Project Memoirs: Bornite’s All Red Fleet

[wuvvum]

I would assume that if it was the dipped beam filaments in the bulbs that had gone, the headlights would come on (and stay on) on main beam when the stalk is pushed forward though?  The fact that they only work when "flashed" suggests to me that it may be the main light switch at fault, although it could still be the relay if it's a complicated one I suppose.

[Marina door handles]

I would put money on the switch being at  fault, when I lost dipped beam in my Manta, my 944 and my 5 series it was the switch each time. Moving parts wear out and go wrong. 

[Marina door handles]

On 30/09/2024 at 13:13, BorniteIdentity said:

I currently own four cars, and there have been others that have flown the nest over the previous few months.  Of all of them, the lowest owner car is - bizarrely - the oldest.  I struggle to comprehend that I've owned it for eight years now.  Eight and a half, actually!

Its role has now really been relegated to tip-wagon.  It's far too shit to take to shows, too shit to be used as a commuter.  I'm going to stick the back seats down, cut some carpet to fit and just use it to bang about in locally.  By sticking it out on the road, I'm 100x more likely to use it than when it's parked around the back.  And anyway - the Hippo is beached there at the moment anyway.

I think I will rationalise further next year.  I could do with something really useful like a Peugeot Partner or even a larger van derived car.  Unless I can find another garage to rent (and I've been on the waiting list for two years now) it might be fairer to find the Sierra somewhere dry to see out its days.  It's definitely deteriorating, and quite badly, which is not nice to see.  

But if I can find a (rare) house with a double or tandem garage, or even a car-port - then it could feasibly stay.  It's not about money, at all, just having somewhere safe and dry for it to sit.

Next jobs for the Sierra are battery (I'm going to pilfer the new one off of the Mini) - fit full length of exhaust and I might even ask the garage if they'll have a go at fitting the towbar I bought for it.  That would make it very useful indeed.

I would take that to a car show! I wonder if some one could make you up a fake trim badge "Tip run edition" .... 

[BorniteIdentity]

Some good thoughts here - thank you.  I will invest in a new light stalk.  Amazingly, they show up on ebay for £15 even when given the usual "COSWORTH L@@K!!1!" keyword spamming.

[Noel Tidybeard]

don't forget headlights on a sierror only come on with ignition live- could be a fuse that isnt obvious

[High Jetter]

I've taken indicator switches apart, cleaned contacts and lubed moving parts. #autoshite

[Peter C]

Regarding the clutch pedal issue, have a look at my Sierra Sapphire thread, back to around April time, I removed the pedal box and modified it to alter the uppermost position of the clutch pedal. There are plenty of photos of the whole assembly and the self adjustment mechanism in the thread. Cheapest (free) solution for you would be to remove the pedal box, which is really easy, set the adjustment mechanism into a position where the clutch pedal and biting point are right, drill through the mechanism and secure it with a nut and bolt. 

[Peter C]

The story begins here, on page 23.

 

[bangernomics]

Regarding the clutch pedal issue, have a look at my Sierra Sapphire thread, back to around April time, I removed the pedal box and modified it to alter the uppermost position of the clutch pedal. There are plenty of photos of the whole assembly and the self adjustment mechanism in the thread. Cheapest (free) solution for you would be to remove the pedal box, which is really easy, set the adjustment mechanism into a position where the clutch pedal and biting point are right, drill through the mechanism and secure it with a nut and bolt. 

Did that exact thing in the distant past. Actually 3 holes so there was a chance to fudge adjustment.

[alf892]

Here you go…….lock the mechanism and fit one like this to retain adjustment……a quick google shows plenty easily available  https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/276548693149?chn=ps&_ul=GB&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=710-134428-41853-0&mkcid=2&mkscid=101&itemid=276548693149&targetid=2361400006200&device=c&mktype=pla&googleloc=1007037&poi=&campaignid=21697363421&mkgroupid=170400390467&rlsatarget=pla-2361400006200&abcId=10027088&merchantid=6995734&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAAD_Lr1c0G2lTRILoD6O_o_aQmaSyp&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIudDrz4G3iQMVgaVQBh1Z5icpEAQYBCABEgLZTvD_BwE

[BorniteIdentity]

8 hours ago, alf892 said:

Here you go…….lock the mechanism and fit one like this to retain adjustment……a quick google shows plenty easily available  https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/276548693149?chn=ps&_ul=GB&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=710-134428-41853-0&mkcid=2&mkscid=101&itemid=276548693149&targetid=2361400006200&device=c&mktype=pla&googleloc=1007037&poi=&campaignid=21697363421&mkgroupid=170400390467&rlsatarget=pla-2361400006200&abcId=10027088&merchantid=6995734&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAAD_Lr1c0G2lTRILoD6O_o_aQmaSyp&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIudDrz4G3iQMVgaVQBh1Z5icpEAQYBCABEgLZTvD_BwE

£8.50?? You must think I'm made of money!

(Boughted)

[somewhatfoolish]

That's probably not far from the price when it first arrived at a motor factor 4 decades ago. Inflation buster.

