Winter Hibernation

Camshaft · Dec 22, 2015

Hi Matt, do you have an pics of the start up heater? I am not sure if this is a standard fitment on Exclusives but mine has a unit under the bonnet near the battery which looks like a pre heater.

I also have a random looking rocker switch on the dash that looks like it was an owner fitment but I cannot see that it does anything. The dealer I got it from traced the wires from the switch to the fuse box and that is as far as they got.

I think it could be for the heater but no idea if it works!

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ArcticMatt · Dec 23, 2015

WelshGas said:
Why not a plastic tarpaulin that you can just pull off with the snow.A few rubber bungees with clips to hold it on.

Good thinkin' that lad :thumb

That means I can pull it back away from the bonnet

ArcticMatt · Dec 23, 2015

Camshaft said:
Hi Matt, do you have an pics of the start up heater? I am not sure if this is a standard fitment on Exclusives but mine has a unit under the bonnet near the battery which looks like a pre heater.

I also have a random looking rocker switch on the dash that looks like it was an owner fitment but I cannot see that it does anything. The dealer I got it from traced the wires from the switch to the fuse box and that is as far as they got.

I think it could be for the heater but no idea if it works!

I wonder if mine was fitted later on perhaps. I'm back offshore now for two weeks but i'll get some photos as soon as I get back. It sounds like yours is the same as mine. Its an Eberspacher D3. I did a bot of digging and most caravelles have them as the heating system takes to long to warm up due to a double matrix (I think) so that just helps the heat some quicker. Its just a water heater for the coolant. I had one on my T3 syncro too. They were supposed to work on a thermal switch but I cant find one on mine and its just got the toggle switch like yours. Give yours a try and it warms up in just a few minutes with the exhaust puffing out down my the drivers side.

ArcticMatt · Feb 13, 2016

Out and about again

Untitled by Matt Wilde, on Flickr

Winter Bobil by Matt Wilde, on Flickr

Untitled by Matt Wilde, on Flickr

ArcticMatt · Mar 15, 2016

I've been spoilt over the last few nights with the aurora displays up here. Here's just a few bits and bobs:

Smurf vs Nordlys by Matt Wilde, on Flickr

Running from the Aurora by Matt Wilde, on Flickr

Untitled by Matt Wilde, on Flickr

Californian Nordlys by Matt Wilde, on Flickr

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T6 CFO · Mar 15, 2016

Stunning

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ArcticMatt · Apr 3, 2016

Winter is pretty much over now and the snow is starting to melt. Fun time ahead. Just put a new stereo in because FM will be dead in Norway next year. I think the new head unit is trying to kill me though!

Pineweasel · Apr 3, 2016

Good album!

sidepod · Apr 3, 2016

I bought one of these recently. Produces fab results for a phone camera.

https://www.olloclip.com/shop/lenses/iphone6-4-in-1/

ArcticMatt · Apr 3, 2016

sidepod said:
I bought one of these recently. Produces fab results for a phone camera.

https://www.olloclip.com/shop/lenses/iphone6-4-in-1/

That looks a lot better than some of the other clip on gizmos I've seen out there. I've always been impressed with the iPhone camera anyway.

ArcticMatt · Apr 3, 2016

Bra time too. The bonnet and all the nose bits need a good respray. The lacquer is peeling off all over and the stone chips are a sight to behold! This will get me through the summer. I've also dug out the mud flaps that were hidden in the back.

irlcwill · Apr 4, 2016

Fabulous photos !!

ArcticMatt · Apr 7, 2016

Back in the UK now and time to tend to my other baby. Syd the Syncro has been treated to some boiled linseed oil on the bumpers to make them look respectable again. I'll be using this on the smurf when I get back now I've translated linseed

2into1 · Apr 8, 2016

Your mention of Linseed oil got me Googling, as my bumpers and side panels (rear side windows) are letting down my van after I've had the paint flaws fixed. Gtechniq C4 seems to be highly rated and longer lasting than linseed (although about 20 times the price). Still may be tempted. Let us know how long the new blackness lasts!

ArcticMatt · Apr 8, 2016

T4WFA said:
Your mention of Linseed oil got me Googling, as my bumpers and side panels (rear side windows) are letting down my van after I've had the paint flaws fixed. Gtechniq C4 seems to be highly rated and longer lasting than linseed (although about 20 times the price). Still may be tempted. Let us know how long the new blackness lasts!

Cool beans

I'm not sure about the side panels. Aren't they more textured than the bumpers? I'd need to do a little test with them. I'm going to try one of the steel wheel centre caps perhaps. I'd used a heat gun last year but it hasn't lasted as long as I'd hoped and I'm resisting the recent fad of cherry blossom shoe polish.

ArcticMatt · Apr 15, 2016

This was the next stuff to try. Apparently it's good for the whiter mouldy in the bumpers.

WelshGas · Apr 15, 2016

You could try this method using a Heat Gun on the Black Plastic Trim and Bumpers.... Used a lot by members of the other T4/T5 forum.

ArcticMatt · Apr 15, 2016

I've already tried that last year. It works really good but you can only use it once. It lasted about 6 months so it didn't last as long as i hoped. Some of the marks didn't come out either. The linseed oil has been the best so far.