The new news 24 thread

[Cavcraft]

Tell him you'll buy the car if you get promoted.

[cort16]

Do any of you chaps with trade insurance know how i can tax that Volvo? Can I just go into the post office with my trade certificate and tax it as per normal?

[Cavcraft]

Have you got the new keeper's bit and if so has it been written on/stamped previously? If not take thata nd write your details on it.

[cort16]

Have you got the new keeper's bit and if so has it been written on/stamped previously? If not take thata nd write your details on it.

 

I've got the new keeper bit of the v5 and MOT but wasn't sure if they'd take my trade insurance because the vehicle regno isn't on the certificate.

[fiatdaft]

Depends on the person behind the counter tbh.

[Cavcraft]

If you've got trade insurance it won't matter. As long as the new keeper's bit hasb't previously been written on or stamped they should do it for you. You just need to fill it in making sure the date you acquired the vehicle wasn't more than a month ago.

 

If you speak to the DVLA they'll tell you that it doesn't matter what name the V5 is in the P.O will tax it, but the P.O are (mostly) bleeding hopeless and will refuse to do it unless your name is on the full V5 or the new keeper's bit.

[cort16]

Thanks

There was a good helpfull post office near my work but they're turned it into a chip shop.

The ones around here are staffed by miserable jobsworth old giffers.

[scaryoldcortina]

I taxed autofive's granada today with the green slip/trade insurance dodge because he is waiting for a certificate to be posted out and wanted to take his new toy home straight away without his next door neighbour reporting it for not dispalying a disc.

 

No problem with that bit, but the woman rejected the MoT certificate because it hadn't been signed. I picked a pen up off the counter and signed it

[cort16]

I picked the Volvo up to night and all went well. I only had to drive it a mile to my work but didn't get a chance to give it a proper workout as it was dangerously low on fuel.

This is the dent that needs sorted. It came with a new wing and indicator so not too bad. Most of the white stuff is paint from the bollard it hit.

 

volvo by cort16, on Flickr

[dollywobbler]

I dumped the Peugeot in the next village for a few days while I played minibus driver. Drove it back today. Got it started quite promptly as I've finally worked out how to start it from cold. I still have never got it to start first time but now if I let it have a bit of a splutter with no choke at all, it'll then start with 2/3 choke. If I pull the choke out to 2/3 straight away, it just won't start. Odd.

 

Had a good hoon back home. Perhaps I've been a bit harsh on this car. It really is a huge amount of fun. Amazing that a 1.3 can feel so lively and, dare I say it, sporty. Handles very tidily, even if the steering weighs up in odd ways when cornering (guess I'm too used to PAS?). The sunroof still leaks through the handle that cleverly screws through the glass, but I'm hoping some recently purchased Captain Tolley's Creeping Crack Cure can help me there. Also plan to try it on the BX in case that's leaking through the windscreen seal (though I suspect it's rot beneath the washer bottles).

 

The BX is in disgrace though. The PAS has gone very intermittent. Nowt makes your buttocks clench like the PAS suddenly kicking in mid-bend! I suspect a pump belt not tight enough (it has to be RIDICULOUSLY tight) or a belt that's just too tired.

 

Hoping for a decent spell of weather (haven't had one since about January) as there's lots of fettling needed, and the 2CV still needs a service...

[Cavcraft]

Not wishing to teach my gran to suck eggs Ian, but are you sure the steering isn't LHM related? It's usually the first thing to go if the level is low or you have a leak somewhere.

[Cavcraft]

New shite acquired.

Insurance database updated, MOT booked, 38 mile trip home. BIG UP to the SPORTY MASSIVE for picking me up, suitably impressed by the trip in leather clad Italian style.

[dollywobbler]

Isn't that Cavette. Level is fine, belt tension is fine. Something's seriously amiss as it's taking an age to raise itself up as well. BX mojo is at a very low ebb at the moment.

 

However, I cheered myself up no end with a roof-back hoon in the 2CV. Foot to the floor + gravity = C U L8ER X-TYPE! Fun in the sun. Has gone cloudy again now, so glad we were able to make the most of a brief spell of actual sunshine.

