The new news 24 thread

[barefoot]

Winter tyres on Scirocco today.

I know it's a bit early, but I was aware that the tracking was a little bit out (30 degree clockwise steering wheel - no other apparent problems)

& wanted to get it all sorted before it became time sensitive etc.

Chap swaps wheels over, on ramp, sets up lasers & calls me to have a look

Apparently nsf toe out - 8mm

osf toe in - 2mm

'So that makes it 6mm out, and Scirocco's only adjust on the o/s which will leave the steering wheel way out' says he.

'Off you go & track it then', says I, And I'll straighten the wheel when I get home

(the VW badge was upside down when I bought the car, so I'm guessing it's been off before)

Chap comes back

"Track rod seized up but for £20 I can heat it up & free it off" he declares.

 

'And for a tenner I can buy a new one' I replied.

In the fullness of time I will attend to this, wheels changed for free but my question if I may...

 

8mm toe out on the near side is massive & will doubtless wear that tyre at a frightening rate,

but I don't appear to be able to make this wheel slide even when negotiating roundabouts at the speed of a complete & utter teenage twat.

Are these things linked?

[ruffgeezer]

£20 to free off a track rod? that isn't far short of half an hour's labour round these parts, what is he warming it with, his arsehole and a tin of Heinz?

[vulgalour]

New car insured, collection time confirmed, shitey transport to the top secret location secured.

 

Mission: Ledbury has officially begun.

[skattrd]

Brakes were sticking on the Volvo, so dropped it off at the garage and picked up the Saab.

I'd forgotten how much fun 3rd gear on boost is in the Saab

[Negative Creep]

Had the Punto plugged into a fault code reader to see why the engine light keeps flashing. Comes up as a misfire due to an injector fault, although the mechanic thinks new plugs may cure it. Today the electric steering failure light came on with no obvious ill effects, but stayed off the next time I started the car. Maybe typical Italian "quality", but I have to admit I don't have much confidence in it and get the horrible feeling something like the ECU or electric steering system will go, essentially writing off the car

[dollywobbler]

Bluebird currently at a whopping £201 on Ebay with less than 24 hours to go. Someone's coming to look at the Maverick tomorrow. BX is off the road as a rear brake pipe snapped during the rear arm bearing change. The garage is awaiting a replacement. The MOT runs out on Tuesday.

 

So, I might have left myself with just the 2CV again!

[Cavcraft]

Funny things Bluebirds, Ian. You may strike lucky and an exporter will buy it, but sadly your location may be a factor in fairly low pricing. I did have a contact who was paying serious coin for them a year or so ago, but he started letting me down when I was finding cars for him to export so he's probably a waste of time now.

[dollywobbler]

I'd hate for it to be exported. It's one of the earliest Bluebirds in the UK! I wish I had a barn to stash it in.

[trigger]

Can any of you guys help me with a little problem? My 2004 Mondeo 2.2 TDCi (PSA) has started to develop a running issue, when you first start it it runs very lumpy and won't respond to throttle for the first 5 seconds or so, once it picks up it's fine, it's just the initial startup that's the problem.

 

I've put a can of that BG244 fuel system cleaner through the tank to no avail, Cleaned the EGR valve out which wasn't too bad anyway and the fuel filter is only about 4000 miles old although i have bought another one to fit (though i can't see that being the issue).

 

One of my injectors has a slight oil leak but it's been like that for 2 years and hasn't got any worse but again I don't think that's the issue, anybody got any knowledge on these engines and what the problem might be?

[Mr_Bo11ox]

Argenta has just gone straight through the MOT! Got an advisory on some brake hoses, I had a look at them and they look a bit shonky to me so i have just ordered a new pair off tOssbay.

[dollywobbler]

Hmmm. Dilemma. A friend has just spent ten minutes trying to convince me that I'd be a fool to flog my Maverick and replace it with a Discovery of similar value. I fear he may have a point and annoyingly, he made this lengthy tirade in front of my wife, who doesn't even suspect that he has a point - she thinks he's spot on.

 

As it happens, the chap who was coming to view the Maverick today has postponed due to illness, but apparently would still like to make an appointment when he's feeling better. Thing is, I'm seriously questioning whether selling it is the right thing to do.

