Astra Mk1 in glorious poo-brown. SOLD

[Louise2cv]

Does it attract any unwanted attention?

[DVee8]

Just people  licking your bumpers

[hairnet]

or just peanut oil

 

ps BROWN WINZ

[Louise2cv]

Just polishing it made a man on a bike stop and stare for 10 mins. I might avoid peanut butter in case he comes back.

[MrDuke]

Don't worry, it was probably Billy out for a Sunday ride. I'm guessing he probably spotted a pov-spec Mk3 Cav on the A55 near Chester, went into a pleasure-induced trance and didn't wake up until Bangor. He's probably still wandering the Llyn peninsula right now, trying to avoid the sounds of duelling banjos.

[anonymous user]

Bizarre but true,use smooth not crunchy.

and change the knife before you put any more on your toast.

[Louise2cv]

Argh! Done the rad fan switch, flushed the rad and then tried to fill it up. After fannying about getting the b*stard hoses to hold water I have tried refilling. Manual says 5.9l, I have got 3.5 and NOW WHAT????!!!

 

I assume it is air in there but I can't shift it. Tried squeezing all the hoses, running it, squeezing while running squeezing while cold etc and left it with an almost full expansion tank. 

 

Where are my left over 2l meant to go?

 

Any tips?

[DeeJay]

Are you sure it was empty to start with?

[Pillock]

Pour them into the kettle, boil, pour into cup and add teabag. Leave to stew, add milk.

 

If it ain't burping, it might be full. Is this a Haynes manual? Because they're never* wrong.

[Pillock]

I should point out I was assuming it was water, with no antifreeze in. Please don't drink antifreeze-tea. Please.

[Louise2cv]

I figured, and this is clueless numpty logic that as I had the top and bottom hoses off, and the fan switch out, it must have been pretty empty. The only unknown is at what point my darling daughter switched the heater off.

 

A

Am I going to break it?

[MrDuke]

Pour in as much as you can, then drive it around for 20 mins while keeping a beady eye on the temp gauge. You won't break it, honest. I did many, many miles in my 8v Cav with about a cupful of water, and the HG never gave out.

[Ratdat]

There would probably still be coolant in the block and the heater. I don't think I've ever known a car to drain right down to empty when the hoses are removed.

[mat_the_cat]

Please don't drink antifreeze-tea. Please.

 

I came very close to this, inadvertently. It was on a road trip around France and my drinking/cooking water was in a (well cleaned) antifreeze container. Shortly into the trip I leant the container to Dollywobbler to top up a coolant leak his car developed. Once the leak was fixed I asked for it back, as it was a pain only having a small water bottle with me.

 

I had a shave with the water still in the container (which with hindsight felt a bit strange), but it was only once I started brushing my teeth I realised that he'd filled the container with a coolant/water mix. Took me ages to get the taste out of my mouth, but fortunately I didn't swallow any of it. In my defence it was dark at the time, and I was camping wild with no lights around...

[dollywobbler]

In fairness, I'm pretty sure it was my super-wary co-driver who decided we should pre-mix - because of the rate we were losing coolant. He was right too, given that we ended up topping up in a blizzard on top of a mountain shortly afterwards! We did forget about the pre-mix though and I still feel bad about it almost five years later!

[mat_the_cat]

To be fair, you didn't know I was using the container for anything other than the original contents! And it makes a funny story so no hard feelings

[Louise2cv]

There is significantly less coolant in it now. Don't ask. But problem solved eh?

The fan switch didn't cut in either, looks like that is a dodgy connection there instead. All this faffing (and mess) for nowt.

Took it out for a spin. Not sure why people need big engines or why people need to do say 132 mph. 60 in the Astra is pant cackingly good enough thank you very much. People just need basic, more flimsy less confidence-inspiringy cars, speed problem* solved.

[chaseracer]

People just need basic, more flimsy less confidence-inspiringy car, speed problem* solved.

205D.

