Stripped Fred - car thoughts + fleet update

[Shep Shepherd]

PS. Does anyone have a spare 9?

 

I have one in my spares stash. If I can find it, I'll pass it on to you for the princely sum of £0.00 

[stripped fred]

I have one in my spares stash. If I can find it, I'll pass it on to you for the princely sum of £0.00

That would be great if you can find it! Thanks

[Shep Shepherd]

I'll see what I can turn up over the next few days ^^

[stripped fred]

I'll see what I can turn up over the next few days ^^

No worries if you can't find it but it would be nice to get the proper badge back on it. Thanks.

[stripped fred]

The Saab is now in for it's MOT. I've also asked them to give it a service. I usually try and do this myself but I don't have the time at the moment.

 

As well as the MOT, i've asked for all filters and oil to be changed, a parking sensor fitted and the lumbar support in the seat fixed, as well as a general check over. I know this is extravagant on a cheapish car but I want to keep it reliable, and experience the super comfy seats everyone raves about. However, in my experience the more you treat a car the more it kicks you in the nuts. We'll see.

 

Looking forward to getting it back. I bought the parts, service kit from neo brothers, including oil, was about £50. The parking sensor is a cheap eBay job and the lumbar thing, some sort of strap with wires and a couple of brackets, was £80 odd. I know, you can get a whole car for that!

 

I've also changed the headlight bulbs over as they need all the help they can get as they are a bit dim, but now improved with Osram 130% nightvreaker lasers. Seem pretty good.

[stripped fred]

Back in the Sharan today. I do love this old bus. I leave the back two seats out which gives loads of boot space and loads of leg room for five people. It's so practical. There is nothing it can't shift, within reason. I don't really need that much luggage space but it is nice to have, similar to 4x4 for most people I suppose.

 

It chuffs a bit of smoke out when cold, not terrible but I notice it. It has done 220k though. It's a faithful old thing. I never doubt that it will get me to where I want to go, in reasonable comfort and economy. The view out is heaps better than the Saab, which makes a difference when you spend a lot of time driving around places you don't know that well.

 

This will need to be sold soon unless I can engineer some way to keep it, some man maths type thing.

[stripped fred]

I had the Saab back from the garage. The bill was more than I would have liked. It included a full service and four hours labour for the seat and parking sensor. Cost £600+. I drove it for a few weeks. Lots to like. A bit quirky, felt well made, nice engine with lots of torque over 1500rpm, not much under, roomy, nice suspension, lovely steering, refined, fast, good mpg's climate, cruise, the looks of the thing. Ultimately though I couldn't live with the seat. I kept adjusting it to try and get more comfortable but I would get out at the end of a journey and my back was a bit achey. I do have back pain, not terrible, but made worse by this Saab seat. If you Google Saab seats then you will get nothing but praise but it didn't suit me.

 

So, the Saab has gone. Sold with a full service and full MOT. I am going to do a post on it at some point. 5 months ownership, 1500 miles. Lost about £700. I'm not bitter about it though. I've ticked saabs off the list and i'm happily back in the Sharan and I plan to keep that going for as long as possible. It's a bit tatty and some things don't work but I am fond of it. I've realised that I don't want a low car after the Sharan. It is so much nicer to sit high up and the more upright posture is more comfortable for me. Also, I now prefer an auto. The Sharan has had a significant effect on what type of cars I like.

 

I will just say that gumtree came up trumps. I advertised the Saab one evening, phone call from a friendly sounding bloke next morning, turned up next day, as arranged, on time, friendly chat on the test drive and a fair price agreed. Cost - nil. Respect for gumtree - ++++. I had a phone call later. It was my buyer. Could I give him my address so he could post my clubcard back which had fallen down the back of the seat! Duly arrived today.

[stripped fred]

I just realised I'd started this thread then promptly forgot about it. I'll try and keep it more up-to-date...

First off, the s type went off to the garage today. Possible injector problem, won't start, hoping it's not too expensive a fix but assuming it will be. I also have to pay £72 for recovery to the garage and I want it MOT'd too. Place your bets! Would be good to drive it again though as it's been sitting for a couple of months now. I was so embarrassed that I washed it before the recovery bloke collected it!

[stripped fred]

The Jag has been with the garage since Monday. I called them today. They reckon there is no power to the ECU. They asked for authorisation to spend a couple of hours diagnosing. This doesn't sound good... The only thing I can think of that may have buggered the ECU was leaving the ignition on all night. I did try and jump it from my other car, which I know is also not advised, but it was already not starting at that point.

I've decided to try and forget I own it for the moment...

