The new news 24 thread

[comfortablynumb]

I've had several power tools from Screwfix, including a mouse sander. They've all been fine, except swombo didn't realise the sanding pad had come off the mouse, and was trying to sand with the velcro 🤣

Obviously this screwed it up.

I was in the local branch for something else, and jokingly mentioned it. The response was ' bring it back, we'll change it!'

I said it was user error, but they said they didn't care, we could have another!

We did, their guarantee is great

[Popsicle]

27 minutes ago, Zelandeth said:

I've got a few Titan tools here, no complaints about them.  Have never had any failures yet, so they seem perfectly adequate for normal DIY levels of use.  Couple of other things I've had to return there and had no stress over it.

Same here, Titan battery drill, sander and jigsaw, never given me a moments trouble for average DIY usage.

[Markeh]

I'm still rocking a Titan drill bought from Cash Converters about 10 years ago, although the batteries are about shagged now.

[vulgalour]

That's all very reassuring to hear.

[mat777]

Well, it was a shitty journey traffic wise but the Discovery survived towing my Sea King from Cheshire to Lincoln in 25 degree heat, although it definitely didn't like the hills on the way! 

Now installed at Lincolnshire showground for the county show tomorrow and Thursday along with my friend's Phantom.... If you're attending, do come and say hi! 

[Spottedlaurel]

After being at the garage since early April the Laurel was delivered back to me tonight:

Recored radiator and a few hoses were required to address a slightly leaky coolant system. Although it seemed to lose only a negligible amount I was getting drips on the garage floor, and it would only have been a matter of time before something went pop. Will be great to use it again.

In other news the Auris is hopefully being collected by its new owner on Sunday, and the Carina E is going to be loaned to Miss SL and her BF while they work out what to do with the Land Cruiser Colorado that doesn't seem to want to behave itself. This may end up with trips abroad for both cars, permanently in the case of the Colorado (i.e. let it go for export) and the Carina E spending four weeks tootling around France and probably a trip into Belgium. Remember they have form for this sort of thing, taking the Avensis SR to Dubrovnik and back. BF is going to look at resurrecting the Carina E's A/C. It was an expensive option even on this top-spec estate, so it would be good to get it working again. 

Still waiting for news about the Carina E's replacement......

[Wibble]

31 minutes ago, Spottedlaurel said:

After being at the garage since early April the Laurel was delivered back to me tonight:

Recored radiator and a few hoses were required to address a slightly leaky coolant system. Although it seemed to lose only a negligible amount I was getting drips on the garage floor, and it would only have been a matter of time before something went pop. Will be great to use it again.

In other news the Auris is hopefully being collected by its new owner on Sunday, and the Carina E is going to be loaned to Miss SL and her BF while they work out what to do with the Land Cruiser Colorado that doesn't seem to want to behave itself. This may end up with trips abroad for both cars, permanently in the case of the Colorado (i.e. let it go for export) and the Carina E spending four weeks tootling around France and probably a trip into Belgium. Remember they have form for this sort of thing, taking the Avensis SR to Dubrovnik and back. BF is going to look at resurrecting the Carina E's A/C. It was an expensive option even on this top-spec estate, so it would be good to get it working again. 

Still waiting for news about the Carina E's replacement......

I was wondering what was happening with the Aerodeck.

[Popsicle]

1 hour ago, MrGTI6 said:

The toll for the Dartford crossing will be increasing to £3.50 in September. Doesn't seem like long ago that it was 50p.

I'd sooner drive through central London or go the long way round the M25 than pay that. I'm sure my one-man boycott will teach them.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cedg1z2dz8zo

Wasn't the original plan to only charge the toll fee until it covered the building costs?

The article mentions it was paid for by 2003, something doesn't add up to me. Or are motorists being used as a cash cow again?

[Metal Guru]

1 hour ago, MrGTI6 said:

The toll for the Dartford crossing will be increasing to £3.50 in September. Doesn't seem like long ago that it was 50p.

I'd sooner drive through central London or go the long way round the M25 than pay that. I'm sure my one-man boycott will teach them.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cedg1z2dz8zo

I commuted through the tunnel (before the bridge was built) for most of the 80s. It was 50p then.

