GENERAL
Blue Print parts
Q Reading articles on car repairs and servicing articles in Car Mechanics you often mention about febi and Blue Print parts being ordered and fitted.
My query relates to where do you order the parts from? I have done Google search but haven’t found a supplier who exclusively supplies either of those brands. I have found a few who supply say febi parts, but they also seem to stock lesser known parts as well. I must add I am not connected to any garage trade.
Dinkar Jhalera
A febi and Blue Print parts are supplied by a number of independent parts supply outlets and motor factors, and when using these suppliers it can be requested that the part needed is supplied as a Blue Print of febi part.
The main reason that suppliers will not simply stock one manufacturer’s part is that there can often be gaps in the market, and whilst one supplier may not manufacture and supply everything in the range this will then be filled by another manufacturer.
The part numbers and the range of parts supplied can be found on the https://partsfinder.bilsteingroup.com/en/index website, and then the part number(s) can be supplied to your local factors or independent parts supplier, who should then be able to source the parts. Or you can type the part number(s) into an online search engine to see who is selling them on the web.
GENERAL
Second-hand tyre choice
Q Close to my home a new tyre fitting garage has opened recently. They are really pushing part-worn tyres at cheap prices. Their advertising billboard stands out like a sore thumb.
My question is: where do such tyres come from? How could you possibly know the history of such tyres? I personally would never buy them, but surely for those that do, it must be a false economy.
Gary Harper
A I would agree that purchasing used tyres is risky business, and the age and previous life of the tyre can vary greatly. It is I suspect only for cost savings that any motorist would ever choose a part worn/second-hand tyre over a new one, and if cost saving were needed, a new budget tyre over a pre-used premium brand would certainly be my choice.
A large number of part-worn tyres come from Germany who have a minimum tread depth of 3mm (twice the UK limit). Others will originate from vehicle salvage yards and possibly other overseas sources.
The sale of part-worn tyres is perfectly legal providing that the tyres comply with the following:
They must pass an inflation test, be free from any cuts-lumps or visible cords. They must not have any embedded nails or other foreign objects or signs of any incorrect repair. There must also be a minimum of 2mm tread left across the whole face of the tyre. Part-worn tyres must also be clearly marked as such with a white marker on the sidewall of the tyre.
If a part-worn tyre doesn’t meet all these criteria, it can’t be sold on and should be scrapped.
I would also add that anyone looking to save money by purchasing part worn tyres should check the date stamp on the wall of the tyre and ensure it is not over five-years-old.
The following details are taken from the tyresafe.org website:
▶ 94% of part-worn tyres inspected by TyreSafe were being sold illegally.
▶ Of the 278 part-worn retailers investigated, 93% (261) were non-compliant.
▶ Over 63% of part-worn tyres were unsafe to return to the road.
▶ 22% of the tyres inspected were ten years or older.
▶ 18% had been repaired incorrectly.
▶ The oldest tyre found during investigations was 29-years-old.
▶ 159 people were killed or seriously injured as a result of defective tyre related accidents (UK annual average).
FORD TRANSIT
Locking problem
Q I could do with some guidance please with my Ford Transit Mk7. It has an issue where on locking the doors the horn sounds once. All doors (inclusive of rear double door, passenger side sliding door, driver and passenger door) lock OK. Am I correct in thinking the horn sounding is because the van thinks a door is not closed? Looking at my Haynes wiring diagram it shows a generic Transit diagram for central locking and I see door ajar switches are included in the circuit. Could you shed any light on the setup and operation of the system and what signals the van is looking for to prove all is OK on locking?
Where is a good go too for information like this online as Haynes (if they do a manual) can be very basic and generic? Thanks Steve, the neighbours are getting annoyed now so I better tackle the problem.
Gary Price
A You are correct and the single beep from the horn is indicating that the central door locking system is not registering all the doors as closed, giving a beep as a warning sign.
The reasons for this can be a faulty door lock switch or lock actuator, faulty deadlock or even a misaligned sliding door. Another possibility is that the feature has been activated in error and so as you have no doubt checked and found that the doors are all locking I would first attempt to de-activate the feature as follows:
▶ Press the lock and unlock buttons at the same time for two seconds and the lights will flash three times. Lock the doors and the horn shouldn’t sound anymore unless security system is triggered.
The feature is activated using the same method, so if this is not the problem then you will need to carry the process out a second time.
If the fault is due to a lock not registering as closed, the easiest way to diagnose the problem would be to use diagnostic equipment but if this is not available then I would certainly start with the sliding door – this is the most likely point of failure, check the contact pads and clean, then lubricate the catch to ensure all is working efficiently.
If the problem is not rectified, then it will be a case of checking the integrity of each lock, but as the door lock’s do activate and the interior light turns off when locked, this may be a case of checking the continuity of all circuits in turn.
FORD Ka
Heater fan resistor
Q Last winter I bought a 2017 Ford Ka+ 1.2 Ti-VCT as an economical runabout for my wife and as a learner car for my children. It has been very cheap to run and an enjoyable drive, but it has now developed a problem…
The heater/AC fan only runs at maximum speed. This fault usually implies a faulty resistor which is
