rickvw72 Posted July 24, 2020 Share Posted July 24, 2020 Bit of a fleet churn this week. In:Out: Current fleet status: Less French, still silver. Fleet size eight. Money in bank burning a hole... Must not. Aiming to reduce to a “sensible” 6. brownnova, paulplom, TrabbieRonnie and 4 others 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarvinsMom Posted July 24, 2020 Share Posted July 24, 2020 today has been my 46th birthday. to celebrate i have spent a good part of the day rolling around on the floor getting filthy doing a service on the black mini 1000. changed the oil and filter, after first wrangling the grille off to get some access, then greased up the suspension points and adjusted up the brakes. it took far longer than i had thought it would, due in no small part to me been unable to find any bloody tool at the first try. see, kerry has been buggering about with the metro that has been in bits in the garage for some time. and kerry doesn't put anything away when she is finished with it.basically it seems to be dropped on the floor, and there it stays,so when i want something, oddly enough its not where it is SUPPOSED to be. that gets very boring after the second or third time of trying,to fond something, well, eventually we got the car sorted, serviced, cleaned up and then put away,cos the weather forecast for the weekend is crap. and on the way back,i spotted this wee gem in town on the way back to the garage. another Mini 1000, a mark 4,in vermillion? and on an R,so not much younger than Rodney. and very nice it looks too so i did take the chance to snap this along with mine. i've seen it around town a couple of times, and its nice to see another unmolested and none cooperised mini around on the road. rmjbn1, DeeJay, Six-cylinder and 16 others 19 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghosty Posted July 24, 2020 Share Posted July 24, 2020 Can someone with experience of French Electrics help me with the 205's starter? I don't do car electrics and my dad just puts a multimeter across it and declares it ok. (I don't mind travelling). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Floatylight Posted July 24, 2020 Share Posted July 24, 2020 I would start with cleaning up the earths and putting a lamp between the switched live to the starter and earth, at least that way when it doesn't turn over you'll be able to see if the switched 12v from the ignition switch is getting to the starter, If yes and the earths are ok the in would guess it's pretty conclusively the starter itself.. 4 minutes ago, Ghosty said: Can someone with experience of French Electrics help me with the 205's starter? I don't do car electrics and my dad just puts a multimeter across it and declares it ok. (I don't mind travelling). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghosty Posted July 24, 2020 Share Posted July 24, 2020 4 minutes ago, Floatylight said: I would start with cleaning up the earths and putting a lamp between the switched live to the starter and earth, at least that way when it doesn't turn over you'll be able to see if the switched 12v from the ignition switch is getting to the starter, If yes and the earths are ok the in would guess it's pretty conclusively the starter itself.. I'll try that for myself on Sunday maybe. The relay/solenoid(?) clicks so it's getting reasonably far. My dad's saying starter, but I'm sceptical of his advice, as he has a track record of being wrong. paulplom 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarvinsMom Posted July 24, 2020 Share Posted July 24, 2020 the way we've "tested" starter motors before is to get the motor off the car and then using some wires connect it up to a car battery to see if it spins up. not very scientific, and no doubt contravening dozens of elven safety regulations. but a simpletons test, that even i can carry out. Ghosty 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vulgalour Posted July 25, 2020 Share Posted July 25, 2020 French electrics are a law unto themselves. Try it again tomorrow, it might be different, or it might not, or it might be an exciting new problem. Who knows? The mystery! Ghosty, Tadhg Tiogar and Supernaut 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wuvvum Posted July 25, 2020 Share Posted July 25, 2020 Done about 30 miles in the Mondeo this evening and no misbehaviour so far - drove OK with no untoward noises or plumes of smoke. I've not yet plucked up the courage to floor it though... I'm going to whip the pipe off the turbo again at the weekend and see if it's got oily again or not. I'm not entirely sure what the setup is with the turbo on these (there's various pipes going here there and everywhere and I struggled to trace all of them as the crossmember is right in the way) so I don't know whether the fact it's pulled through oil once means the seals are fucked and it'll do it again, or whether it's picked up oil some other way due to there being too much of it in the sump. A secondhand turbo is not a lot of money but I'm really not sure if I can be arsed. Dabooka, LightBulbFun and BorniteIdentity 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
