The new news 24 thread

[Felly Magic]

Oh no a 75! Keep plenty of head gaskets in stock.

[wuvvum]

I'm making no concessions to potential OMGSNOKAOS this year. We're already well into December and thus far it hasn't once dropped below freezing where I am (wind chill notwithstanding). If we do get snow bad enough for the Rover of Doom to be left struggling (and I have a feeling it would be shit in the snow) I will press the SVX into service for a few days, but I seriously doubt we're going to see the level of pandemonium down here that we saw last year.

[/tempting fate mode]

 

In other news, I managed to half rip the rear bumper off the Rover of Doom this afternoon - backed it into the drive to jump-start the taxi and managed to snag the rear bumper on the towbar of the DS - didn't realise until I pulled forward again and heard a bang. Fortunately it's just ripped out the mounting screws, and the mounting holes in the bumper are intact, so I was able to cable-tie it back into place (more or less) and it's not really noticeable.

[worldofceri]

I fear you're right Wuvs. I may have just paid £50 to guarantee NO SNOW this winter.

 

However, I will be spending next Saturday night driving remote Welsh lanes so I'm taking no chances.

[Pete-M]

And now's the time for me to flog the Jeep...

[andrew e]

Pete, heated jets or not, keep the screen wash a stupidly high concentrate or the jets freeze to buggery. There is one of those daft foam filters in with the pump too that clogs - if you need to get it I think you go in via the wheel arch liner. On the climate buttons there is one marked REST. If you have been driving long enough (might be 20 minutes) it will activate once you switch the engine off, and blow the residule heat round the cabin. Headlamps are shit, but they built to be separated and you can polish the insides and fit new H7's. Go in for the sump plug behind the front wheel too.

[RobT]

Gents, some advice required please. I’m trying to sort out the hot starting/hot rough running problems on my 2 litre EFi Montego. I’ve replaced the easy parts namely plugs, rotor arm, HT leads, dist cap and coil, but I’m still having problems. Next on the list to replace are the coolant sensor (got one on order), crankshaft sensor and the ECU. My question is, will a crankshaft sensor that is listed for a Rover 200/400 on ebay be OK for my Monty? The part number is different to mine but it looks the same! Just wondering how critical getting the correct part number is, or whether most of them function in the same manner. Here's the part:

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/180752074137? ... 1423.l2649

 

Next challenge is finding the correct MEMs ECU. There's one on ebay that looks promising but when I messaged the guy asking for the part number he said 'no idea, sorry' despite the fact it's written on the side. You'd expect better knowledge from someone calling themselves ecu-express wouldn't you!

[Pete-M]

Pete, heated jets or not, keep the screen wash a stupidly high concentrate or the jets freeze to buggery. There is one of those daft foam filters in with the pump too that clogs.

 

I remember this from the 540i I ran about 8 years ago.

 

The big question is how hard to replace the chain tensioner on a 2.8? There's a good 3-4 secs of chain rattle from cold in the morning!

[andrew e]

Stick some lead to the cover

[catsinthewelder]

The Austin has passed its MOT, the tester has pointed out an area of rust underneath which will need sorting before next year but otherwise its fine

[cort16]

I'm thinking about wanging some part worn winter tyres on the Alfa so I can feel over confident in the snow causing me to crash into the local KFC drive through (other drive throughs are available to crash into)

Do you think there'd be much more benefit in having all 4 tyres with winter tyres over taking the tight wad approach and just putting them on the front it being front wheel drive?

[TimothyClaypole]

Plenty of demos on YouTube showing the results of this.

[Negative Creep]

After slowly building my funds up there was only one sensible thing to do - buy car number 25. It's old, it's Jap and it's shite. More info to follow.........

[DSdriver]

After slowly building my funds up there was only one sensible thing to do - buy car number 25. It's old, it's Jap and it's shite. More info to follow.........

Happy anniversary by the way - I forgot to mention that in the other thread

[barefoot]

After a summer of interesting Austin Maxi style gear wrestling in the Scirocco, I was pointed in the direction of a VW gear lever repair kit which I duly purchased.

I took it down & left it with the friendly bloke with the big spanner.

He brought both back at lunch time, he said he'd no idea what bit I'd bought, but he bought a gear lever repair kit from GSF & fitted that.

Transformed - like a very lightweight rifle bolt.

He also took the opportunity to replace the passenger side windscreen wiper - which I'd replaced just a couple of weeks ago with one of a pair of poundlands finest.

I only fitted one out of curiosity - complete shite, left streaks from the very first wipe.

[dieselnutjob]

I'm thinking about wanging some part worn winter tyres on the Alfa so I can feel over confident in the snow causing me to crash into the local KFC drive through (other drive throughs are available to crash into)

Do you think there'd be much more benefit in having all 4 tyres with winter tyres over taking the tight wad approach and just putting them on the front it being front wheel drive?

 

I did put only two on the front of my 607 a couple of years ago. It was better than only summer tyres as at leat it would stop and go. The back was a bit drifty if I cornered hard in snow but it wasn't a problem. Obviously four is better though.

[Luxobarges_Are_Us]

I CAN HAZ MOTZ. The whole thing cost me a grand total of 43 quid, including the test fee! Here's to another 12.3 months of good value motoring.