 

The plus points of the Maverick are that it's solid, mechanically fine and bloody good off road. The downsides are switchable 4-wheel drive (which I've always disliked) and a rock-hard ride compared to Silhillian products. The engine is also rubbish for towing as it has no torque below about 3000rpm. But I own a 2CV, so that's not a big problem.

 

The plus points of a Discovery are proper four-wheel drive, better axle articulation (especially at the front), I've always liked them and even a knackered one is worth coin. I can also insure on on my classic policy if it's pre-1993. That means I can ditch my modern policy altogether. But would that be negated by having to constantly fix bits of it and pay someone to stop it rotting away?

 

Sensible head says "stick with what you've got." Given that money is tight, sensible head may win. (Bluebird is currently up to £225. Getting rid of that will help the monies!).

[TagoraSX]

I've just bought an NSU Ro 80 over the phone at auction......

 

Should I be happy or sad?

[trigger]

I think your mates right, why sell the Maverick which you know works fine and look quite respectable for a Discovery which may well have all manor of unknown issues (they normally do) and that will spend most of a harsh snowy Welsh winter broke down sat in your drivewaywhen you need it most?.

[Cavcraft]

I think your mate is right Ian, I can only see a Disco being a world of pain after the reliability of the Maverick. Are you selling it just for the sake of selling it? I do that occasionally then regret it straight afterwards. Seems your car has been a good old bus and you know what it can do, would also be willing to bet the equivelant Disco will cost you a whole lot more in the end.

 

Trigger: Is the fuel filter a genuine one? If not I'd humbly suggest replacing it, I had a Transit Di (yeah, I know, different kettle of fish) that had had a new filter and it ran like crap. One new genuine Ford filter later it was a completely different animal and ran perfectly. For the cost of them I'd suggest it has to be worth a try.

[dollywobbler]

In terms of ongoing maintenance, the Maverick has been very good once I'd rebuilt the brakes (note to self, bidding blind on Ebay for a car with no service history may not end cheaply!). It's not perfect, but then what car is? All in, it owes me about £1100 but that includes servicing, MOT, brake rebuild, two front tyres, a bit of welding. That's cheap 4x4 motoring! Maybe I'd be better off trying one of those 'modern plus some classics' policies that some brokers do. Does seem silly to flog it for £700-800 when there's nowt wrong with it. Looks smashing now I've cleaned it too!

[trigger]

Trigger: Is the fuel filter a genuine one? If not I'd humbly suggest replacing it, I had a Transit Di (yeah, I know, different kettle of fish) that had had a new filter and it ran like crap. One new genuine Ford filter later it was a completely different animal and ran perfectly. For the cost of them I'd suggest it has to be worth a try.

 

It was a Fram filter, which is basically O.E spec, I've been using them for years without any issue and the one i bought this morning for £14 is also a Fram one, It's chugging like a old steam boat on start up, poxy thing.

[dollywobbler]

Glow plugs? Is it smoking too?

[trigger]

No smoke and the glow plug lights go out quick enough on the dash, I'm sure it's fuel related, I just wonder if it is this injector?

[dollywobbler]

Could be. One of our VW LT Minibuses has a fuel injector leak fault. Leaks fuel into the cylinders so then runs like a bag of shit while it burns it off. Once started, it's fine all day. Problem is trying to identify which injector (if it's just one) is at fault as there are five of the sodding things to consider.

[dollywobbler]

£340 for the Bluebird. They really are worthless it seems. Ridiculous! Oh well. I've lost a lot more than £60 on a car before now. Just hope the buyer actually buys it...

[Negative Creep]

£340 for the Bluebird. They really are worthless it seems. Ridiculous! Oh well. I've lost a lot more than £60 on a car before now. Just hope the buyer actually buys it...

 

 

£40 more than I managed. That was still a £5 profit, but it really is annoying when a genuinely great car gets zero interest as you read people decrying the lack of any decent cheap cars

[HillmanImp]

£340 for the Bluebird. They really are worthless it seems. Ridiculous! Oh well. I've lost a lot more than £60 on a car before now. Just hope the buyer actually buys it...

