The new news 24 thread

[SiC]

Mrs SiC emptied out the A4 earlier as, after I've drained some of the diesel out, I'll look to arrange having it scrapped this/next week. Seems almost criminal to scrap a car in this good condition inside and out, but without a working engine it's not very useful as a car.

Genuinely feel a bit sad getting rid of it. Between my parents and ourselves, we've know it over 11 years now. Really hoped to have got it to 250k.

[Fumbler]

Brimmed the Micra's tank- I've been running on E10 since its introduction and I've had absolutely no issues thus far. 30.19L, over 300 miles covered, 51MPG. I'm happy with that.

[artdjones]

2 hours ago, vulgalour said:

80 miles done since the head gasket replacement on the Princess.  No drama so far and we've got past the mileage that the last gasket failed at so while I'm still cautiously optimistic, I'm leaning more towards optimism and less towards caution now.  It's also running so much better for fresh fuel and some miles under the tyres.  If we make it to 100 miles with no fuss I'll reward it by actually cleaning it.

If it doesn't fail very soon it should be ok. The O series is a very tough engine. I crossed the Severn Bridge in my Princess with the thermostat jammed shut, then took the cap off, whereupon half the coolant spewed out. There was no tap to top it up, so I drove halfway to Bristol on the back roads with the stat jammed open until I came across a petrol station. I topped it up with cold water,to the accompaniment of a terrible roaring boiling noise as the coolant hit hot metal. It was never quite as smooth again afterwards, but the head gasket survived!

[Fumbler]

Rather annoyingly,

I'll have to let the MoT lapse because I won't be here to get it in for a test.

Also, rather anoyingly, I have an exhaust leak at the manifold, on the cambelt side. I wonder if I need to nip up the nuts or replace the gasket. I imagine it wasn't tightened up enough and now the gasket has failed, which is likely because the exhaust was off when the head was removed.

If I reeeeeeeally wanted to, I could then use man logic and replace the downpipe and manifold with this...

...But I imagine that would be unnecessarily painful.

Edit- It would be unnecessarily painful because the factory downpipe/expansion chamber curves like this around the top of the subframe:

Which, of course, the Peugeot 205, 106 and Citroen Saxo aftermarket exhausts don't do and there's no adapter section sold.

[Ghosty]

1 hour ago, Fumbler said:

Brimmed the Micra's tank- I've been running on E10 since its introduction and I've had absolutely no issues thus far. 30.19L, over 300 miles covered, 51MPG. I'm happy with that.

Our hatchbacks seem to be fine on E10. The 5 series hates it though, and I daren't put it in the sedan Civic.

[artdjones]

38 minutes ago, Fumbler said:

Rather annoyingly,

I'll have to let the MoT lapse because I won't be here to get it in for a test.

Also, rather anoyingly, I have an exhaust leak at the manifold, on the cambelt side. I wonder if I need to nip up the nuts or replace the gasket. I imagine it wasn't tightened up enough and now the gasket has failed, which is likely because the exhaust was off when the head was removed.

If I reeeeeeeally wanted to, I could then use man logic and replace the downpipe and manifold with this...

...But I imagine that would be unnecessarily painful.

Edit- It would be unnecessarily painful because the factory downpipe/expansion chamber curves like this around the top of the subframe:

Which, of course, the Peugeot 205, 106 and Citroen Saxo aftermarket exhausts don't do and there's no adapter section sold.

I put an aftermarket front section on my 205  and it looked exactly like that.

[stuboy]

Popped out to clean the corsair seats.. hopefully to make more appealing to sell...

[Fumbler]

16 minutes ago, artdjones said:

I put an aftermarket front section on my 205  and it looked exactly like that.

Hmmm...

BX diagram

205 diagram

The downpipes are similar but not quite the same. It looks like I'd need something like this but a hair longer on the joining piece.

It's something to keep in mind should I want to have more fun. An old friend of mine makes exhausts for a living which may help with things if I ever decide to do something like this.

[richardmorris]

18 minutes ago, stuboy said:

Popped out to clean the corsair seats.. hopefully to make more appealing to sell...

