NigeT

Fresh atf fluid and filter appears to have completely cured the CLK which is now shifting better than it ever has, no clunking, no slippage, perfect. Tracking now way out & some suspension clunking but that’s a doddle to sort compared to new gearbox.

47 minutes ago, Split_Pin said:

A long shot but to these boxes have external solenoids? I wonder if one has taken a hit from another nearby part shaking as you hit that pothole? Seems unlikely on a RWD that a shock through the driven wheel would transmit all the way through to the transmission to nacker it?

They are part of the valve body that sits above the pan. Anecdotally yesterday I took mum´s Twingo for its MOT and garage was working on a Mercedes that had suffered both collapsed suspension and failed transmission immediately after driving over another glorious Surrey pothole. Solenoids will probably be my next port of call if fluid change doesn´t improve things. Could be that trans had got too hot after 430 mile drive with old ATF, ergo suddenly doing a wobbly. Interior of box has a number of circular clutch plates that wear over time which could also be an issue - tempted to try that Liqui Moly ATF additive which might help on the slippage front. At 174k this trans definitely has more life behind it than ahead but I want the car to at least get to moon mileage before I think of pensioning it off!

8 minutes ago, RichardK said:

Not always with the EML but there's no mistaking limp home mode...

Thanks. Definitely not in limp home mode though as could still tiptronic through the gears.....

Thinking the CLK's gearbox was goosed from yesterday's pothole nightmare (#grumpythread) I couldn't resist dropping the oil pan. Very happy to see no chunks of broken gearbox nor filings. Fluid was pretty rank (though I'd dropped pan for fluid change 40,000 miles ago without draining TC). Pan rusty so sanded it down + kurust and a lick of paint. New filter arriving tomorrow & fingers crossed new fluid does the job. Also checked for OBD codes on my basic reader and there was nothing transmission related - am I correct in thinking these cars generally throw up an engine light if something's amiss in the trans?

After an effortless 430 miles yesterday the CLK encountered this on the A217, roads in Surrey getting to African levels of shitness these days. Transmission instantly started slipping and (sounded like) drivetrain clunking ensued before I limped back final couple of miles to my olds. After leaving to cool down clunking now seems to have subsided but trans isn't shifting quite right. Bought ATF and new trans filter & gasket arriving tomorrow, fluid is light brown so maybe change will improve things, will be interesting to see in pan. No trans codes at all flagged on obd. Odds of getting compensation from the turnips at Reigate and Banstead council? Imagine extremely low. Replacing a 722.6 on driveway could be up there with Ferrari clutch for pain in the arse factor. 

@wuvvum may be pleased to know his old Ypsilon continues to provide sterling service and Mrs T is eternally grateful to his fine self. Threw an engine light wobbly two days before MOT but easily solved with code reader and new MAF and turbo pressure sensors. Until then all it had needed in ages has been a brake pedal sensor that also threw up a code, though I've made sure it's always got fresh oil, filters and recently replaced the plugs as twinairs need them in good shape. Passed easily but I've replaced a drop link that they rather generously decided to only advise on. Also have given it a comprehensive rust treatment, paint and primer underneath & it's good for many more years. I really love the car, a dream to potter around town with its whizzy twinair engine and its quirky looks have grown on me. 

https://www.facebook.com/commerce/listing/895038318327468/?media_id=0&ref=share_attachment
 

Like this. Curious as to what happened to @purplebargeken’s lovely green Dolomite that’s no longer for sale here. 

N

This nice MK1 Robin might end up going cheap.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/255703082585

11 hours ago, sierraman said:

It doesn’t look a bad price, it’s clearly not fell into the hands of some absolute fool as it’s not got the obligatory chrome arches and Irish plate. 

Looks okay for the price but there's probably still plenty of hidden grot. Likely weldathon in 2020 looking at history. This one went for £1420 today & my seasoned XJ-S snout reckons it's not too far from an MOT.  I was almost tempted to put in a cheeky bid. 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/jaguar-xjs-5-3-v12-/275433509219?nma=true&si=Ce%2FIulAszSs2gCh93I8nIUWDaN0%3D&orig_cvip=true&nordt=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

Absolutely love it. A while ago I was pottering around Oslo in a mate's '64 220 (nicknamed Mugabe), what a comfy old barge, hope the two cars meet sometime!

