The new news 24 thread

[RobT]

Well, that lasted long. On the drive home the Jag's battery warning light started to flash intermittently. So either the new battery is shite or sommat else is wrong. I'll charge and try the old battery for a bit to see if it happens again. The only reason I bought a new one is because the cold cranking was rubbish.

[catsinthewelder]

 

[rml2345]

Well, that lasted long. On the drive home the Jag's battery warning light started to flash intermittently. So either the new battery is shite or sommat else is wrong. I'll charge and try the old battery for a bit to see if it happens again. The only reason I bought a new one is because the cold cranking was rubbish.

Worn alternator brushes? Had the same symptoms on Volvos in the past. If it's the type where the brushes/regulator are separate then they're not expensive or especially difficult if you can get the alternator off.

[gm]

A couple of folk have recently pointed out that having great big see through windows in my garage with the mazda and all my lovely tools on show might be just a little too tempting to the local scrotes

 

 

 

so I sorted it tonight with a roll of 'frosting film' off ebay - a pain in the arse to fit but I'm pleased with the results

 

 

 

now I can fondle my mazda in peace

[RobT]

Worn alternator brushes? Had the same symptoms on Volvos in the past. If it's the type where the brushes/regulator are separate then they're not expensive or especially difficult if you can get the alternator off.

That's what I'm thinking. Bit of a coincidence it's doing it after fitting a new battery though, so will try the old one just to make sure. I bet the alternator is a right sod to get to on these!

[320touring]

That's what I'm thinking. Bit of a coincidence it's doing it after fitting a new battery though, so will try the old one just to make sure. I bet the alternator is a right sod to get to on these!

May sound daft but is the earth strap/negative lead on a nice clean bit of body for earthing purposes?

 

And are the battery terminals damn tight?

[dollywobbler]

I think I need to sell the RAV4. I really can't be arsed though.

[RobT]

May sound daft but is the earth strap/negative lead on a nice clean bit of body for earthing purposes?

And are the battery terminals damn tight?

Ah, good point. Being a slack wristed southerner the negative may indeed be a bit loose. It was looking high on the terminal when I looked earlier, so will give that a go.

[Supernaut]

I think I need to sell the RAV4. I really can't be arsed though.

 

I'll have two randoms, please.

[The Moog]

He will need something to tow the Lexus out of the gravel traps

[xtriple]

Just been asked by the editor of 'The Spirit' which is the official magazine of the Rolls Royce/Bentley owners club if they can use my car on the front cover of the next mag! I am sort of impressed but now got to get permission from the photographer who took the fantastic pictures for a totally diffferent magazine!

[cros]

I was coming home from Spudling (Lincs) tonight and the going down sun turned the Morris bonnet gold. With no other traffic about I was able to stop and take a picture of it, but my poor photographic skills and cheap phone can't come close to doing the scene justice.

[richardmorris]

Just speaking a few minutes ago with a customer at chalmers university in Gothenburg. He was quite impressed it was -3degrees here today!

[Supernaut]

He will need something to tow the Lexus out of the gravel traps

 

I'm planning to do some TRACK PREPS on Saturday. I think fitting the towing eyes will be on that list.

[Barry Cade]

Fitted my genuine and bloody expensive mats to the 75, and fitted the correct shape of rear number plate. I've spent far too much on frankly unnecessary shite this week and my vehicular to do list just keeps getting longer.

[Six-cylinder]

North Buckinghamshire -4.2° C this morning and a good hard frost.

[Guest Hooli]

Took the merc to work today as I didn't feel up to a 20 mile round trip by bike.

 

For the first time ever ( nearly five years) I noticed the abs light staying on as long as the srs light. Did it on the way home too. I know it's not done it before - I'm paranoid about warning lamps and have a slight panic attack when the fuel lamp comes on! It comes of owning Citroen cxs with the big red lamp of doom!

 

Any ideas why it's happening?

 

Change the brake fluid. The ABS system pressurises when you turn the ignition on & old manky wet fluid takes longer to build up pressure. Going from black water to nice Dot4 on my old XJ40 took 75% off the time for the light to go out.

[cros]

I get scared shirtless at how complex cars are becoming. The brake fluid business is a case in point, I daren't ask why such a system doesn't use synthetic fluid because I fear the answer will be that it has suddenly become no good.

