₦airaland Forum

Fhowe:
Oga when I say polarity the fan might be blowing in reverse or normally , and engine operating below the normal temperature is at disadvantage so in colder regions the fan is made to blow in reverse to put the engine at normal temperature it does not go out of the engine bay through the radiator.

Sometimes, it's good to keep quiet. My advice and it's free.

sultaan:
But ECU does not just for like that, something else had happened,I am working strictly on the premise that all he did was take out a spark plugs and replaced it with another.If he had disconnected the battery prior to working on the car it is likely to start rough. I like to keep things simple. It seems Nigerians replace ECU more than their engine oil. I have never had a problem with one in 20 years of driving

So both cars had histories of misfires.
On the Benz it was really bad.
That was the second time the technician was changing the plugs. Cylinder number 2 and 5 if I recall correctly.
The fx35 was in a similar situation; long history of misfire.

Usually, plug change doesnt require battery disconnection. I am not aware it's part of the procedure.
I've been changing spark plugs myself on quite a few cars and never had to disconnect battery to do that.

From what I learnt online, it is one of the tell tale signs of a failing ECU if all else checks out.

Sometimes, these things just happen.

Following the thread.

HeavenlyBang:
Lol. Put rubbish for your 7g-tronic make you know how far.



I mean, technically, you can. No be say the oil no go gree enter.

I'm not sure if you can do it and still have a functional car afterwards, though.

.

ogbuefi677:
No you can't.That's a very recent machine.
But don't pretend you don't know Camry big for nothing + muscle and Honda EOD+ Discussion continues have the most fragile transmission amongst most regular cars.

Can I pour it into w203? It's not as recent I believe.

ZIMDRILL:
your are wrong

yes a fully stuck thermostat will cause overheating whether the car is idling or crusing

am sure yours was half stuck


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y5p31F_dVJU

Thanks. We learn everyday.

weyreypey:
No one has your time
Bizzle2

Happens only on the first gen mdx 3.5L J35 engines. Not applicable to the second gen and 3rd gen mdx.

ogbuefi677:
Honda,Toyota = very fragile transmission.
Use only textbook recommended ATF.
Volkswagen,Mercedes = Bullet proof transmission.
Can survive abuse.

Incredible. Can I pour oando ATF in a gl450 transmission?

sultaan:
Don't do this, if the car was working before and the only thing replaced was spark plugs it's either the replacement was bad or wrong plugs. Only use new ones per OEM parts. It will be on the emission sticker on the bonnet. If you bought fake plugs , don't go messing up other things that were good

If I wasn't there when these two cars failed to start, I wouldn't even write it.
The mechanic was a friend and called me to share his experience.
We bought new plugs, we installed new coils, nothing worked.
His rewire tried all he knew, nothing worked.
I observed the ECU light wasn't even coming on when the ignition was turned on.
I plugged in my small Bluetooth scanner and couldn't communicate with the ECU.
That was when he accepted to try another ECU.
On Monday, ECU was installed and car started at the first attempt.

The other car, an fx35 had same issue on the same day but in another location.
The owner is a friend and called me to relay his predicament. He was worried that his mechanic wanted to change his ECU. I asked him what they had done so far (they had done the same things we did on the Merc).
I told him to change the ECU. Same outcome. Car started at the first attempt.
I am not saying this is the op's case but it points to that.
The issue on Blboth cars started as misfires.
Plugs were changed and nozzles serviced.
Both cars refused to start.
The two mechanics thought village people were after them.

I've had this happen on a couple of cars. A Benz and an fx35. Both times, it started with a misfire, plug and coil change and then no start.
Solution was to change ecu (brain box).
Your electrician should be able to get a working brain box to test in the car. If it works, good.
He should also make sure there are no other problems so he doesn't ruin a perfectly working replacement ecu (brain box).
However, start with a scan to know what is working and what's not working.
I believe you would have checked for fuel, air and spark by now.

Praxtech:
Disprove the claim

Not ready for that bullshit.
That's not what post was about. Let's stick to the topic.
I'm not interested in the mudfest.

