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rob88h

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Everything posted by rob88h

  1. Part arrivals has not gone well. After a week of having been "dispatched", the steering gaiter is suddenly un-dispatched as they never actually dispatched it due to the technicality of not really having it. Sorry for the inconvenience blah blah, but there goes my chance at the free retest window. I've gone for EU Spares now (I know Auto Doc horror horror), but I picked the above supplier rp_parts_uk to try and avoid shipping problems with it being [presumably] a UK stockist, and that didn't serve me well. @wesacosa did find the part on Amazon, but the delivery time was outright hilarious. So while I wait some more I thought I'd stick my head under the rear for this final leak. Offside Rear Suspension bellows leaking Fluid leaking from bottom of bellows. (5.3.5 (c)) It's not apparently coming from the bellows, it looks to me like its tracking down another LHM line. As I'm full of optimism and not getting a puddle or drip I'm suspecting it's low pressure/return side. Following the lines, it goes up and round the rear beam and into the nether regions of shite access. I might have more luck with the rear on axle stands. Currently the front is on stands and the rear is on Low as to not crush me, so I can't really get under the back to get much of a better look right now. I've heard about some flaky tee piece in the return at the back that could be a problem, and also some news on rear levelling height corrector leaks (see a few posts ago The Leader's propensity to sticking its derrière in the air for no reason) Question to Citroen hydropneumatics fans (and RR hydropneumatics fans): What should I use to clean all this to hide it from the man at the Ministry to help me find the source of the leak and assess its severity over time.
  2. Less than a year has passed but I had to do this job again; on the other Focus this time. It's still just as hateful, even with the practise. One improvement I made was to use even more padding for my back as a lay upside-down across the sill with my head in the footwell and my hands behind the dash for an hour doing a job akin to pulling a kidney stone through a urethra. Hot and Cold can be requested and provided now. Lousy Smarch weather. I also took the opportunity to strip out the digital radio as the signal was just as pants as the main radio.
  3. If you do decide to move on the brown Nova, change your user name to whiteyugo and have no regrets. EDIT: As pointed out, perhaps whiteyugo could come off a bit racist... Best go with redsaab, or better still probably just keep the Nova.
  4. Sticky butterflies or now stuck again but more closed? Previously it was broken open allowing it to gobble all the air, but now they’re a restriction? (Legal disclaimer: I have no idea how this system works)
  5. The Leader is back at mine now, the garage were struggling to get parts together to quote and I somehow found myself volunteering to take the car back and do bits to it myself, so I'd best get going then! It's a pity there is a car in the garage and a car in the carport, all up on stands, meaning the Leader has to be seen to on the drive. It's all getting a bit Onslow around here. With the neighbours curtains in mind (and the fact I only have x10 axle stands and refuse to but more) I'll look at the front then the back. Nearside Steering rack gaiter missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt Split. (2.1.3 (g) (ii)) Yes, it is. Suspension unit leaking Pump leaking. (5.3.5 (c)) This one is a bit less obvious to see what's actually going on. There's a lot of cakeage and a few little drips forming on the lowest points, but the tide-line as it were looks like it could be above most of the pump gubbins. Also it's very moist around whatever this sensor in the block is. For me the jury is out on oil vs. LHM leaking in this whole general area. I'm suspecting both. The plan then is to clean it as best I can and see if I can learn where is leaking worst and what it is. Nearside Front Shock absorbers has a serious fluid leak (5.3.2 (b)) Nearside Front Suspension pipe damaged or deteriorated and function affected Pipe broken. (5.3.5 (b) (i)) I'm hoping the former is caused by the latter. A leak-off pipe/return pipe (whatever they're called) is completely ruptured, and it looks like it's been spliced together once already anyway, so that definitely needs replacing. Then I'm hoping that if I clean it all up around here I'll find that the strut is actually ok and it's just this broken line that's dropped LHM down the strut/driveshaft/lower control arm. So then, some shopping has occurred. Using Catcar.info I've done some partnumber referencing and ordered the return lines, steering rack gaiter and some new track-rod lock nuts. I was going to order new track-rods as the ball joint is integrated and they presumably will come off for the gaiter to go on. It was £60 for a pair though, so I'll wait to see what mine look like when they come apart first. While I wait for deliveries I can make a mess with the cleaning around the LHM pump and nearside strut and maybe take a look at what's up with the rear offside so that I can get those bits on order too.
  6. I’m pretty sure it’s just LP return shenanigans and some boots and seals here an there. The LHM level has never visibly dropped and it doesn’t leave puddles when parked up, so I’m confident it shouldn’t break the bank. It’ll be fixed - and I trust this garage, if they’re bringing my attention to it then it probably needs addressing… EDIT: Just to get this out there now, The Leader is for sale soon… Not because of this Fail mind, it went in for MOT so that I can sell it with all the things like this addressed.