Good luck with the seats, but your Lino has given me flashbacks to gran’s kitchen!

[stuboy]

12 minutes ago, richardmorris said:

Good luck with the seats, but your Lino has given me flashbacks to gran’s kitchen!

the place hasnt seen mondern decor in donkey's

[MJK 24]

2 hours ago, SiC said:

Mrs SiC emptied out the A4 earlier as, after I've drained some of the diesel out, I'll look to arrange having it scrapped this/next week. Seems almost criminal to scrap a car in this good condition inside and out, but without a working engine it's not very useful as a car.

Genuinely feel a bit sad getting rid of it. Between my parents and ourselves, we've know it over 11 years now. Really hoped to have got it to 250k.

What was the cause of failing to proceed?  Has the high pressure pump thrown its hand in?

[SiC]

Just now, MJK 24 said:

What was the cause of failing to proceed?  Has the high pressure pump thrown its hand in?

Yeah 

 

[Cavcraft]

On 1/2/2022 at 8:18 PM, brownnova said:

Chester cara and coffee this morning. Last time I went it was a fairly small but nice affair. This time we’ll over 300 turned up and it was a bit mad! Definitely more pop and bang than popular plus… but amongst the McLarens and the Tuned Mercs…. 
 

Thought it was a bit far for @Slowsilver and @quicksilver. And it was.. it was some beardy bloke. And some purple Volvo over by the shopping containers! 
 

Saw @Cavcraft on my way round too so a thoroughly pleasant morning! 

Nice to meet you again, M8.  Things change rapidly at C&C it seems, I missed the Carlton in your photographs plus a GSi one, which I'm gutted about. Also forgot to go and look at the Maxi and your Volvo, to my shame. Not sure the drift gang helped much coming out of the gate, although we stood and watched for a while (so probably in a way encouraged them) some of them were a bit daft. The worst was a late comer in some sort of Impreza thing who tried to set the land speed record from the traffic lights to the entrance, way too quick coming into the place and nearly lost it. Good turn out though and liked how there was everything from run of the mill cars to Mk1/2 Escorts through to super cars.

[richardmorris]

12 minutes ago, Cavcraft said:

Nice to meet you again, M8.  Things change rapidly at C&C it seems, I missed the Carlton in your photographs plus a GSi one, which I'm gutted about. Also forgot to go and look at the Maxi and your Volvo, to my shame. Not sure the drift gang helped much coming out of the gate, although we stood and watched for a while (so probably in a way encouraged them) some of them were a bit daft. The worst was a late comer in some sort of Impreza thing who tried to set the land speed record from the traffic lights to the entrance, way too quick coming into the place and nearly lost it. Good turn out though and liked how there was everything from run of the mill cars to Mk1/2 Escorts through to super cars.

I thought about going, but went to church instead. The people doing stupid stuff is what puts my dad off going in the x1/9 any more.

[brownnova]

36 minutes ago, Cavcraft said:

Not sure the drift gang helped much coming out of the gate

22 minutes ago, richardmorris said:

The people doing stupid stuff is what puts my dad off going in the x1/9 any more.

I’ve been a few times and to be honest that’s the first time I’ve ever seen that at this event. My friend James who organises it was rather unhappy with their antics especially when the police turned up! But they were taken by surprise with numbers so they were under marshalled. 

[vulgalour]

Thank goodness for interestingly coloured cars, that weird Corsa pink is right up there with that weird Micra metallic salmon shade and the Softfruits shades that Polos could be had in.

[wuvvum]

Another dry, sunny and mild day today, so I emptied out the boot of the Volvo and then extracted the fuel sender again, so I could have a look in the tank.  I had to climb into the boot to get a proper look - it turns out that there does appear to be a filter, but it's not where I expected it to be, below where the pick-up pipe comes out of the tank - the pipe loops around inside the tank and comes to rest further towards the offside - there is another plug there but undoing it requires a 11mm square drive key, which is a tool I do not appear to possess (I'm sure I had one years ago, but I couldn't find it anywhere).  So the car is stuck on the ramps until I can get a key - I'm going to nip to Wilco tomorrow lunchtime to see if they have any, if not it'll be an eBay job.