somewhatfoolish Posted July 25, 2020 Share Posted July 25, 2020 2 hours ago, Ghosty said: I'll try that for myself on Sunday maybe. The relay/solenoid(?) clicks so it's getting reasonably far. My dad's saying starter, but I'm sceptical of his advice, as he has a track record of being wrong. Assuming it's a pre-engage starter(most are, identified by having a solenoid on the side for pulling the pinion into mesh which is what you hear clicking) and the battery is in good health it's almost certainly the starter; the solenoid also switches the current for the starter and it is likely this which is the problem. As FL says check the cables for loose terminals or broken strands where the wire has flexed, but aside from that it is the starter. I'd have it off and strip and clean the solenoid but depending on the price of a new 'un you may as well buy a replacement. Ghosty 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghosty Posted July 25, 2020 Share Posted July 25, 2020 4 hours ago, vulgalour said: French electrics are a law unto themselves. Try it again tomorrow, it might be different, or it might not, or it might be an exciting new problem. Who knows? The mystery! It's consistently inconsistent. It always cold starts first thing in the morning, but any time after that it's a complete lottery. More use has made it less likely to start, but sometimes it does after a few tries, sometimes it needs a bump start. It's massively frustrating as it's the most usable car I have right now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andy18s Posted July 25, 2020 Share Posted July 25, 2020 On 7/23/2020 at 1:06 PM, danthecapriman said: Do you see many old Soviet era cars over there still? I only ask, as I’ve got the major horn for a Volga 24! We catch the odd old car when we venture into town,the supermarket carpark usually has something. Yesterday there was an immaculate mk3 Escort parked up but didn't think it worthy of a pic Volgas? How many would sir like? danthecapriman, LightBulbFun and Yoss 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danthecapriman Posted July 25, 2020 Share Posted July 25, 2020 7 minutes ago, andy18s said: We catch the odd old car when we venture into town,the supermarket carpark usually has something. Yesterday there was an immaculate mk3 Escort parked up but didn't think it worthy of a pic Volgas? How many would sir like? Oof! Theres still a few about then! Id love a Volga 24, ideally the earlier type with that lovely chrome grill. You don’t fancy finding one for me do ya!? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lacquer Peel Posted July 25, 2020 Share Posted July 25, 2020 4 hours ago, Ghosty said: It's consistently inconsistent. It always cold starts first thing in the morning, but any time after that it's a complete lottery. More use has made it less likely to start, but sometimes it does after a few tries, sometimes it needs a bump start. It's massively frustrating as it's the most usable car I have right now. Does the starter always work or sound like it's working? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghosty Posted July 25, 2020 Share Posted July 25, 2020 Does the starter always work or sound like it's working? No, either it works or I just hear a clicking relay. Wouldn't start at all this morning, I had to take the Mini to work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stuboy Posted July 25, 2020 Share Posted July 25, 2020 Started on removing inlet to get to pcv SiC, sdkrc and paulplom 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tadhg Tiogar Posted July 25, 2020 Share Posted July 25, 2020 8 hours ago, Ghosty said: 12 hours ago, vulgalour said: French electrics are a law unto themselves. Try it again tomorrow, it might be different, or it might not, or it might be an exciting new problem. Who knows? The mystery! It's consistently inconsistent. .....it's a complete lottery... This. 100% this! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anthony Posted July 25, 2020 Share Posted July 25, 2020 2 hours ago, Ghosty said: 3 hours ago, Lacquer Peel said: Does the starter always work or sound like it's working? No, either it works or I just hear a clicking relay. Wouldn't start at all this morning, I had to take the Mini to work. Put a wire from the solenoid switching terminal and touch it against the battery positive - if the starter works reliably when you do this, it's probably voltage drop on the solenoid wiring (fairly common 205 issue) and if it still doesn't, it'll either be the starter itself or poor battery/ground connections. catsinthewelder, Ghosty and mercedade 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ruffgeezer Posted July 25, 2020 Share Posted July 25, 2020 3 hours ago, Ghosty said: 5 hours ago, Lacquer Peel said: Does the starter always work or sound like it's working? No, either it works or I just hear a clicking relay. Wouldn't start at all this morning, I had to take the Mini to work. Get your dad to turn the key whilst you clatter the starter with a hammer, sounds like it's failing to me. Ghosty 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Split_Pin Posted July 25, 2020 Share Posted July 25, 2020 Since the previous owner of the 75 had the battery out for storage as he was not using the car, the electric sunroof no longer stayed tilted as it needed to be reset. I finally found out how to do this and I now have a sunroof that I can have open on the motorway rather than it blowing a hoolie with it slid open. I haven't used the Audi very much at all since I got the 75 as the latter is just so nice to just get in and waft. I'll extract it from the garage on Monday and go a run to my folks with my son when my wife is at work. dome, wuvvum, Tickman and 2 others 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stuboy Posted July 25, 2020 Share Posted July 25, 2020 Well 4 hours stripping inlet off and changing the pcv, and cleaning everything it still smoked, then added smoke stop additive and still smokes... so looks like rings have had it.... f**King pissed off. sdkrc 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chaseracer Posted July 25, 2020 Share Posted July 25, 2020 Angle grinder - 1 : 0 - end of finger. Gloves did their job, happily. Wouldn't have minded so much had it been one of the cars, but I was dismantling some garden furniture and the bastard fought me all the way! