The new news 24 thread

[tooSavvy]

SHITE....

 

Looking forward to (perhaps...mebbies...) deciding what Sandero I get BUT not A/C

 

My old Skoda 130LSE had a neat sunroof - popup & aerial built in - so I fancy one being fitted in the Dacia.

 

 

.... there is a middle 'rib' under the roof panel [item 2] so muchho cutting/gussetting if I decide on that

 

Was the Clio (old ones, basis of Dacia) built with this 'mid rib' and anyone seen a pop up glass roof in one/breakers 'how to fit'??

 

TS

[Kiltox]

I really wish you could add A/C to the Sandero Access - I want the barren spec, looks etc but with A/C for days when it's just too hot

 

[tooSavvy]

I really wish you could add A/C to the Sandero Access - I want the barren spec, looks etc but with A/C for days when it's just too hot

 

.... looks like I can't add a bloody PopUp sunroof either....

 

TS

[Lacquer Peel]

Good, pop-up sunroofs are utter shit.

[dollywobbler]

TBH if I had £6,000 or so to spend on a car a second hand leaf would do me fine. But that age they are generally sold with a purchased battery pack (rather than a mileage limited lease deal) and 100 mile range would be more than adequate for my 64 mile commute. If I can slow charge during the day the electricity would be coming from the solar pv panels, otherwise the grid (which is increasingly renewable, albeit to slowly) would supply the rest.

 

Maybe we need a separate alternative fuels thread to stop clogging up this one.

 

We do! http://autoshite.com/topic/21111-seriously-no-really-interesting-stuff-about-electric-cars/page-4

 

Suffice it to say that a £6000 LEAF would struggle with your commute, especially in the winter. The 30kwh LEAF only came on sale late last year, though that should cope with your drive.

[vulgalour]

Got the Rover booked into Bourne Classic Car & Bike show on the 19th of June, slightly surprised it's been accepted for the showground.  Should be a good weekend as I'll be catching up with a really good friend too.  It's an age since I went to a show in my own car, must have been three or four years ago in the Princess at Renishaw Hall.

[egg]

I really wish you could add A/C to the Sandero Access - I want the barren spec, looks etc but with A/C for days when it's just too hot

 

This. I guess the manufacturing costs are are kept down by keeping options to a minimum. Access + AC and the 0.9 engine sounds like the only new car I'd want to buy.

 

Sorry for clogging up the news with the alternative fuel stuff - but enjoyable facts chaps. My problem with electric is no driveway - only on road storage - so where do I plug in for the overnight charge? Renault Fluence's are dirt cheap 2nd hand - can you imagine - a wholly electric French car!!

 

In more prosaic news - the Mondeo is back at the garage as she is still weeping coolant all over said queen's highway following hose change. I hope it isn't bloody head gasket. 

[egg]

Just been up to see the mechanic again - he has replaced the rad hose - this one pictured, with another one from Gates. All new clips. It still leaks a bit from water pump connection and also the connector that runs to the thermostat. Could it be the new water pump at fault? He has managed to get it sealed for now, and is leaving it under pressure overnight.

 

 

Is there anything else that could cause this leaking?

[dollywobbler]

This. I guess the manufacturing costs are are kept down by keeping options to a minimum. Access + AC and the 0.9 engine sounds like the only new car I'd want to buy.

 

Sorry for clogging up the news with the alternative fuel stuff - but enjoyable facts chaps. My problem with electric is no driveway - only on road storage - so where do I plug in for the overnight charge? Renault Fluence's are dirt cheap 2nd hand - can you imagine - a wholly electric French car!!

 

 

I'll take this one on the EV thread - see open pages.

[chaseracer]

Name a day,we can hit it hard and fast. I'll bring trailer for shifting stuff from one garage to another

 

Cheers for that, Daz 

[chaseracer]

Kryten's looking a bit rough these days...

[ruffgeezer]

As my fleet is in a state of decay (Arm bushes due on pug now, headgasket on truck & mot on Ax) I am drawn to a late spec MG ZR with OMGHGF on ebay with low miles and £notalot.

 

Because I need more broken shit.

[For Fiats Sake]

Took the Maestro and tow bar to the fitters and firstly he said he doesn't fit used bars then when he looked at it didn't think the set up will fit properly as there are two types, one for metal one for plastic bumpers.  He said he'd see if he could find some more info to see if it could be adapted though.  

 

I think it might be easier to just stick a towbar on a panda, but I don't think the 999cc engine could pull the foreskin off a rice pudding at a bar mitzvah.

[Kiltox]

Arse.

 

Engine mount changed, engine no longer bounces around which is nice

 

2nd gear is still absent, which is not so nice

[worldofceri]

Spent this morning trying to evict a few electrical gremlins from Mrs_WoC's mk iv Golf.  Nothing major, but the central locking operation has always been a bit eccentric and the interior lights only work when they feel like it.

