The new news 24 thread

[beko1987]

The climate is in full improvement mode here, my phone won't show the heavy rain, but the pizza oven is nearly ready...

 

[Slowsilver]

Unexpected visitor chez Silvers today:

 

1963 Wolseley 1500 belonging to a near neighbour on our estate, but have never seen it before.

The elderly gentleman who owns it (let's call him George, because that was his name) can unfortunately no longer drive for medical reasons but wanted to start it so that he could move it out of the garage for photographs as he is intending to put it up for sale. But it wouldn't turn over.

His mechanic* told him it must be the starter motor. Having spotted the Maxi on the drive on several occasions he guessed I was a classic car botherer, so walked round and knocked on my door to ask if I could have a look.

He said he had plenty of tools so we walked back to see what we could find.

New fully-charged battery but just a click from the solenoid when the starter button (yes button, how quaint) was pushed. Checked and cleaned battery terminals and earth connection to inner wing. No change. Then noticed that the throttle cable had got hot, so deduced that the problem was the earth connection between the chassis and the engine. Located this but it is right underneath the car between the nearside chassis rail and one of the bellhousing bolts. Borrowed a jump lead from a neighbour and clipped it between a cylinder head nut and the battery earth terminal. VROOM! (well more PUTT-PUTT-PUTT actually) it turned over and fired up.

Couldn't really access the earth strap with the car on the ground in his garage so he agreed to me driving it round to my place.

Got it up on the ramps to find that it wasn't even corroded, the bellhousing bolt had simply worked loose. Removed the connections anyway, cleaned them up with a bit of emery cloth, smeared some petroleum jelly on them and bolted them back up tight. Hey presto, problem solved.

Took some photos he can use for selling it, then drove George back to his house, parked the car back in the garage for him, then was invited in and spent a very pleasant half hour talking about old cars.

As I was leaving he offered me a bottle of wine "for my trouble". I protested, but he insisted.

10 minutes tinkerage saved him the cost of an unnecessary new starter motor.

My good deed for the day/month/year achieved.

 

[bramz7]

Today has mostly been this:

 

20180529_131139 by Sam Osbon, on Flickr

 

Went down to Bournemouth to dig out the Tipo. The owner of the storage place is quite possibly the friendliest man I have ever met, which is saying something.

 

The drive back was happily event free, other than a phenomenal deluge of rain on the M3 by Winchester and the car threatening to cut out when downshifting, which was odd but happened only briefly. Probably crud in the tank I suspect?

 

I loved driving it back. I think I have changed driving style since I tucked it away, as I am only too happy to take it past 4000rpm now, and it loves it. Everything still feels tight, the clutch is light, the seats are comfortable, the sound I thought was a failing heater matrix has gone, it looks better than I remember etc, so remind me again, why am I selling it?! 

[Ghosty]

Live collectionage from circa 10am tomorrow!

[trigger]

The flaky tatty alloys on my Rover have been bugging me for ages so I thought I'd get them off today to paint them

 

 

A hour into the job I've started to lose the will to live, I've never done it before but I think I'm going to have to get a professional to do them.

 

 

The paint is so thick and awkward to feather back nicely, they are going to look shit, wish I hadn't started the job now!

 

[SiC]

Just had a phone call from the wife. The gift that keeps on giving (Audi TT) has made itself known again. Apparently makes a strong electrical burning smell when the interior fans are on... Google doesn't show any likely candidates for that fault either.

 

I've only just cleared my Credit Card bill too!

So just got in and started up. No smell. I suspect strongly it was outside as she drove past. Or it was hot inside and just normal hot car smell. She also moaned about hot air coming out of the vents. I reminded her that if the interior is hot, it takes a bit before the Aircon can really do its thing. Thing is, as it only did it like 3 or 4 minutes starting the engine (if that) there is only so many things it could be. Not really long enough for engine to burn off stuff and if it was electrical, it'd be blowing a fuse or smoking if it heated up that quickly. All electrical systems seem fine and not showing codes*.

