Barry

My passion is old fords but as a technician, I can say that Toyota make the best cars in the world.

This is a very simple and cheap test you can do on your own car. All you need is a cheap multimeter at 40-50dhs. You can probably pick one up even cheaper online or at somewhere like dragon mart. I'm sure some of us have experienced a problem where you parked the car up in the morning and went back to it in the morning and it wouldn't start because of a flat battery. Why did this happen? It was working fine last night? You should first test the battery with a proper battery discharge tester. This is a bit more expensive than a multimeter and I appreciate that most people won't have or won't buy one. Next thing you need to check is the functionality of your alternator. You can do this with a multimeter which is one of the tools i recommend everyone should have. Set the alternator to VDC. DC volts. Measure the battery voltage across the positive and negative terminals with the engine stopped and ignition off. It should be 12 volts give or take half a volt either way. Next, start the car and measure the voltage again using the same method. Depending on the car, you should see a voltage of 13-14 volts. If you rev the engine and see a wild fluctuation the charging regulator could be fried but this is a whole other topic. Ok, now that you're sure that your battery and alternator are fine, let's find out why your battery is draining overnight. Disconnect the negative battery terminal and connect the negative wire on your multimeter to the negative terminal on the battery. Tape it on if you have to. Next connect the positive wire on your multimeter to the cars earth lead. Again, tape it on if you have to. Now turn your multimeter on. Set it to the highest possible amp setting and turn it down gradually until you get a reading on the screen. Once you see a reading, this is your battery drain. Pull the fuses out one by one and watch for the reading dropping to zero. When you pull a fuse and the reading drops, you know you have found the circuit where the problem is. Check your cars fuse diagram and see what the fuse corresponds to and you know where to start looking for the problem.

@Rahimdad, @treks is very qualified, way more experienced than me. Ill answer your question though, these jacks work on pressure. When the pressure builds up in the exhaust system and there's nowhere else for it to go, it starts building up in the combustion chamber which puts extra strain on the head gasket. It's a bit like blocked DPF or catalytic converter doing the same thing. Just to add, I have no experience of using these jacks, I'm just applying theory and common sense to it. I wonder how they work if you have 2 tailpipes running from one centre pipe. I imagine you have to block the other pipe off with bananas or something?

Hey, check out this amazing item VLX 25 pcs Professional Socket Set, 1/2 inch drive VL425E for 150.00 AED on Souq.com App. Check out more deals @souquae or download the Souq.com App. http://uae.souq.com/ae-en/-12153503/i/?utmsource=Souq This isn't bad for the price and has 2 spark plug sockets in it. Extendable ratchet is nice too. We all have to start somewhere. Check out this handy guide I wrote too,

Have you got a picture?

This looks like a useful tool for the off roaders

At the minute I'm using iPad and a lightning to hdmi converter connected to the tv to watch movies etc. It works ok but I'd like a smaller and more permanent solution which I could leave connected. I looked into the option of getting a raspberry pi 3 and building a box but on investigation I can buy a ready built android box on Souq.com for half the price it would cost me to build it. What boxes are people using and what software? Is VPN required on the box and can it be installed and run easily or is it too slow? Ideally, I want the full works with all movies, live tv etc. and if it was airplay compatible it would be very awesome. If anyone has any information I'd be grateful.

Dash cams are now legal in UAE, http://www.khaleejtimes.com/dash-cameras-legal-in-uae The most important thing to do is stay calm. Dont let them goad you into driving faster, stick to a speed you're comfortable with. Sorry mr police man, I had another car up my ass isn't an excuse that will get you off with a speeding fine. If you can, pull to the right and let the idiot past. Don't get too close to the car in front either. It's bad enough if you happen to get rear ended but it's even worse getting sandwiched. There's a chance you won't walk away from it. There is also the temptation to brake test them but just remember that if they're already up your ass over the speed limit and flashing their lights, there's a chance that they're not a particularly well adjusted or civilized human being and you could end up with a broken jaw next time the traffic flow stops. For some reason, certain people turn into big assholes when they get behind the wheel.

http://www.euroncap.com/en/results/ford/mustang/26063 i have to say I'm pretty shocked at this. I didn't think it was possible for a car to score so low these days.

