New owner and got probs. Advice wanted please...

Red_A2 said:
Hi Mike, thanks for the offer - that would be much appreciated if there is a meet anywhere close to the Midlands. I have now booked into Stealth racing and they're charging £80+VAT for 4 wheel alignment, so hopefully that will cure my steering woes once and for all.

What are the disadvantages of disconnecting the EGR valve? i.e. can it fail an MOT because of this?

Thanks,
Gaz
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MOT failure isn't a possibility, as oxides of nitrogen are not tested - it is these that the EGR reduces.

There really are no disadvantages of shutting off the EGR valve.

Cheers,

Mike
 
Red_A2 said:
Hi Mike, thanks for the offer - that would be much appreciated if there is a meet anywhere close to the Midlands.

Thanks,
Gaz
Click to expand...

Hi Gaz,

There will hopefully be a curry meet in the Midlands within the next few weeks; just need Ian and Chris to advise of the date... ;) (No pressure guys... LOL!!).

Darren
 
Right then, I visited Stealth yesterday and they spent about 2 hours on the car doing the 4 wheel alignment and when I first drove the car it seemed so much better and I was totally happy :) However, half way home and I noticed that the steering wheel still isn't straight :mad:
As I had lots to do, I didn't have time to take it straight back. Does this mean the actual wheel has to be taken off and put on again straight? If so how do you do that without problems with airbags etc?
I'm really confused now and don't know what to do or who to trust:confused:
I thought this might also stop the creaking when I turn the wheel at slow speeds, but it didn't :(

I'm absolutely fed up wth this car and am on the verge of just trading it in after a mere 2 months ownership (and £575 spent!). It only has a genuine 29k miles and I'm furstrated that no-one can solve this problem and I have now run out of money....
 
Hi Red,

Please do your best to attend the curry social and I'll do my level best to sort the car out for you and to keep you an A2 owner!

I suspect the steering wheel has been off at some point and put back incorrectly for 2 reasons:

Firstly, the creaking you talk of is indicative of the steering wheel rubbing on part of the column shroud, or even the steering electronics behind. If this is the case, I can rectify the problem in about 10 minutes.

If the car is now travelling straight and true, not pulling (apart from the road camber) then the track and alignment has been done correctly and the wheel should be in the central position. If the wheel has been removed at some point (to correct for a badly done tracking job in the past), then this will account for the non-level position.

I know how you must be feeling - my first A2 (a demonstrator from a main dealer) spent every weekend in the workshop for the first 6 weeks of ownership and I was on the verge of rejecting it. In the end, it all came good and I had him for 2 years, before ordering a new one, which I still have 3 years on.

Cheers,

Mike
 
Hi Mike,

I'll check for the curry post in a sec and will hopefully attend - I'd massively appreciate it if you could help out with some of the probs. I think Stealth have done a great job in getting the right feeling back in the steering etc, it's just the damn wheel that isn't straight even though the car is?!? How difficult is it to get the wheel itself re-aligned? The creaking is also driving me insane and seems to be coming from above the driver's footwell, under the dash and only happens when I turn at low speeds...

Other than that I love the car and want to keep it, but I only have so much money and patience......
Cheers,
Gaz
 
Gaz, the social is in Southam and Cov, so not far from you and my fix (hopefully) will be FOC.

The wheel levelling is not difficult if you have the right tools and the creaking is possibly due to something catching or rubbing - I'll take a look for you.

Cheers,

Mike
 
Oh no - don't tell me that please!!! Fingers crossed it isn't any of those probs, otherwise I'll definitely have to cut my losses and sell up!! Strange thing was that the wheel was straight and tracking seemed fine before I had the ARB replaced - then things started going wrong :confused: Maybe it was the first garage that did a bodged job, I dunno? Should've just gone to Stealth in the first place....
Hopefully you guys can help me out at the meet tho, so I can start enjoying the car rather than whinging all the time :)
 
Hi Richard,

I'm in South West Birmingham near to the old Rover factory in Longbridge. Why do you ask?
Cheers.
 
Haha - mine'll be the one driving wonky down the road :D

Seriously, not seen many red ones about. I see quite a few silver, blue and a few gunmetal grey (my fave colour).
 
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