The new news 24 thread

[Noel Tidybeard]

the front flexi's are new, the back ones.... less so!

 

we may yet end up changing those too, it could be that we were just trying to bleed them quick, more quickly than they need. certainly some of the brake fluid coming out was frothy in nature. what we need is to take more time with it. 

 

the odd thing is that the peddle was soft as a soft thing with the first press, then it was firming right up. 

 

we have got a pocket of air trapped somwhere, so i'm hoping that with further effort we will get all the air back out.

 

you can get trapped air in that STUPID pipe that goes down to subframe for brakelight switch

[dollywobbler]

Three years of mighty Nippa!

 

I think it's done 12,000 miles in that time.

[tooSavvy]

Pushing the brake pedal all the way to the floor... FIAT alloy* m/c... can result in a locked piston/jammed at bottom.

 

*other shonky alloy brake part suppliers are possible!

 

**fandongdrippingnipple mfg co would appear on [such] a list

 

 

TS

[C1am]

I'm sure I heard that if it's on the register a lot of insurance companies won't touch you and if they do it's a lot more expensive than a non write off?.

Not in my experience. I bought a car (Cat D) from chez Krujoe nearly four years ago and have insured it with two insurers at no additional cost. 

[Kiltox]

I'm sure I heard that if it's on the register a lot of insurance companies won't touch you and if they do it's a lot more expensive than a non write off?.

My van’s insurer couldn’t give a flying one

[trigger]

Maybe they don't then, a friend bought his daughter a 206 as a first car and when he went to insure it for her they came back saying it was a Cat C and wouldn't cover her so he had to sell it at a loss.

[twosmoke300]

Bleeding No1 - the bleed nipple has to be at the highest point of the cylinder/ caliper or you will never get the air out . That pic looks like the nipple is lower than the pipe in

[vulgalour]

Does anyone know where to buy 3-4mm thickness plain steel wire?   I reckon it's going to be the easiest way to sort out the rear arches on the Princess and retain strength while giving maximum lip clearance for the Lotus alloys.  My rear arches aren't shot, but they're on their way and panels aren't available.

 

I would just use old coat hangers, but all the ones I'm finding are galvanised and plastic coated, which I don't want, and I'm pretty sure it'll be more expensive to go that route than just buy a decent length/roll of suitable thickness plain steel wire.

[tooSavvy]

^^ Spoilt(damp) welding rods.... ?

 

... As ms wire

 

TS

[vulgalour]

Actually, that might be a good call.  I've got a bunch of welding rods of unknown quantity if they haven't already been binned.

[New POD]

Can't say I've ever struggled with bleeding. I just ensure the reservoir is topped up, and get Mrs DW on pedal/handlebar duty. Slow application to the floor/end of travel, lock nipple, remove pressure, open nipple, repeat. I did see something saying that master cylinders are best bled on the bench, but couldn't really see how to achieve that without making a ton of mess. Key thing is to keep an eye on the reservoir, so you don't accidentally pump air into the system. That is annoying.

 

I've struggled with Bleeding Mini's.  The trick when one wheel cylinder starts top leak is to replace the whole lot, because finite life.

 

Plus the front adjusters on mini drums. Shit.

[bramz7]

I don't actually mind this Stilo I've just got. The rides a bit crud on rough surfaces but it's actually quite fun to hustle. The gearing is spot on too, and the engine is pretty rapid when needed.

 

Obviously it has some niggles because 15 year old Fiat. Certainly worth the measly money it cost me though.

[Arthur Foxhake]

Getting there now.

Log burner to make, then fit. Drop petrol tank and re-fix the minibus seats. Make table to go in front of minibus seats to keep DVLA happy when re-registering as a motorhome. Paint ply. Go camping.

 

 

 

 

[xtriple]

Today I have been pulled, prodded, poked had things checked with pressure things clipped to fingers, arms and anywhere else they coud get at easily. If MOT's were as stringent there'd be no cars on the road older than 3!

 

Oh and I failed on about a dozen major points (and got some advisories as well) so the scrapyard beckons but I should be good for another year or two.

 

Oh am still 6' if I am forced to stand up straight (which hurts like a son of a bitch) and weigh 11 stone 5 clothed. Not been weighed in years so not sure if that's good or bad?

[Shep Shepherd]

Collected The Volvo's replacement instrument panel from work, where I had it delivered last week; I would have collected it before now, but I was at Crufts communing with canines. I plan to fit it and get it working tomorrow

[stuboy]

called to go into work short notice happen to notice temp guage go into the red twice, strange never done before, checked everything and all seems ok, heaters blow hot... so dunno if stat playing up or temp guage sensor...

[MorrisItalSLX]

I always choose the best parking spaces:

 

[oldcars]

Saw this on u pull it site. Reg seems familiar was this on here at one point?

 

https://www.u-pull-it.co.uk/breaker-parts/rover-200-1989/27493708

[MorrisItalSLX]

HYACINTH!!!