Areaboy2:
Dont stress yourself with thermostat this, thermostat that.
If your thermostat has a problem, and is stuck closed, you will have over heating whether stationary or at speed.

I am fairly confident that your radiator is the problem.
At low load (low rev in traffic) the radiator works fine.
At higher load (higher rev on the move) radiator unable to keep up with the heat dissipation needed.

Firstly, check to confirm that your fan is blowing in the right direction.
It could just be blowing outwards and this counters/cancels the air rushing in while you are driving, thereby making the heat dissipation of the radiator insufficient. things will work fine when you are in traffic since the air from outside is low as you are on low speed.

Secondly, if fan is blowing correctly, proceed to wash your radiator inside out. make sure the fins are free of debris and it is not heavily rusted inside.
Replace with recommended coolant.

Lastly, you might want to check to make sure your radiator was not "changed" at some point during life of the car. maybe an underrated unit was installed.

As long as radiator is clean, coolant level is good and not losing fluid, water pump works fine, fans are blowing (in the right direction), thermostat not stuck closed, A car should not over heat.

ps: I'm not an expert, just using small common sense.

At the bolded, not so true.
I've had a thermostat stuck closed on my skoda. Had same symptoms as OP. The needle always rested above the middle line on highway trips but stayed on the middle line in town. I changed the thermostat and it stopped happening. The thermostat had a bypass which still allowed coolant to flow but wasn't allowing enough to flow at highway speeds with engine working hard.
Water pump can also cause this.

chukel:
which filter please. Which filter. Hope he hasn't opened the transmission sump without having that car scanned? Rodents ate one of your VSS sensor wires at night.

Same thing I was thinking. Rodents must have eaten one of the wires.
Let them do a scan. Your mechanics can't be working blind like this na. This is 2020.

adesanyadotun:
When in motion , the temperature guage goes above middle but in traffic it comes back to normal.
Car newly acquired
The fans working directly
Water level in radiator not reduced
I noticed a sign of radiator sealant at the edge of radiator opening.
Thermostat still there
Toyota brand

Please what could be wrong and what should I do?

Check and make sure none of your brakes are binding.
If none, replace thermostat. Do not remove but replace.

mdchikezie:
Can't you see how cold that weather is?
Do Nigeria have that kind of weather

Do not play the weather card. It is an old wives tale. The thermostat is there to serve a function regardless of the ambient temperature. Yes it helps warm the engine faster in cold climates.
It also helps warm the engine faster in hot climates and keeps the engine at the optimum temperature required for optimum performance.
There are so many countries hotter than Nigeria where cars still use thermostats.
When the engine is cool, it closes to warm up the engine. When the engine is warm, it opens to allow cool water from the radiator flow into the engine and hot water from the engine flow into the radiator. It is that simple.
Thermostat is not the only or overwhelming cause of overheating.
If it gets bad, replace it. If your fan or water pump goes bad, dont you replace it?
Cars have been imported from UAE into Nigeria and they came in with their thermostats. Is Nigeria hotter than UAE?
There are states in USA where you can literally fry an egg on the streets. It gets that hot. Blazing hot. Yet the cars we import from there still come here with their thermostats intact.

If anyone wants to remove his thermostat, by all means he is free to do so, after all it's his car. But there will be other consequences apart from the supposed overheating he is preventing or curing.
Engine is dying a slow death. Won't be long before blue smoke shows up especially on fuel injection engines. Less so on carbureted engines. Thank you.

mdchikezie:
I thought anyone who had a thing or two to write here had as much as common sense.
Turns out I was wrong.

Stop talking about what you know nothing about and learn, it's that simple.

There is a thermostat in a vw old models WATERPUMPs that's usually removed as it's bought.
I don't know about any other car brand, I am talking about what I deal on.
Are you this deluded?

New ones don't have it as they come and no mechanic would come looking for golf or passat or jetta WATERPUMP thermostat.

Stop confusing people here and say what you FUCKIING know about.
Nobody forced you for your opinion

His car is a golf 3. The thermostat is behind the power steering pump I believe. At least on the 2.0 engines, that's where it is. It shouldn't be any different on his own.
When people really don't know how pass their points across, they SHOUT!
Mechanics really do ask for thermostats. I have replaced thrice on my cars. A Camry, a skoda and a cerrato.

