The new news 24 thread

[SiC]

There is a MG TF in a garage around the corner. Only a 1.6 unfortunately but it's done 50k and comes with a hard top. Also looks to be in reasonably good condition. 

I suggested to Mrs SiC that I could replace the Laguna with it when we've moved, especially as the boot is handy with the Laguna. However she suggested if we really needed the boot of the Laguna as we have the A4 and could easily change it before we move...

Then she's just asked me while on my phone, "have you put the Laguna up for sale on the forum yet?"

Hmm. Any one interested in a Laguna II?

[Tadhg Tiogar]

17 minutes ago, egg said:

Fair comment though, I'd be surprised if you'd be able to see a safety certificate on it...

Certificate? What certificate?

[Timewaster]

Ramp rental is a worry. 

There is a very good chance I would opt for 3 hours at £10 pH or whatever it is,  fuck the job, strip a thread, shear something off, poke a bloody great hole, immobilise the car and end up renting the ramp for 3 weeks. 

[Yoss]

I've been on holiday this week so Favorit hasn't had much use. I went to move it on Thursday to get the bin out and it wouldn't start. I left it for a bit but the battery was getting weak. Pulled the fuel line off and that was still pumping fine so put it back on. Had one more go half an hour later but the battery had really had enough by then.

Friday we were off to London and didn't get back til this afternoon. So I spent most of two days mooching about London pondering my next move. Check for a spark, if that's there, it may be in the carburettor. Then it hit me that when I took the fuel line off I removed an earth lead off the carb as it was in the way and I didn't remember putting it back on. There is an electric cut off valve on the carb. 

So I came home this afternoon and put the charger on for a bit and yes, I'd forgotten to put the wire back on. Turned it over and it coughed a few times then partially fired and slowly came back to life. 

I like cars that fix themselves whilst you go on holiday. I think I flooded it first time (when you pump the throttle it does sqirt fuel down the barrel) and it was basically a combination of that and the weak battery. Then of course I left the wire off so the cut off valve never opened so the carb emptied completely which is why it coughed into life one cylinder at a time today as the float chamber refilled (I only pumped it once today so as not to flood it again). 

The battery may be on its way out though. I hadn't used it for four days but that shouldn't be enough to kill it. 

[Split_Pin]

The Mini's rear wiper had been steadily getting less effective over the winter. The plastic around the alloy collar which fixes to the spindle had split and sheared.

£8 from ebay secured a replacement.

However the wiper just broke off, leaving the plastic collar on the spindle. Bugger. Ironically it started raining at this pint too.

I attacked it with a hacksaw and  the new one was on in no time.

It also needs a front left wheel bearing but unhelpfully there are 2 different kinds. One with an integral ABS sensor and another with a 'magnetic' sensor? 

I also opened the Audi's hood and smeared some red rubber grease in the joins on the rubber to try and cure the water dripping. 

Clio, gaffa taped the split wheel arch liner up and had a look for rust but other than some on the metalwork supporting the bumper, I couldn't see very much. Maybe the other side is worse...

 

[SiC]

Those Clio II really rarely rust to be honest. I'm surprised yours has gone crusty. Maybe someone lowered it far too much in its distant history?

[wuvvum]

Today's main task was to sort as many as possible of the MOT failures on the A4.  I got everything done except the rear spring in the end - it took me about 4 hours to do two front droplinks, a brake flexi and free up the rear caliper, but a lot of that time was spent faffing around trying to remember where I'd put various tools.  I only ran into a couple of issues - one of the brake pipe ends was a pain when changing the flexi - the union came undone OK but the male end had rusted on to the metal brake pipe so as I undid the union the pipe was twisting - a liberal dose of GT85 and twatting with a hammer helped, although I had to strip the plastic coating off the end of the metal pipe and grab onto it with a pair of pliers to hold it in place whilst I undid the union.  The other problem was that one of the rear caliper bolts had rounded out (they are Allen bolts on these) so I couldn't get the caliper off, but greasing up the sliders and working the caliper in and out seems to have done the trick. 

The drop links on these are a much better design than a "normal" drop link from the point of view of getting a knackered one off - there are no exposed threads to go rusty, and there's no ball joint to twist in its housing and be impossible to grab hold of either.  Access isn't brilliant, but it's just two 16mm bolts to undo and that's it.  I haven't decided yet whether I'm going to attempt the spring tomorrow - I borrowed a pair of hook-type spring compressors off a mate but there isn't really room to get them in, at least not into a position where they will be able to do a decent job of reducing the spring height.  I'll have a look to see if lowering the subframe looks feasible, but if there's any doubt I'll say sod it and get the garage to do it - the last thing I want is to somehow finagle the old spring out and then be unable to get the new one in, that'd make me look a right twat.