 

   

[Eddie Honda]

was this on here at one point?

Yes

 

http://autoshite.com/topic/22739-your-rover-sd3-stories-mine-has-ended/

[Lord Sterling]

Ah, shame, Eddy's old one.

[Shep Shepherd]

Just fitted The Volvo's new instrument panel. It's 100% functional - even the panel illumination dimmer works. Not bad for the equivalent of £54; for the price and level of functionality, I can happily live with the Americanisms ^^

 

 

It also has LED illumination bulbs, presumably fitted by the donor car's last owner:

 

 

I look forward to seeing what they are like at night, as I've never had LED illumination inside a car before 

 

It's really nice to have a fully-functioning instrument panel in the car for the first time in nearly 15 years of ownership. I had given up hope of ever achieving such status ages ago. I hope it carries on working for a good while yet.

 

EDIT: took the car out for a 10 mile drive this evening, which proved that the speedometer, odometer and trip meter work perfectly; the former in particular is extremely accurate (measured by a GPS speedometer phone app, it was 1 mph slow at 30, 40, 50 and 60 mph). Also, the illumination works a treat:

 

 

I think I've done well with this one 

[oldcars]

HYACINTH!!!

 

   

 

 

Yes

 

http://autoshite.com/topic/22739-your-rover-sd3-stories-mine-has-ended/

 

 

Ah, shame, Eddy's old one.

Real shame then. Sad to see.

[MarvinsMom]

it is a shame, but it was rotten to the core, and maybe some of its parts will keep another one or two that are left on ther road?

 

here it is with marvin, in happier times

[Tadhg Tiogar]

.....I can happily live with the Americanisms ^^...

 

...including shorter miles, and less volumetric gallons.... 

 

Actually, did Volvo adjust all their gauges specifically for NA market cars, or were the same gauges/dials used regardless of market?

[Shep Shepherd]

...including shorter miles, and less volumetric gallons.... 

 

Actually, did Volvo adjust all their gauges specifically for NA market cars, or were the same gauges/dials used regardless of market?

 

I think the same gauges were used throughout, although the US speedometers have a red line at the 55 mph mark; thankfully, Volvos of the time didn't have to suffer a speedometer which only read up to 85 mph.

 

Main differences I can see are the service indicator reset button, the 'UNLEADED FUEL ONLY' warning, and the handbrake warning, brake failure warning and check engine lights having words instead of pictograms i.e. 'PARK BRAKE', 'BRAKE' and 'CHECK ENGINE'. I also had to remove the airbag warning light bulb, as it was on constantly, warning me about a problem that would never occur on the car,

 

If I ever have the panel apart, I may replace the acetate strips which give the warning lights their colour with the ones from the old panel, as I prefer the 'Lambda Sond' symbol over the 'CHECK ENGINE' one. It looks like it's never been apart, so I'll leave it for now, however.  

[JeeExEll]

Officially became fifty at the weekend.

How the fuck did that happen?

 

Was just living along, minding my own business, aged 23, almost permanently skint for whatever reason but not too bothered about it, in good health, then all of a sudden it's FIVE OH.

Hey, just wait a minute here, . . . .

 

Can't get my head round it. Must mean someone else, it's not me. I'll be 24 soon.

 

Am still keeping the new record player tho

[tooSavvy]

Ken Dodd 'goes green'! lol

 

His coffin will be fully environmentally biodegradable & green*

 

*they are using all the Green £1 notes found stuffed in his mattress

 

Tax dodging twunt

 

My dislike of this thievery runs to footballers/entertainers/e businesses + others Grrr

 

 

TS

[SiC]

Don't know. The trim inside the boot had popped out but not had a chance to look further. Looking underneath I just see a sea of plastic undertray.

Picked up the hire car today. As it wasn't my fault I got a like for like replacement.

 

The guy on the phone said it's a Mini Cooper. Cool I thought, something mildly interesting (better than an Astra...). "I wonder if it was a 5 door or 3 door?" passed through my mind. Then had a fright "Ohhh no, I hope it's not one of those enormous Clubman things!?!".

 

No. It wasn't. Far, far worse than that.

 

 

When you close the doors, it does this...

 

Anyone got a balaclava that I can borrow for 7 days?

 

I'm genuinely fearful that my wife may really want one after driving it.

[Tadhg Tiogar]

Picked up the hire car today. As it wasn't my fault I got a like for like replacement.

 

The guy on the phone said it's a Mini Cooper. Cool I thought, something mildly interesting (better than an Astra...). "I wonder if it was a 5 door or 3 door?" passed through my mind. Then had a fright "Ohhh no, I hope it's not one of those enormous Clubman things!?!".

 

No. It wasn't. Far, far worse than that.

 

 

When you close the doors, it does this...

Is that a bit like the Batman symbol, but in reverse?

 

Anyone got a balaclava that I can borrow for 7 days?....

Dollywobbler might have one....