Suspension sinks on Sundays! C5 X7 that works hard + 206 GTi HDi (and 406 Coupe and 306 HDi). - MattBLancs

[bobins]

Presumably the regs allow for replacing the headlamp units with LED ones as that'd sidestep the wording of the rule ?

[mickthemaverick]

Yes I would agree bobins that if the entire unit is replaced it would not come under that regulation as it is written. However I'm not sure that having that argument with an MOT man would be a good idea!!

[RichardW]

Presumably the regs allow for replacing the headlamp units with LED ones as that'd sidestep the wording of the rule ?

Yes:

If a complete headlamp unit has been replaced with a unit that was manufactured with HID or LED light sources, it must not be failed for ‘Light source and lamp not compatible’ but it must meet all other requirements detailed in section 4 of this manual specific to the type fitted at the time of test.

[MattBLancs]

Presumably the regs allow for replacing the headlamp units with LED ones as that'd sidestep the wording of the rule ?

Yes my understanding:

Manufacturer makes a car with LED headlamps, all legal as soon as gone through type approval.

Retrofit "LED Bulbs" as per Bobbins MOT Manual wording - fail on sight.

Despite MOT stations having setup to confirm beam pattern is correct (which would fail any poorly functioning bulb type) it's just "fail if spotted"

[MattBLancs]

Back from Reading again this morning, that's 408 miles covered this week. Blue 308 SW is indicating it's managed 65.6 mpg for this, will confirm with "brim to brim" calculated values when next filling up.

Here viewtopic.php?p=850653#p850653
A discussion with Mick around alternator efficiency, I gave my thoughts on the alternator potentially having another way of contributing to engine efficiency (through quicker warm up).

Fair to say I've put my money where my mouth is!

[mickthemaverick]

Since part of this plan is to get the system warmed up quicker I wonder if it would make sense to feed the output from the alternator to the heater to warm the interior up sooner too?

[MattBLancs]

Since part of this plan is to get the system warmed up quicker I wonder if it would make sense to feed the output from the alternator to the heater to warm the interior up sooner too?

Yes, that's the best part of the system to connect into, heater matrix normally on the "short loop" the coolant takes ahead of the the thermostat opening and flow heading to the main radiator as well - so for my intended benefit, "alternator heat" entering the system here would be ideal

[mickthemaverick]

it will be interesting to see some output temperature readings once you get it up and running Matt!

[MattBLancs]

it will be interesting to see some output temperature readings once you get it up and running Matt!

It'll take me a bit, but yes interesting to see what it does.

I found someone using one of these alternators to charge some big batteries. Will see if I can find it again - am sure he was measuring temperatures etc

EDIT here it is:

[MattBLancs]

Initial look at my silly purchase. Quick comparison against the EW10J4 alternator (made by Mitsubishi) that's sat in the garage awaiting its eventual return to the 406 Coupe.

On the water cooled (made by Hitachi) alternator:
Mounting points use M8 rather than M10.

Along the axis of the mounting bolts, the lugs appear to be same distance between alternators.

Interestingly, between pairs of fixings, they are a fair distance further apart 10-15mm, will measure it when I get chance.

Air cooled Vs water cooled

Drive pulley is obviously a larger diameter (presumably to suit a high revving V10 Vs 4 cylinder??)
But also of note it's a 5 groove "5PK" pulley, not the 6PK of the EW10J4 alternator.
Centre nut is same size, so a pulley swap seems feasible.
Offset of pulley Vs mounting lugs looks about the same but will measure to confirm.

Both EW10J4 (year 2000) and the HDi Coupe DW12 (year 2002) are both standard rather than "smart" alternators (the Audi / Hitachi one is smart)

[MattBLancs]

Spot the difference between listing photo and what arrived:

A message to the seller, apology and very swift in the post, today arrived:

Great service!

[mickthemaverick]

That is good service for the bay Matt must be your lucky week!!

[MattBLancs]

Not really "Picture of the day" worthy, but yesterday revolved around this:

Which was then tested:

Also multimeter across terminals = open circuit.

£26 for a new one.

Washer itself is going to need a spot of "bodywork" as seemingly is rusty in places not seen usually!

[MattBLancs]

Blue 308 SW diesel full up, this encompasses recent long trip to Bristol and back plus a week of "normal commute"

567 miles covered,
141.9 ppl, £58.43 = 41 litres= 9.06 gallons

62.6 mpg over the tankful! Very happy with that

[mickthemaverick]

"Not really "Picture of the day" worthy, but yesterday revolved around this:"

Not wishing to pump you for more details but it would seem that it didn't revolve at all, hence the problem?