The new news 24 thread

[Fumbler]

These days if I ever have to change a battery on a "modern", I leave my little jump pack connected up to the battery terminals so the ECUs don't shut down.  I used to use a moped battery and a couple of lengths of wire with crocodile clips on the ends, which worked equally well until I "borrowed" them to wire in an electric fuel pump on the Volvo.

Great idea, however I don't think we'll be getting any of the above for a while until Brother sells the Camry.

 

The car is working fine now so the handbook symbol of doom is now most likely the low refrigerant gas warning.

[dollywobbler]

The 6mpg fails the cheap to run criteria though.........

 

Might do better than that if all six cylinders can be convinced to party. By the way, over 370,000 views for the start up video!

[The Moog]

What you really want* is a £500/year to tax automatic 9-3 cabriolet with issues, just admit it...

Ohh that would be very handy  drive up in one and come home in another 

 

Shame there isn't a more sensible diesel grey vesicle that could be offered ... 

[beko1987]

Might do better than that if all six cylinders can be convinced to party. By the way, over 370,000 views for the start up video!

A do or die foot down on the a9 should sort it. Otherwise the look on the AA guys face when he turns up with 'Bedford van' on his screen will make it all worthwhile*

[binhoker668]

I had a great drive home from the garage/work today.  Brakes all good, Stuff all functioning and super wafto-matic smooth gearage.  With added cruise joy.

Very pleased at result.  It turns out that none of the calipers were binding.  In FACT, the issue was that one of the suspension arms was snapped in two.  Super dangerous.  

I still have a passenger mirror to fix - it's there and not smashed, but the surround and repeater aren't.  Have sourced a spare from Podders, but having read up on the process, I have TEH FEAR about doing it myself.  Door card off, battery disconnected, door airbag scenario.  REALLY don't wanna disconnect the battery as have already read a bunch of scary stuff concerning ECU etc.  Dunno.  

It's still showing up a couple of bulb warnings (they've been replaced and are working) and the ESP warning - which i assume has been sorted too along with the suspension etc.  Dunno if it just needs a proper Merc box plugging in, or if the sensors for all these are dead.  Seems a bit mad that they'd all be screwed.

The repeater warning one is fair enough - will be there until wing mirror scenario gets resolved.

Trip to Llanberis is happening anyway.  Which is also a result of course.

Anyone got C-Class experience of cancelling the dash warnings?

It has wee bits of rust in the usual places and the indicator stalk doesn't stay up while you turn.  Mrs Hoker's Dad's one did the same, so assume TADTS.

Good result.  Looking forward to the drive to work now. 

In OMGSNOKAOS with a rear wheel drive automatic.  Windy uppy downy roads in Nottinghamshire.  At 6am

 

Missive ends.

Chris

 

PS, am now on the look out for a (standard W203) working CD player, if anyone has one kicking around.

[binhoker668]

Oh, I also now have a Citroen Xantia parked up (sorned) with ticket 'til April.  Does a whiny noise - could be alternator, could be a pulley, although I had a new pulley and belt fitted a couple of months ago.

Needs a good service.

Certainly don't want to scrap it.  So, I dunno - If anyone has a use for a potentially easy project, then get in touch.  Would like some coins for it of course, but not loads!

[Lacquer Peel]

HDi right?

[Tadhg Tiogar]

'tis trying to snow here, but the earlier rain means it's unlikely to settle.

[binhoker668]

Sorry yes, it's a 2.0 HDi 110 Forte.

Engine pulls great, slight weep from rocker cover - very slight.

4 good tyres and spare.  

Good interior.

Needs me to have some time to give it a clear out and hoover - still full of our family trips.

[binhoker668]

'tis trying to snow here, but the earlier rain means it's unlikely to settle.

 

Unfortunately the smattering of snow and some rain means that the roads out to Southwell will be well icy in the morning.

[dollywobbler]

Llanberis you say? Quite a lot of Wales has been entirely broken because of snow today, with more due tomorrow. Joy.

[binhoker668]

This worries me.  My mate in Llanberis said to just hug the coast basically - NWE etc.  Which we normally do anyways I guess.  But the return journey might be a bit heinous!

[binhoker668]

It's also my first rear engined auto, so am apprehensive in general.  Gonna set off reet early on Friday.  I'll try to get snowed in/stuck somewhere around Bridgend.  Sara (10) and I can tidy your garage whilst the grown ups have a brandy.

[HillmanImp]

It's also my first rear engined auto, so am apprehensive in general.  Gonna set off reet early on Friday.  I'll try to get snowed in/stuck somewhere around Bridgend.  Sara (10) and I can tidy your garage whilst the grown ups have a brandy.

 

If your worried about traction in the snow with it, get yer fat arse in the boot over the drive wheels to give it traction and let the missus drive. Problem sorted.

[Guest Hooli]

It's also my first rear engined auto, so am apprehensive in general.  Gonna set off reet early on Friday.  I'll try to get snowed in/stuck somewhere around Bridgend.  Sara (10) and I can tidy your garage whilst the grown ups have a brandy.