I had forgotten the name of them. Color tune plugs. I've only ever actually seen one person using them and he was a proper old school mechanic who had been working for over 40 years.

I have a huge box of adapters but 99% of the time I just use one one Bluetooth adaptor. It's standard odb shape with 16 pins but has some trick circuitry inside that allows it to adapt to read almost anything. Generally, I only need a different adapter for older cars like BMW and Mercedes that have a different plug shape but nowadays it's all standardized. I'm using Launch X-431 Pro software on android which is basically a copy of the dealer software and gives me full scan and programming capability. As long as I stay on top of the updates, if the main dealer can do it, I can also do it. I can remember using some of the older snap on diagnostic systems where you had to change different 'keys' in the the adapter in order to read the ecu. Things have come only really fast, even in the past 2 years. As for some garages not being able to read some cars, that's the difference in spending 50dhs on a generic code reader and spending 9000dhs on the proper tool for the job. One thing I've seen a lot of is 'mechanics' scanning for fault codes and blindly changing parts to make the problem go away without any real understanding of what the code means or how the system works. For example, a code will come up for airflow meter. They will fit a new one at 6-700 without even have taking any readings to see what is actually going on. The problem could have been a loose hose clip but they just fitted a 700dhs airflow meter which didn't fix the problem, 'because that's what the computer said'. There's a lot of guys here who call themselves 'full mechanic' when realistically all they are good for is changing oil and brake pads. I spend a lot of my time teaching and training and honestly, it can be frustrating sometimes. A lot of it spent trying to undo bad habits and false information that has been taught by people who shouldn't be working on anything bigger than a Honda 50. Anyway, I digress, initial computer diagnostic scan will always be free with me for carnity members.

@brandan 600 bhp from a 3.5 is nothing really. You could extract that from a 2.0 with proper tuning techniques. You'll need a big turbo but it is doable. If you guys are ordering food I'll have masala dosa please.

I watched the videos behind the design of this cylinder head and found it very interesting. Does anyone remember glass spark plugs that used to let you see the color of the flame inside the combustion chamber? They were used for tuning purposes.

Honestly, this is new to me and not something I know much about although I believe the decreased reliability would come from the much higher strain on internal engine components.

I'd also like to add, if it isn't a scam, how come there isn't 3k, 5k, 10k changes all around the world? Why does it only happen in UAE and parts of America? Why does the rest of the world stick to manufacturer recommended service schedules?

@taqir because they want your money. Pure and simple. When I joined my current garage, a lady from one of the above mentioned companies visited me and asked why would anyone use oil from one of the other above mentioned companies because it was crap. The oil in the car came from one of the local oil companies. I won't name it but it was a blue jar with orange logo. Engine sludge isn't a thing where I come from, it just doesn't happen. I have never seen it until I came here. People look after their cars according to manufacturers specification. I am 100% confident in what I say and am happy to stand by it. Service centre intervals mean nothing. It's made up bullshit. Use whatever oil your vehicle manufacturer recommends and change it when they recommend.

I am selling this guitar. Guitar is played but has been looked after and is in as new condition. Will come with new strings and professionally set up, ready to gig or just play at home. Guitar is a Dean ML Chigao Flame Series. Very rare special edition. If you want to hear, look for Pantera, Dimebag Darrel on YouTube Spec is, Mahogany Body Flame maple top Ebony fretboard Abalone inlays Grover tuners 24k Gold plated hardware 22 frets DiMarzio pickups Guitar will also come with Dean hard case including hand carry and shoulder straps. Guitar is in perfect condition. Reason for sale is that I want to import a ESP Snakebyte. It pains me to let this go so please, no low ball offers Price is 2200 dhs. Any questions, please ask. More pics can be sent on request. There is not a mark on this guitar. I will also throw in a free iRig for the lucky buyer.

Look at a sound system as what it is, a system. Head unit/amplification, cables, speakers/boxes. Amplification is the start. If you have a decent aftermarket head unit with a good inbuilt amplifier then you're sorted. If you intend on keeping your original head unit it's worth investing on an amplifier. Amp technology has come a long way and there are many small amps you can hide behind a panel and nobody would ever know it's there. You also need to be aware of the power output of the amplifier and how many outputs it has. Next thing is wiring. Google OFC (oxygen free cable), also look into gold plated connectors. Next thing is speakers. Make sure your speakers can handle what the amp is pushing to them. It's very easy to pop a cone. Honestly, sound systems is a very complicated topic and deserves a forum all of its own. I have built many and a few SPL shows but the pride of my work has to be a Subaru where you opened the boot and a guitar and amplifier came out of the floor.

