The new news 24 thread

[grogee]

5 minutes ago, Zelandeth said:

This is what I use.  Wet everything down decently with it, agitate any particularly stubborn bits, leave to sit for a few minutes then blast it off with the pressure washer.

Think this was the best before and after I had.

Obviously if there's a lot of oil there you should try to make arrangements to minimise run off - though realistically the amount you're going to flush out of the occasional car engine bay isn't going to end the world. 

I've always figured that being able to *see* where leaks are to fix them means the amount of oil ending up on the ground is reduced overall.

I would be terrified pointing a pressure washer inside a V12 Jag engine bay, but maybe I just need to be braver. 

[JJ0063]

Had 6hrs with my tattooist today, I’ve had lots of tattoos and never thought any of them hurt. This was another story, by the end of it I was literally twitching. 
 

Very red and very swollen at the moment so not the best pic:

 

 

[SiC]

A pair of brand new 18ACR alternators came today. One for the weak one on the Moggie and one to replace the Dynamo on the Midget.

At £40 each posted (after 20% eBay discount code) it makes no sense to rebuild or buy second hand. Already got one on the MGB and has been fine for a number of years already.


Fabio has got an MOT tomorrow, so stuck it through the car wash and have a hoover out. I always like to present a clean car as I feel it has a better chance of passing if mud isn't falling into the testers eyes.


I'm expecting it to fail on a CV joint gaiter. Hopefully not much more. I've set a mental limit of around £150 max spend to get it through. Drives fine, so don't expect too much wrong to be honest.

[wuvvum]

8 minutes ago, JJ0063 said:

Had 6hrs with my tattooist today, I’ve had lots of tattoos and never thought any of them hurt. This was another story, by the end of it I was literally twitching. 
 

Very red and very swollen at the moment so not the best pic:

 

 

Why is L J K Setright about to eat a tiny street lamp?

[Zelandeth]

13 minutes ago, grogee said:

I would be terrified pointing a pressure washer inside a V12 Jag engine bay, but maybe I just need to be braver. 

I've never had any real headaches.  The Jag engine bay honestly looks far more terrifying than it really is just because it's not exactly tidily packaged.

Think I had to give the distributor cap a quick blow out with the air line when I was done, but that was it for drama.

I'd always rather a car object to getting wet when I have it on the drive than when I hit an unseen deep puddle in the dark one evening and discover my HT leads are shot then.  

 

I hate working in dirty engine bays so this is usually one of the first things to happen to a car when it comes on fleet and generally a couple of times a year thereafter to stop grime from building up.  BX was probably the one which objected the most up to the point I realised that the plugs on that sit in a really deep well in the head which had filled up with water - two minutes with the air line to blow those out and we were sorted.

[Noel Tidybeard]

21 hours ago, vulgalour said:

Has anyone else been smelling burning rubber in slow moving traffic?  Not very strong, and never for very long.  I did think it was the Princess but after finding no signs at all of any rubber getting hot or worn on the car, and the fact it happens really randomly in the journey, I have to assume it's something outside.  Maybe it's a new car thing?

Been really bugging me though.  Every time I smell it (or hear someone else's squealing brakes), I think the car has broken something.

vw's smell hot and bothered when the do a regen/burn the ass out of the dpf

[Fumbler]

24 minutes ago, Zelandeth said:

This is what I use.  Wet everything down decently with it, agitate any particularly stubborn bits, leave to sit for a few minutes then blast it off with the pressure washer.

Think this was the best before and after I had.

Obviously if there's a lot of oil there you should try to make arrangements to minimise run off - though realistically the amount you're going to flush out of the occasional car engine bay isn't going to end the world. 

I've always figured that being able to *see* where leaks are to fix them means the amount of oil ending up on the ground is reduced overall.

I'll be on the lookout for some. I really should get one of those detailing soft brush thingies that get into all the nooks and crannies. Normally, I wouldn't bother (the Micra only has 24000 miles and no dirt to speak of) but I'm getting fed up having to wash my hands every time because they, somehow, get caked in filth and oil.

[JJ0063]

20 minutes ago, wuvvum said:

Why is L J K Setright about to eat a tiny street lamp?

