The new news 24 thread

[dollywobbler]

Fuck nuggets. The Peugeot's speedometer is over-reading to a ridiculous degree. 30mph = about 52 on the clock! Yet I think if anything, the mileage counter is under-reading. This is ridiculous. And the clock fell out again. Gah.

[Father Ted]

Rear NS shock has failed on the Micra leading to "interesting" handling with occasional sideways jumps.

 

That'll be this weekend off buggered then as I replace both sides, my only weekend off since Christmas.

[CreepingJesus]

Come to think of it, I still haven't had any colour of V5 for the Volvo. Getting on for 5 months now, cheers DVLA.

Washed the big beastie out underneath the other day, just to keep the vulnerable bits salt-crud free. I must have upset something in the Volvo ecosystem, 'cos now the handbrake goes halfway to the roof, and wouldn't hold a bicycle . Some adjustment/swearing required methinks.

Also, I've had the theme tune to 'Terry and June' as an earworm all night. I'm going to focus on 'The Good Life' instead. It's a Volvo thing, honest*...

[The Moog]

Volvo Climate Control is being strange. This morning it would only blow cold. This evening only hot! Going to change thermostat and give sensor a clean and see if that helps.

 

It also noticed that it squeaks when load is on the front passenger side so will have to look at shock for that.

[Lord Sterling]

 

Has anyone else received one yet?

 

Yeh, this morning for my current smoker. Got one for the Micra a few months ago.

[Pete-M]

 

May not be quick, but it's getting there...... engine back in next week. Wings went on today.... Road trip being planned for May.

[dollywobbler]

I hope the top coat is going to be beige and that it'll wear Popular badges.

 

An absolutely beautiful day, so I can actually get some car-chores done. 2CV is serviced and adjusting the valve clearances seems to have quietened her down. Last time, I left one of the inlet valves a little too loose. She might even get a wash this afternoon, as there's green gunk sneaking into some places.

[Pete-M]

I hope the top coat is going to be beige and that it'll wear Popular badges.

 

Heh, Trying to find front drums, static seat belts, a low compression 1.1, vinyl seats and 12" wheels as I type.

[cort16]

I've been offered a E38 740i with a years ticket for £400. It's got pete-m E39 Megamoon miles but it's still tempting unfortunatly I'm at max capacity.

 

Oh and it doesn't have any wheels.

[Station]

That's looking great Pete, stonechip applied on lower halves makes such a difference over none. Is he still using a lung-powered airbrush to paint it?

 

I had some time today, and to continue what I started last summer (driveway respraying my Astra), I spent five hours giving one side the flatting/G3'ing/polishing, I think it turned out quite well.

 

 

 

 

 

Lesson learned - don't re-spray a car on your driveway. Especially metallic paint.

I've had this car for 10 years come July, incredible!

[Cavcraft]

I like the way your house has a tidemark!

[Pete-M]

That's looking great Pete, stonechip applied on lower halves makes such a difference over none. Is he still using a lung-powered airbrush to paint it?

 

Heh, didn't have much choice with the front panel as it had been stonechipped back in the middle ages and he's had to replace a fair bit of the front panel to exorcise rot.

 

 

I've been offered a E38 740i with a years ticket for £400. It's got pete-m E39 Megamoon miles but it's still tempting unfortunatly I'm at max capacity.

 

Oh and it doesn't have any wheels.

 

Give it a good coat of looking at, shove some unfashionable eBay wheels on, use the bugger til it dies.

[myglaren]

DAF is in for its MOT today. It wont pass but at least I will have an idea of what I need to do before the retest in the next 2 weeks.

 

True to form, I was driving in when I heard a banging noise I had not heard before. Odd, I don't remember it doing that. What can that be? I thought to myself, 'Did I have the front O/S wheel off? No, its not been off' so continued driving along and the banging continued.

 

Suddenly remembered I had taken that wheel off and swiftly pulled over into the Co-Op car park. Yup, wheel nuts are loose and the wheel is about to fall off.

 

Made a quick call to my mate who pops over with the wheel brace out of his garage but this is not the first time this has happened (which actually proved to be an advantage as I knew the noise). I MUST do up the wheel as soon as the car hits the floor.

