The new news 24 thread

[Split_Pin]

22 minutes ago, SiC said:

Buy a Boxster instead? 😉😆

I'm building up to that, she would really like one someday.

[stuboy]

9 hours ago, grogee said:

I got a different answer last time I asked on AS, everyone* said they're gr8 m9. But I also made the point that I'm a messy bastard and can't ensure surgical cleanliness so close to the Black Goop of Death. 

In the end I went for a stretchy boot kit and cone. You will need a cloth/rag to get enough grip to force the boot past the wide end of the cone. Also, don't put it on back to front. 

my hands get painful quickly, so stretching/gaping a rubber boot maybe too much

[Stanky]

1 hour ago, stuboy said:

my hands get painful quickly, so stretching/gaping a rubber boot maybe too much

I may be underestimating it, but can you not just smack the CV joint off the end of the driveshaft once its free from the hub? Then slide a new (not-split) boot onto the driveshaft, then wallop the CV joint back on the splines and fit the securing clips to the boot?

Thats what I ended up doing with my Daihatsu. 

I'm not sure why you'd want to stretch a CV boot over the CV joint when you can just apply a few sharp whacks with a hammer and knock the CV joint clean off the end of the driveshaft?

[Rust Collector]

1 hour ago, Stanky said:

I'm not sure why you'd want to stretch a CV boot over the CV joint when you can just apply a few sharp whacks with a hammer and knock the CV joint clean off the end of the driveshaft?

CV boot cone smeared in grease for maximum misery. Extra points for finally getting it over the cone and onto the shaft, and then realising it's inside out. Or am I just a masochist?! 🤣

[Rust Collector]

Today I have been mostly moving cars from one field to another.

The best part is that there are so many cars, I have to go back tomorrow. Hooray!

[Fumbler]

I'm at a derby in yankland about to see some stuff get destroyed. Is this a Mondeo/Contour?

[Ghosty]

14 minutes ago, Fumbler said:

Is this a Mondeo/Contour?

Yep, Contour.

[Fumbler]

17 minutes ago, Ghosty said:

Yep, Contour.

It won too! Against that Previa. Boy that thing hit hard.

[artdjones]

10 hours ago, Stanky said:

I may be underestimating it, but can you not just smack the CV joint off the end of the driveshaft once its free from the hub? Then slide a new (not-split) boot onto the driveshaft, then wallop the CV joint back on the splines and fit the securing clips to the boot?

Thats what I ended up doing with my Daihatsu. 

I'm not sure why you'd want to stretch a CV boot over the CV joint when you can just apply a few sharp whacks with a hammer and knock the CV joint clean off the end of the driveshaft?

Certain manufacturers (Toyota for example) make the retaining clip in the end of the shaft so springy that no hammer blow can knock the CV off. Even the proper CV extraction tools can't do it.

[Dyslexic Viking]

Got the front wing mounted back on the Yaris after painting, also got it quickly wiped off inside and drove it for a quick drive to test the brakes so then most of the work is done on it.

[dozeydustman]

Got round to doing the known MoT jobs on the Kia. Drop links went in a dream. The balljoints are not only showing perished boots, but they are seized in the taper properly. Bust the ball joint splitter trying to get them out so I’m flummoxed by them. And the thread outside the taper sheared when undoing the castellated nut on the near side, so it’s probably unwise to drive it.

I’ve also discovered it has a seized front calliper, and needs at least pads, possibly discs as well because there’s a bit of a lip, two knackered track rod ends (also seized on), and may need a patch of welding. I haven’t even checked the back.

I can at least get the lower wishbones out so I could possibly buy a pair of those, but I don’t have 

My friend’s Corsa is looking more like a better proposition for stepdaughter.

[dozeydustman]

36 minutes ago, dozeydustman said:

Got round to doing the known MoT jobs on the Kia. Drop links went in a dream. The balljoints are not only showing perished boots, but they are seized in the taper properly. Bust the ball joint splitter trying to get them out so I’m flummoxed by them. And the thread outside the taper sheared when undoing the castellated nut on the near side, so it’s probably unwise to drive it.

