The new news 24 thread

[davehedgehog31]

Had a half productive evening on the cars. 

I'd been hearing a weird noise from the Boxster, you would swear it was water rushing, but turns out I was entirely wrong. The NSF wheel arch liner was poorly fitted and as a result the tyre rubbed on it at full right hand lock, it just so happens pulling out my drive requires exactly that.

It had been thrown in with half the fastening missing, the brake lines are behind the liner and I know the PO wasn't particularly happy with the job a garage done when replacing these, the lines are functional but a bit untidy and looks like they'd made the same effort putting the arch liner back in. It was easily sorted anyway, I took it out and cleaned the arch out before securing the liner with new clips and some precautionary cable ties at the bottom where it is a little bit damaged. Noise is now gone!

Afterwards I thought I'd remove the rear parking mirror from the Alphard, it's not really necessary with the reversing camera and probably costs 0.00003 MPG.

To do this you need to remove the inner bootlid trim, four 10mm bolts for the spoiler and remove it to access the mounting screws for the plastic mirror. 

Yes I did clean the bootlid behind the spoiler! Looks a bit tidier without the mirror IMO. 

The fleet is in good fettle overall. The Alphard has a slight issue where it idles very high (about 1900rpm) when cold before settling down after a few minutes, I know the idle should be a bit faster from cold but this seems excessive so I will need to investigate. 

[Cavcraft]

Finally ran the Clio out of petrol the other day. I put £20 in what seems like weeks and weeks ago and the gauge is a bit crap. It's only ever really run round the doors to be fair, but it's GR8 on fuel.

One really weird thing though is that a previous leak of something has returned on the o/s/f inner wing. It's sort of oily feeling but isn't oil, nor does there seem to be any loss of brake fluid, engine oil or coolant. The black bits are just the old fluid that's got dirty. Any ideas, please?

[SiC]

53 minutes ago, Cavcraft said:

Finally ran the Clio out of petrol the other day. I put £20 in what seems like weeks and weeks ago and the gauge is a bit crap. It's only ever really run round the doors to be fair, but it's GR8 on fuel.

One really weird thing though is that a previous leak of something has returned on the o/s/f inner wing. It's sort of oily feeling but isn't oil, nor does there seem to be any loss of brake fluid, engine oil or coolant. The black bits are just the old fluid that's got dirty. Any ideas, please?

Cavity wax/oil of some description?

[dome]

9 hours ago, davehedgehog31 said:

Had a half productive evening on the cars. 

I'd been hearing a weird noise from the Boxster, you would swear it was water rushing, but turns out I was entirely wrong. The NSF wheel arch liner was poorly fitted and as a result the tyre rubbed on it at full right hand lock, it just so happens pulling out my drive requires exactly that.

It had been thrown in with half the fastening missing, the brake lines are behind the liner and I know the PO wasn't particularly happy with the job a garage done when replacing these, the lines are functional but a bit untidy and looks like they'd made the same effort putting the arch liner back in. It was easily sorted anyway, I took it out and cleaned the arch out before securing the liner with new clips and some precautionary cable ties at the bottom where it is a little bit damaged. Noise is now gone!

Afterwards I thought I'd remove the rear parking mirror from the Alphard, it's not really necessary with the reversing camera and probably costs 0.00003 MPG.

To do this you need to remove the inner bootlid trim, four 10mm bolts for the spoiler and remove it to access the mounting screws for the plastic mirror. 

Yes I did clean the bootlid behind the spoiler! Looks a bit tidier without the mirror IMO. 

The fleet is in good fettle overall. The Alphard has a slight issue where it idles very high (about 1900rpm) when cold before settling down after a few minutes, I know the idle should be a bit faster from cold but this seems excessive so I will need to investigate. 

I'd not worry too much about the high idle, it seems a common thing on Jap stuff of that era. My LS400 did the same for the first minute or two, something about heating the cats up from memory 

[HMC]

 

Brittany by dusk

Car by Rover and @Austin-Rover

[Cavcraft]

38 minutes ago, SiC said:

Cavity wax/oil of some description?

It's still leaking and it looks like a clear liquid. Really weird, tbh.