My car got this much maligned liquid along with new rubbers and braided hoses 12 years ago and since I'm writing this from a stationary position I think I can say that it all still works fine even though it's never been changed.

[holbeck]

North Buckinghamshire -4.2° C this morning and a good hard frost.

 

 

Quote from Mrs. h on seeing the above picture.....

 

"That..."

 

Me 'What???'

 

"That is what is not to happen here"

 

Me 'Yes dear'.

[Roverageous]

My 75 is in the garage for suspension knocking.

 

Diagnosis - Drop links. Again. That's 5 sets in 17,000 miles now. 3 different garages have done the work each time & assured me there's no underlying nasties causing them to pop.

 

Chocolate parts?

[Six-cylinder]

Quote from Mrs. h on seeing the above picture.....

 

"That..."

 

Me 'What???'

 

"That is what is not to happen here"

 

Me 'Yes dear'.

Mrs 6C is working from home today and has just bought a Classic Car Buyer newspaper into my office suggesting I should check out a TR7 in there!

 

It was sold a week ago.

 

Edit: or did she mean she would not let all those great cars stand outside in this weather!

[holbeck]

TBH, I'm very envious of your set-up, your other half on board with enjoying some great cars.

[Bucketeer]

Dear Mitsubastard,

Y U NO FTP IN SUMMER?

Yours, Mr Blue Fingers.

 

[cort16]

I'm now at 5 cars so have the Panda and P6 up for sale. So far they both seem to immensely unpopular although it's a crap time of year to sell. Also maybe it wasn't such a great idea to include the Knockhill pictures in my Panda ebay advert.

[dave21478]

..... Also maybe it wasn't such a great idea to include the Knockhill pictures in my Panda ebay advert.

 

Absolutely not.

 

Im always on the lookout for 4X4s and there is a surprisingly large number of people who think a good selling point is showing photos of it up to the doorhandles in muddy water on an offroad course.

Yeah, no, thanks.

[stuboy]

Yay its here..

[Roverageous]

Right guys. I fucking hate Kwikfit. In 2008 they told me my brake pads needed replacing when they didn't. In 2011 they ran a trolley jack into the sill on my old 75 and then denied all knowledge. In 2012 they refused to honour a quote as a job had taken longer than expected. This was a Hull branch.

 

Unfortunately I had to use them several months ago for some tyres and alignment because I needed it done on a Sunday and they were the only place open. This was in Aylesbury. Actually went OK.

 

The drop links went the other week and one side got really noisy. So, again, I find myself needing the work done in one day because the other 6 days of the week I need the car to 'just work'. I called my usual garage who hummed and ahhhd for a while and said it would have to wait until next month. Nice. What the hell - Kwik fit it is. Rang them Monday and said I'd like them to investigate my suspension knocking and an oil & filter change and could they please do it on Wednesday - all agreed that I'd drop off at 8:30 and give them the full day. 

 

All went to plan. By 10am I had the phone call confirming it was the drop links and told them to crack on. I had a plod round town all day, picked up some car cleaning bits, some screen wash & OAT antifreeze so I could change it tonight. Picked the car up from them at 16:00 and had a bit of a chat with the manager about the drop links going so regularly (averaging 6 months per pair at the moment). He just casually said "Well these are guaranteed for 12 months, so when they go pop the car back and its on us". Very nice chap.

 

So off I toddled home. Got the car in the carport where there's a light to use for the coolant change. Opened the bonnet. Drop of coolant on the top of the expansion tank :/ Just given them a call to see if they'd done it... "Yep, all part of the oil and filter service." They've basically done a full interim service, drop links and 4 wheel laser alignment for £200.

 

Considering past experiences, this branch are doing a dangerously good job of changing my perception of the company.

[richardmorris]

Change the brake fluid. The ABS system pressurises when you turn the ignition on & old manky wet fluid takes longer to build up pressure. Going from black water to nice Dot4 on my old XJ40 took 75% off the time for the light to go out.

Thanks - fluid now coming up to 4.5 years old. Will get it changed at the next service and mot in January.

[richardmorris]

North Buckinghamshire -4.2° C this morning and a good hard frost.

-6 here in surrey and I cycled the 9.6miles in to work on my studded ice tyres to save having to defrost the car!

[egg]

Ford Fusion he no start. Battery reads 12.18v, will get the jump leads out tomorrow.