ClareQuilty

I'm in Mahasarakham. So there or Khon Kaen, Roi-Et, Kalasin are all convenient. Yeah the scratches are very numerous and very small/shallow. As for the local hi-end detailing shop, of course they're used to perfect new cars as that's what Thais drive. Hard to find anyone with lo-so knowledge. 

I picked up an old 1980s Mitsubishi Galant a few months ago for just 15,000 baht (no mechanical issues, just lots of back taxes). So I'm very happy with the old highway cruiser, except for on problem - a heavily scratched windshield. See photo. I asked at local hi-end car detailer if they could be buffed out, but they didn't have this capability. Any advice or recommendations? 

Yeah I know where to buy Converse guys - any shopping mall. The issue is they no longer make my size, so they're of no use to me. I'm looking for a similar sneaker here in Thailand. 

I see a lot of knockoffs of chucks here in Thailand, but most are poor quality or too small. Recently Converse stopped making half sizes (I'm 10.5), so I'm curious where to find any reasonably good knockoffs in this type of size. Anyone bought this kind of thing recently? 

9 hours ago, CharlieH said:

I am pretty sure if you took the seats and your own fabric it wouldnt be a problem for them.

Oddly enough I have no fabric, nor any idea where to buy it or what specialised fabrics might be usable for automobile seats. 

I have one or two old cars I'd like to have reupholstered in cloth. The difficulty is that in Thailand 90+% of shops only do vinyl or perhaps leather, two materials I find repulsive in any climate but particularly in the tropics. Does anyone have any advice or experience in this area? 

Car still wouldn't start today. LPG problem I guess. 

Got one new CV joint and two new rear shocks - total 2500 baht. Drives fine now. Been driving the heck out of it for a couple weeks, but then just today after a big thunderstorm and cooler weather it wouldn't start. Turned over but wouldn't catch - maybe the LPG is reluctant when cool and wet out. Rather than kill the battery trying I decided to try again tomorrow. 

Thanks for the comments guys. It's an early 90s Champ, dunno what that means about the shocks, but from the way it rides they must be original. I've no quote on new or rebuilt CV joints, only on shocks. 

Several Thai friends have recommended that in the case of very old cheap, high mileage vehicles, that I have the shocks and CV joints "rebuilt", rather than installing new parts. Has anyone here tried this? I've been told it's much cheaper (for example ~700 baht to rebuild a front shock compared to 1,600 for new). 

Other than this unforced oil error on my part, and the inability to run on benzene, the car has one problem - I suspect it's still on its original shocks! Horribly bouncy ride. So the choice is, drive it as is or get 4 new shocks (maybe 5-6k? Just guessing)? But if I invest in the shocks then looking at the timing belt starts to make sense.. 

17 hours ago, transam said:

He sounds like a bit of a plonker...?

Yes. Of course - you do realise I'm in Thailand. ?

Updating - he stated a couple of weeks ago that he had the replacement clutch cable, but that he could not "pull" the clutch cable. No progress since. Beginning to think he plans to just leave it in his yard forever as they do. 

Someone gave me an old Champ - they thought it didn't run but apparently it does run on its LPG system, but not on the normal fuel system. So I drove it around marveling at the functionality of a wreck with 350,000 kilometres, and then thought to check the oil.. it looked low to me (though clean, bizarrely) so I added a quart. Checked the next day cold and it was definitely about one quart too full - over the maximum mark on the stick. 

Should I get the extra quart sucked out? Is it a big deal? I'm thinking I might keep the car - it's just astounding how far it goes on the LPG, like free motoring. 

8 hours ago, ktm jeff said:

Your vehicle repair sagas are like painting the Seven bridge , ongoing , but amusing. 

Thank you. To live is to suffer, particularly when one owns a Peugeot. 

Updating - just visited the shop, where he claims to have fixed the MAF related running problem, but due to the language barrier he couldn't explain how. The clutch cable remains unfixed as he says none are to be found in Thailand - and so it begins again. 

One reason I remain highly skeptical that he's actually fixed the MAF/momentary stalling problem is that without the clutch cable he is unable to test it *under load*. 

21 hours ago, Denim said:

By coincidence , my check engine warning light came on a month ago. My mechanic used his trouble shooter on it and it said the MAS was the fault.

