The new news 24 thread

[The Moog]

It was this kind http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/D900-Universal-OBD2-EOBD-CAN-Fault-Code-Reader-Scanner-diagnostic-scan-tool-/110877986674?pt=UK_Diagnostic_Tools_Equipment&hash=item19d0d7cf72

 

 

[vulgalour]

Gasket set arrived, that means I can get the HLS engine bolted together again before Christmas dinner so Mum will be pleased to have her dining table that-she-never-uses-except-for-Christmas back.  I'd be doing it today, but I have non-specific-seasonal-lurg, probably from inhaling too much velour dust when I sorted the HLS interior out recently.

[mk1_4dr]

Escort related progress, in-as-much-as I've bought some repair panels cut from another car, at the other end of the country, 4days before Christmas, for a car I've not even seen in over 2months. What could possibly go wrong.

Also, anybody near Southampton fancy collecting (and temporarily storing) some bits of Escort for me?

[Ghosty]

It was this kind http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/D900-Universal-OBD2-EOBD-CAN-Fault-Code-Reader-Scanner-diagnostic-scan-tool-/110877986674?pt=UK_Diagnostic_Tools_Equipment&hash=item19d0d7cf72

I'll vouch for this - the old man has one. I think it has a load of settings for American cars though.

[nacho man]

Stag keeps showing all the h8ters there are a mega* reliable* winter ride

[nacho man]

Also got new old a stereo so no longer do I have to look at this piece of crap that's been put in with bathroom sealant.

 

 

Bit more 70's but still looking for some oe radio.

 

[The Moog]

I'll vouch for this - the old man has one. I think it has a load of settings for American cars though.

 

It does but also has others setting which seemed to work

[wackywacerwill]

Just won a sight unseen piece of auto merde and am now deliberating how to go about getting it home from where it lays 150 miles from my door. Drive it will of course be favorite though there's some dodgy brakes and legal issues to sort first...

[mercrocker]

Escort related progress, in-as-much-as I've bought some repair panels cut from another car, at the other end of the country, 4days before Christmas, for a car I've not even seen in over 2months. What could possibly go wrong.

 

Also, anybody near Southampton fancy collecting (and temporarily storing) some bits of Escort for me?

I am down here .....Can I help you? 

[Mr Livered]

Just won a sight unseen piece of auto merde and am now deliberating how to go about getting it home from where it lays 150 miles from my door. Drive it will of course be favorite though there's some dodgy brakes and legal issues to sort first...

That is insufficient information. Please supply details immediately. Thank you.

[garycox]

Yesterday's purchases:

[wackywacerwill]

That is insufficient information. Please supply details immediately. Thank you.

But holding out till collection day (boxing day +1) makes me feel all powerful and magnificent, so no.

 

The clues are all here on this very forum though if you choose to eagerly await with baited breath a shit thread on a shit car then that's just fine with me 

[cort16]

they look nice especially the escort

[HMC]

Great! both look great, much history with either? They both look nicely original with the plates and trimz. The escort has a scottish number i think.

 

More than the cars themselves though, is this- im a compulsive car buyer, and I have never bought 2 in a day. Doff my cap to you sir.

[garycox]

The Micra has had the same owner since 1996, I'm the third. It looks MUCH cleaner in the pictures than it actually is, it doesn't look like it's been washed for years. A wash/polish/Hoover will have it looking pretty mint though.

 

Strangely, despite the grime it has been serviced twice a year regardless of mileage, just had a 'winter check' which I think involves paying somebody to check fluid levels etc, and has never been welded. Apart from a wonky door mirror and scratched wheel trim, I can't find fault with it. Came with no paperwork apart from the V5 and most recent MOT sadly.

 

The Escort's owner had had it 3 years, before that it had spent 8 years in a garage and he bought it for £50 with no keys or documents. Since then he's renewed a load of parts (all brake lines, exhaust, sump, fuel pump etc), and has been using it occasionally. It's not perfect, there are a few very minor dents and rust spots, there's still no key for the tailgate, no radio, but it's very solid and drives well. I was surprised to find it's a 5 speed too. I think it's pretty good for the £300 paid, with test til October and tax til the end of this month.

 

As the front springs have some rust on, he'd bought brand new front springs and shocks, these are still in the boot. Escort seller also had a P5B Coupe and a 928, so seemed like a good guy.

[derskine]

The Micra has had the same owner since 1996, I'm the third. It looks MUCH cleaner in the pictures than it actually is, it doesn't look like it's been washed for years. A wash/polish/Hoover will have it looking pretty mint though.