 

Happened to me a few years ago - driving through the Tyne Tunnel - one of the worst places it could happen. Made it through and pulled in at the exit to tighten them up.

In an Hillman Imp, coincidentally

[Station]

Had it happen on a Proton, I thought it would be the wheel bearing. The wheel trim was holding the nuts in place.

[dollywobbler]

My wife's AX almost lost a wheel once. She pegged it back from Oxford (at her typical 80mph thrash) and said there was an odd noise coming from the front. I drove the car as far as the end of the driveway, reversed and my diagnosis was correct. Finger tight wheel nuts! We reckon the local garage forgot to torque them up after having it in for some work. She did a round trip of 70 miles!

[Timewaster]

All I willl say is: "Don't mini front brake drums make a big groove in the road surface?!"

[Tayne]

All I willl say is: "Don't mini front brake drums make a big groove in the road surface?!"

 

Been there, done that.

 

The Offending Wheel by Tayne, on Flickr

 

Though not as much as this guy.

[barefoot]

... The wheel trim was holding the nuts in place.

 

...only a couple of wheel falling off situations in my life, the first, as a kid, Arthur driving the tractor between villages, the other 4 of us in the trailer with the grain when the tractor & trailer part company at speed down the steepest of steephills...

A big, fuck off gouge, that remains (to the trained eye) in the tarmac to this very day - some 30 years later...

Arthur, despite at 16, being a shed load older than the rest of us, practically shitting himself at the thought that we might tell his old man.

 

And the other, my own home made, half a beetle trailer, towed behind a VW T2, how cool can a chap be?

...'til the wheel drops off the trailer on the M1

luckily 'twas the nearside & the wheel rolled onto the hard shoulder.

 

no-one told me that there was a split pin missing!

 

Phoned AA who said 'we don't do trailers'

I expressed some disappointment that they'd not explained/mentioned this to me

when I purchased their valuable/quality/premium service

 

they arrived surprisingly briskly!

 

\

[ashmicro]

Mate phoned me this morning "Andy, HELP! I went to move the bus (Merc Viano Traveliner) and there was a bang and a big bit of metal has fallen off" I went round to see this mystery component - busted front spring. We got 2 new OEM Merc springs for £70 all in, which I thought was cheap as they're big buggers. So, guess what I'm doing tomorrow!

[The Moog]

Changed Air filter, windscreen wipers, Spark Plugs and Thermostat on Volvo. Runs a lot smoother and much more responsive.

Car is heating up properly now.

Managed to sort the bonnet out with a full can of plus gas and opening and shutting it about 25 times. Now clicks properly and pops properly.

 

Also found the locking wheel nut remover in the boot. Will take them off and revert to normal nuts I think.

 

Left to do

 

Windscreen washer sensors looks to be borked so will sort that when I get a chance.

Car is still squeaking intermittently when turning right. Not sure if it is the suspension or steering column.

Climate control has a mind of its own, this morning it would only do cold, this afternoon only hot.

 

Will stick it in for MOT this week.

[155V6]

Had a front wheel come off a Mk 3 Cortina Estate once while being towed ,luckily my mate saw what was happening in his mirror & we didn't even break the rope.We had to crawl down a steep embankment to get the wheel though.

[ashmicro]

The wheels definitely came off this pile of dung

 

 

Had to reflash it twice to get it working. It belongs to the bloke mentioned above who had a busted spring in his Merc. He's not having a good day!

[messerschmitt owner]

The wheels definitely came off this pile of dung

 

 

Had to reflash it twice to get it working. It belongs to the bloke mentioned above who had a busted spring in his Merc. He's not having a good day!

I'm about to send my old one in for £117 of Elizabeth Duke vouchers - it works fine but no wifi anymore!

[R9UKE]

To do list for tomorrow:

 

Pick up my latest purchase - Rover 416 struck down by head gasket failure.

Change oil and filter on Mum's Mégane

Work out where the bastard relay that keeps clicking is in the W plate Clio.

Try to extinguish a few of the warning lights on the Volvoi's dash

Get the fuel gauge working on the Clio Auto.