  7. I've been Citroen'd. Repair immediately (major defects): Nearside Steering rack gaiter missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt Split. (2.1.3 (g) (ii)) Suspension unit leaking Pump leaking. (5.3.5 (c)) Nearside Front Shock absorbers has a serious fluid leak (5.3.2 (b)) Offside Rear Suspension bellows leaking Fluid leaking from bottom of bellows. (5.3.5 (c)) Nearside Front Suspension pipe damaged or deteriorated and function affected Pipe broken. (5.3.5 (b) (i)) Monitor and repair if necessary (advisories): Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))
  8. The thrilling world of screen wash repair:
  9. I Love these things. Here’s a picture of the one I had if you want some… “inspiration”
  10. I did book an MOT yet I didn’t get it ready! So that plan didn’t really work. Last night was pretty fraught as a result. Things that needed doing included: reinstalling the battery, de-bioharzarding the interior, reinstalling the carpets, preflight checks and delivering to the MOT garage. Changing the alternator can wait, we’re down to essentials, and yes, the interior clean is essential Home Bargains mould spray and Detol (because panic) were liberally applied to the interior surfaces with reams of kitchen roll. Now the interior smells of bleach and not that kind of textured furry smell that makes you want to cough. The battery plopped in nicely and I could only hope that it’ll hold charge overnight after completely draining it over the last few months. The carpets went in (they pretty much only go in once a year for the MOT these days). I checked all the simple bits like lights, horn, screen wash, “stuff”, ran a sponge over it and declared it suitable to take to the Tester. It started up easily enough but I couldn’t select gear again like a few posts ago. Bugger. So, I started it again in gear, hopping on the starter and it gave-in just before I crashed into the side of the BX it was facing on the drive. This is not going well. It did make it to the MOT garage whereby I left it with one of its children for company (in this weird Blair Witch esque photo thanks to life in head torches) Well, next day, imagine my surprise to find out that this little Mini Schitty passed its MOT with no advisories! Again! A very pleasing turn of events given my ill preparedness and general neglect over another winter out in the open for the poor thing. In theory this was the last MOT this wee beasty needs as well, but I’d still like to get it annual checks. Here we are back at home, again at night in Blair Witch mode. I feel like I owe this car some love, or at the very least more maintenance in thanks for putting in a good performance. Roll on daylight. + free time. + no rain.
  11. I may just be on The Internet and not in The Real World, but what that gold one is missing in roadworthiness is its credit as an Art. I could stare at it all day.
  12. Hang on, didn’t that Amazon blow up just the other day? And doesn’t it live way up North somewhere? Let me go and find a cap so I can doff it.
  13. Glad you got the inlet butterfly thingies sorted too. The guy I bought this from at the Yoda/Lex garage said TADTS and it’s why the warning light was on… My philosophy was to just say “ok, Bob” and have no intention of doing anything about it, so it’s nice that a) it was all truths and 2) you got it fixed ok.
  14. (Covers on, coolant bled, oil topped off, miles accumulating)
  15. After a bit of part cross referencing and some help from @wesacosa, ECP came to the rescue on a Sunday. It runs!
  16. Le Servicing. Achieved so far: Water Pump, Cam Belt, Tensioner, Alternator Belt, LHM pump belt, Oil filter, Oil, Coolant. Still to do: Spark plugs, LHM. I’d been playing cambelt roulette (ish) as there was no mention of it in the car’s history, but it was looking in good shape: ^^That's the "old" one. I almost didn’t bother, but instead I've just put it off until winter. And raining. It’s not that arduous of a job on the 14E, I’d been reading about the 16 at one point that has an engine mount in the way or some rubbish? None of that nonsense here, just a mini cover in the wheel arch, a three part cam belt cover, belts off the accessories, timing pins in cam and crank, engine pully off, coolant out, tensioner off, cambelt off, water pump off. Then, for me, it was crushing disappointment as the replacement belt I’d been given was shorter than the old one.
  17. Oh bum. The Focus has lost heat control. This was a truly horrid job to fix on the other Focus. For now I’ve just gone elbow deep in the dashboard to make it hot behind the scenes. If I’m lucky it’ll stay winter forever and I won’t have to fix it.
  18. I never updated here. I think it was probably a sticking ride height corrector that put the rear into service height on the move. That or something to do with being packed up with luggage for Christmas with a full tank of fuel combined with the ride height levelling. It did it twice while I was away, but it was always corrected by cycling modes. I was then using it daily for a bit (and I took it on a longer trip to a LR trialling day hence it being parked in a field in the above photo – great fun, I was borrowing a friends Series LandRover and even managed a clear stage!) Since then, my Volvo has come back from the body shop and I’ve been using The Leader a lot less which is sad. I’m doing some servicing then hoping to take it to Rustival in a few weeks.
  19. Me: spends many on welding and painting a valueless car. Also me: uses it everyday through winter.
  20. How’s the Mini doing? (I hope you don’t mind me asking). I was thinking about it recently while walking down the street it grew up on, odd turn of phrase for a car but I’m sure you know what I mean.
  21. I went to see if I could throw my name in the hat to save this, with money and not just dreams. I’m loving my BX Leader, but would prefer an estate; they’re quite firmly on “the list”. I nearly bought this very car before so my psyche was ready to have it. It's not to be though, looks like it has been broken up for parts already. @KevTee1 hour ago Hey, yeah it's a sad sight to see, unfortunately she was broken but hopefully the parts will go to keeping many others going for longer 👍 Sad times. Back to plan A: waiting for one of @Rust Collector’s estates to ripen, rise (BX pun) to the top of the list and be recommissioned. [Edit: rise to the top of the list, not rise to the top of the pile… I’m not insinuating any of your cars are a “pile”]
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