The new news 24 thread

[richardmorris]

1 hour ago, paulplom said:

Been to the quacks for my 50 year check up. Result: I'm slightly overweight and I drink too much. 

Verdict: Pointless.

I could've told them that when they rang to book the appointment.

Anyway, I spotted this mint mardis gras walking there. Deek that spoiler.

And this mint S class walking home again. Chadders reckons it had no mot but I wouldn't believe him if he told me the time.

Anyway my NHS appointment wan't wasted after all.

What 50 year checkup? Is this a proactive GP thing? 

[Split_Pin]

Saab back home on the drive after a new outrigger was fitted.

 

My wife drove it home and started by following me and my son but she then passed me as soon as we got on the M74 and I could not keep up with her when back on the twisties. She never drives like that when we are all in the car and always tells me to slow down when I'm driving. She knew fine well though as we both started laughing when we got out the cars at home. Still denies it though 🤣 She's clearly glad to have it back!

[Snake Charmer]

3 hours ago, Shite Ron said:

 

They were always cool, still are and a real mini Granada. Just a shame the tail pipes on that Ford era always looked like the design team went down the pub and left it to the accounts.

[AnnoyingPentium]

5 minutes ago, Split_Pin said:

Saab back home on the drive after a new outrigger was fitted.

 

My wife drive it home, started by following me and my son but passed me as soon as we got on the M74 and I could not keep up with her when back on the twisties. She never drives like that when we are all in the car and always tells me to slow down when I'm driving. She knew fine well though as we both started laughing when we got out the cars at home. Still denies it though 🤣 She's clearly glad to have it back!

Sounds like the same shit my Mum pulls off... she was the one that picked up the Fabia, and I went back with my Granda in the Sandero. We see the Fabia behind us, lagging behind as we climb the Eaglesham Moor on the M77, then it goes flying past us at [redacted] mph. Never been so shocked in my life. 😂

When driving her own car, it's a pretty sedate experience in comparison. Weird, isn't it?

[SiC]

Tried some turd polishing tonight.
I mean it couldn't be made any worse?


Hold my beer!




What I was trying to do is get the lacquer off. You can scrape it with your nail and get to the base coat in much better condition.


Wasn't particularly successful. Even tried sanding it. Started at 800 grit and went down till I ended up at 320. Still wasn't making much headway. All I managed to do is smooth off the rough lacquer. Maybe I should try that so I get a fashionable Mat finish.

Anyway I went back to what I know best after that paintwork disaster. Fixing the incorrect fuel gauge.
Removed it.


Took the fuel gauge needle off and moved it roughly by eye to match the coolant gauge at rest.


Put it together and tried gauge sweep again. Pretty much nailed it. While I think of it, the coolant gauge was slightly out and not quite at the middle.
Oh well. Good enough for now and the fuel gauge is more important.


Just watched this TT go for cheap. Third time relisted and gone for a sensible price. Irritating! Would have been much more what I wanted and a price that would have suited.
Oh well. I'll buzz about in the Focus for now and possibly sell it after an MOT. Probably could get £600 for it I bet.

Now under my new (£60 B&M clearance) gas heater, watching the stars and drinking a beer.

[RoverFolkUs]

24 minutes ago, SiC said:

Tried some turd polishing tonight.
I mean it couldn't be made any worse?


Hold my beer!




What I was trying to do is get the lacquer off. You can scrape it with your nail and get to the base coat in much better condition.


Wasn't particularly successful. Even tried sanding it. Started at 800 grit and went down till I ended up at 320. Still wasn't making much headway. All I managed to do is smooth off the rough lacquer. Maybe I should try that so I get a fashionable Mat finish.

Anyway I went back to what I know best after that paintwork disaster. Fixing the incorrect fuel gauge.
Removed it.


Took the fuel gauge needle off and moved it roughly by eye to match the coolant gauge at rest.


Put it together and tried gauge sweep again. Pretty much nailed it. While I think of it, the coolant gauge was slightly out and not quite at the middle.
Oh well. Good enough for now and the fuel gauge is more important.


Just watched this TT go for cheap. Third time relisted and gone for a sensible price. Irritating! Would have been much more what I wanted and a price that would have suited.
Oh well. I'll buzz about in the Focus for now and possibly sell it after an MOT. Probably could get £600 for it I bet.

Now under my new (£60 B&M clearance) gas heater, watching the stars and drinking a beer.

Do you mean the coolant sits just a smidge below 90 at normal operating temperature? If so - completely normal as they are all like that. 

As I'm sure you're well aware, as with any modern temp guage, it's more of a gradient of heat than an accurate indicator. They will usually go over 100C actual temp on these Focii before the temp guage climbs beyond 90 

[SiC]

5 minutes ago, RoverFolkUs said:

Do you mean the coolant sits just a smidge below 90 at normal operating temperature? If so - completely normal as they are all like that. 

As I'm sure you're well aware, as with any modern temp guage, it's more of a gradient of heat than an accurate indicator. They will usually go over 100C actual temp on these Focii before the temp guage climbs beyond 90 

Ah. I assumed it would get to middle. I know all the Hondas I've owned get to around a third. I expected it to go to mid and sit there. So do all Ford's normally just sit a bit under mid then?

