The new news 24 thread

[Cavcraft]

£700 sounds alright mate, if you can get it for that. To be honest, you'd think he'd jump at selling it to you, he needs the space and you're obviously a genuine buyer/enthusiast. Looks a late-ish one (1982-ish) and unusual not being yellow.

I had one circa 1989, I'd swapped it for a 4x3 car trailer that was basically just a shit chassis and some wheels. I still ended up with the worst deal.

[Kiltox]

Anyone battled with a Renault electronic handbrake before?

 

Pulled the emergency release on a Scenic to remove the rear calipers to change a wheel bearing - didn't realise this isn't the best way to turn the handbrake off for this type of work

 

Now I can't get it to come back on and it gives "parking brake fault" on the display. No amount of trying to turn it on/off or use of my Delphi diagnostics has made it play ball

[RobT]

The Jag is broken AGAIN, this time it sounds fairly expensive. Doing a steady 70 on a stretch of dual carriageway it suddenly started to make lots of loud grinding noises from the middle/rear of the car. I pulled over ASAP and thought it might be the rear brakes. They did smell a bit but neither rear wheel was burning hot as to indicate a seized caliper, so I'm thinking maybe a diff bearing is fucked or something. I managed to get it home OK, just need to figure out what to do next. I'm yet to do a journey in this bloody thing without something breaking!

[Richard]

Doesn't it have inboard brakes, or did I imagine that?

[forddeliveryboy]

The Jag is broken AGAIN, this time it sounds fairly expensive. Doing a steady 70 on a stretch of dual carriageway it suddenly started to make lots of loud grinding noises from the middle/rear of the car. I pulled over ASAP and thought it might be the rear brakes. They did smell a bit but neither rear wheel was burning hot as to indicate a seized caliper, so I'm thinking maybe a diff bearing is fucked or something. I managed to get it home OK, just need to figure out what to do next. I'm yet to do a journey in this bloody thing without something breaking!

 

Worth checking the diff has oil in it.

[Brodders]

So i get this phone call this morning from a old friend, the same old friend who i bought the Sierra off and has a few other old cars hidden about, apparently the barn which the grey Sierra was stored in for 9 years has got to be cleared in the next 2 months as the landowner has sold it for some kind high cost baby day care centre to be built, everything needs to go, am i still interested in the Morris Ital van at the back?...

 

I think we all know the answer to that! Hopefully I'll be getting it in the next month or so.

What else do they have there that they may want to get rid of? Surely there may be some shitters who would be interested if there are other vehicles or parts which needs to go soon.

[DeeJay]

Anyone battled with a Renault electronic handbrake before?

 

Pulled the emergency release on a Scenic to remove the rear calipers to change a wheel bearing - didn't realise this isn't the best way to turn the handbrake off for this type of work

 

Now I can't get it to come back on and it gives "parking brake fault" on the display. No amount of trying to turn it on/off or use of my Delphi diagnostics has made it play ball

 

 

Don't know if this will be any help but might be worth a read.

 

http://www.renaultforums.co.uk/17-electronics/153370-2006-megane-scenic-electronic-parking-brake-fault.html

[RobT]

Worth checking the diff has oil in it.

Good point, it does look rather moist underneath so is probably leaking.

 

Doesn't it have inboard brakes, or did I imagine that?

S1-3 XJs have those, this doesn't thankfully!

[trigger]

What else do they have there that they may want to get rid of? Surely there may be some shitters who would be interested if there are other vehicles or parts which needs to go soon.

 

The van was the last thing worth having in that barn, other than this Cletac which has been in the barn about 25 years that he's got to move.

 

 

The barn next door also needs to be cleared and that's full of classic cars but i don't know what's happening to them as they don't belong to my friend.

[wuvvum]

Today (technically yesterday now)  I have mostly been failing at car maintenance.  First job was to try and fit the new exhaust front pipe that I'd bought for the Mazda 121.  I'd already cracked off all the nuts some time ago so I knew they weren't going to be too much of an issue, but actually getting the pipe to part company with the rest of the system could be.

