The new news 24 thread

[vulgalour]

A while ago I had a puncture on the sidewall of the brand new tyres I had fitted to the Princess.  Bit annoying, especially since it can't be repaired.  Stopped by the local backstreet car-wash-and-garage place who are always friendly and they had some lightly used, if rather old, Continentals in stock that were the right size.  £50 including fitting and balancing sold me on them and when I've more cash spare I'll get another pair of Uniroyals on the back.  At least now my spare tyre is a good new Uniroyal and I'm not sporting mismatched tyres on the back axle, one of which was an old Enduro Runway.  At least now the rear end doesn't feel so  twitchy in the wet.

[Zelandeth]

38 minutes ago, wuvvum said:

Must be unusual for a smoll van of that vintage to have AC.

Can't be many boxes they didn't tick.

[] AC.

[] Electric windows.

[] PAS.

[] Remote central locking.

[] Electric, heated mirrors.

[] Adjustable steering column.

[] Tinted glass all round.

[] Rear wash/wipe.

[] Rev counter (this is VW, I'm *sure* it was an option).

[] Metallic paint.

[] 4-speaker stereo (as in with separate tweeters in the dash).

[] Originally had alloys according to the build tag.

...and in the last 15 minutes discovered there's height adjustment on the driver's seat too.

Off the top of my head, front fogs and if they were even available, heated seats and cruise are about the only things they didn't specify.  I really should dig out a brochure to find out.

For a small van from 2002 it's pretty well loaded though.

[Fumbler]

I'm going to book the BX in for its MoT tomorrow for next week. I won't be able to do it but father has said he's cool with delivering it round the corner. It was also apparently admired by a Xantia driver, so there's smiles all-round. The bonus is that if it fails, I have at least a few more weekends to scrape the carnage off the ground rectify the issues. Emissions has me worried because carburettor and manifold leak, and the oil leak it has which I'm determined to fix. I am sure all will be well* come the day.

I caved and bought the correct alternator(!) because I'm feeling rich and getting tired trying to invent new ways of shimming out the pulley. This at least gives me the excuse to take the weird one apart, repack the front bearing, paint it up and properly align stuff at my lethargic pace leisure.

I also got a spare key cut for it... but apparently it only operates the doors. I asked why and father said "feck knows" so that'll be fun figuring out what's going on- I may have engaged the steering lock when I parked it. Or, more likely, my Simplex spare key is just a teeny tiny bit wrong for the super high tolerance ignition barrel which I definitely and totally cannot pull the key out of when the car is running.

 

In the meantime, the Micra is still bimbling along and I should really pull my finger out and weld the sill.

[Spurious]

On 1/12/2022 at 5:16 PM, Spurious said:

Frosty start this morning.

Minus 11, but proper powder snow so the dustpan brush was deployed and it brushed off handily enough. 

Post brushing, apparently you can be fined here for driving with snow on the car. 

 

Only noticed its those fake alloy hubcaps with steelies. Not that I mind. I suspect they're easier and cheaper to repair and replace if damaged. Komoroan winters, seem sure footed in this weather. Not lost traction yet. 

 

Ząb, the highest village in Poland, buried in the Tatras. 

 

 

 

 

 

Handed it back this evening. 46mpg, almost 400km done and only cost £20 as 95 E5 is only 99p/l here. 

Cheap motoring, not bad at all for a likkle Turbo 3 pot.  

[AnnoyingPentium]

28 minutes ago, Spurious said:

only cost £20 as 95 E5 is only 99p/l here. 

I have decided I am emigrating now.

[catsinthewelder]

1 hour ago, Fumbler said:

I'm going to book the BX in for its MoT tomorrow for next week. I won't be able to do it but father has said he's cool with delivering it round the corner. It was also apparently admired by a Xantia driver, so there's smiles all-round. The bonus is that if it fails, I have at least a few more weekends to scrape the carnage off the ground to rectify the issues. Emissions has me worried because carburettor and manifold leak, and the oil leak it has which I'm determined to fix. I am sure all will be well* come the day.

I caved and bought the correct alternator(!) because I'm feeling rich and getting tired trying to invent new ways of shimming out the pulley. This at least gives me the excuse to take the weird one apart, repack the front bearing, paint it up and properly align stuff at my lethargic pace leisure.

