to the mechanic who MOT's our cars. We took it for a spin then we put it up on his ramp. His conclusion was a distribution box problem but suggested I took it around the corner to the automatic transmission specialist (who repaired my mothers old Pajero twice) for his opinion. So I did, luckily he was in and remembered me, so we took it for a spin. He too put it up on his ramp but this time he stripped off a flange mounting plate on the distribution box and put in over a litre of oil. Confident this would surely solve the problem we took it for another spin. Alas it was just the same, possibly due to the damage already being done??? Not giving up here I took it to East Kilbride to a diesel specialist there (who also had done work on my mothers old Pajero). He too was in and remembered me, but this time he could not help as he only worked on the diesel fuel injection side of things. He did offer a few words of wisdom-DONT BUY A KIA SEDONA and I should consider getting rid of my Sorento. Feeling less confident than this morning I headed off to the nearest Kia service centre for answers. I arrived at Parks in East Kilbride, the service centre was busy and after a few minutes I was front of the queue at the Kia desk. The chap was sympathetic, "if only you had kept up the service history" he said, "maybe we could have gotten Kia involved". Aye right I thought, as the car was out of warranty time by a whole year! Anyhow for £60 plus VAT they would diagnose the problem. This seemed a waste as I already new the problem was the diff winding up and it was coming from the distribution box! So I took their number and headed off home a little dismayed. Now this is where Mrs Showman comes in handy, she always seems to say the things that are too simple to be the answer, but always seem to come thru! "Why don't you phone the man from the garage where we bought the car" she said. Doing it to get peace rather than answers I did. The service chap came on and told me very confidently that my tyre tread depths were out of range. No more than 3mm tread depth difference between tyres. So not having too much faith in this I needed to test the theory before forking out hundreds on new rubber. I decided to borrow tyres to try out the theory. I knew I could not get 18" alloys anywhere, but I decided to get everyone else's brand new spares. So I took my bro's,mothers, Blakey's and mine. Four brand new tyres (245/70 17") all with the same tread depth. Over an hour later I had fitted the 4 new wheels to my jeep. Blakey and I took it for a run. Was it a wasted effort? Immediately we were out the yard and stopping at the first corner, I knew it had worked!, No whining noise, no shudder from the diffs dis-engaging. So I promptly ordered the other 2 new tyres I would need to balance my tread depths between front and rear. It is wasteful but, my two front tyres are only at 50%, a good 6 months life left in them, but I have to ditch them for new ones. The ironic situation is that I would have been better off financially by fitting two part worn tyres to the rear way back in December!!! In this world of eco friendly recycling and minimal waste to save the planet- some idiots designed a drive system that can't cope with odd sized tyres to zero point 5 percent (0.5%) of their diameter!!!
But hey- problem solved, mission accomplished. Wait a minute, may be I got it wrong, maybe this is an eco friendly car cos you are only meant to fit part worn tyres?
posted by showman @ 20:39
4 Comments
4 Comments:
Hard to believe how four millimetres of tyre tread depth could make even the slightest difference but it’s evidently done the trick. Reading this makes you realise just how far ahead of the game land Rover is and how when it comes to 4 x 4 technology, how good their permanent four wheel drive line system really is
I was starting to wonder if anyone would notice that i had'nt finished the lorry countdown. There was however a reason for the delay. I have been driving the new 08 mercedes actros for the last three months,and it is the closest thing yet to the winning lorry. It has finally managed to do what the winner managed on a 51 plate lorry eight years ago. Namely produce an auto gearbox that picks away as quick as a manual,and is capable of reversing nice and smoothly without making you look a t_t. I was toying with changing my mind,and having joint winners,but i then got back in the ultimate driving lorry for a few shifts.
The best therefore is still volvo.Now before i get accussed of biase let me say that i have liked volvo and considered them the best long before i bought one myself. I bought one because i liked them[and there was one at the right price]. There is also no comparison between my flc and an fm 12 with an auto gearbox,which is what i'm basing my judgement on.This is getting rather long winded [ed].
Volvo automatics are perpetual motion,especially since they improved the already good i shift in 2004. They have been by far the best automatics for many years. The fm 12s which i have driven most over the years also have many of the creature comforts that i like. Radio in the right place[and the've been DAB for many years],cruise control that's simple to use sun visors on side windows[very helpfull when heading south on m74] its amazing how many lorries dont have them,whats the matter with these people. The fm 12 also has a window in the rear of the cab,brilliant when doing a tight reverse particulary on your blind side. They also only need two steps to get in the cab because their not miles of the ground like most other lorries. Its much better and safer when driving in town,you can see whats in front of you at traffic lights.
The only fault i have with the volvo is the seat could be a bit more comfortable on long journeys. The dafs for example is much better. The volvo rigids i have driven over the years have been manuals. They are not as good the autos and not any better than any other rigids. I did however drive a new one recently,and they now come with i shift as well. Volvo also make coaches,so if your not a lorry driver,and are ever in a volvo coach,take a look at the gear shift.It's the same as in the lorries. It's also mounted to the seat and therefore moves with you when you set your preffered seat height. Like i say it's the little things that make the difference.
Showman as you know has four lorries. He has never altered the seat height or angle on any of them since the day he bought them. I got in his one of his lorries to shift it at wl last year,and came out nearly crippled,the seat is back is folded forward and the clown actually drives it like that,and he wonders why he's got a bad back.
Any way to sum up volvo are the best lorries to drive for all the above reason's,and because i said so
good day all hows things showman where you off to next. jesters hows things cheers borderer. hope all regs are well.
all is quiet on the comment front lol. how is everybody.
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