Astra Mk1 in glorious poo-brown. SOLD

[Louise2cv]

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

 

could be 1988

 

 

Hey! What are you trying to say about my shoes?

 

 

Sensible clothing,

 

Hey! What are you trying to say?

[hairnet]

 

 

Hey! What are you trying to say about my shoes?

yep 1988

[MrDuke]

If you're very lucky*, I might be arsed remember to bring some linseed oil round tomorrow with the moniez. As long as Matt's not there - "I'm just going outside with this fat bald bloke, he's going to rub oil into my bumpers. He's given me a tenner."

[hairnet]

he lives in the west of north wales - nuff said

[Louise2cv]

Matt claimed the car was kangerooing and the battery light flickering. So I have dragged myself and the kids out of bed at 6 to take him to the nick in thaudi twice this week.

 

Anyway I had a chance to look today and drove it round the block, several junctions up to 60. Nowt. Started first turn of the key and ran sweet as a nut. > tired grumpy kids and mom FOR THIS?!

 

So then I set about fixing the door lock. Again. It fell out about 4 months ago. Again. And I was so pissed off about it falling out again that I have just left it with a hole in the drivers door AND NOBODY NICKED the damn thing.

 

Anyway. I found all the bits by scrabbling around in the bottom of the door, and put it back together... This time with super glue to stop the bastard doing this across me again. HA!

 

Popped it in the door and found the lever that links the lock to the rod was UP. SIDE. DOWN. Arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrgh!

 

Fixed it now though. I'm giving it a week.

[tooSavvy]

... ahh! PARTS

 

NO ONE (ok.. so it was worser wenn it was new) stocks or know what goes on a SAVVY at the Factors.

 

I discovered half of them come off the AVEO (F. brakes & wbrg) Matiz (R. brakes).

 

My oil filter is Honda.

 

It is a bsttd when they ask for the No Plate [chassis no] for these 'non Proton' bits

 

& here are my 'bespoke' leads...... I moved the Coil, too!

 

 

TS

[xtriple]

Just read this entire, epic thread. I'm well impressed Louise. Wish I was nearer as I cut my teeth working on old cars with points and carbs - piece of pee when you know what you are doing. But, it appears you are learning fast. Stick with it, it gets easier....

 

My wife used to repair/maintain her bikes (motor) and service her car (after the warranty was up) with myself supplying instructions while sat on a chair drinking coffee and smoking tabs... I'm a cripple now so that was as much as I could do. She loved working on the oily bits and would do anything mechanical so long as I supervised. Only once did she fail and that was putting an oil filter on my MG B when she cross threaded it and it pumped out all the lovely new oil in about four seconds!

 

If you ever get stuck, just ask as I'm really good at giving instructions over the phone!

 

Well done on sticking with it, and I'm sure the little car will be worth loads of dosh one day soon....

[Noel Tidybeard]

one can't help but marvel at the length of ones legs from that pic- but i digress forget the linseed oil or peanut butter and try this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tuCICnQV-jg

i did it on the renner and the bumper look almost new!

[DS20]

Just read through this thread - I'm really impressed with your determination, Louise, and also your ability to pick up new skills.  Wish I was half as capable / brave enough to tackle my own vehicles as you have.  

[hairnet]

savvy wrong thread

 

louise - MOAR RED HOT POO BROWN AKSHUN NIAOW PLS

 

is it 1989 yet

[Noel Tidybeard]

i didn't do any before shots like a pillock but the rubbing strip and sill covers were grey!

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and the lower bumpers were closer to the kerbstones in colour

 

[/url]">http://http://s150.photobucket.com/user/nobertsback/media/20140914_144459_zps8532d670.jpg.html'>

[Louise2cv]

Car fondling for the backwards/hard of thinking. Sorry it isn't the Astra and I'm not sure if the Audi qualifies for shite yet, but it is the closest thing to car content I've managed or ages!