I also investigated the Mazda's exhaust as it's still rather blowy.  Turns out the back box is completely knackered - it's split down the seam - so a new one of those will be required - fortunately they are readily available for about 40 quid.  I had previously thought that the MOT had been carried out by Stevie Wonder, but he would have heard the exhaust blow, so I can only conclude that the tester was in fact Hellen Keller.

The downpipe also really needs replacing - the Gun Gum repair isn't going to last (is it just me or is Gun Gum a lot shitter now than it used to be?).  I have discovered that Autodoc apparently have them in stock, but they're about 120 quid delivered, which is quite a lot I think.  So it may just have to survive a bit longer with occasional re-Gun Gummings.  I had a poke around the car while I was under there and to be fair it is actually quite solid, despite its dilapidated appearance - it's had some welding on the sills in the past but overall for a 33-year-old Japanese shopping car it's not doing too badly really.

The Laguna still seems to be running OK - it's not quite as quick as I had expected but it's a great deal quicker than it was before.  A reset of the trip computer and a test run up to the coast and back produced an average fuel consumption of about 43mpg, which is a lot better than the 27 it was showing before.  There is a bit of a hissing noise from under the bonnet under hard acceleration, so I think there might be a slight boost leak from somewhere which would explain the less-rapid-than-expected acceleration.  It's a 150bhp engine so it should be quite quick, even with the auto 'box - at the moment it feels slower than the 75.  I'll have a look at the boost hoses next time we get a dry weekend.  In the meantime I've given it a mini valet inside to try and get rid of the smell of fag ash (the previous owner smokes roll-ups and gets the ash everywhere) using my trusty old hoover and a packet of Poundland interior wipes.  No expense spared as per.

[GrumpiusMaximus]

23 hours ago, juular said:

Steamy Volvo picnic.

We planned to take the 240 up to Glencoe today but the weather turned to complete grimness. We decided to turn back at Crianlarich and boot the car's arse over the back roads on the way home.

Despite the bucketing rain it was a reassuring and comfortable drive. It's a really competent car and a lot of fun to drive. Classic yes, but doesn't feel remotely old. 

My fondest car memory is being about seven years old and going from Orcop to Exmouth in the back of my Mum's Volvo 240 (GL Estate - H186 XUL (and yes, the MOT website has it as a 740.  Lies)).  The whole five or six hours, it was torrential rain of a type that was washing foot-high rocks into the middle of the road and turning them into rivers.  Dad was driving and it was probably the worst driving weather I remember.

We made it to my Gran's house in Exmouth warm, dry and comfortable and I felt safe and warm the whole time in the back of the 240.

It's how I feel about these cars and the reason that one day I absolutely must own a 240.  It's a feeling that never goes away whenever I see one.

[wuvvum]

My dad had a 240 estate for several years in the mid-'90s - in fact I learned to drive in it (and the driving school's diesel 205).  I know what you mean about the feeling of safety, although I didn't think it was the best car to drive in torrential rain as the wipers weren't particularly quick.

[juular]

8 minutes ago, GrumpiusMaximus said:

It's how I feel about these cars and the reason that one day I absolutely must own a 240.  It's a feeling that never goes away whenever I see one.

I'd never driven one until getting the MOT just before Christmas, but I can totally relate to that. Its such a reassuring, homely and safe place to be. Once you shut the vault-like door it feels like it's going to look after you.

5 minutes ago, wuvvum said:

the wipers weren't particularly quick.

Mine were the same until I stripped the motor and cleaned it. Given its position outside under the scuttle, and the not particularly good gasket on the motor housing, they rust up pretty well. Once cleaned I think mine is on par with the C70.. aside from the grinding noise 😬

[MJK 24]

16 minutes ago, wuvvum said:

I have discovered that Autodoc apparently have them in stock, but they're about 120 quid delivered

I didn’t think that Autodoc would deliver exhausts to the UK?

[wuvvum]

2 minutes ago, MJK 24 said:

I didn’t think that Autodoc would deliver exhausts to the UK?

This is autodoc.co.uk and apparently they will...