 

Strangely, despite the grime it has been serviced twice a year regardless of mileage, just had a 'winter check' which I think involves paying somebody to check fluid levels etc, and has never been welded. Apart from a wonky door mirror and scratched wheel trim, I can't find fault with it. Came with no paperwork apart from the V5 and most recent MOT sadly.

 

The Escort's owner had had it 3 years, before that it had spent 8 years in a garage and he bought it for £50 with no keys or documents. Since then he's renewed a load of parts (all brake lines, exhaust, sump, fuel pump etc), and has been using it occasionally. It's not perfect, there are a few very minor dents and rust spots, there's still no key for the tailgate, no radio, but it's very solid and drives well. I was surprised to find it's a 5 speed too. I think it's pretty good for the £300 paid, with test til October and tax til the end of this month.

 

As the front springs have some rust on, he'd bought brand new front springs and shocks, these are still in the boot. Escort seller also had a P5B Coupe and a 928, so seemed like a good guy.

 

That's a great price on the Escort, looks very nice

[dollywobbler]

Top purchasing!

[Cavcraft]

That Micra is brill, Gary. Did you buy the Escort as well?

[Mr Livered]

You bought two cars in one day? Superb!

[hairnet]

Mmmmm micra

[cms206]

That Scrote's well travelled from Peoples in Glasgow! Top shiting!

[garethj]

Today I fixed the instrument pack on the Octavia.  It's apparently a common VAG problem for the speedo, revcounter, temp gauge and fuel gauge to stop working when they feel like it.  Mine stopped occasionally, then stopped about half the time, for the last week it's barely worked at all.

 

What am I complaining about, my 205 only had half of those gauges in the first place.

 

As it stopped raining today I pulled the instrument cluster out, took it apart, re-soldered the dry joints and was happy.  About 5 minutes, including balancing it on a coffee cup while soldering.  It's a sign of how quick modern cars are to build that I had the whole instrument pack together again in less than 90 seconds, and I was being cautious.

 

Took it back to the car and connected it up, the odometer part wasn't showing very clearly so I checked the grounding tabs, I hadn't bent them over enough.  A gentle shove with the screwdriver I use to take paint lids off and everything worked.  Another couple of minutes and everything was back together again, result!

 

While I don't like it when things on the car break, I can't complain too much when the repair costs £0

[Lankytim]

Today I replaced the very hard rear spheres on the XM. The XM I bought for spares supplied a pair of good heavy duty Citroen items, a quick whizz with the sphere tool I made had then both slackened off. One had lost all it's pressure and was full of LHM, which blasted me in the face like some sort of Vulcan bukkake movie. The new spheres went on without a problem and the XM its now like the proverbial magic carpet. Result! I think it may be ready for its MOT!

[Mr Livered]

Lol @ Vulcan bukkake

[trigger]

For a while now the oil cap on the Acclaim has been a bit on the spunky side, all white and frothy, I've been checking the water levels and they haven't dropped so I suspect it's a combination of wet weather, short journeys and the fact the engine wasn't flushed after it's head gasket repair, this morning I decided it was probably best just to change the oil again, last time I used some 25 year old Castrol GTX 15/50 oil i found in my dad's shed, this time I've put in some Comma 15/40, I'll see if that makes much difference.

 

 

To be honest I still haven't really jelled with the car though, I mean it does drives well, if a bit bland and it's been reliable since the HG change but I just can't get excited by it in any way, It also looks tattier and rustier every time i look at it, the trouble is if i sell it It's only worth about £600 which means I'll lose about £500 which bugs me too.

[Alexg]

Managed to bag myself a Sinclair C5 on eBay yesterday. I'll be off to Surrey tomorrow morning, fortunately I have just the right shite to collect it in.

[M'coli]

You bought two cars in one day? Superb!

Don't worry: if he lends them both to Barrett, they'll not be running in the same day too... :mrgreen:

[garethj]

Managed to bag myself a Sinclair C5 on eBay yesterday. I'll be off to Surrey tomorrow morning, fortunately I have just the right shite to collect it in.

Cool, although 1 wheel drive means they're NOT GR8 4 DRIFTIN because when you corner hard the inside rear wheel lifts.  So you stop.

 

What's your right shite to collect it in?  A Hoover repair van?

[Alexg]

That would be much better, but I'll have to use my Allegro Estate. 

[garethj]

Were there accessories sold with C5s at the time?  I remember a pennant to make you more visible to traffic, maybe a weather cover too?  I reckon a pacamac that you zip over would make you the coolest C5 driver ever.  And that's saying something!