The new news 24 thread

[ProgRocker]

I handed my garage keys back to the local authority landlord this morning. As much as I like having a garage, this one and the others on the estate where I live on are a bit narrow. They were built in 1969 so ideal for Morris's and Vauxhall Vivas but less so for portly 21st century cars. I almost completely ripped off a wing mirror about a month ago. It'll save me about £420 a year.

 

There's plenty of space to park outside my block as not many people there have cars. I'll contact my insurance co later to inform them.

[stuboy]

True shiter fashion, keep pumping up 2 tyres instead of getting fixed..

[RobT]

Fresh ticket for the gooner this morning.

 

 

I was hoping some rear brake fettling (which I did on Tuesday) plus a cheapo driver's wiper blade would see it through, and it did!

 

On a late evening wine run to Sainsbury's yesterday this was in the car park.

 

 

It's one of my regular spots and has only 37k on the clock, in an unusual aubergine colour.  Both are RT spec, but his looks more dismal.  I can only assume mine being a late pre-facelift means they chucked the toys at it, such as alloys, leather steering wheel and AC. 

[oldcars]

Nice dealer plate on yours.

[DodgeRover]

I made it back in one piece from collecting the doors and trailer. I called by work yesterday to find a minor panic. They had jumpstarted a friend's MK1 Connect which had then auto locked and was happily rattling away with the bonnet open and doors locked. Obviously it only had one key, I tried to open it with the key from a MK1 Focus but apparently Ford locks aren't quite as bad as I've been led to believe.

 

When I left the owner was trying to Jimmy the door using the wire numbers from the workshop dartboard.

Its probably a bit late now but blocking the exhaust would have stopped the engine and a tibbe key from eBay or Amazon would have opened a door without damage.

[Fat_Pirate]

RobT, I reckon yours is an RT Sport - I had one some years ago and I think the only evidence was on the VIN sticker inside the door.  Spoiler/alloys/bit stiffer I think.

[vulgalour]

 

I cut that out of a trailing arm today, which is a job.  Reason being, I collected the two suspension units I dropped off at a machine shop yesterday.  They confirmed what I'd already found when trying to un-seize the parts, which was that basically you can't without destroying the trailing arm and the pivot shaft.

 

The issue is the part of the suspension unit where the displacer joins the pivot shaft.  Both components are made of steel, and both are exposed to everything that gets chucked up underneath the car.  There's no easy way to protect all this and the recommendation when new was that this is a service item, requiring regular greasing.  Of course, this never got done with the majority of cars.  So, both pairs of my spare displacers will now have to sacrifice the trailing arm so I can liberate the displacer and pivot shaft.  Then, because of the shape of everything, the machine shop can't press the shaft out unless it's fairly flush to the displacer socket, which means sacrificing the pivot shaft too.

 

This wouldn't be a problem except for the fact that I suspect the pivot shafts on the car are also seized.  Spares don't really exist and sometimes when you have a unit that seems to have unseized shafts actually turns out to just be spinning the bush in the trailing arm instead.

 

There are two solutions to this issue.  The first is to actually grease the suspension as regularly as suggested, keeping it in top health. The other is to manufacture/modify a T-shaped boot to go around the bottom of the displacer and the trailing arm which would keep all the dirt and grime out and the grease in.  I have no idea how to go about the latter, so I intend to do the former when I get the rear suspension sorted out.

[dozeydustman]

There are two solutions to this issue.  The first is to actually grease the suspension as regularly as suggested, keeping it in top health. The other is to manufacture/modify a T-shaped boot to go around the bottom of the displacer and the trailing arm which would keep all the dirt and grime out and the grease in.  I have no idea how to go about the latter, so I intend to do the former when I get the rear suspension sorted out.

 

Would the bushes come off with a little heat or some gentle persuasion with a grinder? Or would this risk damage to the displacers?

 

Wondering if you manage to get them out intact, they could be powder coated or enamelled to prevent rust?

[RobT]

RobT, I reckon yours is an RT Sport - I had one some years ago and I think the only evidence was on the VIN sticker inside the door.  Spoiler/alloys/bit stiffer I think.

 

Ah of course, I should have know that, thanks.

 

The seats are Clio Williams-ish i.e. that soft fuzzy material...very comfortable too.

 

[Broadsword]

That looks like a nice place to sit, cool car!

[vulgalour]

dozey:  The bushes are easy to remove, and I'd be replacing those anyway since they're all shot anyway.  It's the bit where the pivot shaft goes through the displacer socket that's the problem.  It just sort of rust-welds itself together.  New pivot shafts can be made easily enough, they're just a length of plain steel bar with a thread cut in each end, really, so sacrificing them isn't the end of the world if I have to, I'd just rather not if I can avoid it.

[oldcars]

Ah of course, I should have know that, thanks.

 

The seats are Clio Williams-ish i.e. that soft fuzzy material...very comfortable too.

 

20181231_155228 (1).jpg

Nice, old school Nokia phone holder too. Can just imagine the photo copier salesman calling his gaffer on that back in the day with his sales stats.

[captain_70s]

Washed the cars with some Williams water-less wash and wax stuff.