[ProgRocker]

Independent garage came to pick up my Nissan today for clutch repair today. Guy with recovery truck tried it but didn't seem to think that there was a problem with it. Strange - an hour earlier I fired up the engine, and couldn't get the clutch to engage.

 

I get the impression that they don't like using the phone much - their telephone manner is quite poor. Is this an alpha male type thing?

[Shep Shepherd]

The Volvo's autobox suddenly decided that it didn't want to go into top gear/overdrive any more today. After reading the Volvo 700/900 FAQ (a GR11 online resource for big Volvo fans, by the way: http://www.swedishbricks.net/700900FAQ/FAQSummary1.html), I'm hoping that the overdrive relay is faulty, but I fear that with my luck this won't be the case

 

Any other ideas?

[Lankytim]

I recon it will be the relay too. Whip it out and give it a bash.

[Shep Shepherd]

I'll investigate further tomorrow. Hopefully, it will respond to a malenky bit of soldering iron action. If not, I'm sure that I'll be able to find a good used one somewhere

[Lankytim]

If they are anything like fuel pump relays it will solder up very nicely!

[Wilko220]

Looks a belter. Sometimes values don't really matter either, if you've bought it to keep and you're happy with it then that's all that matters. I expect you'd get a few years worth of enjoyment out of that if you keep on top of it and those interiors really are top drawer stuff.

 

Well, I've got this home now - and it's just as ace as I thought it was going to be. Had a long chat with the old boy seller who bought it brand new when he retired and has "looked after it like a baby" ever since. He's decided to replace it with a diesel Insignia, which I can only put down to senility - but as the beneficiary I can't complain.

 

I've got a busy few days and I've got a bit of work to do on my old smoker before I flog it - so I'm keeping the Rover off the road for a bit until I can swap the insurance over. But if anyone's in the market for a 1995 BMW 316 Compact (yes, I know), I'll be open to offers from Autoshiters soon. Details to follow in the coming days - don't all rush at once...

[Lankytim]

Wanged a pair of good used calipers and new pads onto the rear of the 240 tonight complete with new pads. A couple of pad retaining pins were seized solid but eventually drifted out OK. Its all together and bled now. Seems to have done the trick- no more binding! The drive to work tomorrow will tell me for sure. Not a bad result considering its dark and I was rolling around under the Volvo with a leadlight. Should have waited till the weekend to do it, but when the feeling grabs you you just gotta grab the spanners and go for it! Or something.

[Minimad5]

Fitted a complete new clutch kit to the 309, and treated the gearbox to a complete flush - GREAT SUCCESS - it sails through every gear lovely.

Best bit was making myself a clutch aligning tool

 

Off tomorrow to check all fluids, give it a mini valet and enjoy the little thing

[scooters]

Maplins just has to be the shitters FAV SCHOP...not been in there for ages - popped in to get some solder and ended up buying a complete new soldering kit for under a tenner! The've got dremel style tools for under £20 with 30 odd bits as well...I've used them on line a lot but the shop[ was definately worth a visit

[dollywobbler]

Looks a belter. Sometimes values don't really matter either, if you've bought it to keep and you're happy with it then that's all that matters. I expect you'd get a few years worth of enjoyment out of that if you keep on top of it and those interiors really are top drawer stuff.

 

Well, I've got this home now - and it's just as ace as I thought it was going to be. Had a long chat with the old boy seller who bought it brand new when he retired and has "looked after it like a baby" ever since. He's decided to replace it with a diesel Insignia, which I can only put down to senility - but as the beneficiary I can't complain.

 

I've got a busy few days and I've got a bit of work to do on my old smoker before I flog it - so I'm keeping the Rover off the road for a bit until I can swap the insurance over. But if anyone's in the market for a 1995 BMW 316 Compact (yes, I know), I'll be open to offers from Autoshiters soon. Details to follow in the coming days - don't all rush at once...

 

Before doing anything else with your 75, check the drain plenums for the shelf between bulkhead and engine, and check out the 75&ZT forum for details of how to modify your bonnet catch to stop it failing! These were some of the first things I did to mine. If the plenums block up, the shelf overflows all over the ECU. Nice! I expect they're ok if the previous owner is a passionate type, but you never know... I used an old curtain wire to check the plenums on mine.

[Conrad D. Conelrad]

New one today - seatbelt... receiver (already smashed from having the seat land on it a million times) refuses to buckle. Lucky I noticed this on the driveway rather than while being propelled through the windscreen. Swapped the passenger one over for now (also all smashed from having the seat fall on it) but it'll need sorting.

 

Maplins

I always want to buy a load of switches, and maybe one of those caravan satellite dishes so I can watch the Azerbaijani shopping channel in the bath.

[scooters]

I very nearly spent 40 quid on the components to create a new automatic coffee machine - the shop was designed to annoy the WIVES - you just know that any project will result in burns in furniture, swearing and a best tea tray covered in transistors, solder, broken PCBs and superglue - tastefully arranged in a Tracy Erminesque art installation on the dining room table for a 9 month showing before eventually gettimg binned

[DSdriver]

I keep looking to see if our dining room table has been posted on Urbanex.

[scaryoldcortina]

 

I got shouted at for leaving this on the dining table. Mind you, I just looked and there is a scorpio foglamp module in the fruit bowl so she *might* have a point.