Grumblespeed

Well here we go, MOT season seems to be upon me, with the Rover in tomorrow and the Seicento next week. Might be in urgent need of a car next Tuesday if it all goes pear shaped. Hoping for the best with big 600, done next to nothing to it since I got it nigh on a year ago bar wheels & tyres and a light service. Checked the lights, given it a wash and put a nice fresh rag under the high level brake light to stop it flapping about on the rear shelf. See how we go.

Well, done a thing on a car so maybe I'll post for a change. Getting to car stuff weather time of year again.
As per usual the reason I've tackled a car job is not because I've been caught up with enthusiasm to fix any of the niggles on any of mine, it's because the wife's did a  FTP (well, only P on 3 cylinders with a dash full of errors anyway) The stupid C30 which kept breaking has now been replaced by a diesel V50 because she liked the last one so much - which keeps breaking. Having bought it in December it smashed a rear top mount on the way home, then went in for a timing belt and needed a new fuel pipe from tank to engine bay, and meanwhile has always had an odd miss under load. So Friday said miss developed into an "anti skid error" on the dash along with an "engine service" error and limp home mode. Hooked up the code reader and it was giving an error for the injector on cylinder 2. Symptoms all fitted so ordered it up and had a go today:

The offending vehicle pulled up under the garage door to get some shelter from the inevitable rain.
After much swearing and despairing finally managed to figure out a way to get something under the stupid injector and get a big bar on to get it out the head:

and excellent, new one was right and went back in without too much more hassle.

Code cancelled, run round the block and all seems to be running right and no sign of any leaks so time will tell whether it actually must go to a dealer for coding and calibration as per the dire warnings on the internet😠... or not, also as per the considered information on said internet. Gotta love google.
 
Meanwhile, Rover's due an MOT this month and still haven't done the CV boots yet, and the Newfangled Panda is starting to feel like the Clutch master cylinder is going to need doing soonish. Hope the better weather starts to get a hold soon.
Oh and the C30 the wife replaced with this V50 is still sitting on the drive as she declined the dealer's £500 trade in as it was "definitely worth more than that" as  it only needed a new front lower arm to stop it knocking and it would be a great little car. Front lower arm duly replaced it didn't cure the knocking and now it has a distinctly rumbly probably DMF on the way out noise to accompany the cacophony of road knocks, and an alternator that now sounds like someone has fitted an over ambitious supercharger. Definitely no reason or motivation to tackle any of those things so anyone need a broken C30 for considerably less that the £500 she turned down dammit! Will get round to putting it in the classifieds at some point before we scrap it but not overly hopeful.

Hi Shiters,
In a rare fit of practicality I sold my old Merc 190e (I know, I know) back in September due to an impending house move/renovation which demanded a more suitable day-to-day tip run/DIY fetching and carrying type of thing.
Something that did a few more empeegees and had a hatch with folding seats was the criteria so something along the lines of a battered old estate car was on the list...
Obviously, with me being a serial Italophile as well as being a serial Merc licker I saw this wee Panda for sale and snapped it up (it fits some of the wishlist at least)
I've always admired Pandas for some bizarre reason - I think it's their lack of pretence at being anything other than a cheapy little runabout.
So, what do I think of it I hear you all ask? Well, it's super cheap to run while I'm spending lots of hard earned on house shite. It likes to be ragged around and it really annoys commuters in their sales rep specials if you dare to overtake them. It goes pretty well for a little fella - it's the later 1.2 VVT engine so it boasts a mighty 69bhp!
I don't mind that it's silver - my old Lancia Delta was silver so it takes me back. The interior is a bit like sitting in a coal mine but there's lots of glass so it's not gloomy.
So far it's had a cambelt/waterpump change at a local* Italian specialist - this was actually an excuse to go and drool over some Lancia porn
Things that need doing - a new foglight at the offside one is discoloured and then a basic service in a few weeks time.
Anyway, here it is...

Speaking of which, believe it or not that second key just turned up. Rattled out of the pocket of the oily trousers I was wearing when I was working on it when I lifted them out the wardrobe the other day. I'll get it in the post. Nice to see it's done the job for you.

Brilliant thanks! Thought I was going mad!
I’ve fixed the windscreen issue with some gutter mastic I had and it’s almost dried out now, gives me a few months to see if I can’t get the boot floor reattached to the body before the Mot 😂

Not a great deal of goings on in ODM Towers.
Missus modern Jazz continues to function and will be going away in May 2024.
Espace is still here because every time I decide to sell it, Mrs ODM buys a lump of furniture or house tat I have to go collect.
Red Cinquecento never got finished beyond front brakes but it’s gone to @richbraith with all the bits in the boot to get it going again, bar some tickle-sticking.
I kindly inherited a Seicento sporting for an embarrassingly small fee from @Grumblespeed . It has made a great station car, except for when I was scraping ice and realised the leaking windscreen meant I had ice on both sides of the window.
Battery is subsequently flat and will be charged for Xmas running around.
Relatively tame by most standards. Fewest car swaps in years.
Out

Not Out

Other car movement yesterday, Grumbleweed out in daylight for the first time in a few years, looking pretty sorry for himself.

