The new news 24 thread

[Broadsword]

Took a brave pill yesterday and rocked up to my trusted MoT station in a 650 bhp convoy of supercharged Jags, which both need an MoT. Both failed, but on on nothing bad. The turquoise one will get the welding done when the garage has time and I can take care of the the exhaust leak on the manual car. Despite going home with two fail sheets, I was happy. Also initial drive of the manual XJR on the road, my word is it an animal. What a machine!

[Chris2cv]

It turns out that it was a bit more than a few years since I  last changed the battery!

[OM646]

Popped a new battery in the Aldi today. And used the 10€ coupon to finish my choonage and put a set of Pioneers in the front. 

 

Audi Logic: let's make a mounting spot so weird that you'll need to cut two tabs off the speaker to install it, and put it in a place so cramped that you'll actually run your fingers through the cut tabs.

[doobietoo]

And finally the Pug is back and a quick run out revealed it is now quieter and a bit quicker. My mechanic did look at the 'oil leak' on the other side/ front of the engine and traced it to the intercooler inlet. further inspection revealed a completely blocked ERG pipe... it was literally full of clog. he dug out what he could but when it goes back for the sump a proper clean will be in order or may be a EGR delete. Any Pug experts advice on solutions or which way to go welcome...

[loserone]

Fixing that would probably make it faster again.  Have you figured out the wobble?

[doobietoo]

Yes, swapped front and rear tyres and with the new pulley it is wobble free 😀

[Lankytim]

Had a pair LANDSAIL tyres fitted to the rear of the V70 at the local Halfords Autocentres recently.  I should feel a bit guilty about it all but I quite like Landsail tyres and the experience at Halfords was pretty good, they even torqued up the wheel nuts correctly. I was expecting a good 10 seconds worth of UGGA DUGGAS on each wheel bolt. Nice facilities, courteous staff and they didn't try to upsell me a thing, which I think is a first. The paperwork they gave to me had a vehicle checklist on with nothing highlighted- I'm more used to someone trying to hard sell me an alternator for no reason or something.

[beko1987]

22 minutes ago, doobietoo said:

And finally the Pug is back and a quick run out revealed it is now quieter and a bit quicker. My mechanic did look at the 'oil leak' on the other side/ front of the engine and traced it to the intercooler inlet. further inspection revealed a completely blocked ERG pipe... it was literally full of clog. he dug out what he could but when it goes back for the sump a proper clean will be in order or may be a EGR delete. Any Pug experts advice on solutions or which way to go welcome...

I dug/scraped clean the egr on an old laguna once and christ it picked up after that! 

I'd like to do it to the xsara but it's all buried under and behind the engine iirc so that's not a job for winter/at all... 

There's lots and lots of people who say a delete is the best, but you may have to map a warning light out... Personally I'd get it all cleaned and working first then see what you think

 

[RayMK]

The Tipo was uncharacteristically slow to start yesterday when I headed out for a walk in the local lanes.  The first attempt just caused it to turn over without a trace of firing for about 15 seconds. After pressing the accelerator a couple of times and trying again, it burst in to life after a further 10 seconds on the starter. Perhaps the very infrequent use and recent prolonged heavy rain had caused general dampness and sulking.  Soon after setting off the rain started again and the walk was postponed but at least the Tipo had a short run to warm it up.  Today's weather is bright, sunny and warm. The Tipo started instantly and a local deserted lane was achieved. I walked for a couple of hundred metres, feeling rustier than a '94 Tipo, before heading back to the car and driving home. My last walk in the countryside/outside was in early January.  Car and driver desperately need to get out more often.  Today's rather bleak scene attached below. 

[Stanky]

fixed the clip that secures the end of the bowden cable for the heater temperature adjuster knob in the Daewoo again, its an absurdly fiddly job and it will probably pop off again before long. The clip that holds it to the back of the adjuster knob is useless and after a while of the temp being adjusted it just pops off again.

At least i know what I'm doing now, it only took me about 20 minutes to get all the fascia stuff off, radio out and disconnected, cable popped back on and then reassemble everything. I didn't even cut myself this time round.

Also, changed the dehumidifier in the mercedes earlier, it had collected quite a bit of water over the last 3-4 weeks

That was it about 10 days ago, the collected water had about doubled in volume and I was worried it'd fall off the RVM and go everywhere. I've put a new one in now and this one in the bin.

to be brutally honest, the cars doesn't seem to be any less damp. the windows still mist up on the inside when its parked facing away from the sun. I'll keep using them up, but probably won't buy more. 

