The new news 24 thread

[brownnova]

Declaring this back on the road.

Just before Christmas it started doing weird things for example if you indicated left or pushed the brake the dash radio and heater would die. It meant using the Saab convertible for the Christmas tripping. Took me a while to identify the issue, but eventually traced it to some wiring that ran though a well in the back which had taken on some water. All I needed was a day where it was daylight, not pissing down and I wasn’t busy. Last weekend was that time, so I stripped the wire, cut the corroded wire off, and then took to stripping and cleaning the connector. This has been about 90% successful. The car now operates perfectly, except that the connector isn’t 100% so I’ll pop a new one on when I can get one. And also now the SRS Airbag service required light is on… which it wasn’t before. Hopefully just needs a code clearing. 

Sadly on fixing the battery was flat, so having done an overnight charge on Sunday night today was the first day to do a daylight test run, which has been passed without issue. 

Our needs are changing though, so I think this one might be on its way out in the next month or two. 

[Split_Pin]

Got my Creator code reader for the E46 today.

I get these lamps on the dash and the car falls into limp mode:

Pretty much reflected in the codes:

They seem totally unconnected? It's the ABS pressure sensors that worry me, tales of doom and woe abound on the E46 FB pages

I have loved this car only when I saw the pictures in the for sale add. I have hated it ever since. It really is a piece of shit.

1x seized caliper

1 aux drive belt tensioner

New viscous fan clutch 

New oil pressure sensor

Replacement automatic gearbox

And now this. I've only had it  7 months. It's just one thing after another and it has totally failed to be anything approaching reliable since I got it. Useless.

I know, old cars, but so many have provided great service with the usual bits and bobs understandably required.

So, bearing in mind I'm losing my job soon, I'm going to spend on the 75 which has been a great car and just needs 2 bottom arms (which I have), some foutering with the handbrake and a bit more of the same with the airbag wires. I know after that it will give more good service.

I'll sorn the E46 until I decide to either fix and keep or fix and sell, once I get a new job sorted.

[S2000]

Sorry to here about the ungrateful bastard and the job situation….. if you don’t mind me asking what line of work are you looking for?

[Split_Pin]

I also had 2 free HVAC panels for the 9-5 and the existing one has gone dark on one side. Tried each of them, both pieces of shit, ah well at least the original one has nicer condition buttons.

[Split_Pin]

1 minute ago, S2000 said:

Sorry to here about the ungrateful bastard and the job situation….. if you don’t mind me asking what line of work are you looking for?

Cheers man, anything Risk Management in the financial world 😊

[vulgalour]

I now know how to replace the front door locks and window regulator on a Renault 5.  Not a terrible job as it happens with the added bonus of using a cable rather than scissor type mechanism for the regulator so no danger to the digits.  It also means I have a fully operational passenger door for the first time.  Tomorrow I'm hoping to do the driver's door.  Also finally got the sump plug crush washers for the Princess so it can stop sweating power every time it's parked, another job for tomorrow while I'm sorting the Renault door.

Once the Renault doors are sorted it should be time to book an MoT.  I know the locks and windows aren't technically vital for the MoT, it just looks better when you present a vehicle where basic stuff like that actually works the way its supposed to I think.  Hoping to give it a wash too so it's a bit less green on the outside, the inside isn't actually that bad.

[chaseracer]

17 hours ago, Zelandeth said:

I love seeing older equipment still being in use in non public facing settings, especially when there has clearly been an essence of make do and mend going on.  In this case some evidence of the one out of three service life cars and it's call panel that has been replaced with a modern one having donated a number of buttons to the control panel of one of the older cars.

No surprises that these 1981 Express Lifts units run waaaaaaaay more smoothly than the car shinier 2005 ones in the public facing areas of the hotel.  One of which was broken before we even got here (though we almost invariably break one through the course of the weekend), which is why we've been allowed to use the service lifts as well - as having 1500+ people in a hotel this shape trying to use effectively 1.5 lifts (one of the main ones is tiny) in a hotel this shape just ain't going to work!

