The new news 24 thread

[Borsuq]

A few months ago me dad got the steering wheel on the Transit wrapped in leather. I wasn't too keen on the idea at first, but I ended up liking the end result. In fact, it made me consider wrapping the steering wheel on my Fiat.

The wheel in my 126 is pretty alright, but definitely not in perfect shape.

There are a couple of small chunks that have worn off around the left spoke:

And the plastic has come unglued from the metal core on top of the wheel, which means you can twist it a little.

Now, I have a new old stock steering wheel I was meaning to install, but now I'm thinking I'll just have the original one wrapped and keep the new old stock one as a spare, in case I want the car back to fully original condition.

I've been thinking of doing the wrapping in the style of original Cinquecento Sporting steering wheels, with somewhat shiny leather stretching all the way over the spokes, like this:

(Obviously, I could just buy a CC Sporting wheel, but those are a bit rubbish in terms of quality and difficult to find in good nick.)

[barefoot]

I saw Cock Johnson's convoy speeding away from Loughborough this afternoon - 3 Range Rovers & 4 motorcycle outriders.

Apparently for a 7 minute speech at a school.

[Fumbler]

Logged onto the rebooted (again) driving test booking site, and after 2 hours and 3009 other applicants I've got one booked for early October. Hopefully my area doesn't fall ill before then...

[Tadhg Tiogar]

Meanwhile, a late phone call comes in from Garage Dubois-Loizou.....

M. Dubois (for it is he): "Monsieur, your CX, eet ees ready. Also we 'av 'ad to replace all zer main cables all zer way up to zer battery. We were 'avin' resistance readings in zer old cables where zere should be none. Now your CX, zer starting ees parfait from zer key."

Me: - Grand! And is the handbrake done?

M.Dubois (sound of forehead being slapped): "...ah non! I will do eet tomorrow for you!...." (rings off)

I can't help feeling that we might soon be able to strike garlic.

[meshking]

5 hours ago, barefoot said:

I saw Cock Johnson's convoy speeding away from Loughborough this afternoon - 3 Range Rovers & 4 motorcycle outriders.

Apparently for a 7 minute speech at a school.

Yes, but have you seen the contents of the bookshelf that he gave his 7 minute speech in front of?

[High Jetter]

3 hours ago, Tadhg Tiogar said:

Me: - Grand! And is the handbrake done?

"mais non, il ne marche pas, c'est unnessasaire" 

[stuboy]

any corsa lickers here? lads corsa 2001 1.2 16v loses charge over night.... no interior lights on , radio ignition live only....

 

some say fuel pump relay and many other say different..

[Tadhg Tiogar]

20 minutes ago, High Jetter said:

"mais non, il ne marche pas, ce n'est pas necessaire" 

I actually thought he was going to tell me that. 

[High Jetter]

I really hope you can waft it away soon.

[Tadhg Tiogar]

Just now, High Jetter said:

I really hope you can waft it away soon.

That reminds me, I must visit the bank....

[High Jetter]

"C'est en la Maison, mon ami." As they say in Franglais. "Mais tout, mais tout" (said Trotter)

[320touring]

52 minutes ago, stuboy said:

any corsa lickers here? lads corsa 2001 1.2 16v loses charge over night.... no interior lights on , radio ignition live only....

 

some say fuel pump relay and many other say different..

@Split_Pin ?

[Tadhg Tiogar]

Just now, High Jetter said:

.... "Mange tout, mange tout" (said Trotter)

EFA

[Fumbler]

1 hour ago, meshking said:

Yes, but have you seen the contents of the bookshelf that he gave his 7 minute speech in front of?

Surely not as bad as this?

[Split_Pin]

8 hours ago, stuboy said:

any corsa lickers here? lads corsa 2001 1.2 16v loses charge over night.... no interior lights on , radio ignition live only....

 

some say fuel pump relay and many other say different..

Have you checked the boot light?

Does it have the original radio in? 

[paulplom]

Nice run out today in the saab. We've a week off work to spend with the kids ans are doing something different with the kids. Today it's the Falkirk Wheel. I might come home via the Glasgow route.

I fear it may be the last time the car will be getting a proper run. It's mot is next Tuesday and I fear it will be terminal. 

It has a headlight out (expensive xenon) along with a headlight auto aim problem. Dual mass is rattling I think. It throws out quite a bit of black smoke when you properly boot it amongst other things.

I'll get a quote from the guy to fix it but if it's not economically viable, it'll be getting the boot. A bit of a shame as it's quite a nice car. Great engine with full history with all the belts etc done at the last mot. 50+mpg all day long as well.

[gm]

Have fun up in scotland ! 

[richardmorris]

Aston martin day.

 

[paulplom]

1 hour ago, gm said:

Have fun up in scotland ! 

Canny mpg's up here.

 

[Kiltox]

14 hours ago, stuboy said:

any corsa lickers here? lads corsa 2001 1.2 16v loses charge over night.... no interior lights on , radio ignition live only....

 

some say fuel pump relay and many other say different..

Doesn’t have the original CD30 radio does it? You say ignition live only but those are renowned for turning themselves on. 

[Tadhg Tiogar]

55 minutes ago, richardmorris said:

Aston martin day.

 

How the other half live....

[wuvvum]

Those Zagato Astons are funny looking things aren't they?

[Tadhg Tiogar]

All Zagatos look a bit mad to my eyes.

[richardmorris]

I can't say they've improved with age. The neatest looking of the lot was the DB4 volante.

[Borsuq]

Fun fact: my Fiat is too small for this automatic car wash. It's not wide enough for the extendo-brushes to reach both sides at the same time.

And no, they won't give me half of my money back.

[dozeydustman]

Had the Corolla's puncture repaired today. Went to independent place round the corner from depot after work "Nah mate it's illegal to plug punctures now, haven't got any of that size in we can get a death ring in for tomorrow for £70 fitted and balance". Hmm ok.

Went to another little Independent place, asked if he could plug the hole, £15 later (including new valve and rebalance and sealing the rim) wheel's back on the car.

 

First I've heard of a puncture mushroom plug being illegal, probably a shyster.

[N19]

New tyres on the Mondeo. The correct rims were in the garage and filthy with brake dust. Took them down and garage stuck the tyres on, then I swapped them with the existing escort rims that were on it using their ramp because sod doing that outside on the street in a thunderstorm. 

Then went round the block before parking up outside the flat. Looking outside, the rims look much cleaner just for a drive around in torrential rain! 

Just to keep the balance of broken things equal, the radio is now dead. Very rapid, so hopefully just a fuse. 

[stuboy]

14 hours ago, Split_Pin said:

Have you checked the boot light?

Does it have the original radio in? 

boot light out, and it has amazon cheapy in it

[stuboy]

15 hours ago, Split_Pin said:

Have you checked the boot light?

Does it have the original radio in? 

 

9 hours ago, Kiltox said:

Doesn’t have the original CD30 radio does it? You say ignition live only but those are renowned for turning themselves on. 

I'm on 5am starts ... at 1245am stuboy junior waked me up to tell me the clock was on full brightness and the stereo dimly illuminated,  thanks for that... well he unplugged the radio and now when removing ignition key the clock/date display goes off... why???

 

[Split_Pin]

It almost certainly sounds like something to do with the Amazon radio. I tried fitting an aftermarket one to my first Corsa and it wouldn't turn off completely, always remained on standby.

Have you still got the original CD30?