The cost increase is to “manage demand”.

Going the long way round is hardly practical if you live in Kent and work anywhere in Essex. If you’re heading north, it can work but then you have to pass Heathrow which is as much a nightmare as the crossing, albeit no charge.

[lesapandre]

The Blackwall Tunnel is now tolled and the associated Silvertown Tunnel - £1.50 off-peak but still free 22.00-06.00.

The Rotherhithe is still free too - but goods vehicles are restricted. Tower Bridge is the next upstream free crossing point.

The Woolwich Ferry is still free.

A new tunnel - the lower Thames Crossing starts construction soon - but that will be tolled.

[silvercar]

44 minutes ago, lesapandre said:

the lower Thames Crossing starts construction soon

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[auntiemaryscanary]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c2d567wwglko

Pics 3 and 4 are within a 1/4 mile of where I live.

Not much fun using that pic 3 roundabout on the motorbike. There is a pub 100 yds from there - they held a pothole party complete with a pothole cake.

If you were following me whilst I'm on 4 wheels you'd think I was drunk for all the pothole swerving I do but inevitably you end up hitting a lot of craters.

The article correctly states that 2 of the worst main-ish roads will be re-surfaced but that will still leave majority of the roads untouched beyond the low grade tarmac-in-a-bag patching. There even seems to be less patching too, not sure if that's due to the relatively strict criteria of what is deep and wide enough to get done. Of course where patching on patching on patching on patching has been done the resulting uneven surface is as bad as the craters.

I don't venture into the politics sub forum but it's no surprise to which then governing Party led us into all this.

[artdjones]

10 hours ago, Spottedlaurel said:

After being at the garage since early April the Laurel was delivered back to me tonight:

It's looking good. A family friend had one back in the late 80s in dark blue, and my main memory is of the loud but melodious warning bong for something. Maybe the seatbelt warning.

[stripped fred]

Horn fixed, replacement brake servo fitted, and drivers side sill cover removed on the S type by my 18 year old son. Can anyone spot any issues? Clue, it's not the horn or the brakes.

It's crusty all along it's length. I doubt the nearside is any better.

[SiC]

18 hours ago, vulgalour said:

Finally got around to ordering myself a finger sander (not for sanding fingers, I hasten to add) so I can have an easier time of some of the bodywork repairs on the Princess.  Couldn't afford a big name one so just got the Titan brand one from Screwfix and hopefully it'll be at least as good as anything I'd get out of the Midl of Lidl.

My Silverline finger sander has been working faithfully for something like 7+ years now. A really handy bit of kit that I couldn't live without. 

The replacement belts from Screwfix/Toolstation are pretty shit though and don't last very long. 

Even with good belts, I tend to save it for awkward areas as they don't last anywhere near as long as a flap or grinding disc. 

[Schaefft]

54 minutes ago, stripped fred said:

Horn fixed, replacement brake servo fitted, and drivers side sill cover removed on the S type by my 18 year old son. Can anyone spot any issues? Clue, it's not the horn or the brakes.

It's crusty all along it's length. I doubt the nearside is any better.

Good old Jaguar. I don't think there's a single S-Type out there that's any better.

[stripped fred]

1 hour ago, Schaefft said:

Good old Jaguar. I don't think there's a single S-Type out there that's any better.

It's a shame as other than a few scratches on the bodywork it looks mint. It's been through many MOT's like this due to those plastic covers.

Time to put it to rest although I may pootle about in it for a bit longer as it's MOT'd until December 

[Snake Charmer]

Chodtastic conditionio.

[SiC]

1 hour ago, stripped fred said:

It's a shame as other than a few scratches on the bodywork it looks mint. It's been through many MOT's like this due to those plastic covers.

Time to put it to rest although I may pootle about in it for a bit longer as it's MOT'd until December 

It doesn't look too bad for someone to weld up. 

The problem would be finding someone to do it though. 

