Tanabe strut tower brace and boot brace came - will probably install them on Saturday if the weather is good.
Installed smoked side indicators. The package comes with everything you need, including orange coated bulbs. The bulbs were so small, I missed them in the pack, and bought two - no matter, the cost was a grand total of 2.50 EUR for both. The Copen's stock indicator housing comes with an orange lens, allowing you to use either clear or orange bulbs, whereas the smoked housing does not have any lenses - thus the need for orange bulbs. Takes a grand total of 5 minutes, all you need is a plastic trim removal tool / a thin flathead screwdriver covered in masking tape
I have to admit, the Copen is a great car to drive. I've become a far better driver since getting mine. As a side note, I've uploaded the video of installing the smoked lights. It's available here
I've been trying to program the new key fobs to the Copen - so far no joy. The Copen's remote key fob uses the HCS361 chipset using the KeeLoq algorithm. Everything looks to use the 433MHz frequency instead of 312MHz
[VIDEO]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CDifWczQbUs[/VIDEO] I thought the same till I did the homework, and mucked one tyre up and tried to get it off. I think a touch up is all that will be needed if you don't wreck them before it it thoroughly cured to the wheels. Oz
Hi Nick, Where did you get the Tanabe Sustec NSD-13 boot brace from please? I may get the D Sport front strut brace but they don't do a rear brace as far as I can see - other than one which goes against the seat bulkhead - but I don't really see how that will help Thanks Andy
I got mine from Yahoo Auctions, Andy - used Jesse Streeter to get it for me. Off the top of me head, it was 70 EUR I've not noticed ANY difference with the rear handling since I installed it :-( Likewise for the strut tower bar (front brace). If you're getting any strut tower brace, be sure that you also get the fusebox relocation mount as there's not a hope in hell of the NDS-10 brace fitting without it.
Thanks Nick, and for the tip that they don't work - that's saved me some cash! I was looking at the D Sport front strut brace, but I've not ordered one. One feature is the bonnet braces which are quite cool, but I don't go under there that often. I hope that's not tempting fate :-\ Regards Andy
I've made two videos of the braces https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P5lD5Fp6T_I - Boot brace https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bfyRQ-aM-fc - Strut tower brace One of the nice things about the D-Sport, is that you can get the bonnet lifting kit as well... To be honest, I think the Tanabe braces were a waste of money, but man do they look cool
Hi Nick - your D-Sport strut video is locked, can you change it so we can see it please? I would like to see the bonnet stays in action - maybe I haven't saved that cash after all! thanks Andy
I've unlocked the video. I installed the Tanabe strut tower brace, not the D-Sport. I was in two minds whether I'd buy the D-Sport or the Tanabe... Went with Tanabe in the end as the Yahoo Auctions seller gave a nice discount.
Great u tube videos Hi Nick, I'm new on this site but just wanted to compliment you on your u tube videos . I myself am slowly modifying my copen and just started by changing the CD player to a modern one, now done. I found your video on u tube and after watching it, was much more confident and managed not to break anything , saved me lots of time and the video shows how it is done in the real world and not how it should be done if everything is perfect. Anyway keep the videos coming when you get time and thanks again for taking the time to film them and share them in the first place, Grand stuff, Gerry.
Thank you kindly! Out of all the Copen videos I've made, the two stereo replacement videos are the most popular. The next thing I want to do is make an integrated key - one that has both the fob and key blade combined. I've bought a number of various keys from cheap sites (DX and TMart), but nothing fits so far. Along with the keys, I've also bought a 312MHz cloner (used for gates), as I want to see if the keys I bought second hand from a Daihatsu Move are using 312MHz as opposed to the standard 433MHz
So the cloner kinda works... Perhaps I'm just not pairing the codes correctly with the car. I'll try again at the weekend. As for the key fob housings I got from DX and TMart... No joy - the blade on this one, along with the housing, is incorrect. On the plus side, the housing is big enough to house the original Texas 4C transponder chip. You will need to buy a #8 blade in order to get the correct key profile. As a side note, the locksmiths on myfob.ie cannot copy the rolling code the Copen uses (KeeLoq) I've not given up my quest to getting a key/fob integrated... even if I have to buy all of AliExpress
No joy with the Japanese keys I got for the Move. I have a feeling I would need to replace the fob receiver in order for it to work the way I want to. I'm basing this on the fact that the Copen's fob in Japan looks very different to the European style ones. On the plus side, all of my Aliexpress housings arrived in the post to work, so I'll take a gander at them on Monday. Failing that, probably be looking at an after market alarm that'll do what I want. I've been on holidays this week from work, as I've to burn through the time otherwise I loose it. So in a fit of boredom, I've prepared the car for it's NCT / MOT. I've: Removed the seatbelt guides, as slow retraction is a fail Installed the housing cover of the BoV to reduce noise Emptied the boot, and taped over the hole that is missing a gasket / bung. Removed the metal dust covers for the tyres - these had seized and kinda fused with the brass neck - word to the wise, don't use metal valve covers! I'm unsure if I need to swap out the smoked side lights for the clear ones - I'm fairly sure as long as they flash orange it'll be fine. Worst happens is it's a visual retest, which is free. I've made a video on how to replace the air filter, as I was VERY bored this morning. It's on The change interval is 27k miles or 3 years. Why the workshop manual says to take off the front bumper, I'll never know. All you need is a pair of needle nose pliers.
Success on the key front - managed to get a housing that will fit the fob, after some delicate work with a Stanley knife to cut out the shit left from the plastic and rubber moulding process. The down side is the key blade in the incorrect type. The holding pin that holds the blade to the flip housing seems very stuck, no amount hitting it with a thin nail and hammer to push out the pin wants to work. I'm going to bring it, along with the correct flip key blank, to the locksmith and hopefully he can sort it out.
She passed her NCT / MOT... Only thing wrong was the numberplate light was out - mine seems to be loose. Edit: Can't be failed because of that, so she passed fine I've actually not done anything with her since the test, including putting all the stuff I took off for the test back on. I did, however, order the correct key this time. Lord knows when it will get to me from China. Since becoming engaged, I'm finding it harder to justify the cost of car parts :-(