Took the Renault 6 for a quick spin as it was a dry and fairly warm afternoon and it hadn't been out for a while.  I managed to run it out of petrol, thankfully only a 5-minute walk from home.  I'm still not completely happy about it spending the winter outside, but I only have one garage and that's full of Innocenti, boat and mopeds.

Gave the lawn its first mow of the year, then headed into Norwich to get the train to Stowmarket, from whence I collected this:

Yup, it's the ex-Bramz (and latterly £95 Peugeot) diesel Tempra.  It's quite a thing - the dashboard is amazing, everything is digital and it even has illuminated column stalks, which I don't think I've ever seen before.  It's been a while since I drove an old-school turbo diesel (since I sold the 205 to Skattrd in fact) so it was a bit of a learning curve - it's laggy as feck and very little happens until about 2,500rpm, after which point the boost builds quite quickly and it shoves you down the road at a very reasonable rate.  The gearing is a little odd - it has quite a tall 5th, presumably for improved refinement on the motorway, but it means there's a big gap between 4th and 5th and also means there's pretty much zero acceleration in 5th below about 55.  It's great fun to drive once you're used to it though.  It also handles nicely and has a ridiculously big boot.  I rather like it so far.

[Split_Pin]

7 hours ago, SiC said:

Those Clio II really rarely rust to be honest. I'm surprised yours has gone crusty. Maybe someone lowered it far too much in its distant history?

They do rust eventually, the youngest cars are still 15 years old. Some I have seen are really bad around the sills, especially the Phase 1.  Mine just happened to live in Staxigoe for many years, in the far North East of Scotland. 

 

[aldo135]

16 minutes ago, Split_Pin said:

They do rust eventually, the youngest cars are still 15 years old. Some I have seen are really bad around the sills, especially the Phase 1.  Mine just happened to live in Staxigoe for many years, in the far North East of Scotland. 

 

Had to google that, 25 mins from John O’Groats! 

[New POD]

9 hours ago, Timewaster said:

Ramp rental is a worry. 

There is a very good chance I would opt for 3 hours at £10 pH or whatever it is,  fuck the job, strip a thread, shear something off, poke a bloody great hole, immobilise the car and end up renting the ramp for 3 weeks. 

My lodger has a spare ramp in his workshop in Uttoxeter.  Looking at what he pays in Rent, rates and insurance, to have it sitting, I might suggest he rents it out. 

He said I can use it anytime but MEH. 

[egg]

I think ramp hire is good for - inspecting your own car, rustproofing work, maybe exhaust work - that kind of thing - but agree anything where you're getting into significant dismantling etc - not worth the risk.....

[ChampionRabbit]

First ever sale to a Shiter today (fingers crossed) then immediately off to collect the new modern, which requires two new wishbones, but needs to be pressed straight into service regardless as a daily. My work colleagues will doubtless get a laugh out of the not insignificant knocking coming from my 'new' car.

Have been washing and hoovering the Foz in the rain, and feeling a little bit like a colossal traitor for selling it. It knows; you can tell. *sniffle*

[tommotech]

Just got back from a weekend away, stayed in the Pennines not far from Burnley - stunning views and a relaxing time. 
Audi charging issue was sorted before leaving, CJF Rotating Electrics in Hednesford tested my alternator before relieving me of any cash and then reported it to be in good health, electrically. However, the clutch drive pulley was knackered which was no surprise. I was surprised that the one way clutch was so knackered it was also slipping in the drive direction when the alternator was loaded, leading to lack of charge. 
£30 was a bargain for a replacement pulley, fitted onto my alternator. Unit bolted back to the engine and faultless, quiet performance restored. 
 

Now to make preparations for the incoming XM estate, getting excited but I’m sure reality will soon hit!

[egg]

Reb's trip State-side on the open forum has got me reminiscing about the only time I went to America in April 1998. The shite aspects...

My then girlfriend drove a Dodge Omni which you can see in this picture of her house, it was out of commission unfortunately for the duration of my trip

So we did loads of miles around Massachusetts and Rhode Island in her mum's Chevy Cavalier...I drove it round a car park only as I had no licence...

It all went pear shaped, but here's a pic I took returning to Boston airport..I made the plane home by minutes because of this traffic. I was the last one on the plane back to the old continent (running down the gangway!)

I think we need a thread on 'shite you saw on holiday in the 90s'

[Jamie]

Spotted in Bury... 

[Amishtat]

22 minutes ago, jamiechod said:

Spotted in Bury... 

I see it, and I raise you this gem spotted parked in Forres last autumn.. 

[Jamie]

Born to raise hell in a vauxhall vectra. I've seen it all now. 