[stripped fred]

So, I rang the garage again today. They've not had chance to look at it or diagnose anything on the Jag. It could be a relatively simple fix, total bill for recovery, MOT, labour etc of £300ish, or it could be a complete ball ache, can't find anything wrong, take loads of time to diagnose, expensive part ect and I'm in for between £500 and a lot more. It's an old car but in great condition and I like it. I wouldn't say I love it but I want to get it fixed. You can buy second hand ECU's on eBay for not a lot. I'm not sure if you can just swap them though. I think you can swap the one in the rear if it's that one. We'll see...

Meanwhile, I managed to drag Stripped Fred junior off his Xbox to start dismantling the Micra so we can change the cross member. We have the part, kindly supplied with the car, and we have the front end dismantled now. I drilled out a few spot welds. Quite easy to do but difficult to see where they are. We're going to bolt the new crossmember on as we can't weld. Plenty of rustproofing including some dynax I've just ordered. We might get around to putting some paint on the underside too. It looks very solid under there, which is nice ?

[Fumbler]

Good decision you're making with the crossmember. I'm hoping mine's not that far gone when I take the bumper off my car!

[stripped fred]

Snaggle Puss, who I bought it off, told me it needed doing before the MOT and it runs out in 2 weeks!

[stripped fred]

We managed to get the crossmember off the Micra with juniors help and lots of drilling. Quite tricky to find each spot weld but after much mangling, including use of a crowbar and my boot, it came off. Next step will be to fit the new one but we're going to clean up the rust and spray some Dynax s50 in the box sections to keep future rust at bay.

We contemplated buying a welder and learning to weld so we could put some tack welds on the subframe. This led us down several rabbit holes, mainly what type of welder to buy. Should we go gasless or mig? A decent basic mig would cost £250 with a mask and gas. I decided that the car would be sitting on the drive for many months while we faffed about and the additional strength added would be negligible. The crossmember weighs nothing in the first place so we're going to bolt it in and see where we're at then.

While the car is up on the ramps we are going to treat some of the rust on the underside. Not too much to be honest so mainly preventative. We've got rust convertor, etch primer, por15, hammerite underbody spray and black underseal. Not really what we're going to chuck at it and in what order!

Finally, I ordered a replacement o/s headlight from eBay for £26 as the existing one had broken fixings due to the nudge it had previously.

Another long boring update to follow soon...

[stripped fred]

So, work in the Micra is on hold due to the terrible weather...

The cmax passed it's mot on Friday after a re-test. I put two Kumho Ecowings on the front it at least the local tyre place did. £103 for the two, which was cheaper than the nearest tyre place who wanted £65 for a pair of Generals. I'm not sure I trust them, although I think they may be owned by continental or similar. It also needed a track control arm bearing. Just got the beetle, Micra and the jaguar to mot now as they are all due within a month of each other. Not ideal but it focuses the mind and the wallet...

The garage have had the Jag for 3 weeks now. I've asked a couple of times and they have admitted they are short staffed and very busy. I am happy to leave it with them as I trust them. Been using them for a few years now. They are happy to explain everything and communication is not too bad. Prices are ok, £50 an hour + vatI think.

I keep thinking about my MR2, which i hope to remove from my parents garage and work on here in the driven it's now been standing for a couple of years. There was some blue smoke out of the exhaust when I last started it up and the clutch pedal went to the floor. It needs a general spruce up and going over. I feel a bit old for it now as I'm 50 this year but I decided a while ago never to sell it, as I keep enjoying it and it's a bit special and difficult to replace.

[stripped fred]

How do you upload a video on here? I tried attaching it a few times but it doesn't want to know.

[stripped fred]

Sorry, long post coming up. Long time, no update...

2006 Cmax 1.6

Had to charge the battery yesterday as I hadn't used the car for two days and I left the dash cam recording. Jumped it off the beetle, the only other working and MOT'd car at present. Otherwise this keeps doing it's thing. Recent clutch change was expensive due to my usual garage charging over the odds. I still like them but I will be keeping an eye on any future bills, for all cars. Also, I put 10w/40 oil in in at the last service as I had half a drum of it. I think it should be 5w/30 or something but it seems to run ok. Mpg is around 35 at the moment but it has a permanent roof rack and maybe that oil does knock it back 1 or 2 mpg?

2006 Beetle 1.6

I bought oil, oil filter, air filter and spark plugs for this. I'd like to service it this weekend but many DIY tasks are waiting. It passed it's MOT, which I am not used to for any of my cars. They always seem to fail on one or two things.

