Astra Mk1 in glorious poo-brown. SOLD

[HillmanImp]

Have we replaced the radiator cap (or indeed checked that its the right one). Something as simple as this can cause overheating. Will only be a couple of quid to replace I would have thought?

[John F]

Have we replaced the radiator cap (or indeed checked that its the right one). Something as simple as this can cause overheating. Will only be a couple of quid to replace I would have thought?

 

A leaking header tank cap might account for the coolant "wee" as well.

[Louise2cv]

Interesting stuff, I'm learning loads, thanks chaps.

 

We were just about to go out and do important mother&toddler type stuff this afternoon (think cake, tea, chocolate, garden centre cafes... that sort of thing) when a silver Mk2 GTE pulled up outside the house and had a good nosey. It's a dead end road so I guess they made an effort to come and see it. Wonder how they found out about it.

[retrogeezer]

Make sure you get a decent steering wheel lock Louise, they might be back at night otherwise.

[Louise2cv]

I woke up at half four this morning, so decided this was the ideal time to fit the steering column that the 'rents had delivered this weekend. I left Megan in bed with her daddy, and I don't think they missed me at all

 

Went quite well. Also swapped over the melted( ) plug for the back of the ignition switch as the guy who sold me the column included some of the wires. He also sent all the nuts and bolts so that was nice.

 

Taking the steering wheel of was a bit of a game (you're supposed to use a puller) but the rest was pretty straight forward. Been for a little a spin in it and all's well.

 

So now Matt doesn't have to start the car up with a screwdriver and leave it with all the wires hanging out of the dash. (Not a good look on the cop-shop car park).

 

Job done well before anyone else got up Only downside was having to make my own cups of tea.

[catsinthewelder]

Thats ace, well done

 

I'm putting off any jobs that involve dismantling dashboards

[chaseracer]

See above. You put many of us to shame, Lou

 

(says he, with the Dyane in the garage since 2009...)

[Louise2cv]

Cheers gang, it's old enough to not take any of the dash out, just the steering column cowling, which wasn't attached in the first place, so I had cheated a bit!

 

Only downside is I seem to have done something to my lower back/abdomen, either by doing this (trying to get myself upside-down in the footwell), or cutting half a tree down yesterday (bottom half, obv ) or a combination of the two.

[dollywobbler]

Nice one Louise. Take it easy on the back. You only get one!

[DSdriver]

...or cutting half a tree down yesterday...

 

Cool, we can have a chainsawshite thread, I've got a shed full of broken McCullochs.

I hope the back sorts itself out, maybe a few yoga type stretches for a couple of days will help. Ice packs for the pain, use a bag of frozen peas wrapped in a towel. The towel is important to stop you getting freezer burn.

[Louise2cv]

This was proper shite tree-surgery... wobbly step ladders, some B&Q value saws, a Tescos lopper and three extension leads joined together to power the nextdoor neighbour's reciprocating saw.

 

We've taken a good chunk of an over-sized sycamore out. It's in our garden but blocks out almost all the light from nextdoor, and it has always irritated me because it is too big for where it is and it does nothing except shed leaves and seeds.

 

Felt good yesterday and the result (our garden looks twice the size now) might haveconvinced Matt to get someone in to get rid of the whole thing

 

I'd like to replace it with something useful, a fruit tree or something pretty, a Magnolia or Acer.

 

As for the back, I've had a half hour nap on the floor, which seems to have helped, and I'm planning to do nothing but colouring/puzzles with Megan and cram in a few Welsh lessons. The rest of the gardening can wait.

[Morgan84]

Working under dashboards,and in footwells is never very comfortable - always kills the back !

[Louise2cv]

Well I've just been and rescued the old snotter again

 

The battery is dead dead dead. As in 0.0V

 

Matt promises he parked it up and didn't try and start it by turning it over and over so it's drained flat.

 

On jump start it's reading 13.3V and then with some revs still 13.3V so am I right in thinking its the voltage regulator? And am I right in thinking that's in the Alternator? The belt is newish and not slipping.

[Richard]

13.3V is about the right output from the alternator, and it should be able to maintain that as you turn lights and heaters etc. on, though it'll probably need some revs to make that.

 

It's either the battery, they used to deteriorate over time but nowadays they seem to go from fully working to not working almost overnight, or something draining the battery.

[M'coli]

13.3V is about the right output from the alternator, and it should be able to maintain that as you turn lights and heaters etc. on, though it'll probably need some revs to make that.

 

It's either the battery, they used to deteriorate over time but nowadays they seem to go from fully working to not working almost overnight,

I'd expect some voltage to show nonetheless

or something draining the battery.

like the O/H leaving the lights on?

[Louise2cv]

Nope nothing was on, even checked the boot light.

[254575]

13.3 seems a little on the low side. I'd hope to see at least 13.5 ideally 14

[dollywobbler]

Possibly a bit more if you've got the lights and stuff on. Does it read higher if you raise the revs? If it actually drops when you rev up, it's probably brushes on the alternator being worn out.

[Louise2cv]

It just stays at the 13.3 reading with revs, haven't read with anything switched on.

[John F]

Hmm yep, there should be a noticeable increase in voltage across your battery terminals when you dial in a few revs... usually (as has been mentioned already) from 12 point something to about 14 point something.

 

It does sound like your alternator might well be borked then.

[alf892]

Try charging the battery and then leave it diconnected over night..........if its gone dead its poorly.

 

Checking alternator voltage is not a reliable test.............it is amps you need to measure which is best done with a clamp type ammeter

[Louise2cv]

I know it means nothing but the battery is new, last month maybe? I suppose if it is that I should get a replacement quite easily...

[nigel bickle]

Cheap (ie free) check. The earth lead. make sure its in good nick & has a clean attachment to the car. A dying one can sometimes give the symptoms you describe.

[Louise2cv]

I might disconnect the rado as a precaution, as that was disconnected when we bought it, I think...

[Pete-M]

If you connect a jump lead from the negative terminal on the battery to a decent earth point on the engine or body does it make a difference? That'll tell you if it's an earth issue.

[Louise2cv]

Cool I'll try that, cheers Pete.

[Louise2cv]

Thanks Nigel, missed your post before.

 

Just been out, Batt read about 12V, I started it up, then switched off.

 

Tried to start again and the battery read 9V the starter didn't click. Next turn of the key batt read 6V, next 4V. The reading crept up each tme the ignition was off.

 

Jump started and again got 13ish volts.

[alf892]

well I vote battery....unless ......as you diconnect or reconnect (everything switched off) the battery is there a spark just as you connect? If so it indicates a drain which you should measure in amps. Leave ammeter connected and pull fuses until you find the guilty circuit. There will be a very small drain if there is a clock running but it will be very very small

[Louise2cv]

Judging by the unholy and embarrassing screeching that it has just made, it might be worth me checking the tension of the belt

[John F]

Judging by the unholy and embarrassing screeching that it has just made, it might be worth me checking the tension of the belt

 

Aye, maybe...