What Have I done to my car today (2005 Trafic (Vivaro))

[BagONails]

Sounds tempting at that price and the devil you know is always better than the one you don't...

My only comment in general terms is that diesels have become less desirable in recent years due to the complexity of emission systems add-ons predicated by the Euro legislation ie. Common rail injection, turbo, DPF's, EGR valves, Adblue etc.etc. They all add complication and they all seem to fail early being the primary cause of any diesel breakdown these days. The repair costs can be prohibitive.  Your 2012 Sorrento may be early enough to avoid most of this, will be CR, probably has a turbo and EGR maybe but not too much else to cause a problem. Probably worth a punt.

I'm put off looking at anything much less than 10 years old these days due to the proliferation of systems, sensors and software that nobody needs. Look in the car wreckers these days and a large portion of the stock has not been accident damaged or corroded off the road, they are just beyond economic repair due to a failed module or some such...its a conspiracy I'm sure of it!

[Joolstacho]

Agree BagO' Unfortunately the landfill wastage is just appalling, most of which has been encouraged by the very people who insist they are doing right by the planet.
Yes the Europeans, having once encouraged Diesels, now penalise them for the dirty emissions.
TBH I'm scared *hitless about modern cars. Even my 24 year old SAAB has scary electronics. (But in spite of that I love it!)

[Worty]

We've just spent around £1300 on the Octy (which is what it's worth) for four new tyres, timing belt, OEM clutch, new gearbox oil and two inner drive shaft boots.  This should take her on to around 240,000 miles, which may well be enough.  However, becaues she's a 2008 model diesel, there's no DPF, so no worries on short journeys!!

I don't really want anything with loads of stupid electronics, so I'm treating the Octy a bit like a 'classic' - keep it running until the wheels fall of it or the wheels fall off me.

Cheap insurance, but the road tax is govt theft at £190 per year.

I do like the oil burners.

[groily]

Need to look for one of these then Worty!
http://www.dieselbike.net/Dorsett/Dorsett.htm
As long as you're never in a rush, that is 

[Worty]

Need to look for one of these then Worty!
http://www.dieselbike.net/Dorsett/Dorsett.htm
As long as you're never in a rush, that is 

I'm sold!  Particularly the 650 twin.

Mind you, Harleys are diesel powered, aren't they

[Angus]

Nice choice of van 'e'. My 2012 is still rust free due to the galvanising. Only 111k miles but she is my daily drive with 9 seat if need be and become a day van/camper for the Uk touring week. Think I have her setup now.

edit not sure why the thumbnail is upside down 
^^mod edit: fixed, phone cameras sometimes does strange things.

[groily]

Good workhorses, Trafics and their sisters. Mine's coming up to 15 now and I've had it over half that. Very dependable and 1200km range on a tank is a bit useful too.
Usual Renault ageing thing with poor LED display for clock / radio panel (the figures go invisible when warm) and also clacky wipers due to wear on the right hand (passenger for me) mechanism, same as on a million older Scenics and similar.
Very comfortable for long distances. Working people have to practically live in the things, so they need to be, after all.

(The thumbnail comes out right if I click to enlarge it Angus - very nice version, yours. Def a keeper I reckon. So's mine, at same sort of mileage - they should do at least double and more what we have on our clocks before anything bad happens.)

[Worty]

Out of interest, what's the timing belt change interval on these?

[groily]

Chain Worty on mine. The cars mostly (or all maybe) have belts, but the vans, or this version of the 2 litre motor, is chain.
Not that chains never fail - I've heard of BMWs and some others with catastrophic trouble - but less likely perhaps and not a regular service item like on the cars. A friend's car just had its belt done - 700€  . . .
Means you don't get new water pump bits every few years as well I suppose . . . but fingers crossed what's on there is built to last!

Like Musky, I fear I've tended to cop out and throw car/van problems at other people these past few years. Local village garage who has the tools and the bits, has done all the basic jobs a zillion times and knows the wrinkles, and can plug the darn things into the 'valise' (computer suitcase)  . . .

[Worty]

Aye, there are some things I've never done and won't do now - timing belts and clutches particularly.  The reckoning is that if you pay for the bits and screw it up whilst fitting them, then it's going to cost you double (if not more) to put it all right again at a garage.  Don't like the idea of spending hours and hours in the cold and wet fitting an expensive part for which you have no 'insurance'.  For the sake of what I've paid recently, it's well worth it.

