Going back to basics, have you thought about very low compression? Cranking will generate some heat in the cylinders which will make it easier to start, but if all else is in order it might simply be a mechanically tired engine? Can you do a compression test?

Maybe my pair is by a different manufacturer - both had 2000/2001 manufacturing dates on them. Both wheels had rivets holding the flex PCB in place - particularly to earth the horn push. Switches were easy to slide out from the foam moldings, but the PCB was fixed to the alloy casting of the...

Can you swap steering wheels between ages and between the Clarion/Alpine head units? In essence, are the resistor values for the switches the same all the way from 1994-2002? I think they are but wondered if anyone knew better. I ask because on a second-hand wheel I've bought, only the track...

No change to CD or any other operations (have edited original post to clarify that). You just have to use one FM preset on the radio. I found it worked best with an FM frequency set well away from any other stations in the area - which for me was at the top end - it seems to interfere on...

Nor mine but it took a while to get it that way...

I just fitted a Kinetic Digitizor (http://www.dabonwheels.co.uk/Kinetic_digitizor_DAB_DAB_plus_DMB-A_car_radio.html) to my P38 with the later Alpine Radio. Works a treat and very simple. It has a radio credit-card remote (Not Infra Red) so the box can be hidden away out of sight. I put the...

Great write-up. Thanks. Making me feel guilty for not doing it first! I installed the GROM USB3 version a few months back - same installation but that also allows USB sticks, Android and iPhones to be plugged in directly for music. The Disc 2-6 CD buttons can then be used to select playlists...

Anyone got a link to the Halfords/Comma Classic specs? i couldn't find any Zinc specs. Seems surprising that's reputedly so low given the purpose it's sold for. I thought the whole point of branding it Classic (or Racing for the VR1) was that it didn't need to comply to current road specs...

One of the diffs? I had a noisy rear one which felt fine until all 3 shafts were disconnected and then you could feel it was notchy when turning by hand. No other signs of a problem. That rear diff sounded a bit like your noise symptoms. On mine, front diff, gearbox and transfer box all...

Slightly OT, but if values of P38s are holding and might even go up (seem to have crept up slightly in the last couple of years as far as I can see), has anyone found a classic or agreed value insurance policy for them? Even the newest ones are crossing the 15+ years threshold so it ought to be...

Sorry, only just seen this - subscribe seems not to have worked. I'll have a look this evening. Not much is the answer, but I'll try to quantify it.

Have you tried cleaning the connections in the big round connector with the rubber boot, under the ABS pump? I had similar symptoms with some randomly odd diagnostics - turned out to be that connector which had got hot coolant dumped on it during an overheat before I bought the car (overflow...

Interested to hear you say that and completely agree (having come out of a slightly newer Landcruiser Colorado D4D/Prado LC95 via a Series 2A). Particularly echo the water leak bit - in my case, unforgivably poor design around the microfilter area. The Toyota didn't have the independent garage...

That sounds pretty normal to me. Exactly as mine (4.6 petrol) with new rad and original thermostat.

So it was the rear diff in the end. No sign of problems until prop and half shafts were disconnected and then it was noticeably notchy when turning the pinion. Rebuilt diff in there and now nice and quiet. :D Found a small weep between transfer box and gearbox whilst poking around -...

Given it's only just been rebuilt and fitted I should hope so! However, having found a dry spot to peer underneath, it does look slightly moist with red ATF on its outside. Still clean enough to be the remains of filling it originally, but... Will check and report back.

Hi Thanks, Front diff replaced with a rebuilt Ashcroft unit a few months back. Improved things a little (Pinion bearing had a good deal of play). Also transfer box replaced about a year ago - again with Ashcroft rebuild. UJs and VC all look good. So only gbox and rear diff to go for the...

Sorry, back on this again. Had a bit of a strip down around the centre console and HEVAC panel at the weekend, and moved the car with no interior fans whirring and a fair bit of the trim out. With this lot out and nice and quiet inside, I can hear a good and crunchy whirring bearing noise...

Just to update. Front diff now replaced with re-built unit and its much better. Still whines a little, but wallet says I need to stop swapping bits out! Can't feel any play in the drivetrain and all nicely lubed so I think just live with it now.

VCU checks out fine, but I think I have the culprit. 1-2mm lateral play in front diff pinion bearing. Having done a bit more experimenting, the noise is quiet on no load (just coasting) but present on acceleration and slightly more on deceleration. As I understand it, noise on accel...