 

[phil_lihp]

You might already have done this but if not, this is very similar to my confusion a couple of years ago when trying to work out how to clear an airlock after changing the coolant.  Turned out to be quite simple.

 

I'm going to assume this is the same 1.2 as found in my 1988 Nova, in which case there should be a little bleed valve somewhere on top the driver' side of the engine bay which when loosened with a spanner (about 8-10mm I think) whilst the engine is running will allow any air to escape out of the system. (NB. do not assume this is the recommended way to do it, I assume that it needs pressure to push the air out).

 

Be warned, if you do what I did and keep loosening it more and more wondering why nothing is happening, it will be because there is a big air lock which took a while to pass through, by which time I had unwittingly unscrewed the cap too far and when the water arrived under pressure, it blew the valve right off and sprayed boiling coolant in my face.  Luckily I was wearing a baseball cap which took most of it and after a quick plunge in a sink of cold water was left with nothing more than a mild red scald mark for a couple of days!  Only loosen it a half turn or so, I seem to recall that should be enough.

[Louise2cv]

Thanks, I'll have a look but I don't think there is a bleed valve... I don't know though.

 

I think probably the others are right and I over filled it. What a wally. One more reason for me NEEDING my 2cv back.

[Richard]

If it's a 1.2 it will have the Viva/Chevette/Kadett C type OHV engine.

[Louise2cv]

Yeah that's right, not sure if it was used in Novas too?

 

I forgot to mention that the facking ignition lead set was wrong AGAIN (see earlier in this thread). Because I knew the PartCo computer got me the wrong leads last time I told the guy that last time the computer was wrong, that I had to bring the first leads back as the coil-dizzy lead is half as long as it should be and that it was defo an OHV 1.2N engine. I even took the lead with me, he ignored it. Irritating. Luckily that was the only lead that hadn't broken so got away with it this time. Not sure what I'll have to say if I need leads again.

[vulgalour]

Next time check the lead in the shop by taking the old one with you.  If they get it wrong you can then prove it's them and they need to find you a replacement quick sharp or you're taking them for a very cramped drive in the boot of the Astra until they understand what they did wrong.

[Angrydicky]

Had similar problems getting an oil filter for the Maestro. Nowhere had one in stock, one place ordered one in and when it arrived it was completely wrong! It must be so hard for people who aren't enthusiasts to run early 80's tat now, due to the lack of parts availability. Of course there's Ebay, but a lot of old people still don't have the internet, so sadly I can see why lots just can't be bothered with it and replace the car with something newer.

[Louise2cv]

Stupidly I took it when ordering and not when collecting. Idiot.

[Louise2cv]

 

Have a pic of me doing the rad fan switch in my best mechanic-y shoes. 

 

Not got round to the nut butter (Matt keeps giving it to the kids, PRIORITIES MAN!) but it was washed and waxed last night. Pampered or what? Probably bound to go wrong as a result!

[dollywobbler]

Personally, I think the 'cars and girls' thread should be full of lovely pictures like that. Sensible clothing, brown, terrible cars. Perfect!

[mouseflakes]

but it was washed and waxed last night. Pampered or what? Probably bound to go wrong as a result!

 

Sorry - I got a bit lost - is this the car or the child?

[hairnet]

Had similar problems getting an oil filter for the Maestro. Nowhere had one in stock, one place ordered one in and when it arrived it was completely wrong! It must be so hard for people who aren't enthusiasts to run early 80's tat now, due to the lack of parts availability. Of course there's Ebay, but a lot of old people still don't have the internet, so sadly I can see why lots just can't be bothered with it and replace the car with something newer.

 

cross reffing part nos is your friend - did that for the bike oil filter - instead of 11+vat for honda one identical one for an accord and it was 3 quid

[hairnet]

 

Have a pic of me doing the rad fan switch in my best mechanic-y shoes. 

 

Not got round to the nut butter (Matt keeps giving it to the kids, PRIORITIES MAN!) but it was washed and waxed last night. Pampered or what? Probably bound to go wrong as a result!

why is this pic not on the front page or in the calendar yet

 

could be 1988