 

Popping was just the Bose amp switching on. I can repeat that easily by force rebooting the head unit. The base speaker gives quite a punch. It's throwing an output stage error code which has been there for a while and the front speakers aren't working. The Bose amp lives in the rear cubby hole. Apparently water gets forced through the wheel arch vent and gets it wet. Not sure how true that is, or if it's just condensation forming in it. Will rip it out in a bit and take a looksy if it doesn't rain. Not so bothered about this popping.

 

 

* No codes apart from the sound system code above and this new one I'm going to ignore for a bit...

 

Apparently another common VAG fault. But I've had no problems and could just be one of those spradic codes that throw up time to time on German cars. If it comes back again, then I'll investigate key switch replacement.

[dave21478]

The flaky tatty alloys on my Rover have been bugging me for ages so I thought I'd get them off today to paint them

 

 

A hour into the job I've started to lose the will to live, I've never done it before but I think I'm going to have to get a professional to do them.

 

 

The paint is so thick and awkward to feather back nicely, they are going to look shit, wish I hadn't started the job now!

 

 

 

Fuck everything about doing wheels - especially ones as intricate as those.

If I am happy with the finish of a quick blez with a palm sander and brushed-on Hammerite then I do them myself. Otherwise its a job for somebody else.

[Jams]

Mrs is still using my civic as I sold her car as it was going to cost me big bucks!!

 

Can’t find a replacement eBay scumtree face book is littered with utter scrap these days! “Only needs” “it will just be” fuck off itsfucked!

 

Spent yesterday at buxtons oval! Bus Bangor racing! Was brill!

[mrbenn]

Was that at High Edge? Not been there for years.

[binhoker668]

I could never sell my cymbals.  The fact that they're a bit weird (mainly Istanbul/Diril) means that nobody else would want them...

 

So don't sell your cymbals!

 

Dude, I really do NOT want to.

[Stanky]

Yeah I'm with DaveNumbers on the wheels, I had a go at my (much less intricate) Saab wheels with sandpaper, a flap disc in the drill, a sanding pad and there was STILL paint and crud on the metal - I'd not got anywhere near painting them!

 

I got 4 wheels blasted and powder coated for £150 locally, complete no-brainer at that price. I;d have lost days of my life, and probably at least one finger had I continued to do them myself. And they'd have looked shit because I'm a fat handed twat.

[SRi05]

The exhaust on the panda has been blowing for a while, so it got treated to a full new SPORTZ exhaust system today, it was blowing at the front and ended up completely detaching itself from the back box. It was LOUD. I'd forgotten how sweet the engine sounds when you rev its wee titties off,so it was a happy drone free drive back. Since I've had it its had a full set of low profile tyres, brakes and discs all round, sorted the tracking which was out and now the zorst, as well as all the work Cort done on it before I bought it. Many £££ spent. Can't help but like it though, normally I'm bored with a car within a few months but I've still got the urge to keep up the little improvements. Next thing on the list is to refurb the alloys and give it a proper detail. I'd also like to find a breaker that hasn't had its front end obliterated so I can pinch a bit of bumper trim that's missing. Unfortunately the 100hp's are like hen's teeth at scrappies!

[Ghosty]

Well, shit.

 

It's actually less miles than the M6, much more exciting, and only adds an hour, but a lot less stress (maybe).

[Bucketeer]

^^^^ I reckon I know what you're getting.

Lovely area, top seller, just watch out for the big angry dogs.

[clayts450]

The Streetshite and I have our first wedding anniversary today - blimey, that went quick...

 

[MikeR]

The focus only failed its mot on brake flutter and the hole in the sill ... So new pads discs and sparkle stick work on the 8th .... And thats a 500 quid runner into its 2nd year. ????

[Guest Hooli]

I popped the grilles off for the fronts and they are aftermarkets (vibe) so I don't know why they're not working. The rears are cheap tat so I may just pay an audio shop to fit the new ones and investigate why the fronts don't work. Electricals isn't my strong point!

