The new news 24 thread

[Cavcraft]

49 minutes ago, Dick Longbridge said:

Rare little thing - did you post the story of it? If so, I missed it! As for the registration date, I'll pm the name of a fella who is very clued up on registering Lambrettas - don't know if he knows a man who can with your Gilera. Worth an ask anyway.

 

Edit - scrap the above - I see you're sorted!!

 

It wasn't especially exciting, it'd just turned up on eBay and was about 1/4 mile away.  Went to view it (he also had some GP100s and a GP125) and ended up doing a purchase. Thanks for the offer of help too, much appreciated.

[red5]

3 hours ago, barefoot said:

re: dampcatchers.

I have a very paffy dog who takes it upon himself to steam up the interior of the Scirocco every time we go out in it. I've tried all manner of things and it's been a total losing battle thing until I used a chamois leather. Bizarre I know, but the traditional chamois appears not only to have created streak free, dry windows, the damp doesn't seem to come back - half as quickly.

Perhaps there's some science, perhaps the car's stopped misting up due to something else, but it's transformed my motoring life & moreover...

If the windows are dirty the water condenses more readily on the dirty surface. Clean - less likely to 'mist up'

[stuboy]

15 hours ago, barefoot said:

re: dampcatchers.

I have a very paffy dog who takes it upon himself to steam up the interior of the Scirocco every time we go out in it. I've tried all manner of things and it's been a total losing battle thing until I used a chamois leather. Bizarre I know, but the traditional chamois appears not only to have created streak free, dry windows, the damp doesn't seem to come back - half as quickly.

Perhaps there's some science, perhaps the car's stopped misting up due to something else, but it's transformed my motoring life & moreover...

so you recomend getting a dog and skinning a local moo cow?

[stripped fred]

I spoke to the Jag bloke about my car today. He's changed the metal coolant pipes, which seemed a bit of a faff as he had to remove quite a few items, but it is now continent.

It's had a new injector and was a bit smoky to start with but this cleared and it seems to be running okay now. He's going to leave the EGR's alone, although he still thinks that one is giving an incorrect reading which could affect the running, even though they're blanked off. Do the EGR's still send a message?

He's fully charged the battery and changed the ABS sensor, which seems to have stopped the 'gearbox fault' and other messages.

He checked the glow plugs and they're fine. He checked the engine oil level, as he wanted to make sure there was no diesel in there, but that's ok.

The parking brake has been reset and is working fine.

Total cost, just over a grand. This is on top of the £700+ bill for the replacement ECU in January. He hasn't charged me all the labour and the parts cost more than half that amount, so I don't think it's too bad for the work involved and the type of car.

Fingers crossed that this car rewards me with faultless service for the foreseeable future.... I was going to get him to change the oil too, as it's over a year since it was changed, but I will do that myself. Now, just to tell the wife that the settee she has her eye on will not be happening for a while longer, wish me luck 😬 

[N19]

Things are quite settled here and all cars seem* to be behaving...

Capri hasn't been out in a while, I've pulled it out of the garage and got it up to temperature but with the amount of salt on the roads I daren't take it out right now. I may venture out at the weekend! Mondeo *looks around furtively and whispers* hasn't lost any coolant for over a month now which is good. In a couple of weeks I plan on getting the Bluebird into the garage over a weekend (Capri can live outside) - the heat shield for the air intake had rotted away, and the replacement part has been sitting on the shelf since April. It needs two fixing bolts drilling out on the manifold which can only happen with the rad out, so I think I'll replace the one iffy hose at the same time.  It could also do with a new reverse light switch, but the old one doesn't want to come out and I'm loathe to try and force it and knacker the box housing somehow, and a CV gaiter. May or may not get on with one or both of those jobs depending on how well things go!

[Craig the Princess]

23 minutes ago, N19 said:

Things are quite settled here and all cars seem* to be behaving...

Brave.

 

Very brave...

[stripped fred]

56 minutes ago, Craig the Princess said:

Brave.

 

Very brave...

He's asking for trouble now! 😄

[Bren]

Mindful that the ethanol content in modern unleaded would more then likely finish the SD1's fuel hose off I have started disassembling the efi system  - the short pipes from the rail that feed the injector look finished. I don't want the car going up - and certainly not with me in it.

