The new news 24 thread

[trigger]

Has it really been 3 years since you last posted on here about inheriting that?! It does look smart, the alloys really suit it.

[ProgRocker]

It does look smart, the alloys really suit it.

 

Agreed. The Xsara might have been something of a low point in quirky Citroen design but I have always like these facelifted ones with those chunky wheels.

 

My Almera is at the local stealership in the midst of getting the brakes sorted. Will have to lob the bill onto the credit card before I raid some of my ISA to clear the balance before I accrue any interest.

 

In the meantime I am a 'bus wanker'. When they eventually turn up. Good that I have some understanding bosses.

 

I can now see why a lot of you chaps have more than one car.

[Cavcraft]

There is defo a certain weird charm about the Xsara, they are also (mostly) at the dirt cheap stage which is GR10 news for the bargain hunter.

 

 

Yesterday I stumbled across a supply of used veg oil. The bloke is getting paid £2.00 for 2o litres so I offered a bit more and he's having some of that. He swears it's as water free as is possible and is going to give me a call when he's got a load built up. I'll try and grab a picture of my hi-tec recycling centre later.

[Lankytim]

Those Xsaras get good reviews but are pretty much forgotten by the car buying public. Id deffo roll one, infact if i had any sense id flog the Saab and get one to enjoy the lower fuel bills.

[panhard65]

I bought one of those xsaras for my dad a few years ago. It had been standing for 5 years and only had 14000 miles for £500. It had to have a new cambelt before we dared to start it and 4 new tyres as the originals had lost their shape. Those wheels are really nice but it pissed the tyre fitters off trying to balance them!!. His is a 1.6 and absolutly gutless but does give about 40mpg so overall a great car

[Cavcraft]

How to (probably not) recycle veg oil the mingebag way:

 

veg oil recycling.cock by Cavlover1, on Flickr

[Lankytim]

Hey, if it works it works!

 

I really want to get back into this alternative fuels lark again, either LPG or veg oil. Nothing like supa low fuel costs to bring a smug smile to your face!

[Lacquer Peel]

Your setup looks much like mine Cavette, only my filter is mounted higher to fill a 25 litre drum and I use the base of an old rat cage as a bund. Hope you're just filtering clean-ish oil.

 

I like those Xsaras Bo11ox, they're basically an uggers but better built and roomier 306.

[HillmanImp]

I got one of those Xsara's a few years back in 1.4 petrol format. I paid under a grand for it. Was driving it along Leeds ring road when some twat in a Porsche boxter cut me up twice. To show my displease I gave them A MASSIVE EVIL LOOK as I went past them whilst they were in the filter lane to turn right, not noticing that the taxi ahead had stopped. Managed to write off the car. Arsebiscuits. However, the insurance company decided that it was worth £2,250. Result. Lets go crash some more cars for a massive profit.

 

Taxi driver also decided that he was going to do a whiplash claim for himself and several imaginary passengers. I was informed of this by his solicitors who made the mistake of giving me their names, addresses, NI Numbers, DOB's and so on. Hope they looked after their 'injury' claim money well, as when I had finished with them they will not have been able to get credit for quite some time.

[meggersdog]

Just seen this thing being driven around Peterborough today but no camera so have an archive picture

Looked a bit comical as the chap driving it was rather large.

[Cavcraft]

It was your advice that made me set it up like that, Len! The WVO was pretty nasty but I'd filtered it twice, what you see there is after the 2nd filtration, the filter seller said it only needed doing once (one micron) but I thought another run through wouldn't do any harm. Been running ok so far anyhow!

[Lacquer Peel]

My rule is if it isn't clear it doesn't go in the fuel tank, it's worth settling the oil you filter for a couple of weeks too.

It's painful putting expensive fuel in when you've got free/cheap fuel sitting there, and fuel filters are cheap but it's a PITA losing performance and changing them constantly.

 

 

It's worth doing this simple modification to the fuel filter housing too, for better fuel heating (it doesn't do much as standard) but you really need to be patient with it so it seals properly. http://www.biopowered.co.uk/wiki/Filter ... nd_Citroen

[cobblers]

Don't you have to get all the water out of it somehow? that (along with having to brown nose a chip shop owner) would put me off using waste oil over £1/l fresh stuff.

[Lacquer Peel]

The water should settle out after 4 weeks.

[Albert Ross]

I started feeling a little queasy last weekend, and couldn't put my finger on it.. Went to work early doors Monday, and my legs were aching like mad. I carried on, and fought off the ill feeling. Inspected feet, noticed flaky skin on my soles, and a few clear blisters on the edges. Nothing unsurprising there, as I wear steelies for 14 hours a day. Tuesday came, I felt worse, but carried on. I didn't sleep all Tuesday night. Went to work to open up like normal on Wednesday, getting in about 05:45ish (like normal) and couldn't settle, couldn't stand, sit etc.... I found a confy leather chair in the Customer waiting area and waited for the fist staff to arrive. (About 07:30) I announced to my supervisor that I wouldn't be staying, and told him of the pains in my legs and feet, and that I would be in touch after I went to the Doctor's Surgery. Well I came home and slept until gone 6PM. I rang in the next morning, and spoke to the Service Manager. Total cock. All he did was try to brow beat me and find out why I hadn't been to the Docs the previous day.... When I did go, I was signed off for a week. Infected blisters on my feet, caused by Athlete's foot, which had gone septic, and I now have infected lymph nodes and blood poisoning. Joy. And still he thinks I'm putting it on. Cunt. I have a good mind to save all the blisters that fall off and pop them in a little bag as proof of my illness. I look forward to returning on Thursday morning. NOT. Anyway. That's why I'm a miserable bastard THIS week. Next week, there will be another reason. Yeah, that'll be the written warning I receive for telling the Boss what I think of his people/management skills.

