The new news 24 thread

[derskine]

Renault wouldn't start this morning so had to take the Cortina to college.

At lunch I was parking the Cortina in Asda car park and an oldish lady came up to me and said "I had my first date in one of those", she then quickly added "but nothing happened", she went on to say "Aye in they days you didn't get groped on the first date".

[Mr_Bo11ox]

I never buy stuff from ECP any more unless I can do some sort of 'cross check' of what they are sending me/selling me. I just assume its wrong unless I can prove otherwise.

[stuboy]

got given this at work...

think they had it a while

[cobblers]

I'm really not exaggerating, I've used ECP maybe a dozen times and I have only twice got home with the correct part. One of those times I went in for a bottle of screenwash.

They are reasonably cheap but either their system is total shit for anything over about 8 years old, or the guys they have working it are.

[RobT]

OEM trimz for the winz!  Are you missing the last bit of rust trap sill trim that side?

Previous giffer owner had a quality* job done of the rear sill and arch section last year, and the garage didn't bother refitting it. It's on the To Do list.

[fred]

spent today in the garden creating a Bee friendly patch - lots of wild flowers sown in hopefully all being well will help the ailing bee population a little

[rrsix]

Only had 1 issue with ECP. After 20 mins at the counter looking at the database with them they still supplied the wrong brush pack (two options). Jokes on them however as it and the matching alternator I got the next day cost less than the correct brush pack.

[Alan_Green]

• Sell, sell, sell. That's how you get from zero to £225 Million by age 52:http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/banksandfinance/10778532/Asian-entrepreneur-moves-on-from-the-Euro-Car-Parts-group-he-founded.html

• Someone I know (not me, no, no, no) did some work for the family last year and was amused to see the Merc supercar on the driveway was covered in moss and had flat tyres but the Daewoo Matiz was in daily use. Obviously closet shiters.

[coalnotdole]

I spent some time over the weekend servicing the Scimitar, it was overdue an oil change. So took the opportunity to change the engine, gearbox and diff oil, grease the hubs, handbrake adjustment, bled brakes etc.

it went in for an mot today and it passed with a coupe of advisors for tyres and oil leak.

After having the high of an mot pass I tried to use the scimitar again this evening, I'd left the sidelights on and there was no electricity left... Couldn't be arsed to call the AA So I had to get a lift the 10 miles home. Reality sucks!

 

I'll go and fetch it with a spare battery tomorrow...

[skattrd]

ECP did remarkably well getting parts for my Delta, ok I had to tell them it was a Fiat coupe, but I got the correct parts for it.

[phil_lihp]

Yes, that's Lakes Volvo. 

 

They're about a 20 minute drive from me if you want anything storing in the meantime. 

 

They're obviously not email people, didn't get a reply so rang them and spoke to a very friendly and helpful chap - £20ish for a master cylinder sounds good to me.  Only catch is they don't remove parts themselves any more (sounds like the guys who run it are getting on a bit from what he said).  The cylinder's a dead easy removal from the bulkhead engine-side but a pain inside the cabin as access is poor and I have no idea how you're supposed to disconnect the clutch pedal from it, I couldn't see a way although there obviously is a method to it.  Alas, it's a 9 hour round trip for me which rather negates the cost saving of buying a used one so I'll see if I can get one off a breaker on eBay.

[HMC]

Ordered an ABS sensor for the Volvo 760 from ECP at 3.30 Monday afternoon and by 11am the following morning it was with me. It's almost like they knew my MOT was booked for 12.

[dollywobbler]

This morning, it was beautiful and sunny. Until I arrived at the office, which is in the shade until gone 9am...

 

The 2CV feels like bleedin' limo after the hilarity of the Ami. Only a few weeks left on the road for this car and I'm really not sure how I'm going to cope without it. I suspect the Perodua is going to be a poor substitute.

[fordperv]

ECP did remarkably well getting parts for my Delta, ok I had to tell them it was a Fiat coupe, but I got the correct parts for it.