Would have been better if the hotel had been more on the ball about making sure they were all working before we got here though.  Even though the engineering nerd in me has now been ensuring I make a point to use the older lift just because I can.

I'm not a total lift nerd, but I can see why some folks are.  The older ones really are some of the most nicely engineered bits of equipment that nobody ever thinks about.  I do kind of regret not getting some parts of the service lift from our old work building when it was being demolished.  It was the original one from when the building went up in 1968 and was astonishingly original aside from a couple of timers and a rectifier block.  All relay logic and thermal timers - the control cabinet was a work of art.  Unfortunately it also weighed about a quarter of a tonne and I had no way to move it.  Should have at least grabbed a call panel or something.

Glasgow?

[chaseracer]

17 hours ago, Zelandeth said:

I love seeing older equipment still being in use in non public facing settings, especially when there has clearly been an essence of make do and mend going on.  In this case some evidence of the one out of three service life cars and it's call panel that has been replaced with a modern one having donated a number of buttons to the control panel of one of the older cars.

No surprises that these 1981 Express Lifts units run waaaaaaaay more smoothly than the car shinier 2005 ones in the public facing areas of the hotel.  One of which was broken before we even got here (though we almost invariably break one through the course of the weekend), which is why we've been allowed to use the service lifts as well - as having 1500+ people in a hotel this shape trying to use effectively 1.5 lifts (one of the main ones is tiny) in a hotel this shape just ain't going to work!

Would have been better if the hotel had been more on the ball about making sure they were all working before we got here though.  Even though the engineering nerd in me has now been ensuring I make a point to use the older lift just because I can.

Glasgow?

[wuvvum]

1 hour ago, brownnova said:

Our needs are changing though

Another sprog on the way?

[Wgl2019]

1 hour ago, brownnova said:

SRS Airbag service required light is on… which it wasn’t before. Hopefully just needs a code clearing. 

On my wife's C30 it will ping up the SRS warning light if any connection relating to an airbag is unplugged (or just knocked a bit), won't go out when plugged back in and needs a code reader to reset.

[richardmorris]

9 minutes ago, wuvvum said:

Another sprog on the way?

He needs a TV.

[Zelandeth]

21 minutes ago, chaseracer said:

Glasgow?

Correct.  The Crowne Plaza next door to the exhibition centre.

[chaseracer]

Stayed there a couple of years ago.  A charitable description would be "a bit tired"...

[richardmorris]

4 minutes ago, chaseracer said:

Stayed there a couple of years ago.  A charitable description would be "a bit tired"...

And an honest description?

[chaseracer]

1 minute ago, richardmorris said:

And an honest description?

Needs thoroughly updating.  None of the electrics worked in the first room offered.  Very decent breakfast, though.

[Zelandeth]

Think it was five years or so back they did a pretty big refit. 

Haven't really had any complaints saved for the lifts not exactly being able to handle 1500 (think there's actually nearer 1700 of us this year) people absolutely hammering them for a whole weekend.

Admittedly this is the first year that there's been one broken before we even got here!

Rooms are clean, tidy and everything works.  Even if the ridiculously narrow baths make the showers incredibly awkward to use.

There is a not insubstantial amount of confetti in the ceiling lights in the biggest function room.  That is *entirely* our fault (or rather our over enthusiastic stage crew and an ongoing battle with another convention as to who can use the most of the stuff).  Sorry. 

[chaseracer]

And while I was in town I had the pleasure of a meal at a Greek restaurant and a pint in a really good pub with @davidfowler2000, who is always top company.

[Bren]

Visited the gym. In one of the gents traps somebody was making a sound akin to John Hurt when he dies in Alien.

[brownnova]

2 hours ago, wuvvum said:

Another sprog on the way?

No… definitely not that!

Just we have the wife’s car on a pcp coming to an end and we want to go to down to one family lugger car. But the XC90 just isn’t economical enough to fulfil that role, and Mrs_B’s car is too small. 
 

Create more space for proper shite for me to use! 

[Zelandeth]

Drums 'n' Roses are still bloody brilliant. 

Show finished best part of a. Hour ago - My *brain* is still vibrating.