Yeah I presumed it was pretty much a dumb cold/okay/fucked gauge. 

[purplebargeken]

Road rage guy, what an utter tosser.

[RoverFolkUs]

12 minutes ago, SiC said:

Ah. I assumed it would get to middle. I know all the Hondas I've owned get to around a third. I expected it to go to mid and sit there. So do all Ford's normally just sit a bit under mid then?

Yeah I presumed it was pretty much a dumb cold/okay/fucked gauge. 

Hard to say, I know these Focii do, but Fiestas and Fusions of that vintage usually do get to bang on the 90 mark. 

I know Vauxhalls (well, the ones that actually have temp guages, i.e the insignia and Astra J) usually sit bang on the mark at 90. But then as you say, plenty of other makes that don't.

It's just one of their weird traits I think 🤷‍♂️

[Popsicle]

2 hours ago, richardmorris said:

What 50 year checkup? Is this a proactive GP thing? 

It is round our way (Derby), GP rang up and booked me in, same as @paulplom I got told all the obvious things that I already knew and they told me what the odds were on me croaking it in the next ten years, bloody cheerful buggers.

NHS link reckons some areas have paused doing the tests https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/nhs-health-check/

[wuvvum]

After work I took the Volvo's brake caliper back out to the car to see if I could get the pistons pumped out.  I couldn't.  There is no fluid getting to the offside rear at all.  The brake pedal is firm so it's not air in the system, there must be a blockage somewhere.  Which is odd as when I was using the car that brake would bind on quite badly after a few stops.  The braking system on this car remains a complete mystery to me.

[Fumbler]

Finally spotted some stuff while at the Cincinnati Union Terminal 

[SH1TE]

9 minutes ago, wuvvum said:

After work I took the Volvo's brake caliper back out to the car to see if I could get the pistons pumped out.  I couldn't.  There is no fluid getting to the offside rear at all.  The brake pedal is firm so it's not air in the system, there must be a blockage somewhere.  Which is odd as when I was using the car that brake would bind on quite badly after a few stops.  The braking system on this car remains a complete mystery to me.

Load sensing valve on rear? 

[wuvvum]

21 minutes ago, SH1TE said:

Load sensing valve on rear? 

Could be, but the nearside rear caliper is getting fluid fine.

I might try backing the car up onto the ramps rather than jacking it up, see if that makes any difference.

[paulplom]

8 hours ago, richardmorris said:

What 50 year checkup? Is this a proactive GP thing? 

Yeah, weigh you, do blood pressure, take blood, tell you you're over weight and drink too  much.

I had one at 40 too.

[Split_Pin]

6 hours ago, wuvvum said:

After work I took the Volvo's brake caliper back out to the car to see if I could get the pistons pumped out.  I couldn't.  There is no fluid getting to the offside rear at all.  The brake pedal is firm so it's not air in the system, there must be a blockage somewhere.  Which is odd as when I was using the car that brake would bind on quite badly after a few stops.  The braking system on this car remains a complete mystery to me.

Maybe a kink somewhere in one of the metal brake lines?

[Asimo]

6 hours ago, wuvvum said:

Could be, but the nearside rear caliper is getting fluid fine.

I might try backing the car up onto the ramps rather than jacking it up, see if that makes any difference.

I think it should be a seperate brake circuit for each side at the rear, each with it’s own pressure limiting valve.

[wuvvum]

4 hours ago, Asimo said:

I think it should be a seperate brake circuit for each side at the rear, each with it’s own pressure limiting valve.

That'd make sense - if there are two separate valves adjusted slightly differently it'd explain why one side was getting fluid through with the wheel off the ground and the other side wasn't.

[andyberg]

Got back from a trip to the lakes in my wife's new Panda. Thoughts? Well we did over 800 miles in 4 days, average 56mpg on motorways, Welsh roads and through the lakes including some proper twisty and hilly bits. No back ache and no fuss from the little thing. Very impressed with it, a cracking little car. Highly recommended as an car. 

Must get the Aircon fixed though, sat in the queue at West Midlands Safari park yesterday we were cooking! Couldn't open the window in case a lion jumped in 🤣

[davehedgehog31]

I've snaffled this little beauty as my new everyday car. It is currently c/o @sdkrc's car park until I make space. 

It's a 2.0 L series Turbo Diesel. iXL trim so has (inop) AC and quite a nicely appointed interior. The previous owner was a very fastidious enthusiast as you can see so in the last 18 months and 200 miles it has had all sorts;

Full exhaust
Timing and pump belt kits
All rear suspension bushes, front ball joints.
Four new tyres
Injection pump
Injectors
Front calipers, discs and pads
Full MOT til August 23

Does mean the BMW is for the chop sadly, which is a bit silly as it's been a great car in the 4k miles or so since I got it. Have improved it a bit with new rear springs, shocks and top mounts, both engine mounts (a fucking ballache), four new tyres, number plates and £110 worth of battery. It also has ice cold AC which I may regret selling on... Can't keep them all though. I'll do a proper for sale advert in the next day or two.

