Help me decipher my NRMA report

[XR Rob]

What do you guys think? Everything on the AUII XR6 VCT has come up fine in the NRMA report except for:

Boot floor panel - Displays evidence of water entry
Power steering fluid hose - Coolant leak at hose fitting
Spare wheel - insecure
Steering rack LH cover boot - Clamps broken
Steering rack RH cover boot - Clamps broken
Automatic operation - Harsh downshifting to 3rd gear, Harsh downshifting to 2nd gear

Any thoughts on any of these, in particular? They are the only faults listed as 'E' (for needing 'Early repair') on the report. The only othe fault was some tire noise listed under 'M' (for 'Minor').

Is she a beaut for having so few things "wrong" - like, there are no problems with anything else, like the engine or brakes or anything - or are these pretty worrying things to be wrong, period?

I just want to know what do go in hard on when I call the car dealer back.

[5tumpy]

Wouldn't worry about the water entry, pretty sure that par for the course, I know mine did until I re-sealed the spoiler holes in the boot. As for the spare wheel, sounds like it doesn't have the circular thing with the bolt that holds it in place. The other stuff, I'd go to the dealer, and say "I'll put a deposit on this now if you get these faults fixed.... Dunno about the auto tho, might be something wrong there....

[SSVPom]

All cars shift harshly down into 3rd or 2nd if forced to do so above a certain speed, I never drop mine into 2nd at more than 40km/h ish!!

[XR Rob]

Thanks 5tumpy.

FairmontPom, but this is an auto?!?

Anyone else? Just gathering my ammunition here before I call.

[5tumpy]

I dunno Fairmont, my AU will kick back into 2nd anywhere up to 120 km/h... It does it quite smoothly... But yeah depends on how they kick it back I guess... I'm not a fan of NRMA reports, much rather taking the car to my mechanic to look after...

[XR Rob]

Yeah, well I want to do that too, just to be sure, but this was my "first pass" at getting a feel for the car, as taking it away to my mechanics would mean buying it in the first place!

NRMA - No Real Mechanics Available.

Sounds like he did an alright report though. Drive the car yourself and see if you can replicate the auto

[JefXR8]

Everything seems cool except the auto bit,id be looking into that a bit more.

[XR Rob]

They just called me, proactively, and said they are servicing the automatic now. I wonder how they will prove this to me, though? :-/

I must admit, she was driving really well when I drove her, so that part of the report surprised me.

[SSVPom]

Sorry, I wasn't clear, I meant in my automatic grabbing the gear manually back into 2nd, not kicking down with the gas pedal!

[XR Rob]

Gotcha!

[4.9 EF Futura]

Coolant leak from the power steering hose??? WTF???

With the downshifting... one man's 'rough' is another man's 'smooth'. See for yourself, its easy to tell when an automatic isnt shifting properly. If it isnt obviously buggered, then i wouldnt be too concerned.

[XR Rob]

Originally Posted by 4.9 EF Futura

Coolant leak from the power steering hose??? WTF???

I take it that's bad?!? :

[5tumpy]

More like the NRMA guy doesn't no **** from clay, why would coolant be in the power steering hose?

[4.9 EF Futura]

Originally Posted by XR Rob

I take it that's bad?!? :

It would be very bad... if it were possible!!

Last i heard, the power steering hose was full of power steering fluid lol. He MAY have been saying there was a coolant leak from something NEAR the power steering hose??

Your guess is as good as mine... but rest assured, at no point does the engine's cooling system interact with the power steering system, apart from the fact that a power steering fluid cooler may be fitted in front of the radiator.

I'd probably be seeking some clarification on that point... and using the rest (minor issues) to get the price down a little!!

[AU2PWR]

• Boot floor panel - Displays evidence of water entry
  - All AU Boots Leak ,
• Power steering fluid hose - Coolant leak at hose fitting
  - Buy a New Hose ...
• Spare wheel - insecure
  - Check the Weld where the Nut and the Screw Go ,
• Steering rack LH cover boot - Clamps broken
  - New Boots
• Steering rack RH cover boot - Clamps broken
• - Same
• Automatic operation - Harsh downshifting to 3rd gear, Harsh downshifting to 2nd gear
  - Time for an Auto Service

[XR Rob]

Originally Posted by 5tumpy

More like the NRMA guy doesn't no **** from clay, why would coolant be in the power steering hose?