[Cavcraft]

My rule is if it isn't clear it doesn't go in the fuel tank, it's worth settling the oil you filter for a couple of weeks too.

It's painful putting expensive fuel in when you've got free/cheap fuel sitting there, and fuel filters are cheap but it's a PITA losing performance and changing them constantly.

 

 

It's worth doing this simple modification to the fuel filter housing too, for better fuel heating (it doesn't do much as standard) but you really need to be patient with it so it seals properly. http://www.biopowered.co.uk/wiki/Filter ... nd_Citroen

 

 

Ah, it was clear (well, brown/yellow but clear) when it went into my car, but a very dodgy shade of brown when I first got it, and quite sort of lumpy/congealed too. I did spot a small electric tracing jacket type device on ebastard that warms the filter up, but I just laugh in the face of that. Until something goes wrong, of course.

Incidentally the stuff like behind by the (micron) filters is disgusting, I assume I can rinse the filters out with hot water or something?

[Lacquer Peel]

I just wring the filters out by hand.

Modifying the standard heated fuel filter is much better than an electric heater.

[Lankytim]

Hey Albert, if you have been signed off thered FA they can say or do against you. Just enjoy the time off and forget about them.

[philibusmo]

I changed the front brake discs and pads on the Alfa Romeo today. That went well apart from the little bolt that holds the disc in place until the wheel is on shearing.

 

However trying to get that fecking airbag light to go out was another matter. I downloaded multiecuscan a while back which told me that the airbag ecu was faulty. I changed it and the new ecu was not recognized by the software where the old one still was. The light did not go out. I got a refund on this one and sent it back. I have changed it again today and once again it is not recognized by the software, but a new thing has occurred; when I turn the key to the on postition the airbag light initially goes out, then turns on again after about 5 seconds.

 

Fucked if I know what is going on, and for once the internet has been no help in resolving this.

[dollywobbler]

Bolts that hold discs on are the bane of my life at the moment. Hammering a smaller socket does seem to work if it doesn't just snap...

 

Anyway. I led about 20 2CVs up a big hill today, after a 30 mile scenic drive. Great fun, great weather, appalling parking.

 

The day started well when this happened to drive by.

 

Nice arses.

 

The day ended less well when a different part of the exhaust fractured (the bit I ran out of time to replace earlier in the week). Just got is back home without entirely falling apart, but I'm deaf again. BXs are a lot quieter...

[ProgRocker]

I rang in the next morning, and spoke to the Service Manager. Total cock. All he did was try to brow beat me and find out why I hadn't been to the Docs the previous day.... When I did go, I was signed off for a week. Infected blisters on my feet, caused by Athlete's foot, which had gone septic, and I now have infected lymph nodes and blood poisoning. Joy. And still he thinks I'm putting it on. Cunt. I have a good mind to save all the blisters that fall off and pop them in a little bag as proof of my illness. I look forward to returning on Thursday morning. NOT. Anyway. That's why I'm a miserable bastard THIS week. Next week, there will be another reason. Yeah, that'll be the written warning I receive for telling the Boss what I think of his people/management skills.

 

Get well soon, AlbertRoss!

What a toss piece the Service Manager is. FFS, guilty until proven innocent. Maybe when you can return to work raise a grievance complaint with his line Manager?

[vulgalour]

Well wishes from me too, Mr Ross.

 

Tuesday, I'm off to view a silly plastic car with no petrol tank. I've waived the 'must have MoT' criteria because of how ludicrously cheap it is. Pictures and report to follow.

[skattrd]

If it's a three wheeler, you'd better be quick VA, as these are quite sought after for the oval.

[vulgalour]

I know, and they command far stronger money than they ought to. Booking arranged, off to Birmingham which is where the Maestro came from. Got folks who are interested in the Maestro too, so hopefully this will line up fairly neatly. I could be living the dream of getting a Trotterised van to de-Trotter.

[Mr_Bo11ox]

Lent my A-frame to a colleague today, here it is in action:

 

 

Looks like the perfect day to me, scooping up old shit in beautiful countryside

[mk1_4dr]

I think I'm going to be framing escRot tomorrow, in the snow. Lets hope I don't make a complete hash of it and end up with 2written off cars...

[Albert Ross]

If I had diesel in my tank, I would tow it for you, seeing as you have the kit...... however....

[peter9000uk]

Mondeo Estate gone, Renault Laguna 1.9DCi estate in to replace. Thought it too good to be true that I have ended up with a car that I had zero to do on it, even had tax and diesel. Drivers door won't lock, just a weird screeching coming from the solenoid. Had this with 2 doors on old Laguna. New lock mechanism required so e-bay here I come. I tried to fix one of the old ones once. They are a sealed unit and when I finally opened it up springs and bits flew everywhere!

 

On a diferent note, off to see a Quantum 2+2 later in the week. Been off the road for about a year and the bloke wants his garage back so will be silly cheap.

[cobblers]

I think I'm going to be framing escRot tomorrow, in the snow. Lets hope I don't make a complete hash of it and end up with 2written off cars...

 

 

A couple of years ago me and a mate nearly ended up dead about 5 or 6 times A framing a baywindow behind his T5 on the way to Dubfreeze or somesuch VW show, it's flipping horrible so go steady pal!

[dollywobbler]

That VW combo has a heavy weight at the extreme ends of it - not pleasant! Escort should be ok but going steady is sensible advice.