I also got a spare key cut for it... but apparently it only operates the doors. I asked why and father said "feck knows" so that'll be fun figuring out what's going on- I may have engaged the steering lock when I parked it. Or, more likely, my Simplex spare key is just a teeny tiny bit wrong for the super high tolerance ignition barrel which I definitely and totally cannot pull the key out of when the car is running.

 

In the meantime, the Micra is still bimbling along and I should really pull my finger out and weld the sill.

A few years back a mate was about to send his BX to a classic auction and the ignition switch failed.  I got it going by taking the switch apart and removing most of the innards before putting it back together.  That would start with any key afterwards.

[Fumbler]

Just now, catsinthewelder said:

A few years back a mate was about to send his BX to a classic auction and the ignition switch failed.  I got it going by taking the switch apart and removing most of the innards before putting it back together.  That would start with any key afterwards.

Ah yes, the "remove tumblers" method. My suspicion is that the door locks are more worn than the ignition barrel, or, at least, the driver's door is. I managed to unlock it once with just the key blank.

[Zelandeth]

3 minutes ago, Fumbler said:

Ah yes, the "remove tumblers" method. My suspicion is that the door locks are more worn than the ignition barrel, or, at least, the driver's door is. I managed to unlock it once with just the key blank.

Echoes of my first Saab.  Locks and ignition on that were so knackered that they would all work with anything even vaguely key-shaped.

I lost my keys at one point while I was commuting 75 miles a day round trip to college (literally down the back of the sofa it turned out), and ran it for the best part of a week with a large flat-head screwdriver being both the door and ignition key.  Did get me some slightly odd looks at our local filling station.

[Fumbler]

3 minutes ago, Zelandeth said:

Echoes of my first Saab.  Locks and ignition on that were so knackered that they would all work with anything even vaguely key-shaped.

I lost my keys at one point while I was commuting 75 miles a day round trip to college (literally down the back of the sofa it turned out), and ran it for the best part of a week with a large flat-head screwdriver being both the door and ignition key.  Did get me some slightly odd looks at our local filling station.

Sounds like a similar story here. Weirdly enough, the identical year/engine BX I found at Chevonics had a Valeo keyset and ignition barrel. Delightfully confusing.

[Broadsword]

On 1/12/2022 at 10:09 AM, paulplom said:

I had the boy at football on Sunday in the pug107. The engine's been sounding a bit coarse and tappy the last few times I've drove it so I popped the bonnet wgen I got to the carpark. 

That'll explain it. I drove the 15 miles home after the match and topped it up at home. Quiet as a mouse again. My mother had it for six months so I'm blaming her.

These really need very frequent oil level checks. The sump is tiny and they do burn through oil quite often. Too many Aygo/107/C1 engine have been ruined simply by people not checking the oil level. Last one I had, I had to top up every week when doing a regular commute.

[somewhatfoolish]

8 hours ago, wuvvum said:

Must be unusual for a smoll van of that vintage to have AC.

Important with that amount of glass; I could do with AC in my Partner Tepee, it's like driving a mobile bakery in summer.

[Ghosty]

24 minutes ago, HarmonicCheeseburger said:

Anything to note of 1.8 or 2.0 1st gen Avensis in terms of problems or expensive borkage?

Not really as they're just facelifted Carina Es. 
Much better than vomiting your life savings at a K11. 

[wuvvum]

Certain versions of the 1.8 can have a tendency to nom their oil though.

[brownnova]

Knew my Merc needed a new tyre, as one in the back is pretty badly perished. But pumping them up yesterday I noticed they’ve all got pretty deep cracks close to the join with the wheel… all at about 10 years old.  Bugger that’ll be 4 new tyres then… 🙄

[High Jetter]

Only trouble I ever had with mine was when the immobilizer would not turn off. Cost a replacement ECU. Owned it from '03 to 2014.

[wuvvum]

8 hours ago, HarmonicCheeseburger said:

Any easy to check which, and I presume once it begins it's terminal or is it manageable? 

Can't remember off the top of my head.  Borniteidentity was our resident Mk1 Avensis expert, but he don't come by this way no more.  If memory serves it's manageable as long as you don't let the oil level drop too low.

[Spurious]

I see Novax Djokovic has been told to go home again 🤣

I know there's good political milage for the Aussie PM in this, but one can't help but smile a little. 

[mercedade]

2 hours ago, wuvvum said:

Can't remember off the top of my head.  Borniteidentity was our resident Mk1 Avensis expert, but he don't come by this way no more.  If memory serves it's manageable as long as you don't let the oil level drop too low.