[rml2345]

Dodgy PS on the BX doesn't sound fun Dolly, hope it's a simple fix.

Managed to flush the cooling system on the Yaris today. Didn't look too bad, but changed it just to make sure. Heater is now toasty toasty warm... Still won't idle properly, but at least the idle valve is clean!

[The Moog]

Off to look at Maxpowers V40 tomorrow. Missus liked last one so hopefully so will like this one.

 

Fingers crossed that London Underground will be working fine.

[cort16]

I helped change the alternator on a Vectra C this afternoon. What a ball ache.

[chaseracer]

Ian: Billy might not be too far off. Both my XMs did the 'weird steering' thing with belts & levels all fine - turned out to be partly blocked LHM filters. A good clean & flush transformed things. Worth looking at?

[dollywobbler]

Well, my last BX did similar, and a good flush DID fix that. This just 'feels' different, but it could well be the same thing. I do know there's a problem with the pressure regulator though, so plan to tackle that first. Just not sure how yet...

[wuvvum]

I can haz smartphone. My old Nokia 6210 Navigator is on its last legs and keeps losing its signal, so this afternoon I went shopping for something similar to replace it, and came away with a touch-screen Vodafone-branded Android smartphone. It's built by Huawei for extra phoneshite points, and it does all sorts of clever things like turning the screen on its side when you tilt the phone, and when you go to type a text a full QWERTY keyboard appears on the screen. It also has GPS and wi-fi, and buttons for Facebook and Twitter and all sorts of other crap I'll never use.

 

It wasn't really what I was intending to buy to be honest, but it was only 60 quid and there didn't seem to be a lot available for less than that which would cope with the interwebz. The Carphone Whorehouse had something called a Samsung Galaxy Europa which looked very similar and was a fiver less, but everyone I know who has a touchscreen Samsung phone says they're shit, so hopefully I made the right decision. I'm gradually being dragged kicking and screaming into the 21st century - I'll be buying a high-definition telly next...

[Timewaster]

t everyone I know who has a touchscreen Samsung phone says they're shit

 

Mine isn't shit. I like it.

 

I'll be buying a high-definition telly next...

 

I've got one of those (a gift from the inlaws) but in true shite style I have a cheap signal sender for the next room, so the hd cable cant be connected

[tonedepear]

New shite acquired.

 

Is it that secret Cavalier I've been on the edge of my seat about? (or have I just not been paying attention)

[messerschmitt owner]

broke the 126

 

recovered from Lechlade with fuel starvation, fitted new pump which has solved the fuelling issue but now it won't start!

 

Fuel filter not blocked.

 

Carb kit on way! It may be visiting the garage - and to think I've done all of 100 miles in it!

[sporty-shite]

New shite acquired.

Insurance database updated, MOT booked, 38 mile trip home. BIG UP to the SPORTY MASSIVE for picking me up, suitably impressed by the trip in leather clad Italian style.

 

My pleasure, Billy. Always good to catch up.

 

Mrs S is now pleased she can park her car on the drive. Bonus happy wife points!!

[HillmanImp]

The DAF is alive! Is running and working for the first time in about 9 months.

 

Mucho mucho Grande Pantusos to Volksy for his help in getting it sorted.

 

 

Will be going in for its MOT next week. Hopefully will not need much. Hopefully.

[Wilko220]

^ Looks class! Don't remember the last time I saw one of these.

[Negative Creep]

Mazda is now sol. Went to a young guy on a local car club, so I'm glad it will be used and not scrapped. Of course the day after I cancelled the insurance and SORNed it the starter motor problem vanished and its been fine ever since.

 

In retrospect I didn't fully think this one through. Oh well, means I have room for another car now

[jonathan_dyane]

Isn't that Cavette. Level is fine, belt tension is fine. Something's seriously amiss as it's taking an age to raise itself up as well. BX mojo is at a very low ebb at the moment.

 

Sounds like a gubbed HP pump; did you replace the flat accumulator sphere?

