Suggestion - Technical FAQ section

Tue Mar 18, 2008 2:17 pm

Do the "management" feel it would be a good idea to compile a list of the most frequently asked questions and then do a belt & braces response to each technical query and then either sticky the lot or have a separate Technical Help FAQ section.

I'm always happy to help a newbie or anyone else where i feel I know the answer, but it gets a bit tedious seeing the same questions asked all the time.

I know people rarely use the search function, but this may help.

What are the views on this?

Tue Mar 18, 2008 2:28 pm

Not sure if you wanted zoners opinion or the mods opinion, but i think that'll be a good idea, cos ive noticed alot of similar questions keep coming up, hardly anyone uses the search function. I use it but sometimes its a bit useless, cos it brings up everything with the words you type in the search, which is a bit tedious at times.

But overall think its a good idea....See what the mods think

Tue Mar 18, 2008 2:33 pm

Possible candidates are the questions

How do I get more/How much power from my M40/M10/M20?
How do I turbo?
Cheapest/easiest way to 5stud conversion?
I've got a leak/wet foot wells?
Gearbox/Engine/Diff oil recomendations?

and the rest.

Tue Mar 18, 2008 2:35 pm

You can use the search function more accurately if you use the options provided.

But a Tech FAQ sounds like a great idea.

What would be an example of the top 10?

Tue Mar 18, 2008 2:38 pm

A great idea.
I use a mr2 forum once in a while

and they have a "know your mr2" section with info on repairs, servicing, wheel fitments, technical specs, etc etc. And its very useful.

Tue Mar 18, 2008 3:29 pm

Most of the FAQ are now stickied,to put them in a seperate section may just cause more confusion. May be better to extend the 'articles' section and add the stickies there? Afterall,we now seem to have two places with this sort of information... is there any way of making the search function more user friendly?

Tue Mar 18, 2008 3:32 pm

Heres the site I was talking about:

http://www.mr2oc.co.uk/index.php?name=Knowledge_Base

Tue Mar 18, 2008 3:46 pm

Articles/threads written for most common questions not yet covered would be cool.

If the articles section were then edited to have links to the specific threads regardless of what forum section they are stickied in in would be a one stop resource shop withought having to look through the forums.

Tue Mar 18, 2008 4:35 pm

well to rob an example from a Soarer forum, this is kind of what I had in mind

B

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

B

Battery - what is the official one ?
Toyota 'Optifit' - part no: 28800 YZZAG : post 15 - http://www.toyotaimportsforum.co.uk/...&highlight=EMV
Powerful batteries that fit a Soarer: http://www.toyotaimportsforum.co.uk/...ad.php?t=21395

Belts
The 'serpentine' ancillaries drive belt: http://www.toyotaimportsforum.co.uk/...ad.php?t=23651

BFI - what is it ?
http://www.toyotaimportsforum.co.uk/...ghlight=intake

Blinkydash - digital instrument display - intermittent failure
http://www.toyotaimportsforum.co.uk/...ead.php?t=2596

Blitz Dual SBC - how do I configure ?
http://www.toyotaimportsforum.co.uk/...&threadid=4889

Boot lock release
Fuse: http://www.toyotaimportsforum.co.uk/...ad.php?t=10236
Releasing the lock on dash / fascia: Post 6 - http://www.toyotaimportsforum.co.uk/...ead.php?t=6532

Boot struts - replacing with cheaper parts
http://www.toyotaimportsforum.co.uk/...ead.php?t=8103

BOV - what does it do ?
http://www.toyotaimportsforum.co.uk/...ight=induction

Brakes - all about them
http://www.toyotaimportsforum.co.uk/...?threadid=7314
http://www.toyotaimportsforum.co.uk/...akes+serv ice

Brake calipers - freeing a seized bolt
http://www.toyotaimportsforum.co.uk/...ad.php?t=10648

Brakes - Error code 51
http://www.toyotaimportsforum.co.uk/...ighlight=error

Brakes - Error code 56
http://www.toyotaimportsforum.co.uk/...ht=translation

Brake fluid - what type ?
http://www.toyotaimportsforum.co.uk/...ead.php?t=7680

Brakes juddering - what's causing it ?
Siezed calipers: http://www.toyotaimportsforum.co.uk/...ad.php?t=13548

