The new news 24 thread

[Tadhg Tiogar]

I know this is Autoshite but bollocks to you, I like clean and shiny!

I’ve just spent the entire day cleaning the Mercury! Got started at about 08:30 and only just finished.

It’s had a good clean and cockpit shine etc inside, then a two bucket wash and dry off. Break for lunch then a cut back and polish/wax.

Doesn’t sound like much for a days work but it was serious graft I can assure you!

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Lovely!

You could eat your dinner off that!

 

Is that an oul folks' home in the background?

[danthecapriman]

Top job, Dan! Genuinely don't think I could be bothered doing a car that size, and I've been known to go a bit "detailing world" in the past.

It is a bastard doing this car! It’s huge and takes forever to do.

It was a good day for it though, dry and reasonably warm but overcast. It wanted doing too, it looked clean but it’d got quite grubby from its winter lay up. I think it’s been about a year since it last got a coat of wax.

Bumper chrome will get a polish and wax tomorrow, I ran out of time today and my backs absolutely killing me now!

[MarvinsMom]

piece of shit black mini still has no brakes.

 

in desperation we have deposited it at a local garage. and they have had no more luck at getting a working brake pedal than we had.

 

its sat beached on their ramps now for the better part of a week, and is no where nearer working than when i took it down. and more importantly it seems that i don't like driving it.

 

i couldn't put my fingure on it, could it be the thin backed, and fixed seat, or the bloody din from it, or could it be the fact that when on th eroad it felt proper gormless. i'm used to the MPi tramlining like mad, but the black mini seemed to wander about like a drunken cow......

 

now it could be that is down to the enormous standatd steering wheel, or the narrow, and tiny little wheels, or it could be down to me been i  a proper strop with the little shit box, but the overall driving experience wasn't much fun.

 

so i'm now thinking of cutting my losses and get the little fucker sold. but i don't want to be dealing with tossers on fleabay or scumtree, so instead i'm thinking of sending it over the block in auction. a local firm does indeed regularly sell "classics" by auction, so i'm minded to take the inevitable haircut over it, and just get rid.

 

or burn it, with fire, both solutions work for me.

 

the orange mini now has new steadybar bushes, though it now has a rattle from we think the clutch thrust bearing, so i'm guessing sooner or later that little twat will need a clutch. 

 

i fuckin' HATE old shit bag cars!

[danthecapriman]

You could eat your dinner off that!

Is that an oul folks' home in the background?

Ta!

 

Yeah, the Nightingale lodge is sheltered apartments for the elderly. They buy them and treat them like a private flat but there’s a dedicated warden on site for anything they need.

The other side is a church. You can see the little bell under the tiny roof thing on the end wall. They still ring it every Sunday and at Easter and Xmas.

[Tadhg Tiogar]

Ta!

Yeah, the Nightingale lodge is sheltered apartments for the elderly. ....

Ah. Nightingale Lodge seems to be a popular name for sheltered accommodation / care homes.

 

When's the next trip out for the Mercury?

[danthecapriman]

Ah. Nightingale Lodge seems to be a popular name for sheltered accommodation / care homes.

When's the next trip out for the Mercury?

I had hoped to have it out today but I think that was a bit optimistic!

I might get it out tomorrow if it’s nice, failing that it’ll probably be Wednesday for the Solent Shiters event.

[Asimo]

Tyre pressures are all good, 29 all round. I'm not one to forego things like that!

The tyres are very recent, 2017 stamped on them and barely worn, )the size is moulded on to the tread and it hasn't even worn off yet - sub-1000 miles?), so wheel balancing seems unlikely but could well be worth a check.

The o/s front has a seemingly collapsed spring as evidenced by replacing the (also collapsed) dampers with new KYBs not causing a difference to the uneven front ride height, could that be relevant? Don't get why it'd pull left though if the offside is lower, unless the uneven load is messing with the diff and putting more torque on the o/s wheel? Purely thinking out loud there.

There's also some play in the steering around the centre which I think is a loose UJ.

Joints etc are all good as would have noticed/checked when replacing the dampers.

From how it's behaving in general I'm looking to the brakes, but it could be anything. 

I've ruled out the tracking through the super scientific method of a piece of string.

 

Typically the collapsed spring issue is the opposite problem to one I've had before, the rear of the A4 had fucked dampers and too-long springs to start with. Replacing the springs for correct height ones had the car knocking and banging all over the shop until new Bilsteins were sourced.

Is this a 4WS model? That would make this symptom a real challenge!