There is lots of aluminium inder the bonnet - the plenum is quite a rough casting which furrs up just by looking at it. As my time is too valuable to be polishing ali I hit the plenum with etch primer and halfords steel wheel paint. The throttle assembly ( masked off) is anodised in gold - that got some gold paint.

The rocker covers, once cleaned, will get the same treatment. I do not particularly like the look of the lucas efi system on the V8 - it looks a bit of a lash up.

[egg]

Took this on a bridge in Central Paris in c2002, I wish I knew the what and why....

[stuboy]

11 hours ago, egg said:

Took this on a bridge in Central Paris in c2002, I wish I knew the what and why....

thats miserable

[Mr Pastry]

21 minutes ago, egg said:

Took this on a bridge in Central Paris in c2002, I wish I knew the what and why....

There just has to be a good story there!  Last v5 April 95, tax due Aug 96, no MOT results.....

[Ghosty]

On 2/15/2021 at 3:38 PM, gm said:

mine was similarly afflicted with sloshing sills

Ah. I wondered why my blue MX5 made sloshy noises, I always assumed it was the fuel tank.

Oh well, not my problem any more.

[brownnova]

14 minutes ago, Ghosty said:

Ah. I wondered why my blue MX5 made sloshy noises, I always assumed it was the fuel tank.

Oh well, not my problem any more.

Yeah the sloshing noises have been there a little while... I used to drain them every couple of weeks!

Anyway a camera is going into the sills tomorrow to assess the innards following the MoT fail today... decision to be made on if it’s patches or a full on lower body rebuild... I have a love hate relationship with this car! 

[puntopaul]

 

My trusty but not so rusty mk1 Focus passed it's Mot today, barely run in for a 1.6 automatic at 185,000 miles. No major issues apart from the tester having a hizzy fit when the milometer wouldn't display, as he was adamant it had to have a mileage display to do the Mot.

Not sure why it chose that particular moment to pack up, since it had worked perfectly before it's three month layup. Had a quick look in the fuse box, and pulled out the relevant fuses. All fine so put the fuses back, started the car an now everything is working perfectly once more. Erm... ok.. weird? No idea if it was the jump starting before, but I'll take an easy fix any day. Sheeessshhh what a drama queen! 

It's the highlight of my week now since lockdown, taking my old chod for Mot since there's bugger all else to do! Three done this year so far, two more to go. And another we'll just ignore for now as it's a bit broken...  and tackle it later in the year. When that big shiny yellow sod is up in the sky again, as working on cars in winter sucks..

/

 

[beko1987]

Solder joint drying out maybe? Or a ribbon cable that needs removing, wiping on an oily shirt and replacing? 

[SiC]

MOT testers on here can say for sure but I'm certain you don't need a mileometer working for a test. I've seen MOTs where the mileage is reported as Unknown because of it. 

Also noticed that Focus MK1 are thinning out now. Guess a combination of rust and old car being throwing away is taking its toll. My experience is that they're not the best built vehicles either and you don't see too many with a big miles on either. Way better than a Escort but that wasn't exactly hard. Even though I don't like them, I reckon a Astra G is a more sturdy instrument than the Focus MK1. 

[puntopaul]

52 minutes ago, SiC said:

MOT testers on here can say for sure but I'm certain you don't need a mileometer working for a test. I've seen MOTs where the mileage is reported as Unknown because of it. 

Also noticed that Focus MK1 are thinning out now. Guess a combination of rust and old car being throwing away is taking its toll. My experience is that they're not the best built vehicles either and you don't see too many with a big miles on either. Way better than a Escort but that wasn't exactly hard. Even though I don't like them, I reckon a Astra G is a more sturdy instrument than the Focus MK1. 

It's all down to preference really, I don't mind either the Ford or the Vauxhall personally. An I'd say Astra G's are also disappearing the same as the Focus mk1, for the usual reasons with any car when it gets old alas. In just over 3 years I've put around 40,000 miles on my Focus, an the only things that have ever let me down on it was a starter motor an a coil pack. Nothing has ever fell off or given me much cause for concern, so the build can't be that bad. For a car I originally bought for a £100 it does the job, it's comfortable, rides nicely and handles well. I've seen lots of other Focus mk1s with high mileage, so like any car if you maintain it right it'll last an do big miles no problem.