[High Jetter]

3 hours ago, somewhatfoolish said:

That's probably not far from the price when it first arrived at a motor factor 4 decades ago. Inflation buster.

Relative cost maybe, but I'm sure the ticket price would have been much less.

[BorniteIdentity]

Something that one should never discuss in polite company is the price of exhaust for a quick Saab. I’m already trying to put it to the corner of my mind with all the bad stuff. 

I don’t mind betting that this is widely known among Saabists, and also well known among previous owners of this specific Saab. Had I been a bit more sensible, I’d have investigated it earlier - on the basis that it was advised last year. 

My suggestion to the man to weld it up was met with laughter - he reckons there are a good number of bodges there already, so it falls to me to do it properly. Bollocks. 

So a new centre and rear section, and probably a flexi, are on order to arrive sometime next week. Along with a couple of other jobs? Suffice to say I don’t want to talk about it. 

Still. Check out the courtesy car! 
 

Cars eh? I had it so good for so long - that’s the problem. And it’s come at a time when I can’t afford it but can’t afford not to. 

I don’t even like cars anymore… 

[Stinkwheel]

8 minutes ago, BorniteIdentity said:

I don’t even like cars anymore… 

And there, in a nutshell, is the dichotomy of all Autoshite-ers

[Zelandeth]

23 hours ago, BorniteIdentity said:

Something that one should never discuss in polite company is the price of exhaust for a quick Saab. I’m already trying to put it to the corner of my mind with all the bad stuff. 

I don’t mind betting that this is widely known among Saabists, and also well known among previous owners of this specific Saab. Had I been a bit more sensible, I’d have investigated it earlier - on the basis that it was advised last year. 

My suggestion to the man to weld it up was met with laughter - he reckons there are a good number of bodges there already, so it falls to me to do it properly. Bollocks. 

So a new centre and rear section, and probably a flexi, are on order to arrive sometime next week. Along with a couple of other jobs? Suffice to say I don’t want to talk about it. 

Still. Check out the courtesy car! 
 

Cars eh? I had it so good for so long - that’s the problem. And it’s come at a time when I can’t afford it but can’t afford not to. 

I don’t even like cars anymore… 

Not just the fast ones.  Even basic Classic 900 exhaust parts seemed to cost roughly double what I'd generally have expected them to for any other car even back when I started messing with them in 2003.  When I had to get the mid/rear sections of my last C900 changed in a hurry when the centre box self-destructed two days after my mother passed away in 2014 that stung.  I can't remember exactly what it cost but I don't remember getting much change out of £400.

[BorniteIdentity]

3 hours ago, Zelandeth said:

Not just the fast ones.  Even basic Classic 900 exhaust parts seemed to cost roughly double what I'd generally have expected them to for any other car even back when I started messing with them in 2003.  When I had to get the mid/rear sections of my last C900 changed in a hurry when the centre box self-destructed two days after my mother passed away in 2014 that stung.  I can't remember exactly what it cost but I don't remember getting much change out of £400.

Add ten years of compound inflation, a chunky bit of labour and a bit of markup - it’s painful.

Fortunately, the car has endeared itself to me over the past few days. I had a mad dash to Romford from St Neots on Thursday and it really embarrassed a number of cars on the M25. I can get out of it after hours and feel like I’ve not even been driving. 

Because it’s been cared for previously, I’m happy to persevere. 184k miles only makes it more endearing. What it has proven though is that I need to find another new garage to entrust with stuff like this who can be a bit more pragmatic. 

[Eyersey1234]

@BorniteIdentity the bASe has appeared on one of the Faceache groups I'm on

[Crackers]

On 01/11/2024 at 15:00, BorniteIdentity said:

My suggestion to the man to weld it up was met with laughter - he reckons there are a good number of bodges there already, so it falls to me to do it properly. Bollocks. 

Shit, sorry. I honestly had no idea exhausts for them were such a pricey item - I'm surprised it went towards a "major leak of exhaust gases" so quickly, it must have holed and got worse pretty rapidly? 

The exhaust was certainly a bit crusty but I'm genuinely surprised it needed a full system. Hope it hasn't soured it for you too badly. 

[BorniteIdentity]

2 hours ago, Crackers said:

Shit, sorry. I honestly had no idea exhausts for them were such a pricey item - I'm surprised it went towards a "major leak of exhaust gases" so quickly, it must have holed and got worse pretty rapidly? 

The exhaust was certainly a bit crusty but I'm genuinely surprised it needed a full system. Hope it hasn't soured it for you too badly. 

Not your fault. Old cars innit. I’ve done approx 3,000 miles since I bought it, but it only got fruity last week.

The exhaust was, from memory, £500 for the rear and centre sections - I had them change everything handbrake related at the same time (belt and braces) to save it having to come down again in future and disrupt the exhaust. 

They did a few other bits so the bill was approximately what I paid for the car. 

Anyway, it’s all done. 

 

[BorniteIdentity]

It’s impossible to convey how marvellous it is to be able to simply and cheaply repair a car. How liberating it is to not obsess about aesthetics and appearances.