Leg wasn’t big enough to fit a Prelude

 

 

[High Jetter]

1 hour ago, Zelandeth said:

I've never had any real headaches.  The Jag engine bay honestly looks far more terrifying than it really is just because it's not exactly tidily packaged.

Think I had to give the distributor cap a quick blow out with the air line when I was done, but that was it for drama.

I'd always rather a car object to getting wet when I have it on the drive than when I hit an unseen deep puddle in the dark one evening and discover my HT leads are shot then.  

 

I hate working in dirty engine bays so this is usually one of the first things to happen to a car when it comes on fleet and generally a couple of times a year thereafter to stop grime from building up.  BX was probably the one which objected the most up to the point I realised that the plugs on that sit in a really deep well in the head which had filled up with water - two minutes with the air line to blow those out and we were sorted.

It was common, in the 80's, to steam-clean engine bays. Distributors, and other electrickery items, may not have been adequately protected.

[barefoot]

12 hours ago, wuvvum said:

Why is L J K Setright about to eat a tiny street lamp?

I thought it was Gandalf.

[Bren]

13 hours ago, Zelandeth said:

I've never had any real headaches.  The Jag engine bay honestly looks far more terrifying than it really is just because it's not exactly tidily packaged.

Think I had to give the distributor cap a quick blow out with the air line when I was done, but that was it for drama.

I'd always rather a car object to getting wet when I have it on the drive than when I hit an unseen deep puddle in the dark one evening and discover my HT leads are shot then.  

 

I hate working in dirty engine bays so this is usually one of the first things to happen to a car when it comes on fleet and generally a couple of times a year thereafter to stop grime from building up.  BX was probably the one which objected the most up to the point I realised that the plugs on that sit in a really deep well in the head which had filled up with water - two minutes with the air line to blow those out and we were sorted.

I always think the V12 set up looks heath robinson just like the efi set up on the rover V8.

[AnnoyingPentium]

13 hours ago, SiC said:

Fabio has got an MOT tomorrow, so stuck it through the car wash and have a hoover out. I always like to present a clean car as I feel it has a better chance of passing if mud isn't falling into the testers eyes.

Best of luck with it! Those headlight units look remarkably clear too!

[SiC]

Best of luck with it! Those headlight units look remarkably clear too!

I believe one was changed for new on an MOT a few years back. Also I reckon it's lived in a garage for many years too. Especially given the immaculately clean underside.

That being said, I've told the garage if it needs a hundreds of pounds spent on it, it'll be scrapped. I know it'll need an offside CV joint gaiter but not sure what else. Maybe some bushes given the age and how these Fabia/Polo/Ibiza eat them. So depending what happens today, I might be catching a bus home

[beko1987]

I've pressure washed the engine bay of all the cars I've owned and its been fine! 

As said, it's nicer to work on it, and not get black hands filling the screen wash or topping the oil off or investigating a sudden random noise, and you can see the leaks. 

I wafted the washer over the engine bay last weekend, mainly because I'd slopped a load of screenwash all over the front leg, which is already quite scabby from 20 years of that happening. Because I went to town on it not long after buying the car it all rinsed off nicely and job done 👍

I envy the people who can pop the engine out on a Saturday morning, give it and the engine bay a fucking proper clean then pop it back in by Sunday tea time... 

[mitsisigma01]

Micra mot overdue , scrubbed some birdshit off the bonnet,changed a wiper blade ,cleaned out interior, adjusted washerjet , pumped up tyres .... 

Nearside headlight multiblock looks like it's been overheated a few times ,might need changing 😕

[SiC]

32 minutes ago, SiC said:

That being said, I've told the garage if it needs a hundreds of pounds spent on it, it'll be scrapped. I know it'll need an offside CV joint gaiter but not sure what else.

Fabia failed just on the CV gaiter. I can forgive it for that, as it was split when I bought it and I've been ignoring it. Tester remarked how clean and tidy it is underneath, especially for the age. I still reckon giving cars a wash improves their chances of a pass. 😆

Just given the go ahead to get it fixed. Reckoned it would be about £118 for the part, labour and VAT. Could DIY but hassle in getting it back and not sure I've got a socket for the hub nut as weird VAG.

