Following my adventure with exhaust systems I have been having a few "issues" elsewhere. I think they are likely to be common so I thought I would post.
The most important was that the accessory belt failed. Mine is a chain drive engine, and the poly-V belt drives the alternator and maybe a few other things. It is supposed to be changed every 75,000 miles but I doubt if mine had ever been changed judging by its condition. I was incensed, that I had failed to notice its condition, its impossible to see without a torch and a mirror but that is no excuse. If only it had lasted another month it could have been done as part of a service in preparation for the MOT. Unlike the good old tights on the fan-belt days this is a car-immobilised job, and as the car weighs too much for the AA's standard dolly it needs a truck to take it away.
Last month I realised my head lamp washers did not work on one side, I had intended to strip them down and replace the O-rings, but this is not easy as they are designed not to be serviceable. I bought some more on ebay and spent a whole afternoon swapping them over until I had a pair that deployed with equal speed. What happens is one comes out faster and when it squirts the drop in pressure prevents the other from deploying fully. The proper solution is a pump for each jet, but that is not easy with the reservoir mounted pump.
For the MOT the car needed a lower ball joint and a steering arm. This is the first time I have ever needed a new arm, it makes we think this is a weakness as the other side had a warning too.
The strangest was that the nearside headlamp was adjusted to tip the beam to the other side - as if driven on the continent. BUT (contrary to common sense) IT IS NOT ADJUSTABLE
I have had to order a new lamp on ebay. AMAZING.
Keep up with the car care guys.