 

I had the page open as had come across it when looking around ebay. Did think about bidding and then not buying, as the GOM thread would be amusing for a while but as the person who has won it probably wont buy it anyhow, I thought I would be wasting my time.

[dollywobbler]

£340 for the Bluebird. They really are worthless it seems. Ridiculous! Oh well. I've lost a lot more than £60 on a car before now. Just hope the buyer actually buys it...

 

I had the page open as had come across it when looking around ebay. Did think about bidding and then not buying, as the GOM thread would be amusing for a while but as the person who has won it probably wont buy it anyhow, I thought I would be wasting my time.

 

Hmmm. I would laugh but no contact yet...

[vulgalour]

I've just bought an NSU Ro 80 over the phone at auction......

 

Should I be happy or sad?

 

Winner. Look forward to reading about that one!

 

Not long got back home from Birmingham in the Ledbury. What a car! It has some expected niggles and needs a bloody good clean, but it's one of the best, most solid feeling cars I've ever driven and is super comfortable. Surprisingly, it's also quieter at motorway speeds and more capable than the Skattred Auto Maestro I had been using, that fifth gear really does make a big difference to longer drives.

[Micrashed]

Bugger

The EGR valve fault has re-appeared on the C8.

 

Im probably going to have to put this into a local diesel specialist as I think its beyond the ability of my bloke in a barn.

 

Its "coughing" and the performance has dropped off (even before the EGR fault lamp came up) and for a while its been over fuelling when given a good clogging (clouds of black smoke), which probably wont help the EGR as I imagine this will make it clog up. The fault is that the electrically operated valve is sticking open, occasionally it closes itself and the light goes out, but next time it opens it sticks open.

 

Its has done 48K miles and has had a full service history (better in my ownership because I do the oil and filters every 6K miles rather than Citroens 20K miles).

 

The other option is to remove the EGR and delete the fault light - however the EGR seems connected to the cold start and whilst the car is cold (and the EGR is open - essentially bypassed) the car runs lumpy as fuck. Once warmed up however it runs fine.

 

 

Other thoughts, I think Im going to look for a very nice late 306 GTi6 to replace the Micra, though I have not been able to confirm if these are in fact the same engine as in the VTS Xsara (which I would prefer) and iM fairly sure the Xsara didnt come with a 6 speed option. The difficulty with the 306 over the Xsara is that it seems harder to find an un-fucked-about with example of the 306. Most have been lowered, has wanky after market alloys, wanky boom boxes or other shitty Barry mods which maybe when I was 17 I would have liked but now Im in my 40's I would rather steer clear of.

[michiel]

I've just bought an NSU Ro 80 over the phone at auction......

 

Should I be happy or sad?

 

[Lord Sterling]

YO! Been up to Liverpool today to pick up Ma's belongings, whilst there I also decided to pass by Brookside Close in West Derby which looks nice now its been done up and sold. On they way I saw an Orange/Red mk2 Escort estate on the M6 by Stoke heading South, a White Triumph Stag and a huge rusty Renault Traffic on the M62. I missed all of these spots because I couldnt fire up my phone fast enough, and Ma was driving. In Liverpool itself (where I drove) I spotted a Blue Mk2 Fiesta that looks like it aint moved for ages and saw the Capri near Brookside Close that also hasnt moved for an age, though this is covered up now.

 

I decided to take the Micra as I couldnt be arsed sticking yet more bloody petrol in the Rover, besides, I have a journey on Monday to Kent.....or at least I thought I did.......It seems that Ma's new job is in Surrey, not Kent At least it saves adding around a 140 miles round trip, problem is on Monday I'll need to wake up early, that'll make me grumpy.

 

I need to find a local scrappy for a couple of batterys to stick on the other Rovers, both havent moved for just over a year or so, I'm sick of them sitting there and want to get them out for a breather, even if it is cold.

[stuboy]

last 10 days the mondeo has cost me £210 in parts and £100 in labour for new rear drums,shoes,brake cylinders and fitting kits............

[skattrd]

Time for a clearout - Saab, RVR and rally car all up for sale.

I've priced them all at less than they owe me, but should be able to do a bit of a discount for shiters

 

RVR

Saab

Rally car

[dollywobbler]

Bluebird buyer has made contact. Phew.