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulplom Posted July 25, 2020 Share Posted July 25, 2020 No, either it works or I just hear a clicking relay. Wouldn't start at all this morning, I had to take the Mini to work. Yes, 'had' to take the mini to work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tommotech Posted July 25, 2020 Share Posted July 25, 2020 18 hours ago, Ghosty said: Can someone with experience of French Electrics help me with the 205's starter? I don't do car electrics and my dad just puts a multimeter across it and declares it ok. (I don't mind travelling). I have time available for you this week, if you don’t mind venturing to Tamworth. mercedade 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cort1977 Posted July 25, 2020 Share Posted July 25, 2020 I'm driving a van from aberdeen to london on Tuesday - a90 m74, m6, a66, a1, m11. Back on Saturday. If anyone needs anything moved along that route let me know. LightBulbFun and paulplom 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rmjbn1 Posted July 25, 2020 Share Posted July 25, 2020 19 hours ago, rickvw72 said: Bit of a fleet churn this week. In: Excellent trade in equivalent overall length of grey metal there. I always did have a soft spot for the Hornda Longshuttle. I just don't possess anything long enough to justify getting one. Maybe if I take up pole-vaulting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rmjbn1 Posted July 25, 2020 Share Posted July 25, 2020 The tear in my Panda's driver's seat was getting worse, and I was worried it would soon reach the point of no return so I felt I really should clean and repair it. As you can see not only is it filthy, there's a bad rip in the side, and there's a cat on it (no, that's not a big black stain). Before and after pic: It's actually a bit too clean now and making the rest of the interior look dirty. Will have to do something about that. Step 1: Remove cat. Difficulty level: very. Step 2: Remove seat base. Difficulty level: not. Two bolts and the seat base comes out. This is going to be easy! Step 3: Remove cover from cushion. Difficulty level: yes. Maybe someone knows the correct method, I prised the black plastic clips out with a screwdriver and some swearing. I damaged all of them, but they didn't break and went back in OK. Step 4: Trim frayed material, neaten up hole with my best* blanket stitch and bung in the washing machine. Step 5: Cut patch and stitch in place. Difficulty level: at this point I thought it's best to get a replacement seat from a breakers instead. Still, this piece of attractive ivory leather will hopefully be harder wearing than the upholstery fabric. Does anyone need anything painting blue and white? After a few hours of watching with what seemed to me a disapproving critical eye, her indoors commented sagely 'looks like a shoe insole'. Several hours later it was finished and the assessment was upgraded to 'looks like a pie'. So I'm happy with that. I'm just wondering whether now I should get 'Pukka' embroidered on it. paulplom, Shite Ron, somewhatfoolish and 3 others 4 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LightBulbFun Posted July 25, 2020 Share Posted July 25, 2020 56 minutes ago, cort1977 said: I'm driving a van from aberdeen to london on Tuesday - a90 m74, m6, a66, a1, m11. Back on Saturday. If anyone needs anything moved along that route let me know. ohhh! how feasible would it be for you to pick up some or all of these and drop them off at my home in East London? https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/223927261062 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burnside Posted July 25, 2020 Share Posted July 25, 2020 Not a major job completed. But after months of having my genuine front Fiat mudflaps laying about. I've finally got round to fitting them today. Nearside one went on a lot easier. As I suspect the wing is a thinner pattern part. As the two clips supplied, seam to slide in without too much hassle. Unlike the offside which took a lot of faffing. Bonus was though I got to remove the shite stuck behind the wheel arch liner while I was there making a hole for the self tapper screw that's supplied. So hopefully that will help stop the wings from rusting out. Tenmil Socket, BL Bloke, Shirley Knott and 4 others 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stuboy Posted July 25, 2020 Share Posted July 25, 2020 Cause mondeo engine is goosed... I'm looking for a replacement... hopefully off to look at replacement tomorrow in Croydon.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Sterling Posted July 26, 2020 Share Posted July 26, 2020 12 hours ago, Burnside said: Not a major job completed. But after months of having my genuine front Fiat mudflaps laying about. I've finally got round to fitting them today. Nearside one went on a lot easier. As I suspect the wing is a thinner pattern part. As the two clips supplied, seam to slide in without too much hassle. Unlike the offside which took a lot of faffing. Bonus was though I got to remove the shite stuck behind the wheel arch liner while I was there making a hole for the self tapper screw that's supplied. So hopefully that will help stop the wings from rusting out. Wow. Is that a Fiat Stilo Estate? Nice. Gash wheel trims though. Get yerself some genuine items: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Genuine-Set-of-Fiat-Stilo-15-Wheel-Trims-Hub-Caps-x4/124270783504?hash=item1cef1dac10:g:BGUAAOSw6d9fGauI Burnside 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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