The new news 24 thread

[barefoot]

22 hours ago, barefoot said:

Don't record it, report it!

Here in sunny Leicestershire we have a form to complete. You click on the map where there's a hole in the road and a couple of days later a bloke turns up & puts  shovel full of tarmac into it before backing over it in his lorry. I normally enter my postcode as one of the maintenance hangers up at EMA to avoid getting too involved with anyone.

https://leicestershirecc-self.achieveservice.com/AchieveForms/?mode=fill&consentMessage=yes&form_uri=sandbox-publish://AF-Process-566d0db1-a780-40ec-a830-b17262c5ab3e/AF-Stage-082df4a7-2f45-4423-9cc0-a3390e945fe6/definition.json&process=1&process_uri=sandbox-processes://AF-Process-566d0db1-a780-40ec-a830-b17262c5ab3e&process_id=AF-Process-566d0db1-a780-40ec-a830-b17262c5ab3e

For a laugh, I reported three potholes yesterday and the two I’ve driven past this morning already have yellow painted lines around them!

[HillmanImp]

I'm going to a party at the weekend. Instead of spending money on taxis and hotels I'm staying in the camper van where the party is. 

I've just been to the shop for a sarnie and the van windscreen was frozen on the inside. 😂

Brilliant. Might put on my thick socks. 

[brownnova]

It was Hobson’s choice this morning in the minus 2 frozen wastes… 

Do I take the one where the alarm keeps going off and flattening the battery (so to stand any chance of getting home again I need to leave it unlocked), the one which has leaked through the boot and now is frozen solid both inside and out, or the one which has two cardboard tubes from the exhaust for heating, is also frozen on the inside of the windscreen and is parked behind the other two.

Remind me why I don’t just go and buy a modern on a PCP again… 

[loserone]

11 minutes ago, brownnova said:

Remind me why I don’t just go and buy a modern on a PCP again… 

Cause a modern wouldn't have preheating so it's already warm when you get..  oh bollocks, I got that wrong

[Fumbler]

OSF strut pin being worn might explain the creaking noise when I turn the wheel.

[Rust Collector]

I considered taking the Lada this morning, but bottled it as it meant defrosting two cars and then doing some shunting.

I was then immediately shown up by my neighbour who promptly pulled out in front of me in his Austin

He does keep it in the garage though which I’m fairly sure is cheating.

[barefoot]

1 hour ago, HillmanImp said:

I'm going to a party at the weekend. Instead of spending money on taxis and hotels I'm staying in the camper van where the party is. 

I've just been to the shop for a sarnie and the van windscreen was frozen on the inside. 😂

Brilliant. Might put on my thick socks. 

You'll be fine. A happily pissed bloke will be fast asleep in seconds underneath a quilt & a blanket or two. Don't forget to take your porta potti for that 03:00 mega-piss.

[brownnova]

1 hour ago, Rust Collector said:

He does keep it in the garage though which I’m fairly sure is cheating.

Had my 2CV been in the garage last night I would have definitely taken that today rather than de-ice! 

[High Jetter]

3 hours ago, barefoot said:

For a laugh, I reported three potholes yesterday and the two I’ve driven past this morning already have yellow painted lines around them!

That was quick, though of course they might have already been reported? There's one round here on an A road that was marked about 2 months ago!

[stuboy]

Missus stuboy wanted another sunstrip, so I got the guy who did mine, designed with the missus ideas, yeah some will scoff and laugh but she's happy..  what I'm not happy about was getting my v6 back with petrol light on and more bird poo than bottom of a budgies cage..

[richardmorris]

9 hours ago, brownnova said:

Had my 2CV been in the garage last night I would have definitely taken that today rather than de-ice! 

My 2cv has been relegated out of the barn so I don’t need to defrost the TIPO. -3 is too cold to cycle and salted roads are no place for the 2cv. It’s under a car cover, but looked like an igloo at 6 this morning.

[SiC]

I need to sort storage and get this put away. I haven't actually driven or used it since it came back from its service. Didn't even drive it back from its service as Panhard65 picked it up and dropped it back! 
It can't be doing it much good left outside like this, especially the roof and water drainage tubes. Even if it's avoiding the salt, that freezing water could well be getting in places it shouldn't. Could also save myself £25pcm by SORNing it.

