The new news 24 thread

[Supernaut]

1 hour ago, Momentary Lapse Of Reason said:

Nice!

Is it selecting Hi and pops out soon as you drive

or not going into Hi ?

Going into high then popping out.

Weirdly, it's more likely to stay in when 4WD is on. It's still not a guarantee though.

[Momentary Lapse Of Reason]

1 hour ago, Supernaut said:

Going into high then popping out.

Weirdly, it's more likely to stay in when 4WD is on. It's still not a guarantee though.

First thing I would check is that the boot on the red knob lever is allowing the lever to go fully forward.

Undo the screws holding it to the floor, push it up the lever a bit and try.

If that does not stop it jumping out of gear, then drivers side floor up , check the lever can move OK.

Take the Selector Shaft cover off, sometimes muck or rust inside the cover stops proper engagement.

 

[Supernaut]

20 minutes ago, Momentary Lapse Of Reason said:

First thing I would check is that the boot on the red knob lever is allowing the lever to go fully forward.

Undo the screws holding it to the floor, push it up the lever a bit and try.

If that does not stop it jumping out of gear, then drivers side floor up , check the lever can move OK.

Take the Selector Shaft cover off, sometimes muck or rust inside the cover stops proper engagement.

 

Good shout! Already got the floor panels completely out and it's made no difference.

[junkyarddog]

Just found this pic of my Corolla from last Sunday's Cars and Coffee meet!

[artdjones]

On 22/03/2025 at 14:09, clayts450 said:

One can only dream of those MPGs the way I drive in the Combo/Doblo. I actually spoke to my main 'customer' (a local indie same day company) about possibly moving over to either a Fiestavan or Corsavan or even a wafty estate barge, and they were fine with that given my luck with the Doblo of Doom. Most of their stuff is small and easily transportable - to be fair most of the consignments would fit in a Citybug.

Gr8 figures - I iz impressed

Doblos don't give fantastic mileage for a 1.3.

Mine have given about 42mpg, as I only do about 7k per year that's no problem, but if I was doing big mileages it would make a difference.

[High Jetter]

2 hours ago, Momentary Lapse Of Reason said:

First thing I would check is that the boot on the red knob lever is allowing the lever to go fully forward.

Undo the screws holding it to the floor, push it up the lever a bit and try.

If that does not stop it jumping out of gear, then drivers side floor up , check the lever can move OK.

Take the Selector Shaft cover off, sometimes muck or rust inside the cover stops proper engagement.

 

Proper parts diagram, that.

[brownnova]

First ‘in’ of 2025. A new family runaround acquired. 

We’re close to the mileage limit on MrsB’s pcp car so we decided to get a cheap to run stopgap as she says the XC90 is too expensive for her to run. Criteria was cheap to run. Three seats (preferably three isofix) across the back. Didn’t expect to get what to me is a brand new car! Dull as, but seems decent enough. 

[ruffgeezer]

13 hours ago, Supernaut said:

Sod it, I'll post it in here too.

Before (2013):

 

After (today):

It won't stay in high range and the seats are still away being reupholstered but it moves!

I must say I prefer the colour before, perhaps as it is a little more unusual, but that's only personal preference. You've done fantastic work there!

[Supernaut]

1 hour ago, ruffgeezer said:

I must say I prefer the colour before, perhaps as it is a little more unusual, but that's only personal preference. You've done fantastic work there!

It was a fairly rubbish paint job.

The RAF blue is the correct colour. It got repainted by my dad in the late 70s / early 80s after my mum rolled it. It ended up with a couple of panels from a Post Office vehicle, then got the bright blue over the top.

[artdjones]

4 hours ago, brownnova said:

First ‘in’ of 2025. A new family runaround acquired. 

We’re close to the mileage limit on MrsB’s pcp car so we decided to get a cheap to run stopgap as she says the XC90 is too expensive for her to run. Criteria was cheap to run. Three seats (preferably three isofix) across the back. Didn’t expect to get what to me is a brand new car! Dull as, but seems decent enough. 

Once you've had a few weeks of 1.5DCi mpgs you may find it difficult to let go.

[vulgalour]

This isn't exactly a grump or a grin, and it's not car related... but I've posted about it in here before so here's the end of the story, kinda.

Finally found out why I've had health issues and been unable to hold down a regular job for the last twenty years.  Officially diagnosed with ME/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.  Neurologist was of the opinion I've been living with this for twenty years undiagnosed and apologised on behalf of the medical community for letting me down so badly.