 

Anyway. I've done it again. Apparently my modus operandi is to start by ruling out the worst case scenario and work back to the most simple solution

 

The rear screen washer on the A6 hasn't worked for ages so today I decided to have a go. I have tried unblocking the jets in the past with no success so I waded right in and started removing the trim to see if the washer tube had been disconnected  (apparently it comes loose at joints either in the tailgate or under the passenger footwell carpet) The trim removal was awkward and I stalled halfway due to fear of snapping important looking bits of plastic and anyway, the inside of the tailgate and the bootfloor was dry, so I looked at the passenger footwell. That also seemed dry and seeing as google suggested that you have to unbolt the chair to lift the carpet, that was good enough for me.

 

After an unsuccessful wrestle with the trim again and tracing the pipe as far as I could to check any visible bits. I went and fetched a needle, poked it in the washer jet and BINGO. Works a treat. FFS.

 

 

Worse still my fiddling about trying to work out which way the tube runs resulted in this:

 

 

WHAT.

 

A.

 

NOB.

 

Luckily we are in the middle of potty training and keep one in the car just in case. So now it is busy collecting screenwash in the boot until such a time that I can be arsed to sort out my mess.

[HillmanImp]

Superglue? Vulcanising rubber?

[Louise2cv]

Oh and I spent so long pissing about on google finding no help or answers that my phone ran out of battery and I was unable to snap the utterly gorgeous show room condition 1971 Volvo estate that was parked up at B&Q. Sorry to our Scottish friends

[DSdriver]

Cut it in two and stuff a smaller bit of pipe up it's ends. Job done.

[twosmoke300]

Vw Audi screen wash tube comes by the meter and seems to have several corrugated inches followed by a smooth section etc . I've got a roll if you need some

[NorfolkNWeigh]

This sort of thing is why I don't mess around fixing anything until it's completely fubarred, illegal or stops me using the car.

[Louise2cv]

Oooo cheers!

 

I'm sure I can cobble something together. Its just annoying. I don't know why I went fiddling!

[twosmoke300]

I'm guessing that there is a join somewhere . Let me know via pm how much you need and I will post it

[Louise2cv]

Thanks Twosmoke300

[lisbon_road]

Fantastic Astra.  It looks very good indeed.  So rare now, hard to believe, I can't remember when I last saw one - except one in Malta a few years back....

[Louise2cv]

Ta. That looks smart, our is an absolute snotter unfortunately.

[UltraWomble]

Superglue? Vulcanising rubber?

^^^ This.

Exactly the same sort of tube and set up one some of Citroens finest, the other halfs is held in place with super glue, a zip tie and that amalgamating rubber tape stuff. Hasnt pished all over the boot floor since.

[Louise2cv]

I found some fuel line of the correct size, that should manage screenwash right? Its unleaded ready anyway

 

It would seem the original hose is quite rigid which is a bit of a problem for running through a hinge.

 

Also broke a trim clip but I have found some on eBay so hope to sort that.

 

Thanks for the offers of help, advice and encouragement.

[saucedoctor]

Rover 25s do the rear washer pipe (cheap Project Drive SHIT). I fixed mine with a bit of motor factors screenwash hose, and a connector from a pet shop that sells tropical fish gear. I eventually got an anti return valve (pictured) from eGay for a quid.

 

[twosmoke300]

Grande puntos also do this trick . But as an added bonus it tracks down the loom and corrodes the lh light board

[saucedoctor]

And Fiat 500s, inside the passenger side sill capping, soaking the carpet. The washer hose in these is the cheapest oul shit I've ever seen. It looks like hard plastic wiring loom cover.

[Louise2cv]

Yeah, that's what this is like.

 

 

I think with the Audi it either goes where mine split and soaks the in car entertainment gubbins/sat nav stuff or in the passenger foot well and upsets the central locking windows etc.

[hairnet]

shops that sell diy home brew the smallest pipe they do ideal for washers

[Pillock]

Our Touran has just done this, but because the plastics look and feel like they're made of the most brittle substance known to man, I can guarantee that I'll break all the tabs off getting in and it'll rattle like fook