The new news 24 thread

[phil_lihp]

A tiny little rural Subaru specialist near our base for today had a yard full of Legacys, Imprezas and Foresters in various states of disassembly which wasn't particularly noteworthy.  However, among them was a 13-plate pickup truck I didn't recognise in a rather horrible shade of purpley red.  A cheap-looking sign stuck to the side of the garage building answered that question, that's one more Great Wall dealer, they're starting to spread.

[wuvvum]

I had a bash at repairing the leaking coolant pipe on the Rover 400 today using repair tape.  It didn't work.  It's slowed the leak down but hasn't stopped it.  New pipe required then - I'm not sure I can be arsed though as it's not going back on the road (at least not in my ownership) and will probably be sold for more or less scrap money, so I'm not about to start spending on it.

 

I also bodged up a temporary* separate switch for the screenwash on the Solara, taking a live feed from the junction box under the bonnet and pinning the earth under the voltage regulator.  The pump now works, but there's a blockage in the pipework somewhere so I still don't have working washers.  That'll be a job for next weekend.  It's probably going to be treated to some replacement tyres soon, as the ones on there are now so badly perished that I'd hesitate to do a long motorway run on them.  A mate has a set of nearly new 165/80x13s that he says I can have cheap, and he works at a garage so he can fit them for me as well.  Not that the car's likely to see much use over the next few months, as I don't take it out when there's salt on the roads.

[Mr_Bo11ox]

I've had a good sesh down the garage today, finally fixed my Rover 25 van's running problems. Turns out I had got the wiring plugs for the throttle position sensor and the cam sensor connected up back to front. Corrected them and now it purrs like a kitten! absolutely perfect. THANK FOOK FOR THAT. Also ripped out the aftermarket alarm and ran it over to make sure it was dead. Whoever fitted that seriously needs shooting in the face, what an absolute hash they made of the wiring. I spent an enjoyable* hour lying upside-down in the drivers footwell soldering stuff up and undoing scotchloks and insulation-taped joints that had clearly been made by someone who can only dream of emulating the wiring skillz0rz of Retro-Rides legend 'BL1300'. Dire. Now the factory alarm is fully operational including the dashboard LED which I have never seen before. Finally I replaced a few dead fuses and clipped all the wiring back into place before having a little cheeky blez up the road. Its running perfect man. Hopefully get it in for an MOT this week after which its going up for sale.

[vulgalour]

Did you ever pick up that starter motor from me?  I have this suspicion I spotted it lurking in the red Princess earlier today.

[dollywobbler]

Thrashed the little Daihatsu to Birmingham at some ungodly hour this morning, pwning a Vauxhall Combo van on the M54 on the way. 85mph. Eat my dust! And blue smoke...

 

Good to meet OldFord, Boobydoo and Stuno during the day, and Caffiend of course. May have forgotten others as I'm properly exhausted. 

 

Got back home 2.5hrs after leaving the car park. Not bad going and I took it easier on the way back, largely because I was low on fuel and feeling a bit cheapskate so tried to reach Shrewsbury, which we just about did. Motorway fuel hike fees avoided. Daihatsu is a grand little car, though after a day amongst BXs, I really, REALLY miss that comfort.

[Sigmund Fraud]

I've had a good sesh down the garage today, finally fixed my Rover 25 van's running problems. (...) Hopefully get it in for an MOT this week after which its going up for sale.

 

What ? I was convinced this was one for the Musee-du-Bo11 ! Are you so fed up with it ?

[The Moog]

As mentioned elsewhere I have managed to turn a grey 306 into via the magic of Cavcraft. Got a lovely pattener.

 

Going to use it to move house the autoshite way (with a wing and a prayer). Then either punt it on or alternatively make it an excercise for learning welding and perhaps convert it into a camper for not much moolah.

[wackywacerwill]

Stick an upturned boat on the top for more head room 

[Barry Cade]

 

 

Tomorrow I am going to attempt to replace the PCV gubbins on TV2, which is meant to be a straightforward job once the inlet manifold and fuel rail are off the car. Has anyone here ever done this job on an 850/70 Series? If so, how did you find it?

I did all that, plus a turbo on my T5, not a bad job at all- but my back hurt for days after lying over the engine bay for a few hours.

 

[Shep Shepherd]

^

 

Thanks for that. TV2 is a non-turbo, so I expect that things will be a little easier for me. I'll find out soon enough...