I have... feelings... about this.  Very mixed feelings.  There's no treatment, no cure, it's just how it is.  My life doesn't really change, I just rather hoped I'd find out it was something else so I'd be free of it.  Recovery rate is incredibly low and given I've gone so long with this, very unlikely in my case.  It will probably get worse as I get older.

I'm just going to live the best life I can for now.  Maybe it'll get the Job Centre off my back.  Maybe I can claim PIP and still continue with my self employment (the only job I've ever been able to hold down as I can fit it around my bad days as needed).  I don't know.  All I know is I'm not giving up.  It feels a bit like finding a user manual I didn't know existed.

[Supernaut]

14 hours ago, Momentary Lapse Of Reason said:

First thing I would check is that the boot on the red knob lever is allowing the lever to go fully forward.

Undo the screws holding it to the floor, push it up the lever a bit and try.

If that does not stop it jumping out of gear, then drivers side floor up , check the lever can move OK.

Take the Selector Shaft cover off, sometimes muck or rust inside the cover stops proper engagement.

 

Found the problem!

See that? The high-low lever was smacking into a bolt that holds in its own bracket!

Just spent far too long turning it the other way around. Now the excess thread points harmlessly out the other end, and the bolt head is shallower than the nut.

It goes into high with a much more positive clunk now. Just having a cup of tea before trying it again.

[wuvvum]

23 minutes ago, vulgalour said:

This isn't exactly a grump or a grin, and it's not car related... but I've posted about it in here before so here's the end of the story, kinda.

Finally found out why I've had health issues and been unable to hold down a regular job for the last twenty years.  Officially diagnosed with ME/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.  Neurologist was of the opinion I've been living with this for twenty years undiagnosed and apologised on behalf of the medical community for letting me down so badly.

I have... feelings... about this.  Very mixed feelings.  There's no treatment, no cure, it's just how it is.  My life doesn't really change, I just rather hoped I'd find out it was something else so I'd be free of it.  Recovery rate is incredibly low and given I've gone so long with this, very unlikely in my case.  It will probably get worse as I get older.

I'm just going to live the best life I can for now.  Maybe it'll get the Job Centre off my back.  Maybe I can claim PIP and still continue with my self employment (the only job I've ever been able to hold down as I can fit it around my bad days as needed).  I don't know.  All I know is I'm not giving up.  It feels a bit like finding a user manual I didn't know existed.

My aunt has had ME for the last 40 years.  She was diagnosed fairly quickly, which was unusual as it wasn't as well understood back then as it is now.  She's just carried on with life as best she can - she's not found it easy as like everyone on my mum's side of the family she's naturally a workaholic, but she's managed to get a fair bit done over the years.

[320touring]

Wheel swapped on the Oxford.

Spare was flat annaw. But fitted now..

No obvious damage to the flat tyre so suspect either the bead has failed or the tube is GUBBED. Although I think there was one wheel with no tube. Either way will get it to a man

[SiC]

Z4 rolled over to 180k miles today. 

Treated it to a wash. Couldn't help myself triggering a few people on Facebook. Admittedly these are worth a fair bit more than they are over here and so much more treasured. 

[NigeT]

On 24/03/2025 at 11:10, Schaefft said:

Shame, what killed it? Rust?

Sills at rear all the way to jacking point and rear inner subframe. Front o/s jacking point. Rear o/s brake pipe. Rusted mid-section exhaust mount. Rusted front n/s inner wing under screenwash reservoir. 

Rear pipes are particularly nasty jobs on these as in theory I think it's tank out and subframe lowered job. 

Would anyone here have decided to save it? 

 

 

[bramz7]

Took the 156 to AutoLusso in Ferndown today. 

Verdict?

£500 was a bargain judging by how solid it is everywhere that isn't under the sill covers (the NS rear is going to need something).

However, the steering rack needs replacing. There are some minor typical 156 suspension bits too, which they can do at the same time. Estimate is in the 4 figures as a refurbished rack would need to be sourced, but it's within my 156 budget so that isn't terrible. 

It was nice to go somewhere where they showed me every single thing they had discovered too, first time I'd been under a car on a ramp for ages. For shame! 

I'll go ahead with it, just awaiting a quote. 

[artdjones]

I spent a leisurely couple of hours changing discs and pads on the Mégane. With a few exceptions (pollen filter especially) they are very easy to do routine work on. 

[comfortablynumb]

@vulgalour, swombo was diagnosed with me/chronic fatigue syndrome after working 100+ hour weeks until she literally fell apart. It was really bad for a couple of years after that, but now she has good days and bad days, just a matter of sticking to realistic limits, and not overstretching.

