Couple of questions form a numpty...
Couple of questions form a numpty...
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Scoobimax

Original Poster:

1,892 posts

231 months

Wednesday 24th June 2009
quotequote all
Relatively new to the S (an S3) and getting on well with the car.

Spent some money on cosmetics (new door mirrors inc wires) which leads to my first question. Now that I've wired them up, the off side works perfectly (therefore the switch in the centre console works) but the nearside doesn't. I can hear what I assume is the relay clicking but no mirror movement. Any ideas what the problem could be and where to start looking?

2nd question is suspension related, the front end appears to sit a little low - can't open the bonnet to use the stay even when parked on a flat surface. On measuring the gap between top of tyre to bonnet when closed on a friends S3 mine is 1 finger lower than his (not overly technical I know but you get the picture). Mine also bottoms out very easily - worry sometimes going over even a cats eye!!! Is this likely to be just tired shocks/springs that replacement will fix or is it likely to be something else (less or more sinister)?

Grateful for any advice/ideas and thanks in advance.

Cheers.

Max

Gerald-TVR

4,896 posts

227 months

bil

123 posts

263 months

Wednesday 24th June 2009
quotequote all
If it were me, i'd take the door card off and test the connections inside, i.e see if your getting volts at the right connections, and if the voltage differs when the switch is activated.

I don't recall if you mentioned the type of new mirrors, sorry for not being attentive if you did, did you do a bench test on the new mirror motors to ensure they working prior to installing on the car?

happy hunting, bil

zombeh

695 posts

217 months

Wednesday 24th June 2009
quotequote all
Scoobimax said:
On measuring the gap between top of tyre to bonnet when closed on a friends S3 mine is 1 finger lower than his (not overly technical I know but you get the picture).
The bonnet is VERY adjustable, check that when closed the bonnet is parallel to the body and has a nice even gap.

Other than that, springs.

Scoobimax

Original Poster:

1,892 posts

231 months

Wednesday 24th June 2009
quotequote all
Thanks for the responses so far. the mirrors are the later one ones that are the same as on the Griff. Didn't bench test them before fitting either.

The bonnet does need re-aligning (I have sonme of those nice shinny stainless hinges waiting to go on from Gerald's multi buy the other week), but i have a feeling it's the springs. I was just hoping not to have to shell out on new shocks/springs.

GreenV8S

31,018 posts

314 months

Wednesday 24th June 2009
quotequote all
When measuring ride height ignore the bodywork completely, the chassis is the only thing it is meaningful to measure. (If you compare your car to others you will find the bodies vary wildly between cars and even from side to side on the same car.)

Scoobimax

Original Poster:

1,892 posts

231 months

Wednesday 24th June 2009
quotequote all
Yes, that's what i'm picking up from the other threads linked from the replies on this query. i still think i have a problem as i can't open the bonnet far enough because it grounds out at the nose.

looks like I'm measuring the chassis to ground tomorrow. Will be interested to know what it is.