The new news 24 thread

[DodgeRover]

This weekend, I am off to collectionise the 508d.

Storage field is primed, MOT man is primed, insurance tickled, first journey for about 3 years for it is all set.

Excited/nervous in equal measures. It is a big project.

Mate with spec lift on standby?

[theorganist]

Picked up the C3 today and drove it the two miles to my mechanics where it will have a cambelt fitted and a couple of other jobs doing. Saturday it is going to Barnsley (hopefully) to fetch an exhaust for the Maxi. I knew very little about these apart from seeing many around and liking the shape, it seems very 2CV-esque although I believe Citroen disliked such comparisons at the time.

 

It seems a bonny little thing, it has the 1.6 16V engine fitted which certainly moves it along quite quickly and it is the Exclusive top of the range model so has aircon, alloy wheels, front and rear foglamps and velour trim. I get the impression it could be Renault 14 like in bends as it feels like it has very soft suspension and possibly some body roll. It doesn't feel quite as solid as my 206 did and I am not too sure what I think of the digital dash yet. I might enjoy owning a modern(ish) car after all! I may get some photo's over the weekend if it is considered autoshite enough?  

[bramz7]

I like those C3s. My mum had two from new and they were largely fine. One survived 11 years with just servicing...pretty sure it didn't ever have a belt change. Sadly it was recently scrapped, RIP RV55OBA.

 

The digital speedometer is a bit crud though.

[theorganist]

I like those C3s. My mum had two from new and they were largely fine. One survived 11 years with just servicing...pretty sure it didn't ever have a belt change. Sadly it was recently scrapped, RIP RV55OBA.

 

The digital speedometer is a bit crud though.

I think I am going to like it, it seems to have a bit of character about it. Sadly it doesn't have much history although I know it has had a coil pack, lambda sensor and spark plugs in the last two years, it has only done 80,000 miles and has a good MOT history. It may have had a belt at some point but I don't fancy risking it and for me it is worth doing.

[dollywobbler]

Pray you never have to change a headlamp bulb. I think Step One is to remove the engine. That improves access a lot.

[DVee8]

Pray you never have to change a headlamp bulb. I think Step One is to remove the engine. That improves access a lot.

Take it to Halfords for that. Get then to do it outside in the rain under that crap canopy.

[wuvvum]

Does it have cruise control? I remember thinking when they were new that it was a bit of an extravagance on a supermini.

[dollywobbler]

Take it to Halfords for that. Get then to do it outside in the rain under that crap canopy.

 

That's what we said to our colleague after about an hour of making our hands bleed. We said it'd be the best eight quid he'd ever spend. 

[theorganist]

Pray you never have to change a headlamp bulb. I think Step One is to remove the engine. That improves access a lot.

I heard you had to do that on the Megane series 2 I didn't realise you had to on these as well! Will avoid going out in the dark lol!

[theorganist]

Does it have cruise control? I remember thinking when they were new that it was a bit of an extravagance on a supermini.

I think it may do, I haven't tried all the buttons yet, will report back. Not sure I fancy using cruise control and it does seem extravagant.

[Arthur Foxhake]

Mate with spec lift on standby?

No.

Hopes and dreams will push us along pleasantly all the way home.

Slowly.

[Kiltox]

I heard you had to do that on the Megane series 2 I didn't realise you had to on these as well! Will avoid going out in the dark lol!

Megane 2 has an access hatch via the wheel arch nobody seems to know about.

[R9UKE]

I heard you had to do that on the Megane series 2 I didn't realise you had to on these as well! Will avoid going out in the dark lol!

 

Try a Megane II with the optional xenon headlights.  I still have the scars. Mental and physical.

[brownnova]

Went to see car I’d left a note on last week...

 

Fired up first time with a fresh battery despite not having turned a wheel on her majesty’s highway for 2 years.

 

Price agreed, collection next week.

[Datsuncog]

Take it to Halfords for that. Get then to do it outside in the rain under that crap canopy.

 

That's what we said to our colleague after about an hour of making our hands bleed. We said it'd be the best eight quid he'd ever spend. 

 

I heard you had to do that on the Megane series 2 I didn't realise you had to on these as well! Will avoid going out in the dark lol!

 

Megane 2 has an access hatch via the wheel arch nobody seems to know about.