Weird one, that wasn't it? It seemed like he talked himself into believing he was some kind of AS AntiChrist with people ready to burn him to the ground when really, most people just seemed to largely enjoy his posts and wholehearted commitment to shiteing. 

Hope he's doing better away from forums for a bit.

[Lacquer Peel]

39 minutes ago, mercedade said:

Weird one, that wasn't it? It seemed like he talked himself into believing he was some kind of AS AntiChrist with people ready to burn him to the ground when really, most people just seemed to largely enjoy his posts and wholehearted commitment to shiteing. 

Hope he's doing better away from forums for a bit.

Good car posting from Bornite, his other posting, hmm...

[LightBulbFun]

45 minutes ago, HarmonicCheeseburger said:

Throttle cable mechanism is sticking just slightly open. Pushing it closed returns normal idle. 

[Jamie]

3 men discussing how shit the exhaust is on my TT today... 

[High Jetter]

Just looking at those shorts makes me feel cold!

[Jamie]

26 minutes ago, High Jetter said:

Just looking at those shorts makes me feel cold!

I did regret that and wearing flip flops when I got to the garage 🤣

[grogee]

I didn't know where else to post this. 

What has happened to all the Citroen C-Crosser/Peugeot 4008/Mitsubishi Outlanders? They used to be everywhere, and I haven't seen any for ages. 

I can see why they were popular, pretend off-roading and 5+2 seats. Did they have some sort of built-in autobork?

Interesting collaboration between manufacturers, too. I wonder if PSA and Mitsubishi are still talking. 

[Spurious]

Theres a few Outlanders about, some of them the PHEV. Not seen any PSA ones in a long time though. 

[richardmorris]

13 hours ago, brownnova said:

Knew my Merc needed a new tyre, as one in the back is pretty badly perished. But pumping them up yesterday I noticed they’ve all got pretty deep cracks close to the join with the wheel… all at about 10 years old.  Bugger that’ll be 4 new tyres then… 🙄

Yes, that’s why I had two old wheels and tyres to get rid of!

[Leyland Worldmaster]

On 1/7/2022 at 8:15 PM, Leyland Worldmaster said:

Seeing well respected Classic Cars at the Garage that looks after Alison does inspire confidence! 👍 👍 👍 

Success! Alison was collected last Tuesday. These guys are great. At very short notice, they changed the brake pedal switch- which has only lasted 256,500 miles and 18 years. 

A snotty email has been sent to Audi. 

Also, the slightly* irritating way the footbrake pedal would become hard was sorted. 

This may have been a loose pipe. Anyway, it's fucking sorted. That's the main thing. 

I don't feel nervous about the upcoming MOT. Loads of bits have been done over the last few years, so should be a clean pass! 

😎 😎 😎 

[Leyland Worldmaster]

57 minutes ago, grogee said:

I didn't know where else to post this. 

What has happened to all the Citroen C-Crosser/Peugeot 4008/Mitsubishi Outlanders? They used to be everywhere, and I haven't seen any for ages. 

I can see why they were popular, pretend off-roading and 5+2 seats. Did they have some sort of built-in autobork?

Interesting collaboration between manufacturers, too. I wonder if PSA and Mitsubishi are still talking. 

There's a Peugeot flavour one in the Croydon are. Never seen a Citroën flavour one before!

😎 

[aotb]

18 hours ago, HarmonicCheeseburger said:

Any easy to check which, and I presume once it begins it's terminal or is it manageable? 

The 1ZZ engines have this issue, I had the same problem with both of my MR2s. The worst needed a litre every 300 miles or so. The oil return holes in the pistons are under sized so over time or with a lack of oil changes they get glommed up. Still run fine and I never had any emissions hassle at MOT time, but it’s an annoying fault.

[AnnoyingPentium]

3 hours ago, grogee said:

I didn't know where else to post this. 

What has happened to all the Citroen C-Crosser/Peugeot 4008/Mitsubishi Outlanders? They used to be everywhere, and I haven't seen any for ages. 

I can see why they were popular, pretend off-roading and 5+2 seats. Did they have some sort of built-in autobork?

Interesting collaboration between manufacturers, too. I wonder if PSA and Mitsubishi are still talking. 

There's a Peugeot one (I think?) up for sale in Kilmarnock. Or was.