I’ve also discovered it has a seized front calliper, and needs at least pads, possibly discs as well because there’s a bit of a lip, two knackered track rod ends (also seized on), and may need a patch of welding. I haven’t even checked the back.

I can at least get the lower wishbones out so I could possibly buy a pair of those, but I don’t have 

My friend’s Corsa is looking more like a better proposition for stepdaughter.

So far totting up the parts comes to £250 ish.

[brownnova]

The forecast storms and weather warnings did not put me off attending the car show at Bodrhyddan Hall today. For the third or fourth year on the trot we totally forgot to go into the house and gardens! But we did see some delightful sights: 

Of course, my interest was mostly piqued by this… 

We had the only 2CV there, and got a lot of attention which was nice. It repaid me by cutting out randomly, idling like crap intermittently and popping and spluttering on the way home. I wonder if the coil was getting hot due to the very warm temperatures… 

[tooSavvy]

So.... Thunderstorms!!

Anyone here been 'boating' today 😳😧

.... Whitley Bay seafront had 4 lagoons - slow&*smooth👍

Ah 🤦... forgot the one about the ALDI driver who 'JamesBond/powerboated' oncoming and rinsed my convoy of four cars 🛥️=🛶FFS🤬

Do tell......

[The Vicar]

Brought this into Dublin City centre for the first time today (in my ownership). Taking a bit of a break here on a quiet back street, but there was no need, it was perfect:

[grogee]

10 hours ago, artdjones said:

Certain manufacturers (Toyota for example) make the retaining clip in the end of the shaft so springy that no hammer blow can knock the CV off. Even the proper CV extraction tools can't do it.

I was going to say that my aim with a hammer isn't sufficient to guarantee the CV joint wouldn't be mullered during the extraction process. 

The Cone of Shame is very effective, not withstanding @stuboy's sore hands - it takes a fair bit of force to stretch the small end over big end of the cone. 

That said, it does make a nice comedy finger-out-of-mouth POP sound when you do get it on. 

[dozeydustman]

Parts for the Kia is just over £300 given that most of it is consumables (brakes, track rods etc). Now to discuss with Madam what she wants to do. Then I need to do the Saab for its MoT in October. House stuff will be on hold for a couple of weeks I think.

[stuboy]

21 hours ago, Rust Collector said:

CV boot cone smeared in grease for maximum misery. Extra points for finally getting it over the cone and onto the shaft, and then realising it's inside out. Or am I just a masochist?! 🤣

god im getting aches and pain just thinking about it all

[EyesWeldedShut]

4 hours ago, brownnova said:

 

We had the only 2CV there, and got a lot of attention which was nice. It repaid me by cutting out randomly, idling like crap intermittently and popping and spluttering on the way home. I wonder if the coil was getting hot due to the very warm temperatures… 

Dead ringer for my first ever car I owned from new - 1983, Silver Moss, 1.2L Nova Saloon - why I never bought a hatch I have no idea. Lovely little car for the time - took it all the way down to Nice/Monaco/Menton sans Autoroute on a camping trip. Happy days.

[Honey Badger]

I sorted out the Legends cataracts today

The 3M kit was relatively idiot proof, though I really didn't mask enough of the car off as the splatter from polishing went everywhere.

I had to clean it for the first time in months, which obviously displeased the gods as the sun went away and the rain tried to wash my house away.

Looks pretty good, I've given it 3 coats of UV sealer and 2 of a polymer paint sealer so hopefully it will stay clear for more than a few months. 

[High Jetter]

2 hours ago, stuboy said:

god I'm getting a hard on just thinking about it all

EFA

[Popsicle]

Managed to get a few jobs done over the weekend. Couriering caddy has been knocking at the back end - new droplinks again. Went with the Meyle HD stuff as it seems to last a bit longer than anything else.

Rattly old and shiny new, fairly straight forward to replace, not much room on the drivers side due to exhaust and heat shield, so you go at it with a spanner rather than a socket, as is usual where it bolts on to the anti roll bar it wouldn't budge, I've learnt not to fight and just go straight for the angle grinder.