And ready to hit the road

And safely stashed away at the other end, lovely garage this time

Maybe he'll get some attention this time.

looks like a nice garage to be doing some work. 

Other car movement yesterday, Grumbleweed out in daylight for the first time in a few years, looking pretty sorry for himself.

And ready to hit the road

And safely stashed away at the other end, lovely garage this time

Maybe he'll get some attention this time.

Other car movement yesterday, Grumbleweed out in daylight for the first time in a few years, looking pretty sorry for himself.

And ready to hit the road

And safely stashed away at the other end, lovely garage this time

Maybe he'll get some attention this time.

Other car movement yesterday, Grumbleweed out in daylight for the first time in a few years, looking pretty sorry for himself.

And ready to hit the road

And safely stashed away at the other end, lovely garage this time

Maybe he'll get some attention this time.

Other car movement yesterday, Grumbleweed out in daylight for the first time in a few years, looking pretty sorry for himself.

And ready to hit the road

And safely stashed away at the other end, lovely garage this time

Maybe he'll get some attention this time.

So, red Panda up and running now. Seicento up for some attention today and I literally even remembered to get the phone out and take some pics.
Last shot of the whole fleet together in the old place first
Grumbleweed will be getting trailered to his comfy new double garage tomorrow, and the race is on to reduce the numbers to fit on the drive after that.
With that in mind first job of the day was to swap off the Uno rims from the Sei, then while the drivers front wheel was off, maybe just pop a replacement hub on to try and stop the untoward warmth happening in that area. 

Amazing how much easier these jobs are when everything is all free and comes apart no bother 

Hasn't looked like that in a long while. Don't know if it's cured the issue yet, had to dash off to the new place with a Panda load as soon as I was done.

Clean pass! 👍

So, red Panda up and running now. Seicento up for some attention today and I literally even remembered to get the phone out and take some pics.
Last shot of the whole fleet together in the old place first
Grumbleweed will be getting trailered to his comfy new double garage tomorrow, and the race is on to reduce the numbers to fit on the drive after that.
With that in mind first job of the day was to swap off the Uno rims from the Sei, then while the drivers front wheel was off, maybe just pop a replacement hub on to try and stop the untoward warmth happening in that area. 

Amazing how much easier these jobs are when everything is all free and comes apart no bother 

Hasn't looked like that in a long while. Don't know if it's cured the issue yet, had to dash off to the new place with a Panda load as soon as I was done.

So, red Panda up and running now. Seicento up for some attention today and I literally even remembered to get the phone out and take some pics.
Last shot of the whole fleet together in the old place first
Grumbleweed will be getting trailered to his comfy new double garage tomorrow, and the race is on to reduce the numbers to fit on the drive after that.
With that in mind first job of the day was to swap off the Uno rims from the Sei, then while the drivers front wheel was off, maybe just pop a replacement hub on to try and stop the untoward warmth happening in that area. 

Amazing how much easier these jobs are when everything is all free and comes apart no bother 

Hasn't looked like that in a long while. Don't know if it's cured the issue yet, had to dash off to the new place with a Panda load as soon as I was done.

well bought. I fancied this myself as a ULEZ beater but no room at the inn and Scunthorpe is a long way from South London. @Grumblespeedis a top guy and a Fiat nut so I'm sure its a goodun

All home and sound. Much obliged for the impromptu mechanicing on the drive.
@Grumblespeed top seller, etc.

So, red Panda up and running now. Seicento up for some attention today and I literally even remembered to get the phone out and take some pics.
Last shot of the whole fleet together in the old place first
Grumbleweed will be getting trailered to his comfy new double garage tomorrow, and the race is on to reduce the numbers to fit on the drive after that.
With that in mind first job of the day was to swap off the Uno rims from the Sei, then while the drivers front wheel was off, maybe just pop a replacement hub on to try and stop the untoward warmth happening in that area. 

Amazing how much easier these jobs are when everything is all free and comes apart no bother 

Hasn't looked like that in a long while. Don't know if it's cured the issue yet, had to dash off to the new place with a Panda load as soon as I was done.

Going well, brake pipe here safe and sound, cylinder arrived today, bearing (on DPD next day delivery) delivered safely on Thursday lunchtime. No idea where, but definitely delivered, photo to prove it, of my lovely new bearing sitting on some random doorstep that is neither here nor, as far as I can tell, nearby. Have now ordered another bearing from a different supplier just so I can have one to get the car back on the road while I have the argument with the first lot who have checked the tracking and informed me that DPD says they've delivered it. Of course DPD say they've delivered it, that's why I contacted them in the first place!!!😡.. Can't contact DPD, their customer service only opens when I'm at work.