[Albert Ross]

A little before Christmas I was offered a later 5 bearing diesel engine for my Land Rover. Difficulty with it was location. Thetford. In steps a friend who was planning to visit family over the break. He collected it, paid for it, and took it to his home in Lincoln. I nipped over to colect it yesterday, to discover his engine crane had developed a fault. So we rolled i in to a trailer, supported the now angled rear, and attempted to walk it into the back of the Land Rover. It was just too heavy, so I decided to remove the head of this £50 engine. To remove the head involves removing the injectors. Each on slid out like they were fitted a week ago...... Despite the surface corrosion of being sat outside, they were indeed new(ish)! There's about £100 worth already..... Off with it's head, and despite a small soft lip in the bore, exaggerated by carbon build up, the internals look good too. Clean rockers, no major oil leaks, and although the sump is kenked, (I have spares!!) it's going to make a great engine. I am rather pleased! Thanks to all concerned.

[The Moog]

I can haz new motor. Purchased off Maxpower this morning. No epic road trip or pictures to support said adventure as it involved a tube, a travelcard and about an hour of my time..

 

The beast

 

2.0 this time which makes the car much better and it is also the phase 2 v40 meaning new and improved !

 

Full leather and heated seats means luxury can now be had.

Before there were blanking plates now I behold the trip computer, cruise control and air con.

 

Things to do include cleaning bonnet catch, fixing drivers door lock, change wipers and stick it in for a test.

[Cavcraft]

Good result there, Albert.

 

Right, more of yesterday's jaunt:

Sport Shite Chris very kindly came to Cavcraft to pick me up and I was suitably impressed with his pocket rocket Alfa. 40 miles or so later in excelsior company we were outside Sporty Towers and the new steed was sat there blocking his garage.

One set of jump leads, pliers on the knackered bonnet pull cable and some ad-hoc clearance of the car interior we were in business. Started up and sounded well so I lobbed the sat nav in and off I went. Big mistake not taking my sun glasses as the driver's sun visor had jumped ship, luckily I'm quite tall so perched on the seat with my eyes peering under the roof so I wasn't dazzled by the sun.

Not knowing if there was enough juice in it to get it back and not wanting to stop in case the battery was knackered I made it all the way to the garage it was booked in for an MOT at some 32 miles from Chris's. Made it back without doing 30mph on the motorway and without running out of juice. JACKAKNACKANORY!

 

So what did I discover on the journey home?

Previously left open window or dodgy window seal meant a small pool of water in the rear seating floor area, ala VW Passat design fault. This meant misted up windows so heater on full go and sunroof and rear window open. This would have been a nicer experience had the thermostat been working and thus had hot air, instead of tepid. No problem, it'll be easy to change.

Slight vibration between 65-70mph, this'll be the wheel balance in my experience, another easy job. I took advantage of Chris's special offer on some spare Cav steels with decent 195/60/14s, these were lobbed in the boot for future use.

One wheel trim has found a new home somewhere, again not a big problem and adds to the 'Roadwars' look of the car LOL. Whilst I stopped for fuel and restarted the car a RED LIGHT OF DOOM came up on the dash, which would indicate low brake fluid level. Can't see any patches under the car or anything to suggest some sort of leakage so hopefully a top up is all that's required. Lacquer peel on the bonnet is as bad as Sport said, if I get the chance I'll see if I can rub the whole thing down and piddle about with some spray.

The engine sounded and ran GR12. These 8V things are ace, the 1.8 pulls well enough but is a bit rougher feeling on acceleration and not as quick as the 2.0 but really quite and smooth when holding any speed in top gear. They're also pretty bullet proof and are 'nono-interferance' engines I believe so if the cam belt goes you're laughing.

 

Since getting it back and going to start it again it appears the battery has gone for a Burton but I have a spare which I'm charging and I can weigh the old one in. For the money (price of the car) I cannot argue, and for a small outlay it should be back on the road and doing a good service. I'm not complaining about the above faults either, Chris is a star and the car was scrap money plus as he said too good for the bridge of doom. It'll never be worth a fortune but hopefully will go back on the road.