Quick blast round the block and the annoying knocking noise has gone - happy days.

On to daughter No 1's floppy top Beetle, had an advisory for track rod ends at the last mot, drivers side fought like a bastard, passenger side came off a piece of piss, only difference was the passenger side had longer to absorb some penetrating fluid, maybe the stuff does work?

Erm can you tell which one put up a fight - horrible things.

While doing this I noticed the cords coming through on the inner edge of the front tyres, I'd got a set of pretty new stuff an Toyota rims, so off to the local friendly tyre place who popped my tyres on and sorted the tracking - car drives better now, apparently it was shaking above 60, I really wish my kids would tell me this stuff sooner so I can sort it out.

Anyhow once done it was on to the misfire, its a 2.0 AZJ engine, it had misfires showing on cylinders 1 & 3, I changed the spark plugs last week, which improved things but it still wasn't right, a lot of things have to be removed to get at the plugs, mainly the inlet manifold and a few other things to get at the bolts to remove the manifold.

So time to change the coil pack, looks straight forward, not so much stuff to remove, shouldn't take long, famous last words......

I was really gentle pulling the leads off, gentle twist and gentle pull, first two came off eventually, third one snapped in two pretty much straight away, I ragged the last one off in temper.

I'd better take the inlet manifold off again, FFS. This happened Saturday evening, got the new coil pack in, removed the manifold again and hoped I'd be able to pick some leads up from one of the few local factors open on a Sunday and put it all back together, no joy, best I can get is midday Monday. I even moved the location around most of the midlands and South Yorkshire on ECP site to try and find some in stock.

Daughter No 1 was due at work 8am this morning, thankfully Mrs Popsicle took her and daughter No 2 picked her up, she's pretty gutted about the car being off the road and I feel bad about it for being a bit to ape like pulling the leads off,  hopefully Monday it will all be sorted.

Is there a knack to pulling the leads off coil packs? I can usually tell when something doesn't feel right, but the bugger snapped really easily, I've predominately ran diesels for the past 20+ years or older stuff with dizzys, non of this new fangled coil pack lark.

At least the new coil pack fits.

[wuvvum]

Got a few jobs done on the fleet over the weekend.  Would have been rude not to given the weather.

Main job was to get the new driveshaft fitted on the Renault 4.  This took a while but that was mainly because of pondering how things would go back together and other faffing - the job itself wasn't that bad, and I'm pleased to say that the aftermarket driveshaft I bought from Autodoc does in fact fit fine.

It was a bit of a faff to get everything back together, as is usual when several (sometimes quite heavy) bits of car have to be simultaneously aligned, but it's all done now and a 25-mile test drive this evening confirmed that all appears to be well - although I will check tomorrow in daylight to make sure there's no leakage from the gearbox.

On the subject of gearboxes I treated the Visa to a gearbox oil change this afternoon - I had no idea when it'd last had one (if ever) and there was a bit more transmission noise than I would have liked - I thought this might be normal due to the lack of soundproofing but Six Cylinder's example is definitely quieter.  The oil that came out was quite manky so hopefully it'll be happier with nice fresh stuff - a quick spin round the block and it did seem quieter, but I'll have to take it for a longer run to make sure.

While I was buggering about with old French stuff I jacked the Renault 6 up and took the driver's side caliper off ready for the new piston to be fitted, now that the correct seal kit has arrived.  The piston is the only thing I can think of that can be causing the brake to bind on - I've cleaned and greased everything else and it all seems to be moving freely.  I'm hoping I will be able to get the piston out with the big pliers, otherwise I'll have to stick the caliper back on the car and pump it out.  The secondhand rear light lens I ordered off eBay.fr arrived on Friday and that's now fitted, and the dent in the rear wing mostly popped out, so just the bumper to sort and it'll be as good as new*.

I pulled the Volvo onto the drive this afternoon to sand down the filler I used to carry out a temporary repair to the spare wheel well, to try and stop the boot getting too damp this autumn.  Then I dug out the tin of green paint I used to paint the bottom half of the car about 15 years ago - I wasn't expecting much but in fact the paint was absolutely fine, and there's still over half a tin, so I might have to give the car a rub down and a fresh coat, if I can be arsed.  It looks marginally more respectable now anyway than it did when half the wheel well was missing.

