MOT Time - List of niggles

[bensewell1982]

Hello all,

Been a long time since I've put a post up so its been a pretty trouble free year except a new intermediate drive shaft.

You might know I've got a 02 seat alhambra mk2 with 175k miles on it.  In OK condition but is my cheap car until I've saved for a newer model.

Anyway its MOT time. 

The things that I know are broken:

1.  The rear wash does not work, the pipe for the jet at the back has been cleared, the pipe at the front passenger side came off so I've got the carpet and underlay drying out.  I can either get a new rear wipe motor OR....  Was thinking of getting one of those gromit things and just de-wipering it up.  Is this legal

2.  The central locking doesn't work anymore from the fob.  Can i code it back to working?

3.  Noticed I've been loosing water recently.  Hope its not the head gasket going.  Heater is not boiling anymore just warm.

4.  The auxiliary heater smokes like a chimney on startup.  When its warm its OK but first thing its like off uncle buck a nice cloud of white smoke pops out like a fog of doom.  Can i take the aux heater fuse out? if so which one is it.

Cheers, Ben

[Chrispb]

1. The rear wash wiper is not part of the MOT but from years of experience driving a galaxy if you need to use the interior mirror to view the rear in wet weather the rear wiper is essential.
2. Maybe but more likely fob is knackered
3. Does there seem a lot of pressure build up when removing cap even when cold.
4. Probably needs new glow plug in heater (requires disassemble) also check auxiliary coolant pump for correct operation, you can remove fuse 12 and have very slow warming up car.

[bensewell1982]

Cheers for quick response Chris really appreciate it.

1.  The water pipe came loose at the passenger side footwell and has been wet for ages so I've took the underlay out and its drying in the garage.  The water is going to the rear but now p1$$ing out of where the motor is even though its on tight and theres no blockages in the hole.   I think its got clogged in the motor bit somewhere.
2.  Oh dear about the fob, I'll try and do a reprogram or get another from eBay.
3.  Not noticed it boiling over like on other cars I've had with HGF but when I check the water every few weeks I've had to top it up.  I've put a bit more in today and if this goes down then I think I'll get it sniff tested.
4.  When I bought the car it had a fuse taped over, i bet it was this one. 

[Chrispb]

Regarding
3.It could be early stages that's why I ask about the pressuring
other checks you can do, run the engine with the cap removed can you see coolant returning to the bottle through the small pipe.
If you can see this check the level top up to max line go for a run in the car, on return now look at the level has it gone up or down or stayed the same? now slowly remove the cap carefully does it wan't to bubble over?
This time of year these cars struggle to get hot unaided but if you have excess pressure then you will have trouble brewing.

[bensewell1982]

I'll give it a go.  Main priority this week is to try and get it though the MOT.  Its booked in for next Tuesday GULP.