[oman5]

As mentioned elsewhere I have managed to turn a grey 306 into via the magic of Cavcraft. Got a lovely pattener.

 

Going to use it to move house the autoshite way (with a wing and a prayer). Then either punt it on or alternatively make it an excercise for learning welding and perhaps convert it into a camper for not much moolah.

I have a love/hate thing with these. I love them because they are a staggeringly competent vehicle, unfailingly reliable, capable of huge mileage, superb on fuel etc etc the HATE part comes from the fact that the body is soluble. they rust for fun just about everywhere.

[wackywacerwill]

/\ /\ /\ This is true. However they are a valuable resource when learning how to weld. Mine now contains recycled shelf racking, washing machine and wheel barrow as well as some genuine automotive steel from various makes and models.

[cort16]

I was just having a look on ebay there and the wheel arch repair panels for the transits are pretty cheap. It's almost like they rust excessively or something. I recon a rust free one of these would a pretty great and rare thing to own.

[Sloth in a bowl]

Bit of a late news item, but after the Cannock car auction on Saturday I went and test drove a new Skoda Octavia Vrs. What I learnt was:

The diesel turbo is like every other diesel turbo I have ever driven, being foot down, nothing happens, a load of torque for 2 seconds, then nothing.

The waiting list is book now, get your car next March! Yep, Skoda is getting towards a 6 month waiting list and in 4 years time you will not be able to move for ex-lease Octavia Vrs(es).

The rest of the car is very nice and for a petrol version I am very tempted, the only major down point is the really dark interior.

[dugong]

I went and tried a TDi 140 Golf recently.

Got as far as the J7 entry slip for the M60 and told the salesman I hated it.

[dugong]

"What? What do you mean you think it's sh*t? We've got people queueing for these, they're a quality car!"

HA HA HA HA HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH

SNORT (wipes away snot).

[cort16]

There's something weird feeling about those VAG 2.0 TDi's as they seem to drive more like a petrol but with a 4500rpm red line. There's no slug of torque that  you get with older TDi's. I had an A6 with the 170bhp 2.0tdi and it was severly undramatic even though it chewed front tyres every 12,000 miles.

[Sigmund Fraud]

I went and tried a TDi 140 Golf recently.

 

Now tell us the truth... You didn't really want a Golf... You just wanted to annoy the salesman, didn't you ?

[Cavcraft]

Hey, I've still got contact details somewhere (at work I think) for a place that sells replacement panels for the Transit. They were quite reasonable too, I'll try and find it then pm details or something.

[Negative Creep]

The Merc has a bit - hooray!

 

 

It's from someone with 2 feedback. Hmmm........

[vulgalour]

Dammit, eBay, you're not helping me save money!

 

 

 

Anyone in/near Barnoldswick able to collect/store the seats for me? If anyone could help I'd like to make a bid on them and collect when I've got two seconds to breathe between Princess purchases. They'd be going in the red car whose seats are good, but not that good.

[Junkman]

Go on then.

[vulgalour]

Go on then.

I shall let you know how it goes. Auction is running a few more days yet. Fingers crossed for 99p seats!

[dugong]

Can collect and probably store.

[Junkman]

We could go together for some combined roffling.

[dugong]

We could go together for some combined roffling.

Yeah, OK.

 

Where's Barnoldswick?

 

 

[Junkman]

Up in the Twilight Zone past Colne, where the country bumpkins have one eye in the middle of their foreheads and spit roast visitors in front of a beer tent.

[dugong]

Up in the Twilight Zone past Colne, where the country bumpkins have one eye in the middle of their foreheads and spit roast visitors in front of a beer tent.

Off the M65 and right a bit. Gotcha.

[HMC]

Sierra news: A retractable load cover i spotted on E bay has arrived and been fitted. I unearthed from the garage a cassette adaptor thing so I can play suitable 80s choons from my phone to light up the graphic equalliser with.

[The Moog]

Removed the ladder holder from roof of transit via judicious use of angle grinder. Now Fs on gumtree.

 

 

Weighed fuck loads and also banged like a sex starved squaddie in a whore house. So hopefully will be quieter and a bit more mpg.

 

Filled the holes with chem metal. Tried gaffer tape but came unstuck straight away.

 

 

Xantia failed MOT again but due to headligh alignment, couple of loose wires and broken windscreen jet. None of this came up before but hey ho. Also tyres are advisory so will swap them for a full winter set I think