This beetle has been one of the most reliable cars I have known. All it's had, in 8 years, are brakes, occasional spring or bushes, occasional bulbs, advisories for tyres, and that's it! It's serviced every year and it's had a cambelt. Oh, and we've replaced the clutch twice as my wife likes to rev the engine before lifting the clutch... It's a 2006 Luna convertible. Electric leather seats. Girly cream colour but I don't care and drive it a lot, with the roof down when I can. Not a bad drive. Roof has never given any trouble, although it could do with a clean and some protection.

2004 Jaguar s type diesel

Still at the garage, 8 weeks now. They are going it in between jobs to (hopefully) keep the price down. I spoke to a mechanic today. He said they suspect the ECU but they were still completing some checks. If so then they will need to send it off. I don't think that will be cheap!

It's a bit annoying as this problem was caused by me. Brief recap, I left the ignition on all night as I am a dick. I was fitting a cheap dash cam and then got distracted. It wouldn't start after that. Sometimes for a second and then not at all. I bought a good battery at about £100 but no difference. I replaced a relay that seemed to be getting a bit hot. No difference. It was collected by the garage and there will be labour and whatever expensive part has gone wrong. Also they will need to MOT it but I don't think it needs much, fingers crossed.

It's been so long since I have driven the car that I've almost forgotten that I own it. I'm looking forward to driving it again.

1997 Micra 1.0

Still on the drive. Still on ramps. Covered in leaves. We replaced the crossmember and I've given it a coat of paint. I need to lie on the floor and paint some hard to reach areas behind the cross member. I'm also thinking that some rubbing down and paint underneath would be good to keep corrosion down. I think there are a couple of places at the back of the sills that need treating. Otherwise it seems quite solid. When it's done I will MOT it. I miss driving this too as it's good fun. I don't need it but It's staying. It was bought for my son but he's list interest. He's selling it to me for £200. He's 13. We will use it for autocross one day.

I've attached a couple of photos. If anyone could tell me how to fix the gap in the rubber boot seal it would be helpful? Not sure whether to find another section and cut it down but I've not seen any for sale.

1987 MR2 Mk1

Don't ask. Still languishing in my parent's garage. I've now left it for about 3 years. I'm just increasing the number of jobs I will have to do when I recommission it. Too many other distractions but I do need to get round to it.

Future

This week I have been thinking about early Toyota Rav4's, newer Micra's, Kia Sorrento's c.2013 (the wife wants one but we can't afford it, yet), BMW Z4's and Jaguar XJs. Of course, I don't need any of these but there's no harm in doing some research, is there 😄

[Fumbler]

The crack on the rubber seal has done the same thing on my car. I think it's a case of the seal shrinking and the plastic coupling falling out after it loses its grip. Perhaps filling the gap with some fresh rubber seal may temporarily fix the problem?

[stripped fred]

1 minute ago, Fumbler said:

The crack on the rubber seal has done the same thing on my car. I think it's a case of the seal shrinking and the plastic coupling falling out after it loses its grip. Perhaps filling the gap with some fresh rubber seal may temporarily fix the problem?

I did think that. It can't do any harm can it. Luckily we have a Screwfix 5 mins away so I'll see what they've got 👍

[stripped fred]

So, the jag is still at the garage. There's a bit of a story to this...

Back in August, when the Jag wouldn't start, I called a small independent specialist nearby. He was very busy so he booked it in for five weeks time. He then said he was so busy that he would look at the car in between booked work. This was ok but I was keen to get the car fixed so I arranged for the car to go to my usual garage, which happens to be six units up on the same industrial estate. 

So, two months later, the garage have been very busy and haven't had time to look. They know I've got another car and I've ways got on well with them. We are in the middle of a pandemic. No rush. However... I would like it back soonish, and preferably not with a huge bill!

I've been calling the garage on and off. They are now waiting for my original Jag garage to come and have a look at it... Perhaps I should have stuck with him in the first place!

Other news, I've had to drive 300 miles in the last couple of days. First bit of driving in a few weeks. The focus is my only working car. I started to hear a hum from the front. I put it down to the road surface but after 100 miles it was louder. I still had to do my 150 mile trip today. It got noisier and more rumbly. I hope it is just a wheel bearing. Booked in at the same garage next Tuesday! They have had a lot of money off me lately..😕

[stuboy]

15 hours ago, stripped fred said:

They have had a lot of money off me lately 😕

ur be on the xmas card list

[RobT]

Liked for the update, not the Jag delays & potentially knackered Focus bearing.  Hope you get it all sorted m8.

[stripped fred]

11 hours ago, RobT said:

Liked for the update, not the Jag delays & potentially knackered Focus bearing.  Hope you get it all sorted m8.

Thanks Rob. I'm enjoying reading about your old car escapades. You're a bit of a pro now aren't you! 😀

[RobT]

That's nice to hear, thanks!  Must admit I have been learning a fair bit this year with the older stuff.  Although I reached my threshold when that Carlton needed the head gasket doing.  Oh to have a yard or unit...