Watch the attached link to a YouTube video showing the level of work involved in getting to a golf 3 thermostat. They didn't take it out from the water pump.
It sat on the engine block behind a plastic thermostat housing where it is usually found on almost every other car.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MCiwaFTDaVc

7pages:
I have been finding his attention since, I guess he's occupied lately. I just sent him a PM


thanks bro

I don't think he works on volkswagens yet.
But keep trying you might get his attention.

On the over heating part, start with the basics.
1. Flush your radiator (internally and externally).
2. Replace the reservoir tank cover or the o-ring on the cover.
3. Replace your thermostat (at this point, I assume you cannot test it. The test is simple, put it in boiling water, if the spring retracts and opens the sealing disc, it's good).
4. Make sure your fans are spinning in the right direction (at the right speed) and don't cut out intermittently.
If all these fail, then proceed to the following:
1. Check your water pump. Volume and flow rate. Mechanics know how to do this
2. Pressure test the system and locate any source of leak if any (I read you top up water regularly so you should also consider doing this as part of the basics stated above).

My brothers golf had a funny overheating episode once. It turns out to be an electrical problem.

The inner light switch short circuited after his bulb burnt.
Any time he enters a small pot hole, the inner light switch short circuits, the fan fuse blows, the fans stop turning and the car starts overheating.
It took a while and so many episodes for us to discover this link quite by accident.

In essence, I am saying, make sure your fans work as they should and do not stop working because of other faults in the car.

Don't mind the guy that said you should remove your thermostat. I have thermostats on my cars and that of nuclear family, I have convinced friends to reinstall theirs and I am yet to see any of those cars overheat because of thermostat.

mdchikezie:
My brother thank you, that's what I was telling him about thermostat and an ignorant idiot here that don't know anything about WATERPUMP is telling him to put back the thermostat.

You are ignorant. Sorry about what I said but it is true.
The thermostat has a function and is not part of the water pump. You couldn't even read and understand what you posted.

You are a part dealer, that doesn't make you an authority when it comes to how cars work. You merely fix prices to your goods but do not know how they work. Stick to what you know.

rationalmind:
In a way he's right. Why will you pay 1.1m for a Nigerian used vehicle when you can add 300-400k and buy a solid Toks in a much better condition.

If I ever have to buy have to buy a Nigerian used vehicle, the price difference from a toks unit must be very significant.

You see that 300-400k eh, it is beyond the reach of some people. That 1.1m may even be all the person has home and abroad.
Sometimes the search is frustrating and the buyer buys whatever is around and within reason.
Mind you, some Nigerian used cars are better than toks.

AutoElectNG:
Who was first accused of being a google mechanic on nairaland?

I know I was accused last October.

Any ideas?

Gazzuz.z, you are doing well.

I love vehicle restoration projects

My memory fails me now. Can't remember who was given that nickname first.
But it was a hilarious time indeed.
Las Las we are all alright.

Like play like play, this "Google mechanic" has become a thing.
The Lord truly works in mysterious ways.

GAZZUZZ:
1 user 1 vote , one option .

Then w201-16
Petrol heads will nod* their heads in appreciation.

David50:
I would prefer u go with brand new china tyres and have peace of mind. I would personally recommend WINDA or SUNFUL. Normally, people run into early issues with their tyres because they neglect basic but essential tyre maintenance strategies:
1. Always ensure ur tyres and well gauged (very very very important)... as a rule of thumb check them everytime u fill ur tank. I personally check mine every weekend.
2. Rotate ur tyres every 3 months so they all wear evenly (as a rule of thumb, do it when ever u service your car).
3. Balance ur wheels 4 times a year.
4. Do alignment once a month.
Do this and u will enjoy ur new tyres for the duration of its life time.

Can you compare sunful/winda to Michelin, pirelli, hankook, bridgestone, Yokohama?
Them no be mates.
When people advise tokunbo, they assume buyer will bear date of manufacture in mind.
Tokunbo tyres from known brands made from 2018 are okay.
I used to be in the new tyre camp until austone and double king dealt showed me that there is a difference between Panadol and paracetamol.