My dad spoke to the NRMA guy while I was still at work and he was told that some kind of 'oil filter' has been put into the line that leads the oil into the power steering box. This is a non-standard addition that some owners fit, apparantly? As I understand it, it 'filters' the hydraulic oil - so as no grit or dirt enters the steering box. However, apparently the small hose carrying this inline filter has a minor fluid (hydraulic steering oil) leak.

[GK]

Originally Posted by XR Rob

My dad spoke to the NRMA guy while I was still at work and he was told that some kind of 'oil filter' has been put into the line that leads the oil into the power steering box. This is a non-standard addition that some owners fit, apparantly? As I understand it, it 'filters' the hydraulic oil - so as no grit or dirt enters the steering box. However, apparently the small hose carrying this inline filter has a minor fluid (hydraulic steering oil) leak.

That sounds pretty easy to fix.

It's the auto I'd want sorted, the other stuff is easy enough.

I wonder if the solenoid t5 S5 (can't remember which letter) needs changing.

$400 or a bit less.

Water in the boot is probably from the spoiler bolt holes, no surprises there!

GK

[XR Rob]

Well apparantly it went into the automatic place today to be fixed, so that's something. The NRMA guy was talking to my Dad about solenoids, because my Dad started talking old school, "Maybe it's got something to do with the bands..." and then the guy told him that bands went out with the ark, and all about changing the solenoids instead. The water in the boot was, apparantly, very minor - probably the result of an over enthusiastic car washer in the morning - but he noted it anyway.

He seemed to do a very thorough inspection in that respect.

[Kryton]

theres a thing called Statutory Warranty too. im sure this car will have it when bought.
any problems after you get the car, take it back and get them to fix it.
you have the problems in writing so ask for them to be fixed BEFORE you get the car, if they are still there after you get the car then call on the Statutory warranty.

[Autocade]

XR Rob
The Autos in the VCTs came with Adaptive shift strategy which gives you the option of 3 shift modes
In performance mode it shifts @ higher revs & firmer so it may be in this setting hence the firmer than normal shifts
Find below the instructions so you can check it out for yourself
Cheers Autocade

AU ADAPTIVE SHIFT STRATEGY (WHERE FITTED)

1-Stop the vehicle, apply Park Brake and turn Ignition Off position(0)

2-Apply the foot brake and move gear selector to:
-1 for Maximum Performance Mode
-2 for Maximum Economy Mode
-3 for Adaptive Shift Mode

3-Turn the ignition Key to On (Position II) and wait for the air bag warning light to turn off

4-Move the selector to "R" (reverse)The ECON light will flash 3 times to indicate a successful mode change.

5-Return the gear selector to P (park) and start the engine
Observe the operation of the ECON light to confirm the programming of the correct mode

-One Flash after turning the key to On (Position II) - indicates Maximum Performance Mode is selected

-Continuous illumination - indicates Maximum Economy Mode is selected

-No illumination - indicates Adaptive Shift Mode is selected

6-Programmed modes will remain unless the EEC is reprogrammed as above or the vehicle battery power is removed

[XR Rob]

Autocade, thanks for that mate... could well indeed be the "problem", ie: there was no real problem at all!

Originally Posted by davway

theres a thing called Statutory Warranty too. im sure this car will have it when bought.
any problems after you get the car, take it back and get them to fix it.
you have the problems in writing so ask for them to be fixed BEFORE you get the car, if they are still there after you get the car then call on the Statutory warranty.

Hi davway, yes, it sure does have the stat warranty. Basically, I am already doing what you suggest - telling them all the problems with the car and they are working on it this week. I'll take it on Saturday and get my mechanic to run an eye over it. If it's all tickety-boo, then great. If not, I'll have at least 5,000km or 3 months to sort it out with them.

[fipcee]

[QUOTE=Autocade]XR Rob
The Autos in the VCTs came with Adaptive shift strategy which gives you the option of 3 shift modes


I thought that all XR AU's came with this? Mine does and it isn't a VCT, please correct me if wrong