 

Except that the new pipe I've bought doesn't fugging fit.  It's the right pipe, but there's an extra thin little inlet pipe with a two-bolt fixing going off to the side of the inlet end of the main pipe, which isn't there on the existing exhaust, and nor is there anywhere on the engine for said small pipe to bolt to.  Had a look on ebay and it looks like every single pipe for that generation of 121 is the same, so fuck knows why I haven't got one on mine.  Must be something to do with emissions - although mine has EFI and a cat.  Most odd. 

 

Anyway, I'm going to have to get the garage to fit it now, as they're going to have to modify it (grind off the second pipe, cut through the mounting flange and tack a plate over the resulting hole) - I didn't fancy tackling it myself with my puny grinder as the flange is fugging thick steel.

 

Next job was to do an oil change on the Rover of Doom.  It started out fine - sump plug came undone with no issues, and the oil drained happily into the can I'd borrowed from a mate.  Got the old filter off with the help of my BFO adjustable pliers, then got the new filter out of its box ready to go on.  Except that the new filter bore absolutely no resemblance to the old one.  I did offer it up just in case it could be bodged on, but the thread was completely different.  I briefly contemplated reusing the old filter, but it's been on there nearly five years so probably not in the first flush of youth.  A call to Wilco in Norwich established that they had one in stock and at a decentish price, so I jumped in the Toyota and went to pick it up.  By the time I got back it was almost dark, but hey ho. 

 

Got the filter on, grabbed my gallon of oil (Tesco's finest 10w40 semi-synth), only to find that it wasn't actually a gallon at all - I'd nicked a litre out of it at some point in the past and completely forgotten I'd done so.  Fortunately I found another half-full 2-litre can of the same oil, and between them they were enough to bring the level up to the minimum mark on the dipstick - I also found a half litre of Castrol GTX (slightly thicker at 15w40 but still semi-synth) and chucked that in too.  I don't know what the official line is on mixing oil grades, but it's an L series so it'd probably run quite happily if I tipped a gallon of fugging Lyles Golden Syrup in the sump.

 

Anyway, it's done now...

[DeeJay]

At least you remembered to replace the sump nut before filling.

[rml2345]

On Friday the Carisma wot woz sold to FATHA_RML failed it's MOT. Not a surprise really as it's never passed one first time for as long as I've known it but due to needing a fair bit this could be it's last. As daft as it sounds, I'd love to see it beat the odds and stay on the road but have absolutley no interest in saving it myself which I suppose is the fate of many mass market "Competent but dull" cars.

Anyway, the garage is sorting out a quote for repair so we'll know then what's to happen. On the plus side I might get my tacky but otherwise excellent Aldi radio back.

[Bobthebeard]

Well.... got the MG ZT back after the suspension overhaul. The LFG left it on the drive this evening. Am expecting a bill north of £300 on Monday. Still. It's British and it's mine. Ho Hum

Gulp!.....

Still. It's British and mine etc..... Gah!

 

 

Naturally the ingrate has decided it now needs it's starter motor replacing (or the brushes) as it is now doing the 'clicking but not turning' thing randomly, needing three or four attempts... New battery and fully charged. "Relax, it's a Rover".

[danthecapriman]

Gulp!.....

Still. It's British and mine etc..... Gah!

image.png

Naturally the ingrate has decided it now needs it's starter motor replacing (or the brushes) as it is now doing the 'clicking but not turning' thing randomly, needing three or four attempts... New battery and fully charged. "Relax, it's a Rover".

Worth it all day long if you like the car IMHO.

[Bobthebeard]

Worth it all day long if you like the car IMHO.

I certainly like the car. The sound of this

With the stainless steel exhaust and glasspack open 'silencers' does reduce the impact of the cost somewhat.

 

 

Plus IMHO it looks great... Only this morning a bloke in the petrol station sauntered over to have a look and ask me " What is it mate?" Is it one of those new MG's?

I felt both proud and embarrassed.

 

Lol...

[dollywobbler]

I found my electrical pliers! One of few tools actually in my toolbox... Oh dear.