[beko1987]

2 hours ago, RayMK said:

The Tipo was uncharacteristically slow to start yesterday when I headed out for a walk in the local lanes.  The first attempt just caused it to turn over without a trace of firing for about 15 seconds. After pressing the accelerator a couple of times and trying again, it burst in to life after a further 10 seconds on the starter. Perhaps the very infrequent use and recent prolonged heavy rain had caused general dampness and sulking.  Soon after setting off the rain started again and the walk was postponed but at least the Tipo had a short run to warm it up.  Today's weather is bright, sunny and warm. The Tipo started instantly and a local deserted lane was achieved. I walked for a couple of hundred metres, feeling rustier than a '94 Tipo, before heading back to the car and driving home. My last walk in the countryside/outside was in early January.  Car and driver desperately need to get out more often.  Today's rather bleak scene attached below. 

My more modern car is the same, its jsut the lack of driving it. I'll go 2/3 weeks between trips and the first turn is always many slower than normal turns of the starter... After a drive its back to fine again... 

I've got some money set aside for a new battery as I imagine it's the start of that, but there's no point in jumping on it now! Equally if it lasts until we go back to normal it might just be fine* anyway

[SiC]

Did some @beko1987'ing today and replaced the snapped belt in the heirloom Sebo. Also bought a second hand control board which seems to have got the height leveling working again.

Also went out on my road bike. First time in pretty much a year! God I am unfit now...

No car related work as my legs are now kaput. Dolomite is in dire need of being cracked on and finished. Not even finished one side yet. Time is getting away quickly and I'll need to soon retrieve the BMW E28 from @Steve79 mum's garage.

[Cord Fourteener]

7 hours ago, crad said:

bought a new rear wiper blade today, and some tape to tape up my air intake pipe thingy. student car maintanence

a truly professional job

Looks quality to me👍👍

[Cord Fourteener]

2 hours ago, Stanky said:

 

Also, changed the dehumidifier in the mercedes earlier, it had collected quite a bit of water over the last 3-4 weeks

That was it about 10 days ago, the collected water had about doubled in volume and I was worried it'd fall off the RVM and go everywhere. I've put a new one in now and this one in the bin.

to be brutally honest, the cars doesn't seem to be any less damp. the windows still mist up on the inside when its parked facing away from the sun. I'll keep using them up, but probably won't buy more. 

Just in case you don't know, though I'm sure you will do, you are meant to leave it until all the salts in the top part have dissolved! 

The cold air won't carry much water so you might want to run the car and get the heater hot to heat up the inside and get an the damp in the air then the salts will take more moisture.

[Steve79]

1 hour ago, SiC said:

Did some @beko1987'ing today and replaced the snapped belt in the heirloom Sebo. Also bought a second hand control board which seems to have got the height leveling working again.

Also went out on my road bike. First time in pretty much a year! God I am unfit now...

No car related work as my legs are now kaput. Dolomite is in dire need of being cracked on and finished. Not even finished one side yet. Time is getting away quickly and I'll need to soon retrieve the BMW E28 from @Steve79 mum's garage.

Don't worry Si, you've got a bit of time yet.

[Carlosfandango]

Get Disco 200tdi running and sort brakes? 
 

Check. 

 

CFD. 

[DodgyBastard]

I'm potentially buying my first car of 2021 tomorrow, a questionably painted mx5 with flat tyres, a flat battery, no fuel, a leaky roof and a welded diff...

[gm]

Bloody hell - I hope it’s cheap ! 

[Minimad5]

5 hours ago, Carlosfandango said:

Get Disco 200tdi running and sort brakes? 
 

Check. 

 

CFD. 

That is brilliant 😎.  Do regret selling ours

[Broadsword]

I don't want to sound harsh, but unless that MX-5 is for scrap money (or less), it will be cheaper to spend more and buy a better one.

[gm]

11 hours ago, DodgyBastard said:

I'm potentially buying my first car of 2021 tomorrow, a questionably painted mx5 with flat tyres, a flat battery, no fuel, a leaky roof and a welded diff...

welded diff ? I believe foadwerx is just round the corner from driftoland  lots of sideways action to come ! 
 

