Project Tickman's stuff. MOT time rolls around.

[Tickman]

So the 205 belongs to Chuck and the Clio now belongs to Meg after passing her test so the only vehicle I have that is legal and on the road it the campervan.

This situation has happened before and a bit of a (justified) slagging was received so operation get a car MOTed as you don't have one has been launched.

Obviously as part of this I went to look at a non MOTed car this morning but it didn't give me a good feeling so walked away.

 

Next on the list is the Octavia which now has a name. This shall be revealed at the end of the post.

 

First off fit the rear spring:

 

 

This done I bled the brakes through again, this may need repeated with the two man method.

 

I decided to have a look at the usual MOT stuff so checked the lights, all good.

 

Then the washers and wipers, yes and NO.

 

Onto the internet and the wiper mechanism seizes up so off with the wiper arms and scuttle.

 

Yuck.

 

 

 

Wiper mechanism out and trying to move it.

 

 

 

Fuck

 

 

 

 

Yes the bloody thing broke before it would free off so the car is now called 'ungrateful bastard' no capitals as it doesn't deserve them.

 

I shall free it off and reassemble and try for a test, if I get one then I can sort it later along with all the other issues the tester will no doubt find. 

If I don't get a test then I might just give up.

[The Moog]

And then buy something else?

[Tickman]

And then buy something else?

 

Of course

[dome]

I had to replace the wiper mechanism on mine too. Make sure you chop the wire downwind of the connector as the early cars had a different plug to the later ones. It'll likely be a later car you find in the scrappy

[Tickman]

I had to replace the wiper mechanism on mine too. Make sure you chop the wire downwind of the connector as the early cars had a different plug to the later ones. It'll likely be a layer car you find in the scrappy

 

Noted for future reference.

 

Today I reassembled the wipers using the remaining fixings after a good strip and clean up. 

They now work.

 

I have to pick up the bonnet release cable and attempt to fit that tomorrow and then test time.

The earliest test I can get is Friday so I'm waiting for that now.

 

 

 

Because I had done all I was willing to do to the Octavia I decided to investigate a no spark issue with this.

 

 

After plenty of investigation I can confirm that it still has no spark and I have no idea why.

Everything is in the wrong place to track things and I just couldn't figure it out today so left it for another day.

[Tam]

You can borrow my basic little 25 if you want? You would need to insure it but MOT'd and taxed.

[Supernaut]

That Scimitar SS1 looks fit now it's not shoved in the corner though!

 

Even if it isn't running.

[Tickman]

You can borrow my basic little 25 if you want? You would need to insure it but MOT'd and taxed.

 

Thanks Tam, I am allowed to borrow Meg's Clio if I need it and if the Octavia is a nightmare to MOT I will just buy something suitable. (any excuse)

 

That Scimitar SS1 looks fit now it's not shoved in the corner though!

 

Even if it isn't running.

 

Who said the camera never lies!

 

I was brushing the dirt off it earlier! 

 

Now I am off to find out how to hotwire a car (just so I can bypass any ignition switch related issues obviously)

[Tickman]

Time to do the final thing before test on UB (ungrateful bastard)

 

Bonnet release cable.

 

Behind this blank are two Phillips head screws

 

 

Two more hold this on.

 

 

All off

 

 

Scuttle prised up and the old cable removed and new one fitted.

 

I put the interior bit back together and then started on the easy* end.

This was removed and the old cable removed from it. Then the new cable was fitted with the aid of some water pump pliers and a screwdriver to push the sheath into the correct place. Once done it was refitted with a little grease added.

 

 

Bonnet closed.

 

 

A quick pull of the handle and bonnet open.

 

 

 

 

I'm not doing any more to it so that is it until Friday...

[Tickman]

Testing times.

 

I went and collected the Octavia from the workshop and made my way to the MOT. On route I was trying to clean up the brakes so a few heavy braking sessions were done. By the time I got to the garage they were not too bad at all.

 

In it went with a comment from the tester 'battery light is on' this was a new development.

 

Bloody car.

 

 

General check done and on to the emissions. this didn't start too well and a comment was made that there might be something missing like the last Clio (the cat) 

These got worse not better and it was joined with ABS light. I borrowed a multi meter and we were running out of electric again.

 

Emissions test was done again with this in place.

 

 

Passed no problem.

 

Then onto the rest of the car, it was described as not a Lemon which was quite good and I have left with a pass.

 

Due to it being about 15 miles from the workshop I was loaned an battery and the previous wires were still in the boot so they were bodged back together again!

 

To do list is:

One ball joint on the way out,

Both rear drop links.

One alternator.

 

Could have been much worse.

Now to order some parts.

[Tickman]

I have just ordered an Alternator from Amazon for £36, I have a feeling this can only end badly.

[dome]

Good work on the pass!

 

This one sounds like it's a fighter, you'd best buy something else to be on the safe side..

[The Moog]

Good work on the pass!

 

This one sounds like it's a fighter, you'd best buy something else to be on the safe side..

I agree with my learned friend

[Tickman]

Amazon ball joint arrived quickly so

 

 

That is done, the old one had a split in the cover not easily seen which will explain why it died.

 

I started it up and the battery light went out which cheered me up massively however after a bit more messing around I tried it again and it wasn't charging.

 

With the new one due on Wednesday I thought I would prepare.

 

 

 

 

 

Everything was in the way so it all had to be moved, even with stuff out of the way it was still a pain in the arse.

 

Not necessarily looking forward to trying to get it all back together and working!

[Tickman]

I have just ordered an Alternator from Amazon for £36, I have a feeling this can only end badly.