Reported upstream was the demise of my dipped and main beam lights. Following suggestions here I went outside and stuck the stalk all the way to the top then tried to engage headlights. The fact they wouldn’t illuminate, and the tell-tale wouldn’t come on, lead me to diagnose a faulty light switch. 

A five minute job beginning with cat food. We have light. 

Thanks for all the help, it’s greatly appreciated. 

[BorniteIdentity]

After several disconnected phone calls, missed appointments and general fucking around - it became clear that the farmer type who said he wanted my Freelander wasn’t going to come good. Remember - it was £100. 

Anyway. I must be fifty cars into my career now, and this is a complete first. 

Being bailed later this week. 

It seems a dreadful waste, but it is what it is. Everyone (here, Facebook, specialist interest groups) all had a very fair chance to buy it for nothing - so off it fucks. 

The Sierra watched on. Hopefully it knows what happens to badly behaved bangers…

[wuvvum]

It's a shame, but sometimes it happens.  I felt bad about scrapping that Mazda 121 last year as it was such a rare beast but, again, I'd offered it up for sale everywhere I could think of and no fecker wanted it so it eventually got cartakebacked.

[BorniteIdentity]

16 minutes ago, wuvvum said:

It's a shame, but sometimes it happens.  I felt bad about scrapping that Mazda 121 last year as it was such a rare beast but, again, I'd offered it up for sale everywhere I could think of and no fecker wanted it so it eventually got cartakebacked.

Aye. Without sounding like a miserable old shit, I couldn't care less.  It's the usual story - scores of people saying "Ah if only it was still in Devon/Wow an early one I really want this/It's actually a pre-production model and I'll have it/I'm on my way" but never any money and never a knock on the door.

It's gone. It was a genuinely great car prospect, but fuck it !

[danthecapriman]

I wouldn’t lose sleep over weighing that in tbh.

Personally I can’t stand Freelanders, stems from my days working on the hideous shit heaps! But regardless of that, you tried to sell it on and as usual everyone talks a good job/story but the bottom line is - it needed to go. Now it’s gone. Tomorrow is another day. If people really were bothered they’d come straight over and take it.

Id guess this is why so many cheap cars do get scrapped or end up on the oval first. You don’t have to deal with time wasters or idiots and the car is made to disappear. Job jobbed.

[Split_Pin]

You're right not to sweat it, everyone had their chance. Life's too short.

Selling stuff brings out the worst cunts though, that's for sure.

[tooSavvy]

16 hours ago, BorniteIdentity said:

After several disconnected phone calls, missed appointments and general fucking around - it became clear that the farmer type who said he wanted my Freelander wasn’t going to come good. Remember - it was £100. 

Anyway. I must be fifty cars into my career now, and this is a complete first. 

Being bailed later this week. 

It seems a dreadful waste, but it is what it is. Everyone (here, Facebook, specialist interest groups) all had a very fair chance to buy it for nothing - so off it fucks. 

The Sierra watched on. Hopefully it knows what happens to badly behaved bangers…

This just jogged my recollection of LR $hite..

Yesterday, driving near Consett, we passed a garage 'totally submerged' (front, sides, verges for several hundred yards...) in LR product. Could be customer cars but likely a lot of breaker/spares too.

😵... Like a Tonka toy box

MDRS Automotive.

Watling St, Consett

🚙💨

[BorniteIdentity]

15 hours ago, danthecapriman said:

I wouldn’t lose sleep over weighing that in tbh.

No, you’re right. But it seems, to me at least, that this should be prime shite for someone. The interior was perfect, it’s 27 years old and £100. Nonetheless, it wasn’t everyone’s cup of tea… and now it’s nobody’s!

1 hour ago, tooSavvy said:

This just jogged my recollection of LR $hite..

Yesterday, driving near Consett, we passed a garage 'totally submerged' (front, sides, verges for several hundred yards...) in LR product. Could be customer cars but likely a lot of breaker/spares too.

😵... Like a Tonka toy box

MDRS Automotive.

Watling St, Consett

🚙💨

first place I tried was a breaker, they only want stuff that’s currently popular and on the road. 

Exporter messed me about too. I spent more time on this than any other car this year.

A shame. 

[MorrisItalSLX]

FAREWELL BRAVE SOLJA

Baked Beans Tins

ect. ect.

[danthecapriman]

6 hours ago, BorniteIdentity said:

No, you’re right. But it seems, to me at least, that this should be prime shite for someone. The interior was perfect, it’s 27 years old and £100. Nonetheless, it wasn’t everyone’s cup of tea… and now it’s nobody’s!

It should be, yes. But you can’t worry about if other people are only too happy to sit at home saying ‘it’s an easy fix’, ‘it’s an early car’, ‘should be saved’ blah blah…

Any or none of that could be true but if that’s the case they need to get off their arse, put money where mouth is and come get it. Words and sentiments are irrelevant, it needed to go.

Nobody can moan or complain, because the choice was there to bag it for essentially nothing and nobody did. You did your best.