Took apart the old SAM module of CLK - totally fucking fucked with corrosion everywhere so I'm impressed car kept running perfectly for as long as it did. Suspension bits and brake lines also rubbed down, rust treated and painted on all four corners. Rust was creeping through on the underside so that's all now nipped in the bud. Found an aerosol of caliper paint lying around, so gave the calipers a quick spray too. And added the annual ritual of grinding down surface rust on all 4 wings, door bottoms, boot lock and bonnet area underneath grille. Now all filled, primed & painted. Also spotted a registration lamp bulb out, replaced with a bulb from my old XJ-S stash. CLK sailed through the MOT without advisories.  Well worth the effort overall for another year of extremely cheap and comfortable shiteing. 

Posted the Rover on scumtree with the text "any scammers calling from call centres telling me I've been involved in an accident will be told to fuck right off". Cue 3 calls within 5 minutes. All told to fuck right off. One got angry and started calling back from his colleagues phones to return my compliments!

Tuesday at 7am I set off from rural Stirlingshire en route to Surrey and immediately had wipers, indicators, horn and hazards fail. Not ideal especially in Scotland. Fuses all fine so I diagnosed SAM module failure - always most likely suspect for multiple gremlins in Mercs of this era . RAC agreed and got me towed as far as Abington Services where I had a fun almost 8 hour wait before RAC and the very nice folk at G-Sport Hawick kindly organised a mighty Dacia for me to continue the journey. Merc delivered yesterday morning  with the delivery dude trailering off the Dacia all the way back to the borders. I've already pIcked up & fitted a new used £20 ebay SAM module and normal car functions instantly restored, no dealer coding bollox necessary with this old barge. MOT on Friday a good excuse for a few days rustproofing/bodywork, new rear tyres, & general TLC. 

1 hour ago, scdan4 said:

It's a new thing since it's been sat a couple of months, it worked fine last time I tried. 

Iirc it's one with a limiter as well, is it in the correct mode is my stupid check question. 

Was wondering about the limiter - stalk doesn't seem to have limiter function (end can't be pressed in & only seems to have set/resume and accel/decel options written on it). I was thinking maybe it was an aftermarket stalk.  Being an idiot I've no doubt missed something very basic. Wondering if it might be some crud that's got into the rings - will try a power wash from underneath to see if it helps & also spray some WD40 into the stalk connections & see how I go. 

Any ideas here on the dead cruise control? Tyres and wheels are perfectly in spec. Could it be one of the wheel speed sensor rings despite no ABS warnings on dash? Other thought is stalk and the box somewhere in the footwell where I imagine it plugs in, or fuse box (fuse looks fine and doubt any current will register when testing from stationary). Can’t be brake light switch as that would presumably throw up warning lamp. 

10 hours ago, wuvvum said:

I've never done a collection mission by plane.  I need to up my game.

Fly up to Scotland - happy to pick you up in your old Ypsilon (running great btw) & take you as far as any heap being sold by the Dodgiest Bastard of these climes. 

Finally home. SLK ran beautifully all the way. Only a couple of quirks to investigate - no working cruise though no warnings on dash & fuse is fine, and big fist thump sometimes needed under passenger footwell to coax heater blower into action. AC pleasantly ice cold which was nice. I think the blue looks brill too and the near total lack of rust scabbing is very un-90's-Merc. Goes like a rocket too with the supercharger seemingly in perfect shape. 

44 minutes ago, skoda_fan said:

Love it. Same age and colour as mine. I take it it's a 230?

Yep, is 230 & I do love that colour. Even has supercharger working too. 

3 hours ago, Neil clark said:

Which slk? Exciting!

Huge thanks to Dan for being an absolute gent. Time to head back northwards...

All this unionjackness making me queasy but made it to London....

8 minutes ago, Flat4 said:

Morning! I'm also at an airport but sadly not going any where as exciting. All the best with the collection

Cheers fella and bon voyage! Second time I'm heading to the exclusive resort of Swindon - last time there I picked up a Reliant that died with a comical bang (+puff of smoke) on the M something after 10 miles but expecting better luck today!

Tea count:1. Airport bringing no joy but most flights seem to be on time. 

Just now, High Jetter said:

Have you tried selling it on here?

Yep, it’s for sale on here. Roffle had some initial interest which then totally died out. Can’t be that many running, driving, MOT’d cars around for under £750. 

After several years without selling a car, I've advertised Rover in all the standard places and I'm astounded at the number of absolute cuntwombles wasting my time. Just as well I'm dealing with it for my old man (who suffers from social anxiety) or it would probably be the end of him.   

Small wins for the morning. New pads for Mum's Twingo & wired in a recently-arrived-from-China £4 temperature sensor into E39 which now records 19 degrees on dash instead of minus 40.