 

Pfft, it'll be reeeght. If it gets too bad  pinch rocks (they have lots in Wales) to put in the boot.

[Split_Pin]

My Dad, who unfortunately isn't in the best of health of late, phoned and asked if I could come over this evening and change the wheel on his V40 as it has a fairly fast puncture. No bother at all said I however what a war to get the wheel off. Big hammers, wood and a drop of WD40 finally got it shifted. I was amazed that this could happen on a 67-plate car.

 

Also, looks like our first family car has died. I chopped it in for the Duster 2 years ago. Untaxed/insured since 20th December. The engine was tapping loudly when cold though.

 

 

 

[DodgeRover]

Got the first quote on getting the suspension pipes done on the BX. An exact quote couldn't be offered because, understandably, there's more that can and does go wrong when you do a job like this. Realistically, even though the starting quote was £320 (the vast majority of this is labour), I'd be sensible to budget £500 for anything else that might need fixing and the associated labour at the same time. It could spiral quite a lot further than that. I haven't deep enough pockets for that sort of expenditure, and I wouldn't want to mess the garage about so I suspect I will be DIYing this.

 

I can't see another garage charging substantially less AND doing the job right. I do wish I could afford to just throw my cars at professionals and pay them sensibly, it irks me that I can't.

Could SOC fit it in between other jobs? If he doesn't already have half a yard full of stuff to fit between jobs....

[DodgeRover]

It is. I just want someone else to do it for me because I'm being mardy.

Much like - The world needs more people outside of a few square miles of Derbyshire/ South Yorkshire to use the word mardy in its correct context. Keep up the good work.

[vulgalour]

Have you ever tried to explain 'mardy' to an American?  It's a challenge.

[dollywobbler]

Have you ever tried to explain 'mardy' to an American?  It's a challenge.

 

Presumably the parents of tennis play Mardy Fish didn't know either.

[vulgalour]

That's not a real person, you're making that up!

[brownnova]

Llanberis you say? Quite a lot of Wales has been entirely broken because of snow today, with more due tomorrow. Joy.

Not my bit of Wales... it’s Snowless...

[dollywobbler]

That's not a real person, you're making that up!

 

Even worse. Mardy Simpson Fish. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mardy_Fish

[skattrd]

W203 - bulb warning lights and traction control should go out on their own if they are fixed.

ESP/ABS could be dodgy/dirty sensor, no traction control with that light on.

The bulbs were replaced with std ones or canbus friendly LED weren't they? If the wing mirror indicator isn't working that's probably why the error is still showing.

Apologies if I'm treating you like an idiot but the Indicator stalk has 2 stages, light flick, courtesy 3 flashes, push further for standard, which on both my w203 have moved up then auto cancelled.

 

The wing mirror replacement isn't difficult. it's easier on the 4 door than a 2 door koop (I've done both). I didn't disconnect the battery, you do need long torx though. I ended up dashing to screwfix for some. All nuns/kittens survived.

 

I've used w203 Mercs in snow before, no problems whatsoever, but I did have winter tyres or cross-climates.

[DodgeRover]

Even worse. Mardy Simpson Fish. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mardy_Fish

Probably could have been worse, his surname could have been Bum.....

[dome]

That is the frustrating part - I have a shed full of usable MOT/Tax exempt vehicles, but this is the NE of Scotland and SALT!

What you need is a small aluminium Audi winter beater. I'll give the l200 a home too to make things easier* for you...

[binhoker668]

W203 - bulb warning lights and traction control should go out on their own if they are fixed.

ESP/ABS could be dodgy/dirty sensor, no traction control with that on.

The bulbs were replaced with std ones or canbus friendly LED weren't they? If the wing mirror indicator isn't working that's probably why the error is still showing.

Apologies if I'm treating you like an idiot but the Indicator stalk has 2 stages, light flick, courtesy 3 flashes, push further for standard, which on both my w203 have moved up then auto cancelled.

 

The wing mirror replacement isn't difficult. it's easier on the 4 door than a 2 door koop (I've done both). I didn't disconnect the battery, you do need long torx though. I ended up dashing to screwfix for some. All nuns/kittens survived.

 

I've used w203 Mercs in snow before, no problems whatsoever, but I did have winter tyres or cross-climates.

 

You're a good man Skattrd - being treated like an idiot is just what I need at this stage of investigations!

 

Many thanks.

 

Did you have the door card off etc?

[Lacquer Peel]

Even worse. Mardy Simpson Fish. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mardy_Fish

I would like to hear that name in a Chris Morris news anchor voice.

[skattrd]

You're a good man Skattrd - being treated like an idiot is just what I need at this stage of investigations!

 

Many thanks.

 

Did you have the door card off etc?

 

I had the door card mostly off, not completely, there's quite a few connectors in the door card, including a tweeter by the wing mirror.

Putting the door card back was easier on the Merc than a mk4 Golf type thing, those I find a pain.

[Amishtat]

OMFGSNOKAOS 2/10