The new news 24 thread

[davehedgehog31]

A happy evenings fettling on the 407. Front discs and pads renewed, everything came apart pretty easily and went back together no bother, textbook.

 

Unexpectedly pleasant. Rover is up next, fully expecting skint knuckles, bastard tight bolts and pain.

[Angrydicky]

I've hidden it up a cul-de-sac in the hopes nobody notices it...

 

Also trying to spread the fleet over several streets to avoid enraging my immediate neighbours...

Lol, reminds me of when my parents were trying to sell their house, while I was welding up the AS Buttery Biscuit (Sierra) Base on the driveway. Every time they had a viewing, I was instructed to 'hide' it down the road somewhere an hour before.

 

I parked it in the cul-de-sac up the road a couple of times before the guy who owned the house it was parked outside knocked on the door and asked my parents to "please move the old Escort from outside my house".

It then got moved in the other direction and lasted a couple of days there, before twat opposite came round and asked my parents to move it, because he was "concerned about hitting it while reversing out of my driveway".

Other cars parked there all the time, and I'm sure he'd never moaned about them.

 

Obviously, both these instances occurred while I was at work. I would have told the miserable bastards to get stuffed, had the car had a valid MoT...

 

TLDR: Little Wakering Road is full of snobbish curtain-twitching, old car-hating arseholes. Where they live now is much better, there's several old car owners nearby, and the guy next door has a Sierra too (albeit a Cozzie). I'm sure it wouldn't be a problem there!

[madrat]

Clearing secondary log pile, (possible rat home) one large dead rotting maggot infested rat, cue me dry heaving under a tree, several hours playing with chainsaw, and burning general garden rubbish.

[clayts450]

Oil change on Streetwise today, even managed to get the filter off and changed without any kind of faff.

 

Wanted to change spark plugs today as probably not done for at least 5 yrs (only two services on this car, last 2013) - very deep set in the K-series. Had planned ahead and bought a deep spark plug socket.

 

Fucking chocolate teapot - no rubber bit so once you've unscrewed the plug there is no way to grab hold of it unless you have Freddie Kreuger fingernails, just flops around uselessly at the bottom of the well.

 

Tried in vain to use the spark plug socket in my socket set which does have a rubber bit, but extension bar not quite long enough. Screwed plug back in with a hearty 'fuck it, do it later', stuck cover back on (three screws). Third screw snapped, so now have to figure out how to get that bastard out as well.

[madrat]

Oil change on Streetwise today, even managed to get the filter off and changed without any kind of faff.

 

Wanted to change spark plugs today as probably not done for at least 5 yrs (only two services on this car, last 2013) - very deep set in the K-series. Had planned ahead and bought a deep spark plug socket.

 

Fucking chocolate teapot - no rubber bit so once you've unscrewed the plug there is no way to grab hold of it unless you have Freddie Kreuger fingernails, just flops around uselessly at the bottom of the well.

 

Tried in vain to use the spark plug socket in my socket set which does have a rubber bit, but extension bar not quite long enough. Screwed plug back in with a hearty 'fuck it, do it later', stuck cover back on (three screws). Third screw snapped, so now have to figure out how to get that bastard out as well.

Push length of rubber hose pipe over spark plug after you have loosened it.

[clayts450]

Thanks for the tip. Didn't have any to hand but that will be plan B, assuming I can get the cover off again

[Guest Hooli]

I've got one of those 'magnet onna stick' things, it's good for getting plugs out too.

[clayts450]

Ace, thanks Hooli I know this is probably Noddy DIY to most on here but it's been a few years since I've stuck my head under the flappy thing at the front to look at the big black noisy oily thing (actually tell a lie, I've done a few odds and sods since I got back in the saddle and was amazed I was able to do the little jobs without disaster)

[plasticvandan]

$_00016.jpg

 

For the last month I've been using the 205 as my main car.

 

However I have now agreed to purchase something Japanese and red from a another member of this forum.

 

So the 205 will be surplus.

 

Interested in the 205 if it becomes available

[mrbenn]

The rubber bit went missing from my spark plug socket, so I improvised with electrical tape. Works well but tape needs renewing every so often as it gets chewed up and stops holding the plug.