[EyesWeldedShut]

1 hour ago, Cavcraft said:

Finally ran the Clio out of petrol the other day. I put £20 in what seems like weeks and weeks ago and the gauge is a bit crap. It's only ever really run round the doors to be fair, but it's GR8 on fuel.

One really weird thing though is that a previous leak of something has returned on the o/s/f inner wing. It's sort of oily feeling but isn't oil, nor does there seem to be any loss of brake fluid, engine oil or coolant. The black bits are just the old fluid that's got dirty. Any ideas, please?

Is the engine mount the type with oil/jelly stuff rather than just rubber - you could have a jelly leak?

[Split_Pin]

2 hours ago, Cavcraft said:

Finally ran the Clio out of petrol the other day. I put £20 in what seems like weeks and weeks ago and the gauge is a bit crap. It's only ever really run round the doors to be fair, but it's GR8 on fuel.

One really weird thing though is that a previous leak of something has returned on the o/s/f inner wing. It's sort of oily feeling but isn't oil, nor does there seem to be any loss of brake fluid, engine oil or coolant. The black bits are just the old fluid that's got dirty. Any ideas, please?

Does it have a/c?

Alternatively, sometimes the charcoal canister lives in the inner wing/outer wing void although that doesn't explain the liquid.

[stuboy]

Nothing exciting.. but what the hell is this all about it saw today?

[catsinthewelder]

I wonder if it's mapping the roads for some sort of self driving thing?

Or with my tinfoil hat on, Volvo are owned by the Chinese now......

[Fumbler]

It's out! Apparently the main engine mounts were FUBAR and required a date with Mr. Sawzall. The rear main was also leaking somewhat significantly.

[Rustybullethole]

5 hours ago, stuboy said:

Nothing exciting.. but what the hell is this all about it saw today?

Looks like the driverless ones i saw heading west out of town a few months back. They had drivers sitting in them to fend off any bad robot, naughty robot shithousery.

[richardmorris]

Commuted again. This time with new door mirrors.  Hopefully getting to the bottom of mystery rattle too. Think it's the rear bench seat.

[Bren]

Things have been a bit crap lately. And continue to be. We had a trip to Southport yesterday. I saw this and made a purchase.

I have a thing for Space 1999. My interest in Astronomy aircraft and cars likely came about from Gerry Anderson's various TV series. It certainly contributed to a happy childhood - my only bad memories were parents arguing over money - like most back then.

It's 22" long and even has sprung landing gear. Some LED's in the beak mean this can happen -

I buy very little for myself and tried to convince myself the money would be better used on something else but this gives me more satisfaction than new tyres or the bumper repainted on my car. It really is a beautiful thing.

Plus I could always sell it if I find myself on the bones of my arse.

[stuboy]

Well I too the Hondura crv for its mot and it passed with no advisories neither, 

 

I was shocked...lol

 

Why is there always some no it all standing in the garage door shouting , smoking a fag, disagreeing about defects his car has, and how surprised it was when it failed as when he used to be a tester he'd passed it... 

 

I went sat in waiting room for peace as been up since 4am for work...

[richardmorris]

3 hours ago, Bren said:

Things have been a bit crap lately. And continue to be. We had a trip to Southport yesterday. I saw this and made a purchase.

I have a thing for Space 1999. My interest in Astronomy aircraft and cars likely came about from Gerry Anderson's various TV series. It certainly contributed to a happy childhood - my only bad memories were parents arguing over money - like most back then.

It's 22" long and even has sprung landing gear. Some LED's in the beak mean this can happen -

I buy very little for myself and tried to convince myself the money would be better used on something else but this gives me more satisfaction than new tyres or the bumper repainted on my car. It really is a beautiful thing.

Plus I could always sell it if I find myself on the bones of my arse.

I’ve a smaller version of the green edition. I’ve never seen one like yours before.

[richardmorris]

French ( not just Citroen) car morning at blackbushe airport tomorrow.

[Joey spud]

2 hours ago, stuboy said:

Well I too the Hondura crv for its mot and it passed with no advisories neither, 

 

I was shocked...lol

The petrol one's may drink like a fish but they're a good old bus.