 

[Asimo]

It is -10°C and the Suzuki’s heater fan has given up.
This is the first significant failure for six years , I think it is a sulk because swmbo is pxing it for a Duster next week.

There is a childcare emergency to deal with in a few hours. No pressure then.

Edit     Fixed (bodged) the bastard! 
Fuse ok

Relay ok

volts into speed control module, no volts out.

Motor, obviously seized.

Remove and dismantle motor. Lower bearing seized to shaft and rotating unwillingly in it’s housing. Work oil and alcohol mix into the bearings. 
Motor fixed.

Bypass speed control so fan on full power.

Reassemble enough to be drivable with ten minutes to spare. Lots of brownie points obtained but fuck me, my fingers were cold!

[HillmanImp]

21 hours ago, barefoot said:

You'll be fine. A happily pissed bloke will be fast asleep in seconds underneath a quilt & a blanket or two. Don't forget to take your porta potti for that 03:00 mega-piss.

Yeah, thats the plan. Will see how it goes today. Got a good sleeping bag so should be okay. 

[hairnet]

2 hours ago, Asimo said:

 I think it is a sulk because swmbo is pxing it for a Duster next week.

 

get her on here 

mmmm duster

[andy18s]

3 hours ago, Asimo said:

It is -10°C and the Suzuki’s heater fan has given up.
This is the first significant failure for six years , I think it is a sulk because swmbo is pxing it for a Duster next week.

There is a childcare emergency to deal with in a few hours. No pressure then.

Edit     Fixed (bodged) the bastard! 
Fuse ok

Relay ok

volts into speed control module, no volts out.

Motor, obviously seized.

Remove and dismantle motor. Lower bearing seized to shaft and rotating unwillingly in it’s housing. Work oil and alcohol mix into the bearings. 
Motor fixed.

Bypass speed control so fan on full power.

Reassemble enough to be drivable with ten minutes to spare. Lots of brownie points obtained but fuck me, my fingers were cold!

Be careful the bearing doesn't start to seize again and pull too much current through your fan bypass,unless you put a fuse in it?

[Asimo]

Standard fuse is still in the circuit so should be ok.

It might be that the speed controller is ok and that the HVAC controller won’t talk to it until a code is cleared. (Hopeful) If the speed controller is broken then it will get bypassed by a dumb resistor and a confession will be made at px time.

Maybe I’ll get the code-reader on it tomorrow but I suspect that a generic obdii  device won’t help with the heater controller.

[MrGTI6]

The clock spring for my Saab arrived this week, so I set about replacing it this morning (with a bit of help!). 

My airbag light has now gone out, the horn works perfectly, as do all the buttons on the steering wheel. Result!

The unsightly switch wired into the dash by the previous owner for the horn has now been removed and blanked off.

BEFORE

AFTER

 

The car is now coming up with a message about the stability control. After asking around on the Saab UK Facebook page, it turns out that when replacing the clock spring, you have to re-calibrate the steering wheel angle sensor using a Tech 2 scanner. I've got it booked in tomorrow with a Saab specialist.

[Ghosty]

Took the removable boss off the Eunos steering wheel, horn works now and the stalks are comfortable to use. Won't have my arms as bent while driving either. Happy days. 

[GingerNuttz]

Paint at the weekend hopefully.

Absolute nighhtmare, should have been bridged 😂

[andy18s]

Mini heatwave has commenced 

[Ghosty]

Picked this up for £25 on Farketplace. Nice and inoffensive. 

Halfords sell the same unit without Bluetooth for £65 or so. Second hand Bluetooth ones seem to start at £50, so that's a score. It's going in the Eunos. 

[Spottedlaurel]

On 11/27/2022 at 9:19 PM, Spottedlaurel said:

LS400 MoT news to follow as and when.....

It hasn't been through a test yet, but they've given it a pre-MoT check. Exhaust and emissions were OK, so at least nothing needs bodging there until I can get it up to the local Powerflow place. Main issues are some welding and attention to the rear brakes - will ring up on Monday, but definitely seems to be worth persevering with, and once its roadworthy again I can make a plan of action to actually preserve/improve it.

[SiC]

After feeling guilty having the Boxster sitting out freezing itself and unused, I decided today was a good day to sort storage and put it away. Still icy cold out and Quattro certainly hides the slippery roads - perhaps too much. You only really notice when you come to stop and have the abs kick in on touching the brakes. I'll replace the ditchfinders on it at some point.



