Recent content by absoft

Volkswagon - you can either do this by the book which will be rather complex, take you longer, and cost you more for locking tools; or just white-up everything and replace existing belt with a new one which is what I guess most garages do that offer you a cheaper quote. The belt will be...

Can you/should you use panel wipe on a rubbed-down base coat? I don't want to take the base coat off with it because I am aiming to just relacquer without repainting.

Hi AlanE, yeah I was thinking about that and came to the conclusion you describe. Apparently the cam is not keyed on this VW. However so long as the crankshaft is, I'd be inclined to just mark up the belts and put the new one on without loosening the cam sprocket at all. There's hardly going to...

The way to do it is tippex the old belt, camshaft and crankshaft sprocket before you take the old belt off. Then lay the new belt above the old belt and apply tippex in exactly the same two places on the new belt (assuming its not twin cam when there would be three marks). Then simply align the...

When I stuck my mirror on, I used a few spots of araldite as well. I didn't want to just rely on the sticky-backed mirror.

Hi I am confused as to how to go about spraying/sanding the laquer. Lets say I apply two light coats of laquer and then need to rub it down a little. 1) How long should the second lacquer coat be left before rubbing down? 2) Would I use the 1200 or 1500 grit wet? If so doesn't this mean a...

I dug out the 20A DP switch which was grouted in. The incoming live connection had partially melted and the 'copper' on the switch looked badly oxidised/corroded. The incoming wire is aluminium; don't know if that didn't like the 'copper' that MK had used. I have replaced it with a Crabtree...

Will do but its a switch for a spur and its grouted in. I think it is the switch contact itself opening up when it gets hot but will have a look and let you know. Its an awkward one to get to and I know there's no slack with the wires.

Well after 2 days of dismantling, taking both control boards out, connecting up the heating element independently and pulling the machine in and out of the fitted kitchen a gazillion times its looking like its........the mains socket switch !!! I don't think it can handle the current with the...

I tested the heating element with a meter, it's fine. Then I disconnected the machine connections from the element terminals and instead wired them up directly t the mains via a seperate lead and plug. Then I ran a test wash with me turning on the power to the heating element manually. That...

Is it possible that the heating element could be partially faulty and causing this e.g. it heats up and causes a short but the washer electronics shutdown and cut the power before the mains trips? No fault codes are ever displayed though once the machine comes on again. Anyway to test the...

My WF860 washing machine has developed a fault whereby whenever it is heating the water, after 2 to 3 minutes, the entire machine switches itself off. If left the display will flicker on/off a few times and then it will turn back on and continue to heat the water but only for a short time before...

Hi, I have a twin socket about half way down the wall on a spur. I need to move the socket further down the wall and of course the wire comes in from the ceiling and is all plastered into the wall. Is there any 'approved' way of extending the wire so that its still hidden in the wall? I could...

The fuse box is a MEM; I said the RCCB was a Hager, totally seperate. Sorry for any confusion.

This is a great site; thanks for the help. Yes I have a fuse box still so the combined MCB/RCCB is not an option without a new consumer unit. I just wondered whether the MCB's were 'reversible' in terms of which terminal is on the supply side and which on the load. (I have in mind to also add...