[Barry Cade]

Fitted a towbar to a Kuga the other day.. nothing unusual in that, but I fitted a bar for the same guy a few months ago, on a Citroen Spacetourer. Asked what happened, if the Citroen struggled with his caravan or something.

He told me the Citroen had a recall, to update the timing chains, as the chain was a bit weedy, and they were putting new improved  chains on.

He had the work done, and a week later it broke down. The new💥 improved 💪 chain snapped ... 😅. He's bought the Kuga as the garage are playing dumb..

Now in the hands of the big dealership chain with the initial of this place. A.S. 

 

[Dyslexic Viking]

I helped my dad to switched to summer tires on his other car, a 27 year old Yaris. And chose to dismantle and clean the front brakes as it's been a while since the last time and glad I did when I was faced with this.

 

I've never seen this before. So a 1.5 hour round trip to town later I had new brake pads and discs as they didn't look good either and a while later I had replaced the brake discs and pads on both sides.

 

I also replaced the rear springs as one was broken and had a set of almost new springs lying around from another Yaris so I might as well replace both. I also gave the car a full fluid film treatment underneath and this bears the marks of almost 30 years of heavy road salted winters but the fluid film seems to do a good job of keeping the rust from developing.

The next thing is an oil change and then it will be exciting if it survives this year's MOT and gets 2 more years on the road.

[Dyslexic Viking]

11 minutes ago, Barry Cade said:

Fitted a towbar to a Kuga the other day.. nothing unusual in that, but I fitted a bar for the same guy a few months ago, on a Citroen Spacetourer. Asked what happened, if the Citroen struggled with his caravan or something.

He told me the Citroen had a recall, to update the timing chains, as the chain was a bit weedy, and they were putting new improved  chains on.

He had the work done, and a week later it broke down. The new💥 improved 💪 chain snapped ... 😅. He's bought the Kuga as the garage are playing dumb..

Now in the hands of the big dealership chain with the initial of this place. A.S. 

 

I'm guessing this is the 1.5 diesel engine with a small chain connecting the camshafts thats a know problem?

[stuboy]

2 hours ago, Joey spud said:

The petrol one's may drink like a fish but they're a good old bus.

less frugal than the mondeo

[Barry Cade]

1 hour ago, Dyslexic Viking said:

I'm guessing this is the 1.5 diesel engine with a small chain connecting the camshafts thats a know problem?

Yup. 

[Marina door handles]

On 16/04/2026 at 19:50, stuboy said:

Nothing exciting.. but what the hell is this all about it saw today?

Looks kinda familiar... If a bit worrying...

 

 

[EyesWeldedShut]

2 minutes ago, Marina door handles said:

Looks kinda familiar... If a bit worrying...

 

 

 

Nah - they get fecked up by stairs and ladders (or so Jon Pertwee says)

[Popsicle]

Two cars in for MOTs this morning, Mrs P and daughter no 2 took them in, I was busy couriering. First up the little Swift that we've had for 9 or 10 years now, second up the forum bike yellow SLK. 

Great success, two passes!

Just a couple of little jobs to do, that I can spend 51 weeks procrastinating over, then 1 week of running round in circles going, oh shit, panic, MOTs due.....

[stuboy]

50 minutes ago, Marina door handles said:

Looks kinda familiar... If a bit worrying...

 

 

oh yeah..............

[Spottedlaurel]

After fish and chips down by the water.....

Made a flying visit to @trigger's Shotley meet:

Compare and contrast Alfettas.

 

Angular Italian facelifts.

Seems to be a South African import (we didn't get the 3-door estate here).

I remember this from an Ipswich-Felixstowe Run some years ago. Doesn't look quite as shiny now, more like it would have looked by the early-mid '80s.

Just a 2-litre Pinto in this, but still looked fantastic. Apparently stored in Paris since 1995, now for sale at £15,000.

 

 

And finally a selection of appealingly standard-looking early '70s BL stuff. Triumph for me please.

[richardmorris]

15 hours ago, richardmorris said:

French ( not just Citroen) car morning at blackbushe airport tomorrow.

 

[Joey spud]

I'm off to Manston airport for some drag racing shenanigans today.