Another one of those days. Started the day with the newly MOT'd Panda needing the O/S rear brakes freeing off as when I got home after the first run out in it the wheel was red hot. Tried getting in to it Sunday night but no joy, drum was slightly lipped and with the handbrake not releasing fully either no way was it coming off.  Hub puller ordered I was back on it this morning. This time, got the drum off no problem, despite the new hub puller not fitting so I had to devise a cunning plan pulling the loosely attached wheel spacer with a different puller I already had.
Success only slightly tempered by the fact the bearing came off in many pieces with balls scattering everywhere as it disintegrated.
Brakes dismantled OK after that, cable was free, pivot point on the lever on the brake shoe was seized solid so that looks to have been the problem. So after much swearing and a bit of you tube watching after I realised I probably should have got a picture before I started dismantling (hate drum brakes!) got everything back together and noticed brake fluid oozing out around the seals on the cylinder. Damn
So, by the end of the day, gone from needing the handbrake freeing to needing a new wheel bearing, cylinder, and brake pipe (cause there's no chance that's coming undone - I know, already done the other side.)

Going well, brake pipe here safe and sound, cylinder arrived today, bearing (on DPD next day delivery) delivered safely on Thursday lunchtime. No idea where, but definitely delivered, photo to prove it, of my lovely new bearing sitting on some random doorstep that is neither here nor, as far as I can tell, nearby. Have now ordered another bearing from a different supplier just so I can have one to get the car back on the road while I have the argument with the first lot who have checked the tracking and informed me that DPD says they've delivered it. Of course DPD say they've delivered it, that's why I contacted them in the first place!!!😡.. Can't contact DPD, their customer service only opens when I'm at work.

Another one of those days. Started the day with the newly MOT'd Panda needing the O/S rear brakes freeing off as when I got home after the first run out in it the wheel was red hot. Tried getting in to it Sunday night but no joy, drum was slightly lipped and with the handbrake not releasing fully either no way was it coming off.  Hub puller ordered I was back on it this morning. This time, got the drum off no problem, despite the new hub puller not fitting so I had to devise a cunning plan pulling the loosely attached wheel spacer with a different puller I already had.
Success only slightly tempered by the fact the bearing came off in many pieces with balls scattering everywhere as it disintegrated.
Brakes dismantled OK after that, cable was free, pivot point on the lever on the brake shoe was seized solid so that looks to have been the problem. So after much swearing and a bit of you tube watching after I realised I probably should have got a picture before I started dismantling (hate drum brakes!) got everything back together and noticed brake fluid oozing out around the seals on the cylinder. Damn
So, by the end of the day, gone from needing the handbrake freeing to needing a new wheel bearing, cylinder, and brake pipe (cause there's no chance that's coming undone - I know, already done the other side.)

Another one of those days. Started the day with the newly MOT'd Panda needing the O/S rear brakes freeing off as when I got home after the first run out in it the wheel was red hot. Tried getting in to it Sunday night but no joy, drum was slightly lipped and with the handbrake not releasing fully either no way was it coming off.  Hub puller ordered I was back on it this morning. This time, got the drum off no problem, despite the new hub puller not fitting so I had to devise a cunning plan pulling the loosely attached wheel spacer with a different puller I already had.
Success only slightly tempered by the fact the bearing came off in many pieces with balls scattering everywhere as it disintegrated.
Brakes dismantled OK after that, cable was free, pivot point on the lever on the brake shoe was seized solid so that looks to have been the problem. So after much swearing and a bit of you tube watching after I realised I probably should have got a picture before I started dismantling (hate drum brakes!) got everything back together and noticed brake fluid oozing out around the seals on the cylinder. Damn
So, by the end of the day, gone from needing the handbrake freeing to needing a new wheel bearing, cylinder, and brake pipe (cause there's no chance that's coming undone - I know, already done the other side.)

Another one of those days. Started the day with the newly MOT'd Panda needing the O/S rear brakes freeing off as when I got home after the first run out in it the wheel was red hot. Tried getting in to it Sunday night but no joy, drum was slightly lipped and with the handbrake not releasing fully either no way was it coming off.  Hub puller ordered I was back on it this morning. This time, got the drum off no problem, despite the new hub puller not fitting so I had to devise a cunning plan pulling the loosely attached wheel spacer with a different puller I already had.
Success only slightly tempered by the fact the bearing came off in many pieces with balls scattering everywhere as it disintegrated.
Brakes dismantled OK after that, cable was free, pivot point on the lever on the brake shoe was seized solid so that looks to have been the problem. So after much swearing and a bit of you tube watching after I realised I probably should have got a picture before I started dismantling (hate drum brakes!) got everything back together and noticed brake fluid oozing out around the seals on the cylinder. Damn
So, by the end of the day, gone from needing the handbrake freeing to needing a new wheel bearing, cylinder, and brake pipe (cause there's no chance that's coming undone - I know, already done the other side.)