Rear suspension problems are just as likely to cause a car to pull to the left as front suspension trouble. If brakes were binding enough for you to feel it as steering pull then they would be getting very hot.

[stuboy]

£441 and fozzie focus has years mot!! Glad it was cheap... looking forward to next day off to swap back box back to sportex one.. i didnt know they were replacing the rear box.. but hey ho..

[SiC]

Good old Civic is in for it's MOT tomorrow. Should be a straight through breeze* like it always is!

Shouldn't have even had any doubt. Passed first time with zero advisories and zilch prep before hand (except a new crash beam putting the rear bumpers back on). This is despite having a punt up the arse and sat around for a month. 45quid for the MOT and that's it.

 

I quite enjoyed driving it too. The reassuring rattle of a diesel and vibration of loose trim is comforting. Like sitting in your favourite old sofa. Not 100% sure I really want to get rid of it either.

 

TT parts have come into the garage now. All day job to fit them all, so won't be done until the week after next. The thermostat requires the alternator to be removed. Bloody VAG engineers.

[MikeR]

got hold of this today to put old oil in for the tip  , who were Royal snowdrift oil ?????

 

 

[dollywobbler]

Is this a 4WS model? That would make this symptom a real challenge!

Rear suspension problems are just as likely to cause a car to pull to the left as front suspension trouble. If brakes were binding enough for you to feel it as steering pull then they would be getting very hot.

 

It's just a 2-litre auto like mine was I think. I'd get the tracking checked as a first step. And check the tyres are actually round! I've got a wheel wobble on the Starlet, which has just had a set of new tyres fitted. I need to look into that, as it definitely isn't wheel balancing - for it does it at 20mph too...

[Guest Hooli]

got hold of this today to put old oil in for the tip  , who were Royal snowdrift oil ?????

 

 

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Dunno but a tin like that is listed as 1920s & selling for £138 about halfway down this page https://www.thevintagegarage.com/packaging.html

[iainrcz]

News for tonight - work is bollocks.

 

 

Sent from my phone. which obviously isn't an Apple one, I'd have said.

[Ghosty]

It's just a 2-litre auto like mine was I think. I'd get the tracking checked as a first step. And check the tyres are actually round! I've got a wheel wobble on the Starlet, which has just had a set of new tyres fitted. I need to look into that, as it definitely isn't wheel balancing - for it does it at 20mph too...

Yeah it's a 2.0i auto, no 4WS.

 

I've bled the brakes today and greased all the caliper sliders, let's see if that makes a difference. The sliders were all virtually dry and the brake fluid was disgusting.

 

No play in any bushes or anything so it's a bit of a puzzle unless it's a fucked steering rack.

 

Sent from my Moto G (5S) using Tapatalk

[cros]

I've been shot in the eye. It was a Wipac lamp, and because the replacement 'Autopals' look nothing like them with bulging, instead of flat lenses, I felt I had to replace both. The Indian made lamps are £19 a pair including H4 bulbs and postage. For this you expect lumps in the silvering, sealant bulging out around the lens which needs trimming before it'll fit into the holder, and a very short life. So far they've met all my expectations.

[SiC]

I think I'm going to swap the MGB and Civic round, so the Civic is up in the garage. The MGB MOT will expire in a week or two and I need to get it sorted. Also the Civic is insured for another day, so my last chance to do it.

 

Would be good to get the MGB out in the coming warmth too, so the moisture can bake off. I did put it away wet 2 weeks ago and I'm praying that's a short enough period to not have done any damage.

 

My wife has promised that the Civic will only be up in the garage for a maximum of a month before her parents take possession of it. This is important as I want another classic project to fill the drive and get working on in the warmer spring/summer months.

 

I'm just hoping that the MGB won't protest and mess around tomorrow as it's the only day I can move it.

[mrbenn]

I'm just hoping that the MGB won't protest and mess around tomorrow as it's the only day I can move it.

 

No pressure! Good luck.

[vulgalour]

Threaten to scrap it, then try bargaining, then give up.  It'll work perfectly fine once you've lost your temper and then it'll sit there doing the car equivalent of troll giggling at you.

[HillmanImp]

Jaguar has its MOT today. Its gonna fail but how spectacularly is the question. Know it needs one wheel bearing and some welding at least and theres a clunk from the front suspension somewhere.

 

Been looking at some other cars in anticipation but can't see myself not repairing this unless its absolutely beyond help and whilst its a bit rotten, I don't think its a basket case yet.

 

Fingers crossed.