At least it'll be worth a fair chunk more with 12 months MOT when I eventually come to sell it. Tempted to wait till the spring/summer for when the Bristol Clean Air Zone comes into force and a panic buyer/swap when someone finds their car is going to get a £9 daily charge.

[AnnoyingPentium]

13 minutes ago, SiC said:

Maybe some bushes given the age and how these Fabia/Polo/Ibiza eat them.

Yep. Mine is needing them done. Got a set of Polyurethane ones ready to go on.

I reckon it should be alright. I've yet to see one of these Fabias that is completely rotten underneath (with a few exceptions) so I don't see anything glaringly obvious that it should fail on.

[AnnoyingPentium]

26 minutes ago, SiC said:

Fabia failed just on the CV gaiter. I can forgive it for that, as it was split when I bought it and I've been ignoring it. Tester remarked how clean and tidy it is underneath, especially for the age. I still reckon giving cars a wash improves their chances of a pass. 😆

Oops just seen this, congratulations though. See above about rot underneath.

[wuvvum]

7 hours ago, SiC said:

Just given the go ahead to get it fixed. Reckoned it would be about £118 for the part, labour and VAT. Could DIY but hassle in getting it back and not sure I've got a socket for the hub nut as weird VAG.

[DodgyBastard]

Picked up the Ka today, it drives nicely.

[SiC]

Ended up being £117 for CV boot, labour AND MOT - all in. Certainly not worth the effort to DIY that.

In other news, feeling groggy and sore throat this afternoon. Took a precautionary test and ...yeah it came back positive. Mrs SiC is testing negative though!

Tbh I'm most annoyed that I can't go to the Haynes Breakfast Meet on Sunday.

[AnnoyingPentium]

6 minutes ago, DodgyBastard said:

Picked up the Ka today, it drives nicely.

Very nice!

[AnnoyingPentium]

3 minutes ago, SiC said:

In other news, feeling groggy and sore throat this afternoon. Took a precautionary test and ...yeah it came back positive. Mrs SiC is testing negative though!

Tbh I'm most annoyed that I can't go to the Haynes Breakfast Meet on Sunday.

Get well soon!

[wuvvum]

12 minutes ago, SiC said:

Ended up being £117 for CV boot, labour AND MOT - all in. Certainly not worth the effort to DIY that.

Aye, fair enough.

[Mrcento]

Keep missing out on cars in only ways i can. Such is life.

I'm formulating plans for the year ahead.

Selling the Cinquecento number 1. I just don't have any future plans for it. Sort of done all i want to do with it when i got it back on the road with 16v power. Will need work to get back on the road but nothing crazy, just a light refreshing. Was a daily when i parked it up, purely because of my work taking me on absolutely horrendous roads and out on untreated country roads in winter multiple times a week and the abuse it was getting was going to smash the thing to bits sooner rather than later.... Even getting out of work everyday was a battle to not ground out or get beached in potholes a ft deep. 

Brilliant little car and a complete riot to drive, But i want the space and have moved more into wanting floaty, comfy things. Especially when i fell into the Civic... it  rides way worse than the Cinq at low speed.

[N19]

2 hours ago, wuvvum said:

Are those any good? Opinions seem to differ wildly. I have a perished joint on the Nissan and that solution looks tempting 

[wuvvum]

They're fine as long as you fit them properly.  I fitted one to the Rover of Doom for the MOT one year and it was still on there when I scrapped the car 2 1/2 years later.

[Mally]

We put one on a Quashqai as a temporary  measure. It was still there 3 years later when we sold it.

Best buy 2 though, it's not an easy job.

[Spurious]

2 hours ago, DodgyBastard said:

Picked up the Ka today, it drives nicely.

I swear I only seen this on FB but I can't find it now. 

If it's solid underneath, get some cavity wax on it. Lovely. I know I've been critical of them before but they're a happy wee drive. And the face of them reminds me of a smiley transit. 

[brownnova]

Pheasant 0 Mercedes 1

I was doing 55 on impact, last time I hit a pheasant at that speed I was in an Alfa 156, and it smashed the fog light and cracked the bumper. No such worries with the German tank!