[vulgalour]

I've been keeping an eye out for anything useful locally since there's a good few house renovations going on.  Spotted a skinny locker sat on the pavement, knocked on some doors and found out it was destined for scrap so scooped it up in the BX for the garage.  Good for metal bar stock and garden canes, thinks I.  A friend tells me it's a gun locker.  I don't have any guns, so I'll keep bar stock and garden canes in it instead.

 

[brownnova]

On the A41 there’s a house with a number of Saab 9000s (amongst other Saab’s) outside. Yesterday on the way home from Cannock I knocked on the door, but sadly no answer. So I left a note inquiring if he had any spare doors and leaving my number.

Today I got a phone call off a very nice man who says he has many spares for 9000s including doors!! So might have tracked down a door for the dented Saab! He’s said I’m welcome to see what spares he has and offer for anything I need!

Result!  

[Steve79]

Just goes to show that not all hoarders squirrel away stuff and then won't sell it.

 

[Ghosty]

Concerto's being delivered at 5am...

[mitsisigma01]

18 minutes ago, Steve79 said:

Just goes to show that not all hoarders squirrel away stuff and then won't sell it.

 

Are there any Volvo 3series lickers on here as there is /was a hoarder of them just outside town, can do a drive by/knock if any interest 

[Asimo]

In a local pub car park there is a sad looking red Jag, dirty, flat tyres etc.   A year ago it was shiny and loved looking. 

Not unusual, except that this Jag is only 5 years old.

Did an MOT check, thought I had got the reg. number wrong because the colour came back wrong and did it again. Same result.

 

Wonder what is going on. Were all XFs registered on the same day?

 

 

[SiC]

7 minutes ago, Asimo said:

Wonder what is going on. Were all XFs registered on the same day?

Probably ex-financed and registered all at the same time. 

[Spottedlaurel]

21 hours ago, wuvvum said:

Yup, it's the ex-Bramz (and latterly £95 Peugeot) diesel Tempra..........................

Got a bit of a surprise today when I was walking across a car park on the edge of Norwich late this afternoon and saw a certain Tempra in the metal.

[wuvvum]

The lighting in the UEA car park really brings out the pogweasel, don't you think?

[PhilA]

Just spent $35 in Missouri on a new piece of distributor that has twice the required number of parts that it actually needs to operate.

Nowhere around here sells ignition condensers and nowhere either sells Gruyere cheese. The two are unrelated but the lack of condensers led to a very pleasant lunch of croque madame sandwiches.

That then led to me falling asleep on the couch in something of a food coma because I rarely have deep fried anything these days.

Net result is I have done bugger all useful today but feel a little better.

[HillmanImp]

That Ax I put on the ebay tat thread has been collected. 

Shame the new owner isn't on here that I know of, this would've been a great calendar shot. 

[Spottedlaurel]

20 minutes ago, wuvvum said:

The lighting in the UEA car park really brings out the pogweasel, don't you think?

I thought it looked pretty decent.

At first I was concerned when I saw an AA van, but it appeared to be attending someone else.

[wuvvum]

Had a long hard look at the rear spring on the A4 this afternoon and decided not to tackle it myself.  I'm pretty sure I would have been able to get the old spring out - it was getting the new spring in which was worrying me.  All the tutorial videos I found online were done by people who were fitting lowering springs - obvs if the spring you're putting in is 3" shorter than a standard one it's going to go in a lot easier.  So I'm going to farm it out to the garage - they'll charge £63.60 (according to the bloke I spoke to about it before) but then they'll waive the retest fee so the net cost to me will only be about £45.

The V70 has been making some odd noises from the front end again recently, and also got a bit of a wobble on again yesterday.  It's not the replacement strut - that is fine - and there's no obvious play in any of the front suspension components, so I think it might have been the offside front tyre being a bit out of shape - I've swapped the wheels over front to back for now.  The strange noises appear to be a result of the fact that the offside outer CV boot has split (not really visible with the wheels on the ground as it's split right at the CV joint end)  - this appears to have happened some time ago as the CV joint is bone dry.  So that's going to need replacing as well.  My "bargain" T5 looks like it's going to end up costing me as much as it would have done to buy a decent one in the first place...

Been driving the Tempra around some more today.  It needs a couple of minor jobs doing, the most pressing of which is that with the lights on the fanbelt squeals for a few minutes after starting the engine - it looks like I'm going to have to get the car up on ramps and crawl underneath to adjust the belt tension as the alternator is at the bottom of the engine.  It sounds like it could do with a drop link on the nearside front as that's a bit rattly over bumps.  Also I'd really like to get the rear wiper working again, as saloons with rear wipers are cool - I think the spindle might be seized as there's power to the motor and it'll switch on, but it just makes grinding noises.  Still loving the digital dash though, especially the boost gauge.