Astra Mk1 in glorious poo-brown. SOLD

[Richard]

Residual diesel and fouled plugs I would think.

[Louise2cv]

Residual diesel and fouled plugs I would think.

Yep although I had cleaned them on the morning of the MOT. I think there was too much oil in it too. Embarrassing.

Still, I think it has done pretty well considering.

[Louise2cv]

It's back! They say the pads were down to the metal too so it has been pampered while it was away.

 

No bill yet though.... Fingers crossed it won't be too bad.

[Skizzer]

Yay!  Excellent effort rescuing this from potential disaster.  Hope the bill isn't too painful.

[Louise2cv]

Thanks but i am feeling like a plank about the whole thing. I think it's time to admit I am not much of a car tinkerer!

 

Still the Astra is doing better than I thought it would, really it has served us well, especially as this recent episode wasn't it's fault and genuinely down to user error! 

 

I do have to fanny about with the lock again, it keeps falling out,  this time the barrel has jammed in the cylinder.

[mat_the_cat]

The way I look at it is that none of us were born with any ability...it's all just what we pick up on the way through life. And in my case, making a LOT of mistakes along the way although it's preferable and always more amusing to learn from the mistakes of others...

[Danblez]

I agree, don't feel down. At the end of the day you are out there giving it a go which is more than most people do! And hey you got there in the end!

 

Keep at it!

[wackywacerwill]

although it's preferable and always more amusing to laugh at  the mistakes of others and then do the same thing yourself...

 

EFA

 

Getting stuck in is the best way, it's all a learning process. That's the way I see it which means that F'ing up is cool as long as I know why and losing money is fine if I learnt stuff along the way.

[cort1977]

Thanks but i am feeling like a plank about the whole thing. I think it's time to admit I am not much of a car tinkerer!

 

Still the Astra is doing better than I thought it would, really it has served us well, especially as this recent episode wasn't it's fault and genuinely down to user error! 

 

I do have to fanny about with the lock again, it keeps falling out,  this time the barrel has jammed in the cylinder.

Don't give up!   I wasn't much of a car tinkerer and after a few years of skinned knuckles, stuck bolts and a lot of swearing I am now a sort of OK* car tinkerer.   The point is stick with it and you will improve.   Don't be like most people out there calling the AA for the simplest thing like a flat tyre or a jump start.

[dollywobbler]

Not much of a tinkerer? Seem to recall you did plenty of tinkering in your 2CV days. That's clearly the answer. You need another 2CV.

[Louise2cv]

'scuse my French but:

 

COCK AND BALLS.

[Bobthebeard]

'scuse my French but:

 

COCK AND BALLS.

Errr..... Eh??

The above reminds me of a time a few years ago when a 'prankster'* at work used to grab my mobile phone when I wasn't looking and send text messages to random people in my phone contacts. COCK AND BALLS being just one example of his random text japes. Cue massive amounts of explaining to parents, accountant, local garage guy and the dog minder. None of whom seemed convinced by the actual truth TBH.

The accountant was particularly miffed.

 

[Louise2cv]

Sorry.

 

It has broken, possibly properly this time but some crying children stopped my whining about it

on here.

 

It has conked out, took ages to start and I think it might be firing on less than the optimum number of cylinders. When I took the ignition leads off bits fell out, so I reckon some new ones of those may help but the worst bit was an empty header tank :/ God knows what my next step is.

[M'coli]

New leads, regap the plugs, refill the header tank, fire it up and cross your fingers.  If you're lucky it'll be ok!

[hairnet]

its gm 8v itll be fine

 

ps recent pics please

 

ps the omigod i cant spanner - the more ya tinker the more practice

 

oh and the leads falling to bits the metal jobbies with the springs in are offcially shit i hate them

 

excuse to buy tools also

[Louise2cv]

Looking on the bright side then?

 

Would it be hgf? there is a small amount of white goo on the oil filler cap and on a tube (vacuum) tube leading to air filter box, but the oil on dipstick looks clean. the expansion tank thing has an orange tinge.

 

Matt is on nights so popping of to partco will get us out of the house tomorrow am. Just remembering the ball ache I had last time about ordering the right leads. will get plugs too, can't hurt after the diesel and oil fouling incidents.

[Lankytim]

If the oil on the dipstick is still oil and not mayo then you should be fine. It's quite common to get white goo on filler caps and pipes to the air box.

[dugong]

If the oil on the dipstick is still oil and not mayo then you should be fine. It's quite common to get white goo on filler caps and pipes to the air box.

Condensation, innit?

[Pillock]

Come the apocalypse, the only things left will be cockroaches and Vauxhall 8v engines.

 

It'll be fine.

[MrDuke]

Aye, if it's mainly being used for short commutes, you're bound to get mayo around the cap & breather. Brownish coolant is most likely just rust-stains.

[Louise2cv]

Thank you I feel much better this morning due to the above autoshite reality check and pep talk.

 

First things first the most technical bit is getting the plugs out, even I should be able to manage that.

 

In fact I feel so optimistic about it I am even thinking about cleaning it. Won't happen but it is the thought that counts right?

[Louise2cv]

It lives! mwhahahahahahaha!

 

Popped off to partco, ordered new leads and a rad fan switch and picked up a set of plugs. By the time we got home and fed, Matt was up and able to look after the littlest little. The bigger little person (aged 3) insisted on helping:

 

Me: "you can pass me the tools and things"

Megan: "No. You can pass me the tools".

 

So we set about removing the plugs. They do not look in tip top condition, esp number 2 (soz for rubbish phone photo):

 

 

I guess that was causing the rough running?

 

I just have to hope now the diesel and oil are sorted the new plugs won't foul up the same way, could it be running rich too?

 

Here is my helper:

 

 

Loving it!

 

Fired up sweet as anything, Hurrah!

 

Next up was the wipers. A dodgy earth:

 

 

and no soldering iron = BODGE TIME (modelled by my assistant):

 

 

Works though.

 

So new leads on Monday and hopefully will sort out the fan (at last). Next stop rad hoses I think, poss the cause of the disappearing water.

 

Still mega tempted to get T-cutting.

 

[Skizzer]

Excellent news!

 

Me: "you can pass me the tools and things"
Megan: "No. You can pass me the tools".
 

 

[Louise2cv]

Oh yeah we fixed the door lock too, it has been unsecure for ages now. Nobody has made any attempt to nick it in this time. Can't think why????

[The Moog]

Fix it all first before you clean. Partly because then you don't get grubby bits on it and partly because otherwise it is likely to breakdown once clean*

 

*Based on lots of Moog history

[Louise2cv]

The cops have just been round, he reckons it is miles better (having dared using it to commute to the nick). Being used to driving on 3 it must feel like a new super car!

[Louise2cv]

 

Couldn't resist.

 

What I really want to do is sell it and buy my old 2cv back. But OH is living in a dream world about how much it is worth. So poo brown Astra it is!

 

Fair play though the colour is fantastic. MORE BROWN CARS PLS.

[MrDuke]

Don't forget to slop some linseed oil over those bumpers.

[Louise2cv]

Yeah the enthusiasm has gone for today but I will do a bit more. Someone else said peanut butter, which I have but it sounds bizarre.

[DVee8]

Bizarre but true,use smooth not crunchy.