The new news 24 thread

[stuboy]

Foggy day at margate doing 2 driving assessments...

[davehedgehog31]

With a hint of spring in the air I decided to extract the Boxster from the lockup and bring it to the house for final preparations ahead of being pressed into full use. The gearchange action had never been quite right, the self centering action was quite weak which made it difficult going from second to third sometimes. I reversed it up on the ramps and got a look at the gear linkage at the gearbox end, it's obviously right at the back of the car and a bit exposed, there is a metal pivot which gets a bit stiff so I gave this a good clean up and relubricated the mechanism including the cable end ball joints etc and gave it a good exercising, shift action pretty much spot on. It had an oil and filter just before going into winter storage, so not much else required mechanically.

Yesterday I gave it a good wash, a full machine polish and applied some wax. It has since had a second going over after these photos were taken and is looking mega clean and shiny. Usually giving a car a good going over is when you notice the dings, scratches, shit paint, previous repairs etc, but for a 24 year old relatively high mileage Boxster it's really pretty straight. Excited for the roads to be a bit cleaner in the coming weeks and hopefully we get some milder weather.

[stuboy]

Exciting day... rotten numberplate bulb change... home assessment,  and go collect a repaired ambulance... life in the fast lane..

[Lord Sterling]

Been doing a bit of folder fettling. The blue folder was nabbed from work before it found its way into the bin. I bought a Jaguar transfer stuck it on:

Just makes it look a bit more 'official' and less home-made.

Done one for the BMW too:

I used BMW key button transfers. They look pretty good in my opinion. 

However, this is an official Vauxhall Network Q folder I found on eBay to use to keep paperwork for the Vectra. You may also below the BMW folder a light-blue BL Jaguar folder for the XJ's paperwork which I managed to nab online. 

[Popsicle]

Got the couriering Caddy back from the menders.

Shiny new parts fitted - fuel filter housing, all 4 drop links and both rear wheel bearings.

My fault on the fuel filter housing, as mentioned the other day I stripped the threads and apparently distorted the lid on the original, £180 for a new one from TPS, ouch! I assumed all the drop links were knackered, 3 had been advised on the MOT in December. What I thought were the rear brakes binding turned out to be both rear wheel bearings being shagged. Also they've hopefully stopped the power steering weep I had. £600 all in which I reckon is pretty good for saying they recovered the van in for me. I should have got them to look at it sooner, but work/life has been pretty hectic so far this year.

So with it all being done I did a little delivery out to the seaside.

And got reversed in to by a Royal Mail van.....

The driver denied doing it, but my dashcam was triggered by the thump and I watched her do it. Minimal damage, so meh.

The van performed faultlessly and seems smoother and quieter, maybe those wheel bearing have been moaning at me for a while 😂.

Nice run out for it tomorrow, pick up Birmingham for Manchester and Glasgow, so about a 640 mile day.

 

[Somerset Suffolk]

Not thats its a vehicle as such, but was about to go into a skip ... bought for £50  -  Petter Junior 5HP - not sure where I can store it yet, but glad I saved it 😄

[stuboy]

9 minutes ago, Somerset Suffolk said:

Not thats its a vehicle as such, but was about to go into a skip ... bought for £50  -  Petter Junior 5HP - not sure where I can store it yet, but glad I saved it 😄

that looks a nice project

[Somerset Suffolk]

27 minutes ago, stuboy said:

that looks a nice project

seems complete and not seized 

[Saabnut]

That is 2-300 quid in that condition. Nice two stroke engines, had several over the years.

[High Jetter]

1 hour ago, Somerset Suffolk said:

seems complete and not seized 

You need a project thread on that...resto?

[Somerset Suffolk]

14 minutes ago, Saabnut said:

That is 2-300 quid in that condition. Nice two stroke engines, had several over the years.

I may message you if thats OK ?  

[Somerset Suffolk]

18 minutes ago, High Jetter said:

You need a project thread on that...resto?

will start with seeing if I can get it running - start with the magneto - I've also bought a small Lister engine that was in a another shed  

[Saabnut]

10 minutes ago, Somerset Suffolk said:

I may message you if thats OK ?  

Yes, of course.

[Saabnut]

7 minutes ago, Somerset Suffolk said:

will start with seeing if I can get it running - start with the magneto - I've also bought a small Lister engine that was in a another shed  

These petters are simple beasts. Start with the magneto. Once you have a spark, if possible put a new plug in. They are susceptable to fouling but are an odd (older) size. After that you need fuel, the mixture control is also the choke. Fill the bowl to start it. The fuel tank is in the base, and the pump is driven by a diaphragm which often splits. Happy to talk you these things if required.

[Somerset Suffolk]

16 minutes ago, Saabnut said:

These petters are simple beasts. Start with the magneto. Once you have a spark, if possible put a new plug in. They are susceptable to fouling but are an odd (older) size. After that you need fuel, the mixture control is also the choke. Fill the bowl to start it. The fuel tank is in the base, and the pump is driven by a diaphragm which often splits. Happy to talk you these things if required.