Any street cred I had gone in one fell swoop.

[Split_Pin]

53 minutes ago, davehedgehog31 said:

Rover 45 2.0 L series Turbo Diesel. iXL trim.

Does mean the BMW is for the chop sadly.

Good ball played there.

[RoverFolkUs]

1 hour ago, davehedgehog31 said:

I've snaffled this little beauty as my new everyday car. It is currently c/o @sdkrc's car park until I make space. 

It's a 2.0 L series Turbo Diesel. iXL trim so has (inop) AC and quite a nicely appointed interior. The previous owner was a very fastidious enthusiast as you can see so in the last 18 months and 200 miles it has had all sorts;

Full exhaust
Timing and pump belt kits
All rear suspension bushes, front ball joints.
Four new tyres
Injection pump
Injectors
Front calipers, discs and pads
Full MOT til August 23

Looks a great example, a well sorted one at that

[RoverFolkUs]

1 hour ago, davehedgehog31 said:

I've snaffled this little beauty as my new everyday car. It is currently c/o @sdkrc's car park until I make space. 

It's a 2.0 L series Turbo Diesel. iXL trim so has (inop) AC and quite a nicely appointed interior. The previous owner was a very fastidious enthusiast as you can see so in the last 18 months and 200 miles it has had all sorts;

Full exhaust
Timing and pump belt kits
All rear suspension bushes, front ball joints.
Four new tyres
Injection pump
Injectors
Front calipers, discs and pads
Full MOT til August 23

Does mean the BMW is for the chop sadly, which is a bit silly as it's been a great car in the 4k miles or so since I got it. Have improved it a bit with new rear springs, shocks and top mounts, both engine mounts (a fucking ballache), four new tyres, number plates and £110 worth of battery. It also has ice cold AC which I may regret selling on... Can't keep them all though. I'll do a proper for sale advert in the next day or two.

Any street cred I had gone in one fell swoop.

May I ask how much it was, hard to know values to pay on 45s these days as they're a bit all over the place, I see them as £500 cars in my mind still but some seem to be asking the thicker end of a grand upto £2k 🤔

[Mally]

14 hours ago, Popsicle said:

It is round our way (Derby), GP rang up and booked me in, same as @paulplom I got told all the obvious things that I already knew and they told me what the odds were on me croaking it in the next ten years, bloody cheerful buggers.

NHS link reckons some areas have paused doing the tests https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/nhs-health-check/

Why is it that you can't get an appointment to see a Dr, but if they want to see you it's easy?

I call the Dr when I'm ill, I don't need him to call me.

My late wife was called in for tests. Borderline type 2 diabetes. Do this, do that, change this, change that see you in 3 months.

Went back in 3 months, figures were better, but just inside borderline.

Hence you are now registered as type 2 diabetic. Need to inform your travel insurance etc. Eh?

Read later that Gov.UK were giving payments to practices who 'kept on top of' type 2 diabetes.

It can be financially viable to call you in.

 

[Rust Collector]

I think I made a bold claim a month or so ago that I wasn't going to buy any more cars.

Whoops.

Collection later this month, which gives me time to think up an explanation for my mrs... or to find a place to hide it.

[davehedgehog31]

41 minutes ago, RoverFolkUs said:

May I ask how much it was, hard to know values to pay on 45s these days as they're a bit all over the place, I see them as £500 cars in my mind still but some seem to be asking the thicker end of a grand upto £2k 🤔

No problem, it was £950. Thought that was very fair for a well sorted example. 

I suspect what they're asking and what they're getting are quite different in this case. 

[wuvvum]

L-Series-powered Rovers do seem to be going up quite steadily in value.

[SiC]

Focarse earning it's keep in scaring all the brand new and expensive cars in the train station car park.

Booked in an MOT but the earliest my favourite garage could do is 8th September. It expires on the 13th September so kind of makes sense to have it later. However I wanted it later as I might dispose of the car quickly if I find a decent TT. A full MOT would make that a lot easier. Problem is, I'll probably find something sooner than that date. 

Could go elsewhere but I've been using the same garage for the last 10+ years now and can safely implicitly trust them for their tests and work. Also convenient for me to drop in and walk to work.

I may have to find somewhere else if their diary is going to be so full for so long. But where as I don't want it miles away and then the issue of trusting them.

Still deciding whether to do the cambelt or not. Given the state of the paintwork, it makes little sense to put too much money into this car. That being said, I quite fancy the challenge of doing it on this - even if not economically sensible. No point unless it passes the MOT reasonably easily though. 

 

[Dan29]

13 minutes ago, SiC said:

But where as I don't want it miles away and then the issue of trusting them.

I've used council testing stations (Cardiff when I lived there, now Hounslow) for years as they have no reason not to be trustworthy, as they don't do repairs on private cars.

[Split_Pin]

3 hours ago, davehedgehog31 said:

No problem, it was £950. Thought that was very fair for a well sorted example. 

I suspect what they're asking and what they're getting are quite different in this case. 

Any decent Rover is now climbing in value as they are few and far between as daily drivers now.

I would love an L series 45 saloon in dark blue.