[wesacosa]

7 hours ago, lesapandre said:

The Blackwall Tunnel is now tolled and the associated Silvertown Tunnel - £1.50 off-peak but still free 22.00-06.00.

The Rotherhithe is still free too - but goods vehicles are restricted. Tower Bridge is the next upstream free crossing point.

The Woolwich Ferry is still free.

A new tunnel - the lower Thames Crossing starts construction soon - but that will be tolled.

it's only £1.50 if you have a pre pay TFL account..Its £4 at all times if not

Woolwich ferry is a waste of time

no tolled crossings at all in central or West London

cnts

[vulgalour]

Finger sander is actually pretty neat!  I haven't had a problem with it snapping belts, instead I've had it throw the belt when it snags on something.  Much quieter and nicer to use than the angle grinder and can actually get in at what I need to.

[juular]

5 hours ago, SiC said:

The replacement belts from Screwfix/Toolstation are pretty shit though and don't last very long. 

Even with good belts, I tend to save it for awkward areas as they don't last anywhere near as long as a flap or grinding disc. 

The trick is to buy the full size belts and cut them down into approx 1-1.5cm strips. Not only do they seem to last longer, it's a much cheaper way to get them.  If you have a guillotine you can get nice straight belts but a strong pair of scissors is enough to get something perfectly usable.

I agree though that finger sanders / aka power files are one of the best things.  

Only thing to watch is to never put too much pressure on it, let the belt do the work.  The bearing on the tip of the sander overheats and fails mega quickly if you lean on it for more than a few seconds.

I've been through a few..

[320touring]

Just been out to do some work on the Oxford. The last time I had it out I thought it was running on 3.

So I removed the rocker cover and checked valve clearances. Sure enough, the exhaust valve on #3 (valve 5) had no clearance - so was open all the time.

It's adjusted up now, and running better, but it was only about 50miles ago it was last done ...

I'm thinking the adjuster/locknut setup may be gubbed - is it worth swapping in one from the spare engine I have?

[stripped fred]

4 hours ago, SiC said:

It doesn't look too bad for someone to weld up. 

The problem would be finding someone to do it though. 

That's it, finding someone, and how much they would charge.

[stripped fred]

Next job on the list, changing the engine on a 2004 Hyundai Getz 1.3. Used engine delivered today. It's my son's car and he's doing the work.

[Split_Pin]

Just now, stripped fred said:

Next job on the list, changing the engine on a 2004 Hyundai Getz 1.3. Used engine delivered today. It's my son's car and he's doing the work.

Engine looks nice and dry. Hope the swap goes smoothly!

[Merryck]

I posted in the Ask a Shiter section a little while ago about my Micra.

It would appear that when trying to jump start it, my sister got the cables mixed and in doing to wiped all the immobiliser data on the ECU. The car has the NATS system on there, which is famously difficult to overcome.

There wasn't a huge amount of help I could find on the matter other than a long list of things I'd need to replace if I wanted to get the car running again. Then I found a post on a micra forum with info on how to re-wire the plug for the ECU to work with an older non-NATS ECU. So I found a guy selling one, waited a few weeks for it to arrive and just tried re-pinning the plug this evening. Only four wires needed to be moved about.

Plugged it in and the thing fired right up. No issue whatsoever. Battery is dead, which I suspect is the reason she needed to jump it in the first place, but aside from that it seems fine. Need to get it MOT'd and taxed then it should be good to go!

[stuboy]

On 17/06/2025 at 14:40, vulgalour said:

Finally got around to ordering myself a finger sander (not for sanding fingers, I hasten to add) so I can have an easier time of some of the bodywork repairs on the Princess.  Couldn't afford a big name one so just got the Titan brand one from Screwfix and hopefully it'll be at least as good as anything I'd get out of the Midl of Lidl.

The FiL bought a cordless one from aldl/lidl said do i want his old one, but wasnt cordless, did i still want it, ermm yeah, free tools always welcomed

[Bren]

I got my car back from the BMW dealer. Very good service - a new EGR and cooler fitted. I would love to know how much a paying customer would have paid for the work.

[richardmorris]

Popped up on a local ( Chester ) FB history page.