 

Connectors all fitted, but struggling to actually get stuff working. May have to wait until I've got more electrical kit actually fitted. It's not making much sense at the moment. Out of time for now.

[Bobthebeard]

I found my electrical pliers! One of few tools actually in my toolbox... Oh dear.

 

Connectors all fitted, but struggling to actually get stuff working. May have to wait until I've got more electrical kit actually fitted. It's not making much sense at the moment. Out of time for now.

Hope all went well using those, but have always found those to be not great. Bit weedy really, not brilliant at crimping. The ratchet types being better methinks.

[dollywobbler]

You may have point. I very nearly bought some last week. Would have saved a lot of frantic searching for a start...

[oldcars]

That ital van is class. Trigger is winning at 2017 already   

[rml2345]

Anyway, the garage is sorting out a quote for repair so we'll know then what's to happen. On the plus side I might get my tacky but otherwise excellent Aldi radio back.

£865 to get it through the next test... So that'll be the end of that.

Goodbye Minicab Simulator, you served us well.

 

[holbeck]

I had to go to Plymouth today, that's a 100 mile round trip from my place.

 

Traffic was light on the A38 and the Audi 80 was a joy, only doing 70ish but nothing in my way.  So nice to actually enjoy the drive.

[cort16]

I was following a BMW mini on the way to work this morning that had crazy rear wheel camber on it. Not scene camber just  fucked. I don't know what was wrong with it but when it was going in a straight line the rear wasn't lined up with the front and it was crabbing like a bastard. I can't imagine what it must have been like to drive.

[beko1987]

I followed a Ford ka on Friday that had something hanging off the front subframe. I kept my distance incase it was a wishbone or something. My mate was following me and rang me up to ask why I was going so slow (was properly hanging back). He understood when I told him, and we merrily did 8mph less than the car in front incase something terminal happened to it!

[twosmoke300]

While on the phone ?😳

[Eddie Honda]

You may have point. I very nearly bought some last week. Would have saved a lot of frantic searching for a start...

 

I've got two ratcheting ones now. A "CK Tools" branded one, which does insulated terminals and a top-notch Chinese one via AliExpress which is exactly the same and much cheaper. The Chinese vendor also sells the different jaw pairs so you only need the one set of pliers for various terminals.

[AMC Rebel]

I was following a BMW mini on the way to work this morning that had crazy rear wheel camber on it. Not scene camber just  fucked. I don't know what was wrong with it but when it was going in a straight line the rear wasn't lined up with the front and it was crabbing like a bastard. I can't imagine what it must have been like to drive.

 

Probably a BMW feature for authenticity - every other "old" mini I used to follow was crabbing like hell due to badly aligned rear subframe - either because of cack-handed replacement or because it was about to drop off due to rot.

[Eddie Honda]

Probably a BMW feature for authenticity

PMSL!

[doobietoo]

Probably a BMW feature for authenticity - every other "old" mini I used to follow was crabbing like hell due to badly aligned rear subframe - either because of cack-handed replacement or because it was about to drop off due to rot.

Is there anyone over the age of 40 who didn't think exactly that??? quote of the year IMHO...

[Shep Shepherd]

Dropped The Volvo off at the local garage for its MOT at 0645:

 

 

I'm now not expecting it to pass first time, as the parking brake seems to be sticking on the offside. I hope that nothing else nasty is waiting to be discovered on top of that. I'll find out this afternoon...

 

Whatever happens, I'm going to persevere with the car, as amongst many other things, I've owned it for so long, and it's still really nice to drive.

 

EDIT (0755): Just had word from the garage that the car is now in possession of a new MOT!    I bet that the advisory list is pretty long, though 

 

EDIT (1500): It isn't. It pertains to the minor things that the garage has been advising on since 2005. Even the parking brake was deemed satisfactory, but I intend to overhaul it in the spring, just to make sure.

[Bucketeer]

Bloody traffic jam and roadworks this morning made me late for work a meeting an appointment . . . oh who am I trying to kid, I've got nothing in my life to be on time for.