 

Unfortunately by the time I was done it was dark so I can't attest to how shit it is...

[Fumbler]

Serviced the Jazz with new oil and filter. Rest of the filters up next!

 

 

Also found that the front left tyre had a mssive tear in the sidewall. Father=angry at mother for driving into pothole. Council claims here we go...

[dollywobbler]

Drove the 2CV to Scotland. Adjusted the ignition timing at Tebay. Different take on tradition. People mostly looked confused.

[dozeydustman]

Vulg: sorry I caught the wrong end of the stick. I see what you mean now. That does indeed look like a bit of a pickle. Got a few ideas going through my head but probably not a viable solution.

[Bren]

Had the lock replaced on the passat again. Paid an extra £78 to upgrade to a genuine VW item as the pattern item lasted three weeks.

 

Buy cheap, buy twice.

[Springer]

Ah of course, I should have know that, thanks.

 

The seats are Clio Williams-ish i.e. that soft fuzzy material...very comfortable too.

 

20181231_155228 (1).jpg

 

Remember that interior well!  Had a standard RT on a P plate and then an RT Sport on a W. The seats were very comfortable indeed!

[Shep Shepherd]

Just got The Aero back from getting a new MOT. It needed a pair of new rear tyres in order to pass, which I had the garage fit, as I had no time to shop around. The car now has a pair of Kingstars, which are apparently Hankooks in disguise and cost £100 fitted.

 

Just look at the state of this! The other one wasn't as bad, but it was getting there:

 

 

ULTRA heck! I had no idea that there was anything wrong with them. Just goes to show that the MOT test is a bloody good way to make one aware of potentially dangerous faults.

 

Something weird going on the with the rear suspension, I think, although the garage said that the various bits and pieces were undamaged and didn't have excessive play. Any ideas? I'm going to get a wheel alignment done as a first step.

[Squire_Dawson]

Wheel bearing?

[Squire_Dawson]

Groaning clutch release bearing replaced on my Aggy. Also tried one of the other wrap round exhaust clamps I have to seal the front joint (again). So silence reigns again now except the clattering timing chain.

 

When the exhaust needs replacing I'll ask my exhaust man about making one with a flexi pipe incorporated to finally solve the worst problem these cars are afflicted with.

[SRi05]

The only thing it could leak out the back would be diff oil. In fact I don’t think it has anything pink (I don’t think it had pink coolant in it).

 

PS. Do remember to check out if there is any dampness on the ECU. Seems to affect them all I have learnt!

Happy days, the audi left early and also left behind a Puddle of pink coolant under it. I'm sorry I doubted you Jagwah

[320touring]

Just got The Aero back from getting a new MOT. It needed a pair of new rear tyres in order to pass, which I had the garage fit, as I had no time to shop around. The car now has a pair of Kingstars, which are apparently Hankooks in disguise and cost £100 fitted.

 

Just look at the state of this! The other one wasn't as bad, but it was getting there:

 

photo_2019-01-04_17-46-23.jpg

 

ULTRA heck! I had no idea that there was anything wrong with them. Just goes to show that the MOT test is a bloody good way to make one aware of potentially dangerous faults.

 

Something weird going on the with the rear suspension, I think, although the garage said that the various bits and pieces didn't have excessive play. Any ideas?

Rear trailing arm bushing possibly?

[Broadsword]

Happy days, the audi left early and also left behind a Puddle of pink coolant under it. I'm sorry I doubted you Jagwah

Hurray, my faith in the X300 being the most rugged Jag out there remains unshaken!

[bigfella2]

Is it a possibility the tyres were wearing unevenly on the front and the last owner popped em on back? But don't know any history of the car.

[320touring]

Is it a possibility the tyres were wearing unevenly on the front and the last owner popped em on back? But don't know any history of the car.

Good point

[Shep Shepherd]

Is it a possibility the tyres were wearing unevenly on the front and the last owner popped em on back? But don't know any history of the car.

 

They were fitted in my ownership, in the autumn of 2016.

[Arthur Foxhake]

Just got The Aero back from getting a new MOT. It needed a pair of new rear tyres in order to pass, which I had the garage fit, as I had no time to shop around. The car now has a pair of Kingstars, which are apparently Hankooks in disguise and cost £100 fitted.

 

Just look at the state of this! The other one wasn't as bad, but it was getting there:

 

photo_2019-01-04_17-46-23.jpg

 

ULTRA heck! I had no idea that there was anything wrong with them. Just goes to show that the MOT test is a bloody good way to make one aware of potentially dangerous faults.

 

Something weird going on the with the rear suspension, I think, although the garage said that the various bits and pieces were undamaged and didn't have excessive play. Any ideas? I'm going to get a wheel alignment done as a first step.

Rear control arm bush is FUBAR more than likely.

[Sheefag]

They were fitted in my ownership, in the autumn of 2016.

 

Do you have any recollection at all, of stitching your own arse?

[SRi05]

Hurray, my faith in the X300 being the most rugged Jag out there remains unshaken!

I must say my heart sank when I first seen it as this thing has been utterly brilliant! I needn't have worried