 

It's probably all changed now, but when I was still working as a parts desk monkey for Halfords we had a DO NOT ATTEMPT list to go with the 'We'll Fit It!' promo stuff for headlight bulbs.

 

The Megane 2 was on it, as was the Audi TT (needed to remove a large amount of plastic fairing from the slam panel to gain access) and the Rover 600 (or was it the 75?) with aircon, as the coolant pipe ran straight across the back of the offside headlight and was easy to damage while trying to swap bulbs.

 

I usually had a crack at them anyway, generally because standing out in the pissing rain was still preferable to being in the store with Radio 1 sapping my will to live and having endless circular arguments with customers about why Halfords Online had different prices to the stores (short answer - two separate companies).

 

I don't remember having particular problems fitting bulbs to C3s, but the Megane 2 was an utter swine. Steering wheel on full lock, access via a dinky little hatch in the arch, and I still lacked enough wrists and elbows to get my hand up inside to do the job properly.

 

Sharp edges around the access hatch didn't help - I was once given a leaflet about help for self-harm by a well-meaning individual after having fitted a Megane bulb earlier in the day. It did look pretty bad, admittedly.

[gm]

I don't remember having particular problems fitting bulbs to C3s, but the Megane 2 was an utter swine. Steering wheel on full lock, access via a dinky little hatch in the arch, and I still lacked enough wrists and elbows to get my hand up inside to do the job properly.

pretend your putting your hand up a posh girls dress ?

[wuvvum]

Went out to Tesco at about 9.30 this evening and the heater blower for the LDV was sat on the doorstep.  Definitely wasn't there when I got in from work at 7, and I didn't hear any knock on the door, but whatevs.  I took it down to the van to make sure it was the right bit, and fitting it turned out to be about a 3 minute job (unlike on, say, a Fiat Stilo).  So the van now has a working blower.  It only works on the highest setting as the resistor appears to have also gone MIA, but I can live with that.  I'm going to have to rejig the directional control for the heater though as the pinion isn't quite where it should be on the sliding rack with the result that I can't currently direct air to the windscreen, but that should be easy enough to do in the daylight.

 

CV joint for the Audi also turned up today - all looks good, except that the hub bolt has a recessed hex head which is going to need a massive Allen key to do up - which I don't possess.  No sign of any of the Rover bits yet either.

[Datsuncog]

pretend your putting your hand up a posh girls dress ?

 

I did ask my girlfriend at the time if I could practice a bit with her to perfect my technique, but I think she found idea of the H4 bulb slightly off-putting.

[LightBulbFun]

you should of just shown her your SOX lamp   (this never gets old )

 

[Richard]

I changed the headlamp bulbs on a Mazda something (58 plate, possibly Mondeo size, two exhausts) at the weekend and it was surprisingly easy. 

[GrumpiusMaximus]

If you're changing the passenger side battery on my Golf, you need to take the battery out to get reasonable access.  Last time I had a bulb go (drivers side) I thought I'd change them as a pair.  Quickly changed my mind when I saw the access.  Nowhere near as bad as some but I was not in the mood at the time.  My Fiesta you had to take the headlight out - but that was really easy.

[catsinthewelder]

That seems quite normal on Ford's, two bolts, out with the light, easy peasy.

[SierraMikeHotel]

 

 

I was once given a leaflet about help for self-harm by a well-meaning individual after after having fitted a Megane bulb earlier in the day. It did look pretty bad, admittedly.

My old boss took me into his office for a welfare check not long after I got my last cat...

[SiC]

Hardest bulb I ever had to change was on a MK3 MX5. Even with the wheel off and most of the wheel arch cover removed it was a nightmare. Pipes, cables and deep inside the bumper. Far worse than the Mégane II imo.

 

Easiest is joint with a Golf Mk5 and a Skoda Fabia MK3. Both had loads of access at the back and the bulb itself unscrewed from the holder leaving no wires to disconnect.

 

Even the TT MK2 isn't too bad. Easiest way for the main bulbs is to unclip a bit of plastic on the grille, then 3 bolts undo (Philips - supplied screwdriver in the boot) and the whole light cluster comes out. The DRL bulbs on it don't even need that. I parked up at Halfords and a Halfords minion was changing a bulb in a Fiat Doblo. I managed to go in, find the right bulbs, wait in the usual long queue, pay, fit said bulbs and drive off. Poor Halfords minion was still battling the Fiat.