 

New guy got to work and the diagnostics indicated a secondary MAS. As he disconnected this for an examination, one of the wires leading into it was found to be not connected and loose. They disassembled the MAS and re soldered the loose wire onto its metal socket.

 

Result ....fixed !

 

Just returned from a long trip and everything normal again. Although I was able to drive before with the faulty MAS , fuel consumption had been worse and acceleration lumpy.

Interesting - it does sound like a similar problem to mine. However in my case "engine diagnostics" don't work. When they hook up that machine zero information is transmitted, instead they've been testing each component and wire piece by piece using a kind of electric meter - to see if current's getting through. 

7 hours ago, canthai55 said:

With that money you could have bought the service manual, and a DMM, found the solution yourself, and have the problem fixed.

Save chasing around trying to find parts - and skilled mechanics - in an endless merry-go-round.

You mean fix it myself? Impossible. Anyway even I were willing to get greasy and calloused, and spend thousands on wrenches and so forth, the essential problem is the same - no parts. 

Updating this topic again - I received the Bosch MAF at the local post office, with 880 baht in customs duty to pay. I showed it to the mechanic, but his current theory is that the MAF is fine, only the wires and solenoid feeding into it are bad. The Peugeot guy I put him in touch with was unable to find those parts, but he and the mechanic agreed some Audi parts can be substituted. So at this point we're waiting yet another week for these parts to be sent. Meantime he broke the cutch cable connector driving the car around the shop grounds - apparently a trouble spot with these cars, and it broke once before for me. Hopefully he'll figure out a way to fix that, as he broke it.

Wow, totally unexpected development - I noticed an old  contact on my Line renewed today, under the name "Peugeot mechanic" - a guy I'd met driving a beautiful 406 about 2 years ago. At the time he said he'd come to Mahasarakham from Bangkok to work on a Peugeot, so I took his number. 

Anyway messaged him and he claims to have relevant parts, for example a solenoid for MAF just 500 baht:

Update - no news yet about the part, as I've not been to the office to see if it or some customs notification came in. Today visited my mechanic, and I asked him if he knew of any salvage yards that focused on buying Peugeot or other hopeless brands for breaking up, but he took me behind his shop and showed me a similar 405 he said he'd been trying to sell for 5,000 baht for years, but no one wanted the parts. This was the potential donor he was thinking of for converting my car to carburetion, but it's the 1.9 liter while mines the 2.0 liter so it won't fit. 

BTW he seemed very tired of having the car at is shop, where it has been for a month or two, so I think I'll have to take it away somewhere. 

Updating this topic -  my friend in UK unexpectedly found and sent a Peugeot MAF to me (no idea if right one). Alas now it is in Lak Si Mail Center according to his tracker, so it seems likely it's captured by customs. Anyone have any experience with the automotive customs? 

On 8/6/2018 at 3:38 PM, Pepper9187 said:

Hi,

 

I got access to the servicebox too (i guess that's what you were talking about commie ?) ;

 

Anyway just drop your VIN and i can find your OEM part reference, i found some unbelievable new OEM parts on ebay for my 605 (these parts are no longer produced since 10 years at least).

 

Pepper you are a Peugeot owner - any advice on getting rid of this car? I'm wondering if it has any value "parted out", rather than sent to the crusher. The engine and transmission are in perfect order and strong, hardly any signs of wear, but the electronics are hopeless. 

On 7/31/2018 at 9:16 AM, canthai55 said:

 

 

As we're unable to find either the MAF itself or the solenoid that my mechanic thinks is the problem, he's looking into the possibility of replacing the fuel injection and engine management system with a carburetor (he says the computer probably isn't working properly anyway, as he gets no codes on his diagnostics). 

6 hours ago, canthai55 said:

Peugeot did not make the MAF, a contractor did

Do you have a service manual for the car ?

 

 

No manual. Just an old car I picked up super cheap from a local a couple of years ago. Engine, transmission, suspension all sound and strong, but like most cars - the electronics are its undoing. 

BTW to those who assumed I'm in Bangkok - in fact I'm isolated in Isaan. I do see 405s on the road up here, and only about half have Toyota engines. Guess they're just lucky - maybe carbureted models.