 

So they only give you the right parts if you tell them the wrong car, i like your psychology there

[xtriple]

Just had to help the young lass next door wash her car. She didn't know that you have to rinse all the soap bubbles off or it dries like shit!

[fordperv]

I hope you informed her that it's customary to wear as little as possible when washing cars

[Coprolalia]

I hope you informed her that it's customary to wear as little as possible when washing cars

 

And then procede to demonstrate.

 

 

My news.

 

Scirocco fails MOT in shocker

 

Fail reasons:

1) Emissions - no shock there after a winter laid up, needs a good long run and a fettle.

2) Indicator bulb - fair one

3) Passenger side door lock does not work - all it needs is some WD!

4) High beam lamp on dashboard not working - bit picky now

5) Plastic trim on drivers door sticking out with sharp edge - YOU JOBSWORTH BASTARD!

 

At least all are easy fettleable.

[vulgalour]

#5 is why you should always attend an MoT with some magic gaffer tape.  Got the Princess through an MoT with that as one arch was a bit jaggedy.

[twosmoke300]

# 5 is one of those fails where if it had been the only fail the tester would have put some tape on and passed it . But seeing as it failed on other stuff he may as well put it on the list . It's how I used to work anyway . As for the high beam warning , it's a genuine reason for rejection and a bloody valid one I think . No one likes being dazzled

[oldcars]

#5 is why you should always attend an MoT with some magic gaffer tape.  Got the Princess through an MoT with that as one arch was a bit jaggedy.

I have amended this for my reliant.

 

#5 is why you should always attend an MoT with some magic gaffer tape.  Got the Reliant through an MoT by taping over the testers eyes.

[Coprolalia]

# 5 is one of those fails where if it had been the only fail the tester would have put some tape on and passed it . But seeing as it failed on other stuff he may as well put it on the list . It's how I used to work anyway . As for the high beam warning , it's a genuine reason for rejection and a bloody valid one I think . No one likes being dazzled

 

Fair about the high beam, but I know the little light on the dash works. I think he's turned the light on but not turned the resistor up on the side that controls ALL the dash lights.

The one so you can run in stealth mode at night.

Sneaky sneaky backfiring shite.

 

It's gone to some tame mechanics who claim to be able to tune the Pierburg auto-choke carb (that one that's controlled by a piece of wax and five miles of vacuum tubing). 

[twosmoke300]

Check the carb mounting base plate . Really prone to splitting and letting air in

[Sigmund Fraud]

basically the wembley depot just sent out wrong part, i rang them they apologised, they rang my local store and said van be out to swap for right part, manager of local branch rang and apologised,

 

Surely, they could have used all that apologising time to actually find the correct part !

 

I use ECP quite a lot, as they're within walking distance of work and far cheaper than the local motor factors. I'd love to be able to support the local small enterprises, but I am not willing to pay a 25-50% premium for ebay-fodder WanQing rubbish.

 

I always do my homework before turning up to collect parts : I bring a printout of the correct part number and matching alternatives, and insist on opening the box and checking the part before leaving the store. Sad and pedantic, perhaps, but very effective !

[beko1987]

I check ecp stuff on the counter. Only ever had one wrong part which they swapped straight out when I went back.

 

Their too close to work for me not to use them tbh, can get shit in my lunch hour...

[Keymaster]

Brand new and not at all cheap Facet fuel pump fitted to the van to replace the crappy leaking Chinese knock off. The quality* one leaks even more.

 

Great.

[Bren]

Delivery guy bent the brand new latch on our gate.

 

My blow torch came in handy - warmed it up then straightened it out.

 

Job done.

 

It is so versatile that I am actively looking for things to set on fire with it.

[Pillock]

You are the Cavcraft repayment enforcement department AICMFP.

[stuboy]

not many pics..

 

centre section was blowing..

new part ordered and delivered (eventually)

 

wrong..

 

right..

 

up on stands

 

nuts bolts knackered

ohh err

 

cutting disc shattered..

ouchies

[vulgalour]

Fair to say it wasn't your day there then?

[barrett]

It's not foggy. It has not been foggy at any point today. Stop driving with your fog lights on, you utter, utter tossers. That is all.