This is the problem I have with storage.

Far too many Dolomite seats! Given I'm paying £70 pcm for this bay, it's a bit silly having all this clutter there.


Anyone after any seats? If I can't find a home in a week or so, I'll probably send them to the scrap yard.


I took back some of the wheels I have and they can go in the garden for now. Anyone after Morris Minor wheels and/or Marina wheels?!


With that cleared, I packed it all to the back.


Problem is, that didn't give enough room still for the Boxster. The MGB was going to have to give up it's space and move to the other side. I put my hat out to people like captain_70s and those that daily these old BL bangers in the cold. She took a hell of a lot of churning and a good dose of choke before firing into life. The obligatory choke popped back in and stalled the engine. One peg wasn't enough, so I had to hold it out while manoeuvring.

After a considerable amount of protest, it was moved to the bay on the other side.


Tight, but just enough room.


Boxster then took it's space for the next few months. I really should have cleaned it down before doing this, but (a) the hose pipe is frozen and (b) I couldn't be bothered anyway. Also shouldn't have gone away wet from the frost melting but there we go.

Driving it reminded me of how it's such a great car especially against the TT. Steering gives so much more feedback and is nicely weighted, engine gives power nearly instantaneously and the gear change is precise with a great feel.

Incidentally, talking about great cars, the Austin Healey next to it is now uncovered. It's sat here for quite a while and I don't see it move. Looking at the sign in the window it appears it was in a classic car auction with a 90k to 100k estimate. Not sold, so must not have met reserve. A lovely machine and the value of the cars in this storage is a good reason why I'm careful when charging and such. 


In sorting out the box of old parts panhard65 replaced, I had a play with the top mount. It seems in good condition off the car but it was giving a good creak on the car.

 

Looking at the part, I think the problem is either the bearings are dried up or simply the rust build up between the two halves was catching.


As soon as the weather warms up a bit more I'll get it booked in for a full four wheel alignment. Will cost a bit but I'll get it done at a Porsche specialist. Should make it absolutely spot on again.

 

[captain_70s]

15 minutes ago, SiC said:

 I put my hat out to people like captain_70s and those that daily these old BL bangers in the cold. She took a hell of a lot of churning and a good dose of choke before firing into life. The obligatory choke popped back in and stalled the engine. One peg wasn't enough, so I had to hold it out while manoeuvring.

Regular use helps, stops the points fuzzing up and plug getting clogged from running on choke all the time.

Left the Dolly sitting a month or two and it took an hour of fucking about to get it to fire, filling dashpots and sanding points and waiting 20 years for the fuel pump to bring petrol up from the tank. Now it goes on the first turn of the key again. Doesn't help the choke isn't rigged up and is actuated by jamming a screwdriver in the linkage...

[GrumpiusMaximus]

On 12/9/2022 at 8:06 PM, stuboy said:

Missus stuboy wanted another sunstrip, so I got the guy who did mine, designed with the missus ideas, yeah some will scoff and laugh but she's happy..  what I'm not happy about was getting my v6 back with petrol light on and more bird poo than bottom of a budgies cage..

I thought the Princess Mk2 was called the Ambassador but I've been wrong before.

[artdjones]

44 minutes ago, GrumpiusMaximus said:

I thought the Princess Mk2 was called the Ambassador but I've been wrong before.

Mk1

Mk2

Ambassador 

[bunglebus]

I'm amazed this is even a news story, anyone fancy saving a Beetle? 

https://www.donegallive.ie/news/crime---court/984614/abandoned-vw-beetle-to-be-disposed-of.html

[bunglebus]

It's a little chilly 

[chadders]

10 hours ago, captain_70s said:

Regular use helps, stops the points fuzzing up and plug getting clogged from running on choke all the time.

Left the Dolly sitting a month or two and it took an hour of fucking about to get it to fire, filling dashpots and sanding points and waiting 20 years for the fuel pump to bring petrol up from the tank. Now it goes on the first turn of the key again. Doesn't help the choke isn't rigged up and is actuated by jamming a screwdriver in the linkage...

I used to daily my MGB in the late 70s/early 80s on a 12 mile, each way, trip to work. It used to start and run OK, subject to the usual choke juggling whilst warming up. Having a good heater also helped to make it quite acceptable.