 

Well it arrived today and I fitted it this afternoon and it appears to work 

 

 

 

 

 

In other news the neighbour fucked the rear arch of their Audi, unfortunately she did it on Meg's Clio

 

 

 

Paint is scuffed on the wing and the bumper, all the headlight mounts are broken off and the grill is broken a bit.

 

They have already called their insurance as she made a proper job of her car.

 

We shall see what happens next.

[PhilA]

I made words out of neighbors number plate but it's too rude to put here.

[dome]

Like for the alternator, not the Clio!

[Exiled_Tat_Gatherer]

Great news on the Octi..... can't like for the Clio though. 

Is it still the same old - claim, even not on your name or fault, has to be declared? Meg has just started driving hasn't she....... that would be a tad off the planet unfair in my eyes. - Or is it entirely on the neighbour?

[Tickman]

I made words out of neighbors number plate but it's too rude to put here.

 

Another neighbour has already named them something that is probably equally offensive.

 

Like for the alternator, not the Clio!

 

I was astonished by the alternator being correct. The only thing that gave me hope was that as soon as I bought the 'last one' the price was £126 for the same item but had a not available.

 

Great news on the Octi..... can't like for the Clio though. 

Is it still the same old - claim, even not on your name or fault, has to be declared? Meg has just started driving hasn't she....... that would be a tad off the planet unfair in my eyes. - Or is it entirely on the neighbour?

 

Very probably however Meg will be off to Uni next year so will not be needing a car.

[Tickman]

Octavia is now on the road.

 

I drilled out the seized battery securing bolt and made something fit as well as fitting a correct size battery that has electric in it.

 

It needs a mega clean and the drop links fitting when they arrive.

 

 

[Tickman]

A first thing MOT was booked this morning, this was the scene at 7:45

 

 

 

It resulted in this.

 

 

Some preventative stuff to do before next year to keep it tidy.

[Bucketeer]

^^^^

 

[Tickman]

Since the MOT was so early it left the rest of the day to be occupied.

 

 

First off was to moan at the dog for destroying her bed.

 

 

 

Then I had a moan at Chuck as she was still in bed.

 

She got up and we started on the preventative stuff on the 205.

 

Most of the brake lines have been replaced at some point, the one from the master cylinder to the rear was starting to go a bit so she was given instruction, an old broken belt from the power file and a tub of petroleum jelly and she did all of the lines from front to back.

 

 

 

I had noticed that the brakes were dragging a little so we investigated the front calipers. they move freely on the carrier but both dust seals were unseated and wouldn't go back on either.

 

These were greased up and exercised and seem to be a bit better but will go on the list of stuff to buy when a good price is available.

 

 

Once the 205 was dealt with the Octavia was next.

The horn technically worked but was really quiet so I took one of them off and tried it with the power probe, this failed to produce a response so a spare I had was fitted and wired in.

 

Next as I still had a helper was to bleed the brakes yet again.

 

This resulted in a much better pedal so I'm happy with them for now.

 

Finally it got a bit of an interior clean up with everything getting a good wipe down, then I started on the door and window seals trying to get some of the moss off.

 

It is quite a bit better now but will no doubt give me more to do.

 

[Tickman]

Further Octavia news.

I ordered this:



This arrived:



So I have cleaned back the coating that was flaking off the brake pipes and greased them up.

Next was the drop links at the rear, these were done:





Next I decided to adjust the door on the driver's side as it catches the wing.

I inserted some shims (pieces of metal I had) and it had a beneficial effect but not enough so I adjusted it my way:



This worked brilliantly.


Finally and as per the current thread title, one of the rear wheel bearings has gone noisy, I am guessing this is down to the car hating me the rear brake calipers being previously fucked and the hub getting a bit warm, also 170,000 miles might have something to do with it.

 

The only online guides are for front wheel drive cars, am I going to have an absolute nightmare changing this part?

There appears to be a bearing and circlip as well as the new nylock nut in the picture online, does this sound about right? 

[Tickman]

So armed with no replacement part I decided to try and get the rear bearing in a position to be removed.

 

Up in the air and rear wheel off.

 

 

Caliper and disc off I started undoing everything.

 

 

This eventually (45 minutes) resulted in this.

 

 

So I gently* knocked the hub out but something was missing.

 

 

Oh there it is, unfortunately there was no lip to get a puller under so I had to get creative.

 

 

Which worked.

 

 

Next onto the bearing, into the vice after the circlip was removed.

 

 

These were used.

 

 

This was the result.

 

 

End of play with the bearing for today was this.

 

 

As I still had time to play with I fitted this along with the Dab aerial, happily the glove box swings down out of the way when you remove three bolts.

 

 

Finally the drivers door still needed adjustment so I started from scratch and made up some proper spacers out of an old jack. A bit of cutting grinding and drilling resulted in this.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Happy with that I phoned for rescue as the next bus was going to be almost two hours away.

 

I pick up the bearing tomorrow...

[Richard]

 

This always happens and is normally the hardest bit to deal with, the rest is just brute force and ignorance. 

[Exiled_Tat_Gatherer]

I'm ex NE - so the cars get a bit of a battering from the prevailing salt-air...... but are the vehicles up your way usually looking that fucked underneath? It seems to be a horror show under there - or is it Octy type usual TADTS? Art is a loooooong time since I was under a NE vehicle to be fair - so my memory may be playing tricks, but I don't think they were THAT bad.

 

Great work on the shed. Keep seeing - mega clean interior - come on, show us the bio hazard!

[captain_70s]

My Civic was the same underneath, lots of surface rust and flaky metal. That was a Derbyshire car for half it's life though.

[Split_Pin]

It's only surface corrosion which I personally just ignore.

[320touring]

Until it's transparent, tis surface rust