[greengartside]

Small but sad update. The Astra SRi is potentially fubared. The gearbox had been making some unpleasant noises recently (the dreaded M32 ‘box) and there was a lot of play in the gear lever when you went to boot it.

 

Anyhoo just drove home from work and it jumped out of 4th and now there’s a loud grinding noise in all gears. Luckily it happened about a quarter of a mile from home so I was able to coast most of it back. It still engages gears and will drive but it’s very unhappy.

 

Time to dig out the pushbike methinks......

[holbeck]

Interested in the 205 if it becomes available

 

Noted, although someone has already bagged first dibs if a straight sale. 

[twosmoke300]

Just use the HT lead or coil pack to pick the plug up.

[Ghosty]

The Honda needs to be moved on Monday as my house is being re-roofed.

The distributor is off the car in bits, and the rotor arm is broken. No sign of dispatch on the replacements.

Can't start the car, steering and brakes are limited by this.

 

The drive the car is on slopes downwards, and it would take at least 3 people to push/steer it - tried to push it with two people, no dice.

 

I probably need to find something to pull it off the drive with.

[mrbenn]

^^^^ Opportunity to buy another car?

[Ghosty]

Ha! I'd like to say yes but it'll be a few months until that's practical.

 

That money is my Shitefest budget.

[tommotech]

Having sold my black Bini I now have another Bini incoming. It was built in May 2001 and registered in July 2001, on a Y plate - before general sales commenced in September 2001.

 

I don’t need it, it’s unloved and needs lots of TLC. WCPGW.......

[Ghosty]

Good buy - Y plate Binis are a real rarity. They're out there though!

 

image by max_burton, on Flickr

[dollywobbler]

Have you driven any as early as mine? 

 

Watch some Best Motoring videos from the period (1995); they all park like my car. 

Jesus, what a weird reply. 

 

Yes. I used to own one. It looked like this.

[Cavcraft]

Incoming:

 

 

Because

 

 

It’s actually far, far worse than it looks (if that’s possible) by the way.

[Supernaut]

It’s actually far, far worse than it looks (if that’s possible) by the way.

 

Oh yes! I always like to see a rancid Cavcraft collection!

[egg]

Ford really could have made a van version of the Fusion.  It could have been sold in France as an 'enterprise' model for sure.

 

 

 

 

 

[Tadhg Tiogar]

Apparently tomorrow is "CX Technical Day" at Chevronics, but for Citroen Car Club members only. As I'm not a member, I can't go....

[alcyonecorporation]

Billeh, with this CORSA 1.4 TINPOR you are well spoiling us hhhhhh.

[xtriple]

Just been offered a derisory amount for the dollop 'as is' by Flying spares. I am tempted to just sack the fucker off and hope they scrap it.

[alcyonecorporation]

Jesus. 

[DodgeRover]

Car being used near me, shows taxed MOT'd but no insurance, best way to report since it's parked up 90% of the time?

 

Annoys me as 1 year ago I had my car on a prov license, with insurance! and i could not even TOUCH the fucker without curtains twitching, neighbours looking as I came home in it with a good friend in the front passenger seat, yet other people get a free fucking pass.

No way to report it as it could be on a fleet or traders policy etc, you can try reporting it to the police but didn't you have to say you were the owner to look it up on the MID?

[DodgeRover]

Jesus.

Should this be in the grin or grump thread or does it fall foul of the no religion rule?

 

More importantly you ok?

[cobblers]

Incoming:

 

40936423-20F2-4567-BB5C-A8F6B47458CA.jpeg

 

Because

 

7524A936-CFC8-420E-A73B-64EEBC387E17.jpeg

 

It’s actually far, far worse than it looks (if that’s possible) by the way.

I might know a man for the PAS motor thingy before you bridge it 

[Mally]

Just been offered a derisory amount for the dollop 'as is' by Flying spares. I am tempted to just sack the fucker off and hope they scrap it.

 

I would think it unlikely they scrap it, they may tell you they are and change their mind.

Apart from the engine problem anyone would love it.

I imagine it's not a fixed price repair though, so they could be asking even more from you at the end?

Can you live without it?

Can you bear watching someone drive it past you whilst you walk the dogs.

It's your call, but don't let it break you, or anywhere close. There may be another bill shortly.