 

Wiring should have just be two wires to each speaker. Provided it's new enough to have ISO stereo connections of course.

[Ghosty]

Wiring should have just be two wires to each speaker. Provided it's new enough to have ISO stereo connections of course.

It is ISO iirc.

[Pat Earrings]

Wiring should have just be two wires to each speaker. Provided it's new enough to have ISO stereo connections of course.

It's got an aftermarket stereo so I assume it's already been wired to accept iso stereos. I'm popping in my own DAB/Bluetooth one today so will see if that makes a difference.

[Guest Hooli]

Then it'll just be two wires to each speaker, normally the same colour but one with a trace.

 

The normal faults I've found are loose connections at the speaker or behind the head unit, as that's all that gets disturbed when things are changed.

[Pat Earrings]

Then it'll just be two wires to each speaker, normally the same colour but one with a trace.

 

The normal faults I've found are loose connections at the speaker or behind the head unit, as that's all that gets disturbed when things are changed.

Thanks, I'll go and have a look later today

[Guest Hooli]

If the speakers aren't marked for polarity then you can pop a 9v batt across the terminals & see which way the cone moves. You want it moving into the car when it 'pops' for the best results.

[davehedgehog31]

Had a cursory glance at Gumtree at lunchtime to see what Automotive shite was nearby.

 

Chap half a mile away selling 4x new rear brake shoes for the Rover for £5. I'll have those. 

[richardmorris]

Well the 2CV passed its 23rd MOT in our ownership with no advisories. 1700miles last year too, which is up on the year before.

[Pat Earrings]

Right had a look at the rear speakers, they are also Vibe.. but wired so horrendously. One wire isn't even connected so explain non action. Fitted my Bluetooth headunit and hid the mic wires and dashcam so dead pleased. Did the front and rear sidelights with led versions. Just need to sort this utter bodge/mess of wiring to the speakers which is annoying me. Lastly whatever is loose in the steering, nothings leaking which is always good but it's just a weird feeling through the steering.

[RayMK]

Right had a look at the rear speakers, they are also Vibe.. but wired so horrendously. One wire isn't even connected so explain non action. Fitted my Bluetooth headunit and hid the mic wires and dashcam so dead pleased. Did the front and rear sidelights with led versions. Just need to sort this utter bodge/mess of wiring to the speakers which is annoying me. Lastly whatever is loose in the steering, nothings leaking which is always good but it's just a weird feeling through the steering.

 

I have never driven a Prelude but is yours a four wheel steer model? If you are a sensitive driver or there's a worn bush somewhere then the steering could feel a bit weird.  My R20 developed weirdness of the steering and it turned out to be caused by a worn front wishbone bush.

[Pat Earrings]

I have never driven a Prelude but is yours a four wheel steer model? If you are a sensitive driver or there's a worn bush somewhere then the steering could feel a bit weird. My R20 developed weirdness of the steering and it turned out to be caused by a worn front wishbone bush.

No it's not the 4 wheel steer. It just feels like something is either loose but there's a definite feeling through the steering and sometimes the brake pedal. Fluid needs changing anyway I think so I'll sort that too.

[meshking]

 

I had a suspicion the dune bashing was going to be serious when I spotted our land cruiser had a roll cage. Not sure that's standard fit.

 

Did a bit of towing another land cruiser stuck on a ridge. Awesome fun, didn't get to drive, but our driver threw it around like he stole it.

 

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[beko1987]

There were 3 gooner 2's on the m40 in a row tonight!

 

Me

A 57 plate hatch

An 07 estate... On a tow truck

 

A moment of contemplation for our fallen gooner brothers...

[Guest Hooli]

There were 3 gooner 2's on the m40 in a row tonight!

 

Me

A 57 plate hatch

An 07 estate... On a tow truck

 

A moment of contemplation for our fallen gooner brothers...

Big tow truck to carry all three....

 

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