 

The Internet suggested that the cause of multiple problems like these is often a duff 'convenience module'; a black box of tricks that resides behind the dash.

 

Apparently there are several versions depending on spec so it's advisable to check the part number on the one in the car before trying to obtain a replacement, as the incorrect version might not work.  Obviously the part number isn't visible without hoicking the thing out from under the dash (why would it be?) so I spent ages trying the get the dash apart without breaking anything.  Only then did I discover there's a much easier way in through the fusebox:

 

 

TOP TIP:  Guitar plectrums make great tools for gently prizing apart push-fit bits of trim.

 

Two screws hold the fusebox in place then it can be eased out of the way.

 

 

There's the bleeder.  Two screws to undo, then disconnect the wiring harness.

 

 

Here's one I prepared earlier:

 

 

There's no sign of water getting into the old one or owt, so I was dubious as to whether just swapping in another would make any difference.  But as it was only a tenner on Ebay I figured it was worth a shot.  Obviously there's no guarantee that a secondhand electrical part isn't going to have the same or similar problems, but it arrived well wrapped up suggesting the seller might actually give a crap and has sent it in good faith.

 

So I plugged it all in and has it made a difference?  Well, sort of.

 

The central locking seems to work properly now.  It was too keen previously to invoke the 'global open/global closure' function, but now it waits the required couple of seconds when the key is turned before putting all the windows up or down.  The central locking also now works on the passenger side, which it didn't before, or sometimes it didn't, or something...

 

But the interior lights still don't work.  Annoying.

 

Golf forums suggest that the door-lock module/s could be faulty.  This is common apparently.  The microswitches that tell the car that a door is open are integral - not on the door-shut like I'd expect - and prone to fail due to shit soldering at the factory.

 

However this would mean all five of my locks are faulty, and also it doesn't explain why the map lights and sunvisor mirror-lights don't work either, as they should operate independently of the doors being open.  I've checked the bulbs and fuses and all seems in order.

 

What else could it be?

[dugong]

As my fleet is in a state of decay (Arm bushes due on pug now, headgasket on truck & mot on Ax) I am drawn to a late spec MG ZR with OMGHGF on ebay with low miles and £notalot.

 

Because I need more broken shit.

AUTOSHITE: Our logic is undeniable.

[reb]

Me & Supernaut went down to Dundee for a big car meet with a few friends, which as expected turned out to be a bunch of 'Yoof' & Barrys (The meet, not our mates...). Was a few cars of interest such as a MG ZT260, Ratty looking '69 Mercury Cougar with a organismic sound, A Ford Fairlane 500, One of the crazy import spec Suzuki Wagon RR's as well as a T-reg Mondeo saloon! (Which was't part of the event, just parked up)

 

But the trip was an excuse to test the Lexus in it's "Cross-Continent' spec. CB radio & Cool box plugged in, boot full of crap as well as a full 20Ltr Jerry can, etc. As expected handled it like it was nothing...

 

If you look carefully, you can just see the CB radio antennas on the cars. Supernaut went for the crazy 1.5 meter sized one...

 

So it's safe to say, the Lexus will just eat up the miles to Shitefest as if it were nothing.

I was there! By accident, I was just in tesco and saw it on the way past. Was there a huge LTD there? It passed me on the dual carriageway, being overtaken in a polo by a huge American car was a slightly worrying experience.

[Kiltox]

Said I wouldn't buy another auction car online after the Panda so I definitely won't....

 

 

Stay tuned for news of fuckwittery

[MarvinsMom]

Spent this morning trying to evict a few electrical gremlins from Mrs_WoC's mk iv Golf.  Nothing major, but the central locking operation has always been a bit eccentric and the interior lights only work when they feel like it.

 

The Internet suggested that the cause of multiple problems like these is often a duff 'convenience module'; a black box of tricks that resides behind the dash.

 

Apparently there are several versions depending on spec so it's advisable to check the part number on the one in the car before trying to obtain a replacement, as the incorrect version might not work.  Obviously the part number isn't visible without hoicking the thing out from under the dash (why would it be?) so I spent ages trying the get the dash apart without breaking anything.  Only then did I discover there's a much easier way in through the fusebox:

 

 

TOP TIP:  Guitar plectrums make great tools for gently prizing apart push-fit bits of trim.

 

Two screws hold the fusebox in place then it can be eased out of the way.

 

 

There's the bleeder.  Two screws to undo, then disconnect the wiring harness.

 

 

Here's one I prepared earlier:

 

 

There's no sign of water getting into the old one or owt, so I was dubious as to whether just swapping in another would make any difference.  But as it was only a tenner on Ebay I figured it was worth a shot.  Obviously there's no guarantee that a secondhand electrical part isn't going to have the same or similar problems, but it arrived well wrapped up suggesting the seller might actually give a crap and has sent it in good faith.