[Jams]

Mrs modern vag 2.0tdi is running like a bag of shite! Lumpy tick over is getting worse!

 

Need to get it sorted any experience chaps

[artdjones]

∆How modern?

Sounds like egr?

[purplebargeken]

Si, ditch the bloody TT as soon as poss. Sounds like a world of hurt is just a short drive away.

[SiC]

Si, ditch the bloody TT as soon as poss. Sounds like a world of hurt is just a short drive away.

But then I'd need to find a replacement and that could be just as much of a world of pain as the TT. It also looks pretty smart, comfortable place to sit and quick. All things that are nice to have in a car. Not sure I can be doing with the hassle of trying to sell it either. I bet it's a type of car that would attract a certain type of buyer.

 

Might get my mother-in-law to drive the Civic and see if she likes driving it. I'm kinda hoping not in some ways!

 

(Also I don't want a green ZT... )

[Guest Hooli]

Jaguar has its MOT today. Its gonna fail but how spectacularly is the question. Know it needs one wheel bearing and some welding at least and theres a clunk from the front suspension somewhere.

 

Been looking at some other cars in anticipation but can't see myself not repairing this unless its absolutely beyond help and whilst its a bit rotten, I don't think its a basket case yet.

 

Fingers crossed.

 

X300 from memory?

 

Shock top bushes at the front, simple to do & a common fault.

[r.welfare]

I've come away from my early morning MOT needing two plates on the rear floorpan and two front brake pipes on an early E46 coupe. Not too bad given it's 18 years old.

[BeEP]

Following far too soon after last week's Punto buyage, yesterday this happened...

 

 

...Rover 218D (absolute base model) as posted in the ebay tat thread about a week ago; I grabbed it when Bramz7 stepped aside (sorry to hear about the Dedra!).

 

Lacquer peel?  Don't know what you're talking about!

 

I also don't know why all diesels I buy have inches of slack in the throttle cable.  Keeping it at 70 on the M11 was a bit of a challenge with a number of its already few horses beyond the reach of the accelerator pedal.  Sorted as soon as I got home and it's transformed (as was the 405, and the ZX, and the 106.......).

 

Owned by an old chap from new until last July, I do wonder how sympathetic his MOT tester has been though as one of the trailing arm bushes is totally shot and it's done less than 3000 miles since the last test.

 

Back on its original wheels already (as I'm not a fan of non-original alloys) it will be put to one side until I'm bored with the Punto.  The alloys (15" coronets) will be for sale shortly; three have superb tyres, the other has suffered as a result of that trailing arm bush.  If anyone on here is interested ping me a PM; I'll put a post in the for sale thread when I've cleaned and photographed them properly.

[bramz7]

Glad that ones worked out well for you Peter! Was just wondering how it went...

[HillmanImp]

Jaguar has its MOT today. Its gonna fail but how spectacularly is the question. Know it needs one wheel bearing and some welding at least and theres a clunk from the front suspension somewhere.

Been looking at some other cars in anticipation but can't see myself not repairing this unless its absolutely beyond help and whilst its a bit rotten, I don't think its a basket case yet.

Fingers crossed.

Well, it didn't fail on what I was expecting this year but did fail on what I was expecting it to last year but didn't.

 

Went shopping and came back and my mate was there with his 1988 VW camper van. He'd arrived after me and had his MOT and was going to leave whilst mine was STILL getting done. Didn't bode well.

 

In the end though, it failed because my subframe attachment rubber mounting bonding has apparently deteriorated at the front on both sides (whatever that is).

 

Had been expecting something for the front suspension last year as it used to trip over itself coming to a halt abruptly at low speeds but I couldn't tell what was up with it, and it passed its MOT okay so just put it down to being a quirk. Seems not.

 

Lots and LOTS of advisory notices for corrosion though to sort out before next year.

 

However assuming that thing that's wrong with it is okay to sort out, I'm happy with that.

 

Oh, and the seat was broken but I will do that myself. A fat man sat in it and broke it. Its been an advisory for a few years but never failed but should be easy to sort.

[Jams]

∆How modern?

Sounds like egr?

On 56 plate Leon 2.0 tdi

 

Really lumpy tick over thats been getting worse for a few months mrs is frightened it will shit itself and has nicked my car till I fix it!!

[Dirk Diggler]

On 56 plate Leon 2.0 tdi

Really lumpy tick over thats been getting worse for a few months mrs is frightened it will shit itself and has nicked my car till I fix it!!

It's not the flywheel? / You know what a flywheel failing can sound like?