After 15 years of working on vehicles in one form or another from road cars to racing cars to trucks and heavy plant equipment it's fair to say I have done a lot of oil changes. I wouldn't even like to guess at how many I've done, how many times I've spilt oil around my feet, how many times it has run down my sleeve. I can do rough work, I can patch vehicles up to get them moving but generally, my work is completely professional and I like to do things properly. If I know I did a bad job during the day I would have trouble sleeping at night. I'm a professional automotive technician. This is what I do, it's my passion and my life's work. Coming from working in various places in Europe, I have only ever serviced vehicles to the manufacturers specification. I have always used the correct oil and I have always advised my customers when to come back for their next service according to what the manufacturer has specified. This is all I know, it is what I was trained to do. It came as a big shock to my system when I first came to UAE and started working in Sharjah and discovered the whole 3k, 5k, 10k oil change bullshit that is going on. I haven't heard of a car built since the 1960s where the manufacturer specified that the oil had to be changed every 3k. Even then, they had recommended grades, not just whichever barrel is closest like what happens here. I have recently tried to educate myself on this topic and have found out that it happens in parts of America too. Bullshit, bullshit, bullshit. I'm sorry but that's the only word I can find to describe it. This is all a ploy that has been concocted by service centres to sell their shitty, low quality oil and Chinese aftermarket oil filters in high quantities and make huge profits at the expense of you. These guys don't care about you, they don't care about your car or it's engine. They just want to make money. Changing your oil every 3k, 5k or 10k means absolutely nothing when they're putting in the wrong oil and your engine will get sludged up anyway. Check out these videos I took of an engine I recently opened. The engine had only 70k on it, was serviced religiously every 10k but they put shitty, cheap, nasty oil in it. Its seriously about time the public started standing up to these people and said no, you're full of shit and you just want to empty my wallet. Educate yourselves. Read your cars handbook. Join marque specific car forums. Learn as much about what properly servicing your car actually entails. Don't fall for this bullshit and succumb to the scam. Tell your friends, tell your family. Letting service centres put any random oil into your car is damaging your engine. Know what oil should go into your car and know how often it should be changed. Some manufacturers now recommend 18-24k oil changes. This is absolutely fine as long as you are using the oil that they recommend you use. If the recommended oil is 30-40 dhs more expensive then so what? What can you even buy for 40 dhs nowadays? It's cheaper than paying someone like me 5000 dhs to rebuild your engine after the cams, main bearings and crankshaft fail because one of the roadside service stations used whatever oil they happened to be making commission on at the time. TL:DR The whole 3k, 5k, 10k oil change is a scam. Know how often your oil should be changed and know which oil should be used.

http://www.roadandtrack.com/new-cars/car-technology/news/a32301/mazda-gasoline-engine-compression-ignition-skyactiv/ So it seems that Mazda have taken compression ignition technology from Diesel engines and applied it to petrol engines. I can only imagine that this will have an incredibly high compression ratio and become horribly unreliable at higher mileages.

Believe it or not, this car actually had an oil change every 10k and there was 70k total miles on the car. The oil the previous garage was using was just shitty. This particular company has over 300 cars and I've just started taking care of them all a couple of months ago. I've come across 5-6 like this and I'm expecting more. I could quite happily estimate that 20% of my time is spent fixing other people's mistakes.

Here is a little lesson in oil,

I recently had a car in with a few oil leaks in the engine so I started stripping down a few things to see what I could fix and this is what I came across inside the engine. This is the result of using cheap nasty oil. My advice as always, good oil only costs 20 Dhs more. Use it. If you think what you see on the outer parts of the engine looks bad, just imagine how the insides must look. The oil won't be flowing properly and all sorts of damage will be occurring.

Hoops fan? My mates mum had a 987 back at home and didn't have a lot of trouble with it other than a relay for the roof. Even overheated it and ran the engine out of oil and it was still ok. You should google IMS bearing failure. I've seen a few people chatting about it on Porsche forums but I have to admit I'm not too clued up on it.