Hi,
as a hands on mechanic for 22 years, that left the day to day servicing of cars and machinery, bulldozers etc, you get your own little band of products that you label as "bulletproof". It may be a certain loctite product, a brand of hacksaw blade or simply just the feel and precision you get when you really lay out a job on a bench and reach for the stahl willie ratchet and just know that you are going to "nail" the job.
I did this on the weekend with my beloved csi.
I carefully pulled the air cleaner housing and hoses, removed the washer bottle and plug leads which had been replaced 12 months ago and removed the spark plugs, noting the beautiful and even colour of the plugs and remarking to myself how good it feels to spend this time using quality parts and see that it is all worth it.
The plugs I pulled were the wr7dc +1 Bosch made in germany for those who are interested.( and forgetting any discussion at this point about resistor plugs)
I reached into my latest stash of Walloth and Nesch parts and filters and pulled out 6 new plugs.
Carefully applying some anti seize in a very very small amount to the threads in the barest of quantities, I laid them out like a surgeon for the refit, carefully handling them and just simply getting this job done to a high standard.
Confidence in what you can do, and what the part is, its a wonderful thing.
I refitted all the parts and checked each clip and hose clamp on the way and didnt even bother to run it with hood up, I just closed it and rolled the car out for that clean and crisp run when the world is a beautiful place and your car which is running great anyway, just feels that bit better. ( like having a really clean windscreen)
Within minutes, I was aware of a problem. This car was idling terribly, as if a vacuum line was shot, or the MAP was having a brain explosion.
I had seen all this before, having to become an expert on djet from so far away in Australia and availing myself with these skills from every forum known to man that deals in such things.
But this cant be, this is my car and the job was so minor.
The car was now wavering and running seemingly on 3 or 5 cylinders.
It limped home and with bonnet up, I looked hard at the facts and using a small word called experience, I just pulled the plugs and examined.
My, oh my.
Within 30 mins of driving a pattern was present. at least two were not or barely firing at all and were overfuelled. The remainder were ok and as per previous plugs.
At this point, I noticed something even smaller. Written in small writing was the words, Made in India on the plugs.
I put them on the bench now, almost shaking that I had put something so sub standard in the car.
I checked the other new ones, and they are the same , and all branded made in india.
Well, I actually needed to use this car as I had left some other keys for vehicles at my office, so I carefully replaced the old plugs after extracting them from the bin and fitted them into the car.
Does how this ends, need any explanation? Does it come as any surprise ?
Yes.............the car immediately went back to running beautifully, and sang, pulling strongly and just idled right on the money with no waver or shudder.
Now, I am not going to fill out warranty forms and deal with a service agent who wants to debate with me how a 40 year old car can have some foibles or issues that can come up intermittently and pretend that there is a chance that my car is sub standard.
I am going to now simply take Bosch off my list of safe and secure products.
I have heard the rumours about quality issues and how good NGK are etc, and always stood up for the german reliability of Bosch.
Until now.....I feel like I have lost a friend.
But if parts are going to be made in strained locations like India or China, the Quality control just has to be 110%, and to then keep the price the same anyway as a german one, is just insulting.
So, the devil is in the details, but that small one word change from Germany to India, certainly had huge repercussions for me.
Anyone else had similar issues? I mean, I am just an old broken down mechanic, not a bright spark executive heavyweight at Bosch, and they would be right, wouldnt they??
Andrew
as a hands on mechanic for 22 years, that left the day to day servicing of cars and machinery, bulldozers etc, you get your own little band of products that you label as "bulletproof". It may be a certain loctite product, a brand of hacksaw blade or simply just the feel and precision you get when you really lay out a job on a bench and reach for the stahl willie ratchet and just know that you are going to "nail" the job.
I did this on the weekend with my beloved csi.
I carefully pulled the air cleaner housing and hoses, removed the washer bottle and plug leads which had been replaced 12 months ago and removed the spark plugs, noting the beautiful and even colour of the plugs and remarking to myself how good it feels to spend this time using quality parts and see that it is all worth it.
The plugs I pulled were the wr7dc +1 Bosch made in germany for those who are interested.( and forgetting any discussion at this point about resistor plugs)
I reached into my latest stash of Walloth and Nesch parts and filters and pulled out 6 new plugs.
Carefully applying some anti seize in a very very small amount to the threads in the barest of quantities, I laid them out like a surgeon for the refit, carefully handling them and just simply getting this job done to a high standard.
Confidence in what you can do, and what the part is, its a wonderful thing.
I refitted all the parts and checked each clip and hose clamp on the way and didnt even bother to run it with hood up, I just closed it and rolled the car out for that clean and crisp run when the world is a beautiful place and your car which is running great anyway, just feels that bit better. ( like having a really clean windscreen)
Within minutes, I was aware of a problem. This car was idling terribly, as if a vacuum line was shot, or the MAP was having a brain explosion.
I had seen all this before, having to become an expert on djet from so far away in Australia and availing myself with these skills from every forum known to man that deals in such things.
But this cant be, this is my car and the job was so minor.
The car was now wavering and running seemingly on 3 or 5 cylinders.
It limped home and with bonnet up, I looked hard at the facts and using a small word called experience, I just pulled the plugs and examined.
My, oh my.
Within 30 mins of driving a pattern was present. at least two were not or barely firing at all and were overfuelled. The remainder were ok and as per previous plugs.
At this point, I noticed something even smaller. Written in small writing was the words, Made in India on the plugs.
I put them on the bench now, almost shaking that I had put something so sub standard in the car.
I checked the other new ones, and they are the same , and all branded made in india.
Well, I actually needed to use this car as I had left some other keys for vehicles at my office, so I carefully replaced the old plugs after extracting them from the bin and fitted them into the car.
Does how this ends, need any explanation? Does it come as any surprise ?
Yes.............the car immediately went back to running beautifully, and sang, pulling strongly and just idled right on the money with no waver or shudder.
Now, I am not going to fill out warranty forms and deal with a service agent who wants to debate with me how a 40 year old car can have some foibles or issues that can come up intermittently and pretend that there is a chance that my car is sub standard.
I am going to now simply take Bosch off my list of safe and secure products.
I have heard the rumours about quality issues and how good NGK are etc, and always stood up for the german reliability of Bosch.
Until now.....I feel like I have lost a friend.
But if parts are going to be made in strained locations like India or China, the Quality control just has to be 110%, and to then keep the price the same anyway as a german one, is just insulting.
So, the devil is in the details, but that small one word change from Germany to India, certainly had huge repercussions for me.
Anyone else had similar issues? I mean, I am just an old broken down mechanic, not a bright spark executive heavyweight at Bosch, and they would be right, wouldnt they??
Andrew
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