The only thing I would have done myself is the inner cv boots.  However, with the cold, wet and failing light, not to mention having no car lift, and having to undo the gearbox driveshaft bolts again, I thought £130 for both sides was very much worth it.  The easier bits, like the outer cv boots and wheel bearings are a cinch - can do those in a couple of hours.

I've also found out something peculiar as I get older - scraping about under cars leaves me feeling very tired and achy - wot's that all about then.

The only other solution is to employ a Bergs, but I fear he may be reluctant after his van escapades.

[berger]

worty Christine the possessed and myself are still in battle mode but are not fighting, i am waiting for the warmer climes before battle resumes. i don't get it cos i'm thick me. it can go into limp mode without any lights coming on when setting off on a flat road, then if i fully depress the throttle and let it back up things go back to normal pulling off mode, the only diagnostic i have got from it is gas boost pressure high this should in theory only effect hard acceleration and over 3000rpm . as regards a berg to scrawm about under cars in crap weather i am sure there are other bergs that will this, but this berg is never doing cold weather scrawming again , he also hates warm weather scrawming

[Worty]

Warm weather scrattin' is not so bad for me, but I hate being cold and wet (had plenty of that despatch riding!).

Good feeling after fixing something, having a shower, then settling back with a fridge full of coldies and some tasty snacks admiring your work.

Bad feeling after spending all day trying to fix something, finding it's not worked, damaged something in the process then having to do the whole thing again the following day (still having to have a shower and then get filthy again).

In this scenario, the pure anger and frustration is assuaged by the beer and whisky chasers, then a bad mood stomp off to bed.

[Angus]

Hi Groily, yes a great work horse and defiantly a keeper for a few more years. As you say quite comfy on long runs and drives quite well for a big 'car'. I say car as it is registered as a car and so is allowed to do 70mph on appropriate roads  . With the seats out takes two bikes easily and maybe could squeeze a third in (but never actually tried). And then for the touring weeks the inverter, solar panel, leisure batteries, pump up bed, lights, electric cool box etc make her a quite civilised place to sped the night. I bought the awning on the Cornwall week this year and only used it once so far, but that gives undercover cooking and somewhere to sit in the dry to eat and drink with friends.
My LED display plays up when its cold rather then when hot, I looked at replacing it but when I was about to press the buy button it started working again.

[groily]

Hi Groily, yes a great work horse and defiantly a keeper for a few more years. As you say quite comfy on long runs and drives quite well for a big 'car'. I say car as it is registered as a car and so is allowed to do 70mph on appropriate roads  .

Ah  . . . no speed restrictions on light vans over here either Angus. So I'm OK to 130kph on motorways, 110 on dual carriageway. With 6 speeds, that's about 2650 rpm at the upper limit, comfortable and still doing mid-30s mpg. Not bad. Sweetest at about 120kph though, or 75mph.
Yours is miles classier, with the longer wheelbase, more glass and the upgrades you've done. I've slept in mine on rallies now and then and survived  but didn't enjoy it much! It's better at carting a couple of bikes and tools and spares from A to B - and then being left to slumber on its own!
But any modern van is better than the long-bodied Citroên H Van I used to potter about in and which I acquired for about 50 quid from a plumber who was upgrading  . . . Sought-after they may be, and brilliant for bikes because of fwd and the consequent low load height at the rear  . . . but 45mph cruising and three speeds with its poorly-aspirated detuned 1911cc car engine   . . . Hmm. Swapped mine for a very large bottle of scotch when the bodywork finally fell to bits (as it does), with someone who promised to restore it to pristine - and did. At vast expense!
That, I used to maintain and repair myself - and I'm sure there are those on here who are only too familiar with the drive shafts of Citroêns of that vintage  . . . I don't miss some of that.

[a10 gf]

G'day e.
Is that reversing light hooked into the car lights or on a separate switch? A big difference with the headlights.
I have two small (100w) on the back of the Ranger. I'll be hooking them up to a switch to deter tailgaters.
I luv not having to work on our cars, their only 3 years old and have another two years before they need a roadworthy.
Cheers

It's a quite low W led at the rear, so just a wire to chassis and the + to an original reverse light wire. But with 2x100W one surely would need more solid wiring than connecting to orignal, + a relay \ switch.

Tailgaters :O), I remember an old Mad Magazine drawing, a car with 2 war-type airplane search lights at the rear, to fry out the eyes of anyone coming too near lol+++