 

interesting comment on the recent mot 

 

not exactly unusual on an mx5 but not seen it phrased in such a way 

[RickRirai]

Found a rear wheel arch / sill horror story behind the sill trim on the missises 96 Passat. 

so set to work on that. There is a recess at the bottom of the wheel arch that's filled with wax but holds mud and just rots right back through the arch and sill

not perfect but should give a few more years service now...

[Cord Fourteener]

12 hours ago, DodgyBastard said:

I'm potentially buying my first car of 2021 tomorrow, a questionably painted mx5 with flat tyres, a flat battery, no fuel, a leaky roof and a welded diff...

That's painted perfectly, if you want urban camouflage. I hear it's in for 2021.

[DodgyBastard]

I went to see the Mx-5, it was for sale for £350 which I didn't think was too bad for a rwd car with 11 months mot to have some fun with. I found that the roof would only lock on one side and the seats were soaking wet. There were also hundreds of holes drilled all over the body. I wasn't entirely put off at that point but I forgot to bring a spare battery and jump leads so couldn't get it started and just thought ah fuck this, it's just not my day. I never saw the seller, he just left the keys and v5 inside it and stayed in the house.

I just didn't seem worth the effort in the end.

[vulgalour]

Obligatory snow post.

[tommotech]

My lads Pug 207 has been providing good service since the last bout of major surgery, although cold start had become awkward and once started a misfire was noticeable but quick to clear and drove ok otherwise. 
Decided plugs were the most likely candidate, on removing the coil pack there was evidence of damp and further evidence on the plugs themselves, had a worrying moment when number 1 plug didn’t want to unscrew any further so I filled the recess with penetrating fluid and worked the plug back and forth. I had visions of seeing bits of aluminium on the threads as it released but all was well in the end, thankfully. Put some high temperature grease on the threads, rebuilt everything and normal service was resumed. You can see where spark leaked, plenty of WD40 used on the coil pack. 

[richardmorris]

On the way up to oxford yesterday to join my “bubble”for the weekend, the Mercedes clicked over to 130,000. There’s always something satisfying when actual numbers on dials rotate to align 0000. Extremely thick fog up the a34 from the m4 though. Never seen it so bad- I was doing 60 with the lights and fog lights on and seeing the occasional truck loom out of the fog 50m in front and there were several organ donors bombing past at probably 80+ with just the daylight LEDs on - no rear lights at all.

[Craig the Princess]

Driving back from work on Friday, at dropping my phone and smashing the screen to bits, they Multipla was reluctant to go into 5th.

Then extremely reluctant to leave 5th. Drove home like Michael Schumacher did that time he won a race stuck in 5th and left it until today.

The black arm at the top is meant to be attached to the grey ball just below it (above the green painted bolt on the left).

The arm was attached by the last scrap of metal and came off in my hand mate.

Secondhand replacement found on eBay for £33

[Tenmil Socket]

On 2/6/2021 at 5:08 PM, Stanky said:

fixed the clip that secures the end of the bowden cable for the heater temperature adjuster knob in the Daewoo again, its an absurdly fiddly job and it will probably pop off again before long. The clip that holds it to the back of the adjuster knob is useless and after a while of the temp being adjusted it just pops off again.

At least i know what I'm doing now, it only took me about 20 minutes to get all the fascia stuff off, radio out and disconnected, cable popped back on and then reassemble everything. I didn't even cut myself this time round.

Also, changed the dehumidifier in the mercedes earlier, it had collected quite a bit of water over the last 3-4 weeks

That was it about 10 days ago, the collected water had about doubled in volume and I was worried it'd fall off the RVM and go everywhere. I've put a new one in now and this one in the bin.

to be brutally honest, the cars doesn't seem to be any less damp. the windows still mist up on the inside when its parked facing away from the sun. I'll keep using them up, but probably won't buy more. 

I’ve got a few of these for sale for 69p. I bought 18 earlier but want to keep 6. 

[Fumbler]

Tried my hand at some more brush painting using cellulose paint. I quite like turquoise blue so I bought a big tin of RAL5018 and set to it.

Coat 1 on the left and it being flatted back on the right

Small paint reaction for some odd reason.

Coat 2 also sanded back and a final third coat. Looks quite nice for a first attempt! Would have helped if I wasn't using a tiny, awful brush but hey-ho, this piece will eventually be folded round and bonded to my car's exhaust silencer, just to prolong the little life it has left.