Yes on the milometer thing you don't have to have it working for the Mot, what happened was I got the impression very quickly the Mot tester was having a bad day. An then he was getting stressed that he couldn't put a correct mileage in for my car, an that it's supposed to work an he can't do it without it blah blah... I couldn't be bothered to argue, since I'd figured out in my mind a dodgy fuse was the most likely cause. When I said he was adamant there was no way it was just a fuse, it must be that my speedometer must be completely knackered etc... So when I fixed it in 5 minutes an pointed to a fully working milometer, he looked proper guttted.

I then asked if there was actually anything it had failed on, since he'd tested the rest of the car. To which he mumbled no.. great.. so he gave me my shiny new Mot certificate an I paid up. Thought it was funny myself, everyone has there off days and this one was obviously his!

[mitsisigma01]

What you really need is a set of headlight protectors.... I happen to have a pair, along with a set of genuine Ford front mudflaps bnib. Drop me a line if you're interested 👍

[BorniteIdentity]

6 hours ago, puntopaul said:

It's all down to preference really, I don't mind either the Ford or the Vauxhall personally. An I'd say Astra G's are also disappearing the same as the Focus mk1, for the usual reasons with any car when it gets old alas. In just over 3 years I've put around 40,000 miles on my Focus, an the only things that have ever let me down on it was a starter motor an a coil pack. Nothing has ever fell off or given me much cause for concern, so the build can't be that bad. For a car I originally bought for a £100 it does the job, it's comfortable, rides nicely and handles well. I've seen lots of other Focus mk1s with high mileage, so like any car if you maintain it right it'll last an do big miles no problem.

Yes on the milometer thing you don't have to have it working for the Mot, what happened was I got the impression very quickly the Mot tester was having a bad day. An then he was getting stressed that he couldn't put a correct mileage in for my car, an that it's supposed to work an he can't do it without it blah blah... I couldn't be bothered to argue, since I'd figured out in my mind a dodgy fuse was the most likely cause. When I said he was adamant there was no way it was just a fuse, it must be that my speedometer must be completely knackered etc... So when I fixed it in 5 minutes an pointed to a fully working milometer, he looked proper guttted.

I then asked if there was actually anything it had failed on, since he'd tested the rest of the car. To which he mumbled no.. great.. so he gave me my shiny new Mot certificate an I paid up. Thought it was funny myself, everyone has there off days and this one was obviously his!

There was a time, 2003, when I would frequently "back to back" an Astra G and a Focus 1.  The focus was better in every measurable way; really sharp and poised drive, more comfortable, better seating position, just - err - better (and that's a shit word).

You're right though - they're both disappearing like mad.  I was a bit cross when my Mum sold hers for peanuts on a Part Ex 4 years ago as it was a beautiful pre facelift 3dr in black that she got buttons for.

I love MK1s and if a half nice Millennium came up I'd buy it.

[RayMK]

My son in law/daughter's car is a 3 door 1.4 Focus MK1 bought with about 50K on the clock several years ago.  Mileage is now 170K.  It rarely needs attention above and beyond normal servicing - easily and cheaply fixed minor ignition problems have occurred twice and a power steering union on the pump fractured but was repairable. Other than using a bit of oil these days, it still looks smart, rides well, drives nicely and has hardly any corrosion anywhere.  Even as a non-Ford enthusiast, I am impressed.  The only Astra I've driven had unpleasant engine vibration tingling through the steering wheel at all speeds and was unremarkable in all other respects. As a passenger in a brand new Daewoo Astra back in the day, I noted that they had added a vibrating rear view mirror and enhanced the racket from the very 2nd hand sounding engine. Quite horrible.

[beko1987]

Seems I've had the xsara a year! Bet I've done a fraction of the milage it would have now if I'd been commuting to the office. Best get some rear tyres ordered up soon, their not getting any less perished sat still for weeks at a time 

[MorrisItalSLX]

What do you do when the webbing tears and your seat collapses? Well...

String, String, String, String, Everybody loves string!

String, String, String, String, Everybody needs string!

Pull up your pants, slip on your vest, everybody agrees, string is best!

String, String, String, String...

Good as new.

[brownnova]

Just had the news from the garage about the extent of the MX5s rust... it’s not good news... 

Decisions to be made... 

[cort1977]

16 minutes ago, MorrisItalSLX said:

 

Good as new.

A very satisfying repair that. Wife was much more keen on the cortina after I fixed her seat.

[Craig the Princess]

1 hour ago, brownnova said:

Just had the news from the garage about the extent of the MX5s rust... it’s not good news... 

Decisions to be made... 

Exo...