 

Then it's off to Dublin on Monday morning to pick up another new member of my shite collection. A Citroen BX. The worrying part is..... I'm driving it back to Belfast!

[ashmicro]

^ "Ah go on go on go on sure ye'll be grand". I went to collect a car in Kesh some years ago, and knew I was lost when I saw a Gard. He took pity on me and gave me directions as he knew where I was talking about! I had managed to cross the border without seeing the MASSIVE sign with "Fáilte go hEireann" on it, and the old one before it that said "You are now leaving The United Kingdom"

[wuvvum]

Phoned AA who said 'we don't do trailers'

Really? I only have their boggo roadside / relay service but they were happy enough to come out when I blew out two tyres on a Brian James car transporter trailer while dragging the Saviem tipper back from Gloucestershire. Had to pay though the nose for the tyres mind, but then it was Sunday and a bank holiday weekend.

[Lacquer Peel]

To do list for tomorrow:

 

Pick up my latest purchase - Rover 416 struck down by head gasket failure.

Change oil and filter on Mum's Mégane

Work out where the bastard relay that keeps clicking is in the W plate Clio.

Try to extinguish a few of the warning lights on the Volvoi's dash

Get the fuel gauge working on the Clio Auto.

 

Then it's off to Dublin on Monday morning to pick up another new member of my shite collection. A Citroen BX. The worrying part is..... I'm driving it back to Belfast!

 

Out of interest, how do you manage to buy, run, insure and tax so many cars? I can barely afford to keep one 16 year old car going.

[R9UKE]

 

Out of interest, how do you manage to buy, run, insure and tax so many cars? I can barely afford to keep one 16 year old car going.

 

I live in them.

[Luxobarges_Are_Us]

Interesting day out today. Went to Desborough, Northants, with a mate to buy a Granada.

 

The negotiation process could've been described as 'interesting'. It had been lingering around £200 on e-bay, I offered £400 BIN, he countered £450, I said 'let's agree on £425', he came back saying he couldn't manage to cancel the auction and could I just bid on it. I didn't, the auction ended at £300 then he sent me a message asking whether I was still interested (no doubt delighting the auction winner). I said "ok, but I am annoyed at this and I'll only give you £350" and he replied that it was 'to[sic] low' and he was going to sell the alloys and interior on ebay and scrap the rest. By which point, I really wanted to tell him to fuck off, but my mate wanted the car so I just said that I'd come round and have a look.

 

He wasn't nasty in person, but it still makes my blood boil, especially considering that he lives in a newbuild house that he bought for £260k (it's a very new area, so we got chatting about housing developments, prices etc). How fucking miserable can you be, reneging on a contract for the sake of an extra £50 and spending hours taking the interior off just to make an additional £20 by breaking a perfectly good car when you happily paid over a quarter of a million quid for a crappy Persimmon box???

 

1989, F-reg, top spec, £400 with MOT till June. Seems to run alright and all the important bits and most of the toys work (not sure about the air-con), but there are a few jobs to be done... Didn't take a camera with me, but there might be pics sometime soon.

 

Interestingly enough, that's the same mate of mine who thought Ian's 309 to be "a bit of a wreck". I can tell you that the Granny is nowhere near the 309 in terms of overall condition and recently done jobs. Having said that, it probably is more appropriate for him as he's been given a work van, so the car is more for leisure than anything else and the fuel consumption doesn't matter.

[Pete-M]

He wasn't nasty in person, but it still makes my blood boil, especially considering that he lives in a newbuild house that he bought for £260k (it's a very new area, so we got chatting about housing developments, prices etc). How fucking miserable can you be, reneging on a contract for the sake of an extra £50 and spending hours taking the interior off just to make an additional £20 by breaking a perfectly good car when you happily paid over a quarter of a million quid for a crappy Persimmon box???

 

Have you even considered that the poor sod may be skint because he's just bought a house?

 

Chipping £50 because the bloke didn't bend over backwards to flog you a car that was still running on ebay at the time you made your back-door offer because the chap has the sheer cheek to have bought a house in the middle of a recession?