Many thanks @Saabnut 

[Lord Sterling]

Vectra was looking a bit forlorn. Flat tyre (not seen as hidden by wall) and that dust and rain mix we had last week.

Having been left for 2 weeks without starting, it obviously didn't have enough juice in the battery to start, so out with the Noco:

This was the first time I used it properly and it worked like a charm. The Vectra sprang itself back to life.

Now, despite the fact I've just got back from a 10 hour shift at work, I don't feel tired in the least, I'm off to Brussels tomorrow morning so it helps that I can stay awake long enough. 

I took the Jag for a wash as I'll be using that on the trip, then I took the Vectra to the better car wash nearer mine, it came out looking amazing:

The maddest thing is, it drove so well, it sounded great. 

I took it for a bit of a blast around Kidderminster doing a couple of spots on the way. Including another forlorn Vectra that's been sitting on a driveway for a couple of years now.

I miss this car and need to get it sorted. 

[Bren]

Me and my better half saw Jason Donovan last night at the Parr Hall in Warrington.

He was very good. There was footage of him from his heyday and he gave anecdotes about family and everyone getting older.

Lots of middle age women in leather trousers. Nobody was snorting anything - they were eating crisps instead.

 

[MrGTI6]

Found myself in need of a cheap stopgap car, so this evening I went to view a 56-plate Nissan Note.

So, why a Note? Because it was a 20-minute walk from my house.

Seemed like an honest little car so I bought it! Apologies for the lack of photos, but it was dark.

[Split_Pin]

Had a look under the 75 today, specifically at the headlight level sensors for the Xenons. There are 2, front and rear axle. 

Good news, the one at the back is intact with just broken plastic arms which are £15 per bone. Even gooder news was that a complete 2nd hand arm with sensor and bracket was available for £21 free post.

The front arm and sensor is completely fucked and the tester didn't like the fact it was cable tied on. So the used arm with bracket can go there and the brand new one can go on the back and I'll keep the existing sensor as a spare.

That also means South Devon MGRover spares can go take a fuck to themselves, not before I leave them a big steaming NEG for being cheeky misleading bastards.

[Mr Livered]

27 minutes ago, Split_Pin said:

That also means South Devon MGRover spares can go take a fuck to themselves, not before I leave them a big steaming NEG for being cheeky misleading bastards.

Interested in feedback on these chaps, plus any information you might have about any of the competition. 

[Split_Pin]

Just now, Mr Livered said:

Interested in feedback on these chaps, plus any information you might have about any of the competition. 

DMGRS is the place to get spares but they are out of stock of the level sensors at present. Tom Force is the other person to go to for bits (and to look after your 75 if you're in Lincolnshire). Dennis Jones is another trusted breaker, he's in Walsall, as is Steve Cleeton. Al Rogers sold all his stock I think but he's another good guy for bits.

[RoverFolkUs]

Somebody has reversed into my Rover 45 today

Thankfully it was witnessed and they've left their details

Damage appears to be isolated to the rear bumper, not the end of the world and I'm glad the chap was decent enough to leave his details. Accidents happen, but it's still a bummer 

[davehedgehog31]

Dug this out for MOT this morning.

And stashed this in it's place, good to know it fits

And then...

A marginal fail. I've taken the path of least resistance and ordered a full driveshaft for £37 rather than fucking about with a new boot. I'll probably do the wheel bearing as well as it was an advisory last year and felt like I could maybe hear the first grumblings of it. Hopefully get it in for retest next week.

[Lord Sterling]

It's that time again. It is FAAAAARKIN windy here, I mean, it would be being by the sea.

I'm on an earlier Ferry, but when it actually goes, no one knows.

Edit*

Made it here in really good time. The S-Type is a real motorway muncher. It laughed in the face of all the horrible rain and roads we have in the UK, France and Belgium. 

Got out the car and didn't even feel like I'd driven to Telford.

[barefoot]

14 hours ago, Mr Livered said:

Interested in feedback on these chaps, plus any information you might have about any of the competition. 

The one in Derby is worse than fucking useless as well. Avoid, lying shites.

[barefoot]

In other, more positive news, I've attended 3 funerals in the last week. My lovely white shirt has looked crisp at all three and is now off for a well-earned wash and spin dry.

RIP Urga, Rosea & Spanners.

[lesapandre]

Nissan Leaf app deleted by manufacturer:

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/mar/14/nissan-leaf-app-shutdown-nissanconnect-ev-app

[adw1977]

Great, welcome to a world where cars become obsolete as fast as smartphones.

[Zelandeth]

35 minutes ago, adw1977 said:

Great, welcome to a world where cars become obsolete as fast as smartphones.

Only going to get worse.  Already a bunch of manufacturers have accessories and performance maps which are locked behind software pay walls.  Let's see what those do when they're no longer able to phone home to make sure you've got a license to use your heated seats.

[RoverFolkUs]

5 hours ago, lesapandre said:

Nissan Leaf app deleted by manufacturer:

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/mar/14/nissan-leaf-app-shutdown-nissanconnect-ev-app

I wonder what harm that will do the manufacturer other than push people to upgrade who now "can't live without" such modern functionality 

It's so backwards