GAZZUZZ:
My list of work to do was not exhaustive..

Braking system : (restore and replace ) but looking into a possible complete upgrade. Checking the net for aftermarket compatible braking systems that work. stopping is as important as taking off




Air-conditioning : cools perfectly so far so good, but a noisy blower motor, will look into it shortly .





2 windows not working : Drivers window not responsive , rear right window not responsive. Door panels will be removed to check motors directly


Replacing all winter tyres: I am having a rethink on the rims that came with the car, vehicle should stand out. This means new dimensions of low profile tyres and rims...

Cleaning up the engine bay: Done


Befitting modern day multi-media sound system: Fogman on the beat, almost settled for a particular unit.

New head lamps : same spec impossible to find, will have to import.


All fluid changes: parts arriving


Inspecting fuel lines (just in case). Not started .


After market security system (noise maker) just noticed the car has some form of aftermarket security device, I will check it out and make it work .

Horns: part arriving soon.

Thinking of dark tint: Totally ruled out, the beauty of the car is its clean interior, need peeps outside to appreciate the inside.


New stuff added to list.

Special Number plate : Thinking ....... G-Mech, GAZZUZZ, NOT-MONK, W201-I6... Not sure what I want.

Insurance: standard comprehensive insurance at an over valued amount to avoid stories that touch, if e happen they buy another car, no stories


For the special plate numbers I will be contacting our in house pattybf https://www.nairaland.com/pattybf (Johnabraham I remember one talk like that 2 years ago )

For insurance will be using axamansard

https://www.nairaland.com/axamansard

For stuff shipped from the USA I will be using selfmadeolx.
https://www.nairaland.com/selfmadeolx

Pics and videos loading, stay tuned.

G-MECH or w201-I6 get my vote.

Day169:
Good morning, esteemed members of this forum.
I'm in need of a water pump for a Skoda Octavia 1.8T 2013 model.
Can anyone please help?
GreatStephenho.. etc, anyone?
Thanks for your anticipated response.

Search for greatstepheno.
He sells Volkswagen parts.
Skoda is a Volkswagen

Saao:
OK thank you but what kind of information that one can ask before going for physical inspection?

Ask for the vin. Ask for custom papers.
Ask for copies of the vehicle registration.
Ask for pictures of engine bay, interior and all sides of the car.
If you see wires snaking around the engine bay, don't bother.

Follow which link?

.

Saao:
Hello everyone,
I intend to buy rav4 2007/2008 within this month but I need your advice.
I have 2.5m which I think it's can buy me foreign used based on prices I saw online but the problem I have is that, that is the exact only cash I have which i can't afford to use all at this time, so I'm contemplating buying Nigeria use so I can have some change to use in few months for maintenance of the same and other things. Do you think it's a nice idea to buy Nigeria used? Assuming I go for Nigeria use what are those things I need to take note of? Please I need ur advice, don't want to regret it.
Thanks for your consideration

2.5 million won't get you a decent 07/08 RAV4.
Sellers have upped prices because of the crazy exchange rate and bid prices.
You can get a sound Nigerian used for 1.8m-2.2m.
Ensure a competent and trusted fellow inspects for you.
Pay them if you have to. Obtain as much information from the seller ahead of inspection to reduce wasted efforts.
Keep at least 150k as spare change for repairs and documentation costs. Cheers.

seanfer:
Bros please a tyre made in 2017 will expire when? I got into an argument with some FRSC in PH this week about my tyres. They said they’re expired.

No need to argue with them. Tell them to book you for expired tires and meet you in court to show you where the frsc act of 2007, includes expired tyres as an offence

aieromon:
I don't think you will get first grade Toks 17" or 18" tires for that amount.

17 inch, yes. 18 inch, maybe. 18 inch is about 13 to 15k.

Eco2580:
Morning Sir.
Which vehicle are you servicing with total 9000 5w-30?
I am confused on what to use on my accord 2016

Your Accord calls for 5w20. It abounds in Nigeria, from Mobil 1 to Castrol.
There are numerous sellers here too.
Dru23, Gazzuzz, theoilguy etc.