[wuvvum]

That seems quite normal on Ford's, two bolts, out with the light, easy peasy.

Does that not then f*ck up the headlight aim though?

[LabRat]

I had to do the main beam bulbs in the duster yesterday, surprisingly it didn't require a degree in advanced spatial mathematics or multiple extra joints. The retaining clip set up is odd mind you- it's a push fit job, no securing clip behind the bulb,probably because Renault.

 

The front fogs look like a bumper off job to make up for it however.

[binhoker668]

Well, I've kinda settled into a 'Just drive it' routine in the last few months.  Sorted it out with some new rubber a whiles ago, got a wee pipe replaced on the rear when it wet itself in the green way, but otherwise there's been a lot of 'whooshing' to and from work going on in general. 

I had however been largely ignoring a growing set of 'clonks' from the front end - albeit rather muffled and softened by the green liquid scenario.

But, I finally got the fear and decided on blowing some paycheck.  The car felt like it was worth it.  So, off I trundled to the local garage near work.

It's worthy of a pic or two.

 

 

What's that hiding in there?

 

 

Mmmmm....cracker wee Lancia like....

 

 

And in behind the glass?  Any two wheel lickers care to I.D. it?

 

 

So a day and 220 clams later, I was furnished with new ball joints and TRE action.

 

Wow.  The difference is palpable.  Whooshing just got whooshier.  Looking forward to getting it properly serviced (overdue) now when clams permit.

 

Crap update really, but sure, we all love a good pic or two, right?

 

Oh I also sorted it out with a DAB radio - for £2.40.  I have photos of this installation which I'll share in a while when i can do the phone/work PC thing again.  It's one that I can recommend to anyone who wants perfect digital radio, but in the autoshite way....

 

So yeah.  That's it for now.  Just happy driving.

 

This week my work chariot has been this:

 

 

Also MUCH FUN. 

 

I'll sort out shonky DAB photies in a bit.

 

Morning all!

 

C

[Mrcento]

Fiat Punto HGT, you had 4 options for the headlight bulbs

 

1, remove the entire airbox assembly and associated pipework for the drivers side, then remove the fusebox to do the passengers side, include much swearing as the skin on knuckles ooozed more blood

 

2, remove the front wheelarch liners, front bumper and headlights

 

3, Crash the fucking thing into a wall and let a bodyshop fit new bulbs upon reassebly

 

4, pay some poor sap to do one of option 1 or 2.

[artdjones]

If you think a Mégane is bad,try a Modus.The entire bumper and wheel arch liners have to come off,which is much easier on a lift.Also the bulb holder is very flimsy and they blow bulbs quite often.

The Mégane 3 is easy,pull out a metal strip,which is also a spanner you then use to undo two screws, whereupon the headlamp can be pulled forward.

[binhoker668]

SO.

 

I went to a car boot sale the other month (as is my wont), and picked up a wee household DAB radio for 40p. "Amazing" sez I.

Took it home and mothballed it, as I had no real need for another. Picked it up again a while ago and had a look at it. "Ah" sez I. "it's only 7v". "Oh, wait a minute, I'm sure I have an old Goodmans car charger (for a now defunct cd player) which i found in a skip that's also 7v".

And so a seed is sown.

 

Here is the dab radio in question. Matsui brand and very SMOLL. Easily gotten on ebay BTW.

 

 

Had a wee look on ebay, and got an external car DAB aerial with a magnetic base for £2 (post paid) from a VERY FAR AWAY PLACE.

Which arrived a month or so later. Nice long lead on it.

Chopped the connector off the end of it and got my soldering iron out.

 

 

 

Whilst I was at it, I re-soldered and fixed the secondary (and defunct) 12v socket in the car.

 

All back together again and velcroed into the glove box.

Audio out from the RCAs on the back and directly into the 3.5 Aux on the front of the stereo.

Wires all tucked away nicely behind dash and seals etc.

 

WORKS A DINGER LIKE!!

 

Happy days.

 

Reception is ace no matter how far into the wilds I get.

 

Recommended bodge for all Radio 6 listeners.

 

 

 

 

THE END.

 

C