Brake lamp - high level
http://www.toyotaimportsforum.co.uk/...&threadid=3911

Brakes - noise of pump operating when braking
http://www.toyotaimportsforum.co.uk/...ght=brake+pads
http://www.toyotaimportsforum.co.uk/...ad.php?t=16080
ABS pump keeps running: http://www.toyotaimportsforum.co.uk/...ht=accumulator

Brakes - pads
Sizes: Post 29 onwards: http://www.toyotaimportsforum.co.uk/...s&pagenumber=1
Various makes: http://www.toyotaimportsforum.co.uk/...ght=brake+pads

Brakes - servicing
http://www.toyotaimportsforum.co.uk/...rake+servic e

Brakes upgrade - AP Racing
http://www.toyotaimportsforum.co.uk/...hlight=bad+boy

Tue Mar 18, 2008 4:36 pm

Tue Mar 18, 2008 5:40 pm

I reckon your have just found yourself a job,Lee,after the engine swap...of course...

Tue Mar 18, 2008 7:08 pm

2010 planned for roll out then

Tue Mar 18, 2008 7:42 pm

Just posted something similar on one of these repetitive threads. On the M42 forum they have a section called "How-To's" full of guides on how to do things, this is treated like any other section of the forum but threads can only be started if they are guides so are deleted if they are questions. These can be replied to though so anyone can ask a question or maybe politely point out a mistake.

I know the zone already has an articles section but this rarely gets updated, has very limited content and i doubt many people who use the zone have even looked in it.

Just my 2p

Tue Mar 18, 2008 11:47 pm

e30tech.com has something similar with their faq section

a common question I see very often is something along the lines of 'Aramil's' question in the tech section now 'Looking at an E30 tomorrow... Things I should look out for?!'

Tue Mar 18, 2008 11:57 pm

I think central locking and poor idle problems would be the top two on the list. Brians wearing his keyboard out with those little beauties.

An FAQ section would be a great idea but it would take a fair bit of research, composition amd tabulating in order for it to be a success. If there are any volunteers?

Wed Mar 19, 2008 2:10 pm

I,ve got to agree with the top 2 being Idle problems and central locking, How many times do we see a thread with idle in it, and how many times do people not complete the thread and inform when they have sorted the problem leaving the rest of us scratching our heads as to what the solution actually was to their problem, after we gave them many probable causes as to what was the cause of the problem.

Wed Mar 19, 2008 2:45 pm

Need a solid list before people can volunteer to write-up / do a thread.

There are already some really good ones in the Tech Articles, just need an extrapolation of those.

I'd say, in no order of importance:

1. Idle Issues
2. Central Locking Issues
3. 4-5 Stud Conversion
4. Leaky foot-wells / boot
5. Stopping rust (temporarily)
6. Diff problems
7. Lowering advice
8. Correct wheel offset for various models / camber / tyre size etc
9. ICE
10. Overheating

Wed Mar 19, 2008 2:55 pm

11. OBC bulb replacement

Wed Mar 19, 2008 5:01 pm

12. Speedo not working
13. instrument cluster not working
14. Fan only works on full blast

Wed Mar 19, 2008 5:09 pm

15. Knocking from front / rear / inside my head
16. What diff ratio ?
17. 2.5i into 2.0i etc etc
18. What exhaust ?
19. What tyres ?

Wed Mar 19, 2008 6:16 pm

I think the list will be ever growing, thats why the way it's been done on the M42club works as anyone can write up a guide and post it, it would just need someone to moderate it that would know how accurate the guides are and that they are useful and make sense.

Wed Mar 19, 2008 6:29 pm

The thing is we already have tech articles and stickies and nobody seems to use these and don't even get me started on the Links section which has not only all the ETM (wiring diagrams) but also the genuine BMW workshop manual (Better than Bently).

People are just too lazy

Rant over

Could be a good idear but they would only be of true improvement over whats already here if properly photographed.

Thu Mar 20, 2008 12:04 am

wet footwell
m40 sounds tappety

Thu Mar 20, 2008 12:13 am

SI board failure

Thu Mar 20, 2008 1:03 am

abelai wrote:The thing is we already have tech articles and stickies and nobody seems to use these and don't even get me started on the Links section which has not only all the ETM (wiring diagrams) but also the genuine BMW workshop manual (Better than Bently).

People are just too lazy

Rant over

Could be a good idear but they would only be of true improvement over whats already here if properly photographed.

Just looked in the links section and found the wiring diagrams but not the workshop manual. Where is this?

Thu Mar 20, 2008 3:51 pm

Links/"how to" guides/ workshop manual