Takes a while to get to that stage, but since you've been dealing with it for so long you're probably already doing that. Hers develops into Flu-like symptoms if she overdoes things, not helped by the fact that she now has other life-limiting conditions, but overall it's not too bad, so long as she recognises the onset of a flare.

Good luck with it ,🙏

[wuvvum]

5 hours ago, NigeT said:

Sills at rear all the way to jacking point and rear inner subframe. Front o/s jacking point. Rear o/s brake pipe. Rusted mid-section exhaust mount. Rusted front n/s inner wing under screenwash reservoir. 

Rear pipes are particularly nasty jobs on these as in theory I think it's tank out and subframe lowered job. 

Would anyone here have decided to save it? 

 

 

Yeah, that looks pretty terminal...

Still, it's nearly summer, so if the 1-series "does an N47" you could always daily the Mondial.

[brownnova]

Testing times for the 9000… 

Result is the first clean pass since 2008!! It’s always a relief to see it’s still solid underneath, even if the bodywork is starting to show signs of rot now. 

[artdjones]

27 minutes ago, brownnova said:

It’s always a relief to see it’s still solid underneath, even if the bodywork is starting to show signs of rot now. 

Depending on how much you like the car, this is the time to do some tidying.

[brownnova]

29 minutes ago, artdjones said:

Depending on how much you like the car, this is the time to do some tidying.

Love the car. Had it 8 years and 60k now… agree on the tidying! 

[stuboy]

9 hours ago, vulgalour said:

Officially diagnosed with ME/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. 

i suspect my stepdad has this

[richardmorris]

2 hours ago, brownnova said:

Testing times for the 9000… 

Result is the first clean pass since 2008!! It’s always a relief to see it’s still solid underneath, even if the bodywork is starting to show signs of rot now. 

Rock on!

[richardmorris]

17 minutes ago, stuboy said:

i suspect my stepdad has this

It’s probably a lot more common than appreciated, and obviously misunderstood and undiagnosed.  First disparagingly called yuppie flu.

[artdjones]

2 hours ago, brownnova said:

Love the car. Had it 8 years and 60k now… agree on the tidying! 

It's a lovely car, I've always liked them in this and other incarnations. Thema, Croma, and 164.

[Lord Sterling]

Well, the Vectra of tiredness has made it to Dover with absolute aplomb. This car is definitely a motorway cruiser without a doubt.

I'm afraid it desperately needed a clean, so I washed it at a Dover petrol station as I'd got here so early, it looked horrid after being parked up for a week and being quite dirty before that due to the rain we'd been having.

The last time I did this journey in this car, it wasn't yet mine and was being kindly lent to me. Now it's all mine and so far, it's been a useful cruiser.

[New POD]

19 hours ago, vulgalour said:

This isn't exactly a grump or a grin, and it's not car related... but I've posted about it in here before so here's the end of the story, kinda.

Finally found out why I've had health issues and been unable to hold down a regular job for the last twenty years.  Officially diagnosed with ME/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.  Neurologist was of the opinion I've been living with this for twenty years undiagnosed and apologised on behalf of the medical community for letting me down so badly.

I have... feelings... about this.  Very mixed feelings.  There's no treatment, no cure, it's just how it is.  My life doesn't really change, I just rather hoped I'd find out it was something else so I'd be free of it.  Recovery rate is incredibly low and given I've gone so long with this, very unlikely in my case.  It will probably get worse as I get older.

I'm just going to live the best life I can for now.  Maybe it'll get the Job Centre off my back.  Maybe I can claim PIP and still continue with my self employment (the only job I've ever been able to hold down as I can fit it around my bad days as needed).  I don't know.  All I know is I'm not giving up.  It feels a bit like finding a user manual I didn't know existed.

My wife was diagnosed in 2006 shed probably had it 5 years by that time, and was making it worse by trying to power through.  

One thing to beware of is snake oil sales men. 

The other thing is post excertional Malaise. 

My wife can power through say Christmas using the adrenaline that her body creares and then 3 days after boxing day it will hit her as the adrenaline wears off and she'll be pretty much bed ridden for 2 or 3 days. 

Can't really advise on PIP.  My wife wouldn't claim anything. Because at the time she was diagnosed our local councillor was charged with benefit fraud after he was seen running up the steps to the council chamber.  Some days she can play tennis and climb mountains. The next she can't. If someone only videod the good days (1 in 4)  she'd look like a fraud too. 

[comfortablynumb]

9 hours ago, richardmorris said:

It’s probably a lot more common than appreciated, and obviously misunderstood and undiagnosed.  First disparagingly called yuppie flu.

We've still had doctors that refused to admit it exists!!🤦