[tommotech]

22 minutes ago, MJK 24 said:

I didn’t think that Autodoc would deliver exhausts to the UK?

Apparently it depends on the size, I’d selected a Polo front pipe that was too large to be shipped here but then selected a rear silencer that was ok for shipping. 

[MJK 24]

Pat has a new van and it runs on veg…

 

[taxi paul]

Trip to tesco was a dull fest. Then got back to car and spotted these two breaking all the cars under 3 years old rule. Had a chat to the toyota owner. A nice older gentleman who said that he didn't need a big expensive car. 

[bunglebus]

Saw this in the newsagents. Just* £8.99 to you sir

 

[brownnova]

Have given myself the target of spending a bit more time tinkering this year, as I have plenty of projects which have been sat dormant and things I would like to do to my 2CV for example. So yesterday I decided to set some time aside to see if I could get the Nova and the Yugo to run again for the first time for many months… and in the Yugo’s case over a year.

So armed with three cans of easy start, 2 fully charged batteries, a jump pack, 2 Jerry cans of fuel and about half an hours daylight i set too.

The Nova has a habit of vanishing it’s Petrol. I can’t seem to find a leak in the tank, but it’s not in an ideal spot to look properly. A glut of fresh Dino juice followed by some easy start led to spluttering but no sustained running. It was clear we had spark and everything else required, but what we didn’t have was fuel coming through. The throttle seemed to have become rather slack. What I needed was an assistant. So when my step son got home from his dads he was commandeered into turning the key whilst I first sprayed easy start in and then pumped the throttle at the carb end. Which after 3 goes yielded life!

I left it going for a minute or so but then black smoke and pops and bangs… but easing the choke back sorted that. Excellent. After that it was off and on easily. Runs a bit clattery (sounds worse on the video than in real life) but ok. Doesn’t like the choke being backed off much at all. It also wouldn’t move. It’s sunk into the ground a little and one of the tyres was flat.

The Yugo was starting and running fine a year ago, but then it ran a bit low on fuel and not having any to hand I didn’t start it, and then suddenly a year had passed… a quick check of the main ancillaries and fuel in the tank and we have it a go. Ah… it’s battery is goosed. Thankfully the backup is fully charged.

Easy start applied and… 

Sadly this was as good as it got. A few splutters and a little go. My assistant had disappeared by this point, but I suspect the same tactic we used on the Nova would have worked as it was clear no fuel was getting through. Unfortunately after a good glug of actual petrol it stopped catching at all, I may have flooded it. This car is a bit susceptible to that. Either that or we will need to check spark. All we know is… that it didn’t go this time. 

Plan was to go back to it today… but time has run away from me. Maybe tomorrow. 

[High Jetter]

1 hour ago, brownnova said:

So armed with three cans of easy start, 2 fully charged batteries, a jump pack, 2 Jerry cans of fuel and about half an hours daylight i set too.

Five..golden...rings...

[chodweaver]

Thank goodness for interestingly coloured cars, that weird Corsa pink is right up there with that weird Micra metallic salmon shade and the Softfruits shades that Polos could be had in.

That year seemed to bless Corsa Cs with metallics very much of a kind (very similar colour density, if that's the right word) - the turquoise and pastel green i like just as much. I wonder if i can find the paint chart for that year?...

Alas, the Corsa is very much surplus to requirements, so the plan is to get its mot renewed in February and punt it on, possibly/hopefully on here.

A fleet reduction. That'd be nice.

[Asimo]

On 03/01/2022 at 18:00, SiC said:

Mrs SiC emptied out the A4 earlier as, after I've drained some of the diesel out, I'll look to arrange having it scrapped this/next week. Seems almost criminal to scrap a car in this good condition inside and out, but without a working engine it's not very useful as a car.

Genuinely feel a bit sad getting rid of it. Between my parents and ourselves, we've know it over 11 years now. Really hoped to have got it to 250k.

I also scrapped my P (suffix) Audi because of fuel system failure. (Carb fell to pieces.) Not a spot of rust, everything else worked, my wife loved it, my kids knew no other car.  I felt a right bastard as I redlined it all the way to the scrappies.

Sometimes the game is just over.