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Conference terri::cars_uk

Title:Cars in the UK
Notice:Please read new conference charter 1.70
Moderator:COMICS::SHELLEYELD
Created:Sun Mar 06 1994
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:2584
Total number of notes:63384

1533.0. "Never mind ABS..." by ULYSSE::NAYLOR () Mon Sep 02 1991 18:10

    
    
    	Advice please !
    
    	I was scheduled to receive an Astra SXi this morning through
        the lease scheme. Apparently, en route the car decided to dump
        all of its brake fluid on the M4. 
    
        I guess the next thing is, it will turn up outside DECpark
        sometime tomorrow or Wednesday. 
    
        My question to all you ace car people is, what should I look for
        when it does arrive ? Isn't brake fluid rather corrosive ?
    
        thanks in advance,
    
    Paul.
    
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1533.1unfriendly stuff....VOGON::MITCHELLEBeware of the green meanieMon Sep 02 1991 18:2210
    
    First of all I'd want to know _why_ it left it's brake fluid on the M4
    and to make sure that they've properly corrected that!
    
    and yes - brake fluid is not very friendly, it makes an excellent paint
    stripper so check any paintwork near where the fluid escaped from - by 
    now it will have soaked in to any paint, and it will probably have
    bubbled up, and will be easy to spot. Also make sure that they have
    cleaned up the area of leakage, and wiped it off any rubber/plastic
    bits nearby.
1533.2PLAYER::BROWNLWhat *are* these people on?Mon Sep 02 1991 18:426
    If it's silicon fluid, it won't harm the paintwork etc.
    
    But Elaine is right.... *why* did it dump the fluid. Never
    underestimate the importance of your brakes.....
    
    Laurie.
1533.3Silicon not standard -is it?VOGON::MITCHELLEBeware of the green meanieMon Sep 02 1991 19:017
    
 >>   If it's silicon fluid, it won't harm the paintwork etc.
    
      Do they use Silicon fluid in production cars? I thought/assumed they
    still all used DOT 3 - as found in 'standard' tins of brake fluid. 
    
    Elaine
1533.4never mind the quality ,keep the profit COMICS::COOMBEREndurance racers do it all nightMon Sep 02 1991 20:288
    Now days it seems to be dot 4 but ,yes I think your right they don't us
    stuff like ap500 or ap550 in production cars, not from the factory. For
    one thing for someone like ford it would be to expensive, got to think
    of the profits.
    
    Garry
    
    
1533.6find out where exactly it leakedUKCSSE::ARBISERIf you want it done, or even done well - DIYTue Sep 03 1991 18:2021
    
    If this vehicle passed the factory inspection, and indeed was driven
    out to the transporter one can only assume either a rubber hose split
    or the reservoir was faulty.
    
    In the case of the latter, I'd be looking under the bonnet at the inner
    wings as this is surely where the fluid was "dumped". I could imagine 
    that it  may have dribbled over rubber gaiters on its way to floor
    level too.
    
    In the case of a hose, well you might have been lucky. If it didn't
    come out under constant pressure it would probably have gone vertically 
    down, which means road was it's direct line of direction. If not it may
    have hit a suspension member first (ie. lower wish bone or trailing
    arm, dependant on whether front or rear).
    
    I would certainly insist on being told where the leak had been so you
    can inspect for the first few hundred miles, if nothing else than for
    piece of mind before cranking it up on the motorway.
    
    Ian
1533.7test the system yourselfVOGON::MITCHELLEBeware of the green meanieTue Sep 03 1991 19:1610
    
    I would certainly insist on being told where the leak had been so you
    can inspect for the first few hundred miles, if nothing else than for
>>    piece of mind before cranking it up on the motorway.
    
    Best thing to do is to find a good empty straight bit of road and slam
    the brakes on hard! - test the system under pressure!!!!!
    Don't wait until you need them. (I would suggest that anyone getting a
    new car should do this as a matter of course......)
    
1533.8"Brake" your neck.KERNEL::OSBORNETue Sep 03 1991 21:505
    Re prev entry. Is it not worth Giving the Brakes a few miles to "Bed
    in" before giving them the 'ol welly.
    
    Dave
    
1533.9NSDC::SIMPSONSit 'n' BullWed Sep 04 1991 01:317
I'm in Reading with one of these SXi thingies as a hire car this week. Am I
muscle bound, or is the steering incredibly light? I have extreme difficulty
keeping it pointing where I want - it gives me no feeling at all. It handles
very well, is well equipped, and has a lovely engine - but I fell nervous just
the same!

Steve
1533.10Power assisted steering - "feel" ?ULYSSE::NAYLORWed Sep 04 1991 12:1410
    
    
      I know they are fitted with PAS but have not had the opportunity
      to try it (lesser model test driven) - did you know this or are
      you "unhappy" with the PAS "feel" ?
    
      Thanks for the other pointers - I will certainly check it out
      when it arrives.
    
    Paul.
1533.11SHIPS::ALFORD_Jan elephant is a mouse with an oper. sys.Wed Sep 04 1991 12:426

As this is a lease car, I'd advise booking it straight in for a full checkup,
explaining what had happened to the car.

I certainly wouldn't trust any checkups done before it's delivered to you.
1533.12NSDC::SIMPSONSit 'n' BullWed Sep 04 1991 13:5717
RE: .10

Paul,
	It has clearly got PAS - something which I do not have on my own cars.
However, I have driven many cars with PAS (usually big ones though) and have
never had this feeling of not being able to point the car exactly where I want.
it needs to be more "progressive" - i.e. a lot of assistance at low (parking)
speeds, reducing as you get faster.

I'd get used to it if I had the car for any length of time - it is a nice
vehicle - however my personal preference is to do without the PAS. I see
that John Lindley put a note in yesterday saying that the Mk III is better in
this area - so perhaps it is a well known criticism?

Cheers

Steve