[stripped fred]

The Cmax was fixed. £180 odd bill for the wheel bearing, which I can live with. It's my only transport at the moment, although I am not going out that much to be honest.

The Micra is still siting on the drive, on ramps and with two flat front tyres. I'm waiting to have some time and a clear day to do some more preventative rustproofing before putting the bumper and lights back on. If anyone knows of a pre-facelift K11 bonnet, preferably in white, then please let me know.... 

I had a call from the mechanic at the garage yesterday. He sent the S type ECU off and it's broken and unrepairable. He's found a company supplying second-hand ones for £120 + VAT. I asked how many hours he's spent on the car and it's up to 18 so far! He explained that it has been a helpful training exercise for him as the jaguar specialist situated nearby has been helping him out. He did reassure me that they won't charge me for all this time. However, I am bracing myself for a not insignificant bill, just prior to Christmas... 😦 It will be good to get the car back though. After three months it feels as though I'm getting a new car.

[Fumbler]

56 minutes ago, stripped fred said:

The Cmax was fixed. £180 odd bill for the wheel bearing, which I can live with. It's my only transport at the moment, although I am not going out that much to be honest.

The Micra is still siting on the drive, on ramps and with two flat front tyres. I'm waiting to have some time and a clear day to do some more preventative rustproofing before putting the bumper and lights back on. If anyone knows of a pre-facelift K11 bonnet, preferably in white, then please let me know.... 

I had a call from the mechanic at the garage yesterday. He sent the S type ECU off and it's broken and unrepairable. He's found a company supplying second-hand ones for £120 + VAT. I asked how many hours he's spent on the car and it's up to 18 so far! He explained that it has been a helpful training exercise for him as the jaguar specialist situated nearby has been helping him out. He did reassure me that they won't charge me for all this time. However, I am bracing myself for a not insignificant bill, just prior to Christmas... 😦 It will be good to get the car back though. After three months it feels as though I'm getting a new car.

I found that ~£169.00 can get you a pre-facelift NOS or pattern part bonnet on Fleabay. Might be worth a look.

[bezzabsa]

Diesel s type....nice...do they like to snap cams like the discovery?? or is that a 3.0 thing??? (presume s type has the 2.7??)

[stripped fred]

2 hours ago, Fumbler said:

I found that ~£169.00 can get you a pre-facelift NOS or pattern part bonnet on Fleabay. Might be worth a look.

Thanks, I'll look into it 👍

[stripped fred]

2 hours ago, bezzabsa said:

Diesel s type....nice...do they like to snap cams like the discovery?? or is that a 3.0 thing??? (presume s type has the 2.7??)

Yes, it's the 2.7 with twin turbos. I think they do have some issues but nothing too bad and mine feels good, when it's working! 

[stripped fred]

As I mentioned in the ask a shiter section, went to start the Micra and it wouldn't go. It did eventually start and there was a screeching and some black smoke.

Tonight I cut the water pump and alternator belts as I've bought replacements for £not a lot. I've also bought coolant and a water pump. I tried turning the water pump and it was as smooth as anything 🙄. The new one was only £17 so no great loss. The coolant in there is quite recent. Do I change it and swap the water pump? This is more of a learning and project car for me and my son so I think I will change it as a good experience, hopefully!

The water pump tensioner is a bit wobbly bit I assume I can just tighten it up?

So, the alternator is seized. It was a bit squeaky before and several months of being stood must have sent it over the edge. Or has it? I looked at a few YouTube videos that say a bit if of oil and and it should turn. I'd like to give it a try.

With the front of the car open and the bonnet off, access to the alternator is great. I've removed all three bolts and the two electrical connections. The bolts looked new and they had copper grease on. Has an autoshiter been here before? I really need to read back and look at the autoshitse history for this car. Anyway, the alternator won't come off. I tried some force but to no avail. There seems to be a metal pin holding it on. Can anyone tell me what it is and how to get it out?

It's quite enjoyable working on this. I go out and have a okay with an led lamp on the drive in the evening. No pressure as I don't need to drive it either. Like a big Meccano set. The only difference is that Micra parts are probably cheaper than Meccano, if they still make it?

[stripped fred]

I've not heard about the Jag yet. The mechanic said he hoped to have it done by Christmas but I've not called this week. I have the cmax and no place to go, apart from running the kids to their mum's house 3 mile's away. I don't often need to travel for work as I work from home. It is strange not to drive it though and sitting for four + months might have caused new problems 🙄. Old cars for you! I am now convinced that leaving them unused causes a lot more issues. A good reason not to increase the fleet.