 

So I plugged it all in and has it made a difference?  Well, sort of.

 

The central locking seems to work properly now.  It was too keen previously to invoke the 'global open/global closure' function, but now it waits the required couple of seconds when the key is turned before putting all the windows up or down.  The central locking also now works on the passenger side, which it didn't before, or sometimes it didn't, or something...

 

But the interior lights still don't work.  Annoying.

 

Golf forums suggest that the door-lock module/s could be faulty.  This is common apparently.  The microswitches that tell the car that a door is open are integral - not on the door-shut like I'd expect - and prone to fail due to shit soldering at the factory.

 

However this would mean all five of my locks are faulty, and also it doesn't explain why the map lights and sunvisor mirror-lights don't work either, as they should operate independently of the doors being open.  I've checked the bulbs and fuses and all seems in order.

 

What else could it be?

what the hell was wrong with using some little switches operated off of the doors been opened and closed, like the olden days?

 

no wonder all modem cars are shit.....

[twosmoke300]

You mean like jap (proper ) cars use ?

It's only the arrogant Germans with their " door control modules " that fail all the time

[MarvinsMom]

i was actually thinking English, as that is how the jag, mini and metro all work the interior light. such a sensible idea, even i can follow how it works, and also how to give the little switch thing a clean if the interior light starts misbehaving.

 

if the Japanese use that idea too then that is ok by me.

 

after all, if it ain't broke, why change it? (for something that WILL break??)

[HH-R]

Having the fuse box there on VAG shite is a really clever idea*, having to have the door open into fuggin traffic and be on your knees to change a fuse.

[HH-R]

SHITE....

 

Looking forward to (perhaps...mebbies...) deciding what Sandero I get BUT not A/C

 

My old Skoda 130LSE had a neat sunroof - popup & aerial built in - so I fancy one being fitted in the Dacia.

 

 

.... there is a middle 'rib' under the roof panel [item 2] so muchho cutting/gussetting if I decide on that

 

Was the Clio (old ones, basis of Dacia) built with this 'mid rib' and anyone seen a pop up glass roof in one/breakers 'how to fit'??

 

TS

 

I'd be surprised if the Clio didn't come with a sunroof, unless Renault has found another way to kill the electrics with water ingress just after the warranty has ended.

[worldofceri]

You mean like jap (proper ) cars use ?

It's only the arrogant Germans with their " door control modules " that fail all the time

Yeah, and to get to the door control module you have to remove the fuggin window regulator. That's a weekend's work for a skilled procrastinator like me.

 

I still have some leftover little switches from when I fixed the same problem on a Rover 600 shaped Honda Accord if anyone needs one. They break really easily but take approx twelve seconds to replace if you have a spare, and most of that is opening the door and finding the screwdriver.

[Pillock]

 

 

i was actually thinking English, as that is how the jag, mini and metro all work the interior light. such a sensible idea, even i can follow how it works, and also how to give the little switch thing a clean if the interior light starts misbehaving.

)

MGF has door light switches in the door lock mechanism....

[DodgyBastard]

The Alto is being used on a film set tomorrow down in Irvine.

 

DSC_0399 by srblythe, on Flickr

 

It means leaving at 5 in the morning to be there for half 7, on the plus side I'll get around £300 for the day which is nice because I'm absolutely skint. In other news my cat got hit by a car and it cost me the best part of £80 to have the vet look at him twice and tell me the cat is going to be ok.

[Kiltox]

Cat D van I was looking at sold for the clean book price, madness.

 

May have provisionally bought a Fiesta though, fuck

[Richard]

The Alto is being used on a film set tomorrow down in Irvine.

 

DSC_0399 by srblythe, on Flickr

 

It means leaving at 5 in the morning to be there for half 7, on the plus side I'll get around £300 for the day which is nice because I'm absolutely skint. In other news my cat got hit by a car and it cost me the best part of £80 to have the vet look at him twice and tell me the cat is going to be ok.

Like for the film, not for the cat getting hurt.

[Rusty_Rocket]

Cat D van I was looking at sold for the clean book price, madness.

 

May have provisionally bought a Fiesta though, fuck

 

I used to hang around the car auctions as a young 'un, bought and sold the odd bit, mainly just for fun.

 

Nowadays, I just can't see how anyone could possibly make enough money on the everyday stuff to make the whole exercise worthwhile?  Last time I visited 'the block' I thought that anything ok-ish was making so much money, that it was even more than I'd want to pay as a long-term car for myself!

How do the kerbside cowboys make anything after they've deducted their costs (excessive auction fees, transport costs, replacement parts etc) and then Mr Taxman takes his cut!!  Just seems easier all-round to stack the shelves in your local Tescos!!  I must be missing the point somewhere? 

[Kiltox]

An awful lot of the stuff going for strong money is bought by Eastern Europeans - assumedly for export