[eddyramrod]

Yesterday we were walking Memphis in the park, which is quite near our house (just beyond the range of her little legs so we take her in the car).  This regular outing passes for Daily Exercise for MrsR too.  We'd got beyond halfway round out usual route when I heard sirens approaching; they stopped, so there was clearly some sort of incident nearby.  Then, with a view of one of the gates, I could see a police van parked up, and an officer entering the park on foot.  I turned around and found two vans cruising slowly along the wider paths behind us, heading generally for the side of the park we hadn't visited.  We carried on back towards the car, and found two more vans parked at another gate we had to pass, and officers patrolling on foot.

This whole scene is quite unusual!  I haven't found out what was going on yet but I thought it was worth sharing.

The standard urban patrol car round here now seems to be a Peugeot Expert van, with a crewcab and presumably a prisoner cage in the very back.  Four of the vans yesterday were this spec (the other was a similarly-laid-out Transit).  Looks like the ole Panda car, Fiesta etc, is obsolete, at least in Cumbria.

[barefoot]

One of the vehicles I am charged with maintaining at work, a 2.2 litre 14 plate Peugeot Boxer has a coolant leak. Slow & steady, but it frequently needs topping up. It does more sitting idling than motorway work. I'm taking it for a service next week and apparently when the garage were asked about this previously, there was a lot of tutting & 'its totally fucking fucked mate' and apparently it would involve removal of the engine to sort. Has anyone any knowledge of these engines? Do they have a weakspot? Is it a simple fix with a hose clip? 

In short, is there anything I should be aware of before the garage try to fob me off as well?

[Flashband]

15 hours ago, mitsisigma01 said:

What you really need is a set of headlight protectors.... I happen to have a pair, along with a set of genuine Ford front mudflaps bnib. Drop me a line if you're interested 👍

If puntopaul isn't interested I would be

[clayts450]

The benefit* of not working whilst I await van repair means I can at last turn my attention to my sagging fleet.

Streetwise - ordered a 2nd hand alternator off the Bay, so hopefully that will arrive quickly and I can get that replaced and the car running again (nearly full tank of fuel)

Combo - awaiting osf coil spring repair, but I have taken the opportunity to order some brake pads (£10 off the Bay, genuine Fiat/Vaux) and I have some replacement discs too, so I can hopefully get that nailed over the weekend, along with changing the fuel filter

420 - will be aiming to give it the once over tomorrow checking last year's advisories, before booking it in for a test

Coupe - it's fucking fucked m7, so am gonna move all the crap outta the boot, stick a shit battery in it, and get it gone

620 - swapped out the ignition switch today and good news, it starts first time every time now so I have finally got a serviceable (just) vehicle. Couple of annoyances however since it's been laid up. Central locking is very hit and miss. osr door had been jammed up, stuck locked. Miraculously when I went for a drive and then parked up, it unjammed and now works perfectly. Thought I had fixed the perennial internal door handle not working - it lasted one opening before failing again, gah....back to winding the window down to get out. And now the heater/blower has packed up (hopefully just a fuse). I also have half the dash facia missing due to broken clips. Who cares, the car runs..... (half tank of fuel)

214 - what you need to remember about the 214 is that we don't talk about the 214.

[somewhatfoolish]

Someone will have reported a house party/illegal pub/whatever; dibble seem to have been given a memo that 'this kind of thing should not be tolerated' recently.

  

6 hours ago, eddyramrod said:

Yesterday we were walking Memphis in the park, which is quite near our house (just beyond the range of her little legs so we take her in the car).  This regular outing passes for Daily Exercise for MrsR too.  We'd got beyond halfway round out usual route when I heard sirens approaching; they stopped, so there was clearly some sort of incident nearby.  Then, with a view of one of the gates, I could see a police van parked up, and an officer entering the park on foot.  I turned around and found two vans cruising slowly along the wider paths behind us, heading generally for the side of the park we hadn't visited.  We carried on back towards the car, and found two more vans parked at another gate we had to pass, and officers patrolling on foot.

This whole scene is quite unusual!  I haven't found out what was going on yet but I thought it was worth sharing.

The standard urban patrol car round here now seems to be a Peugeot Expert van, with a crewcab and presumably a prisoner cage in the very back.  Four of the vans yesterday were this spec (the other was a similarly-laid-out Transit).  Looks like the ole Panda car, Fiesta etc, is obsolete, at least in Cumbria.