Dug the Mobylette out of the garage and got that fired up for the first time in a couple of months.  Took it for a quick spin round the block and it was actually running fine today, although I'm increasingly convinced that the new exhaust is more restrictive than the original as it's struggling to do more than 30 at the moment.

In other fleet news - I mentioned this elsewhere but the Ampera passed its MOT on Thursday, just needed the headlight aim tweaking which they did on the ramp.  I've been running around in the TF for much of the last week, roof down obvs - it's been behaving absolutely fine, the temp gauge holding rock steady even when stuck in traffic in >30° heat.  Not sure what's going to happen with it though as the MOT runs out at the end of the month and it's going to take quite a bit of work to get through another.  I have more than enough projects as it is...

[DVee8]

What a weekend.

N01 son got his new car, he's worked hard and saved a lot for it.

A few hours before this we got a call to say my mother was very ill and we should get there soon.

Around 15 minutes after we got there she passed with me holding her hand. I was telling her we had just gotten a dachshund puppy.

 

Apart from talking to gm on Saturday afternoon, this is the first time I have mentioned it.

 

[Split_Pin]

I'm really sorry to hear this

[Markeh]

Sorry to hear. Going through a similar thing at the minute after losing my gran on Wednesday morning. Call late Tuesday night and spent the evening in the hospice. At least we all made it in time. Trying to hold the rest of the family together while we've been sorting everything out has been tiring to say the least, and there's still the eventual hurdle of clearing out the house. Back at work today despite not being anywhere near caught up on sleep.

[GeordieInExile]

3 hours ago, DVee8 said:

What a weekend.

N01 son got his new car, he's worked hard and saved a lot for it.

A few hours before this we got a call to say my mother was very ill and we should get there soon.

Around 15 minutes after we got there she passed with me holding her hand. I was telling her we had just gotten a dachshund puppy.

 

Apart from talking to gm on Saturday afternoon, this is the first time I have mentioned it.

 

I'm really sorry for your loss and I'm even gladder that you got to be there and share her final moments with her, 100% it's what she would've wanted.

[gm]

6 hours ago, DVee8 said:

What a weekend.

N01 son got his new car, he's worked hard and saved a lot for it.

A few hours before this we got a call to say my mother was very ill and we should get there soon.

Around 15 minutes after we got there she passed with me holding her hand. I was telling her we had just gotten a dachshund puppy.

 

Apart from talking to gm on Saturday afternoon, this is the first time I have mentioned it.

 

if you need anything, give me a shout - coffee, beer, taking the cars out for a blast to clear your head, i’m just round the corner. look after yourself, my friend.

 

[Yoss]

There's a line of lock up garages on my delivery (in fact there are several) in which I have never seen any doors open.

Until today. I took this picture surreptitiously from a distance.

But then, as I had to walk passed anyway I did stop and compliment him. It looked very clean from what I could see. He told me there were a couple of rusty bits but it is generally sound. Also told me he'd only had it a couple of years. Being an old man in a brown suit and indeed working on his Maestro in said brown suit you would think that he would have owned it from new. I don't think you can blame me from jumping to these conclusions, he looked every inch the Maestro owner. 

There are thousands of lock up garages across the country and I know the vast majority are just full of crap or nothing at all but the law of averages says there must be all sorts of things like this hidden away that we'll never know about.

[Stinkwheel]

On 9/10/2023 at 4:32 PM, brownnova said:

The forecast storms and weather warnings did not put me off attending the car show at Bodrhyddan Hall today. For the third or fourth year on the trot we totally forgot to go into the house and gardens! But we did see some delightful sights: 

Of course, my interest was mostly piqued by this… 

We had the only 2CV there, and got a lot of attention which was nice. It repaid me by cutting out randomly, idling like crap intermittently and popping and spluttering on the way home. I wonder if the coil was getting hot due to the very warm temperatures… 

Coil or condensor (if its still on points) - Or 123 failure (sometimes happens with those symptoms)