The new news 24 thread

[Skizzer]

Nice Torslanda.  Have you bought it, or are you confusing this with the eBay tat thread? 

[Skizzer]

My news is, I've replaced the broken door releases on the SD1, so now a full complement of Detective Constables can angle park outside the scene of a blag and pile out to chase the villains up a fire escape.

 

I also put a load of Tiger Seal round the tailgate window rubber yesterday.  Robust testing in the subsequent epic downpour showed this had made FECK ALL DIFFERENCE.  Put some more on today but suspect this is futile: water ingress is clearly compulsory on SD1s and I should just learn to love it.  And drill more holes in the boot floor.

 

 

The Lancia HPE I've put a deposit down on turns out to need a shedload of work for an MOT: rear brake calipers, wishbones, bunch of welding sills and rear arches, exhaust problems, wiring to various lights.  This is before fixing the bad running, or even driving it.  It's mostly reasonably straightforward recommissioning work, apart from the exhaust which is missing a bracket made of unobtainium, but I don't have time or space to do it myself at the moment and I wasn't looking to take on a project.  Reckon it's time to run away.

[dollywobbler]

I went to the Welshpool Air Show today. Pics of the attached Transport Festival may follow later. There wasn't much of interest really aside from a Sentinal steam lorry and a very tidy Suzuki Cappuccino.

 

I went in the 2CV, which is the first time it has been outside of my tiny county for far too long. Had a proper good run on clear roads this morning, but then almost stacked it on the big roundabout in Welshpool by being a bit over-optimistic. 

 

It was worse on the way home, when I had one of 'those' terrifying overtaking manoeuvres. The ones where the driver coming the other way seems to be rather angry with you. It was an ambitious gap and I forgot I didn't have the dizzying power of a Daihatsu Sirion or BX diesel.

 

Actually, I was utterly frustrated as I was stuck behind a Xantia being driven in a very annoying fashion. ie almost crawling around bends, then accelerating up to the speed limit on the straight bits. A 2CV doesn't have enough power in reserve to deal with that! Stupid really. I could have just sat back and enjoyed 50mpg motoring but no, had to overtake!

[Crusty Sills]

After my initial enthusiasm a couple of weeks ago about getting the engine running on my Beetle, I tried to drive it to find the clutch was grinding.

After scratching my head, walking away in disbelieve/confusion and returning to hope its sorted it's self out I decided I had to take the engine out.

Although on the Beetle its only 4 bolts I really didn't want to do it.

So today spanner in hand and beer to help I got the engine out to find the thrust bearing housing had eaten itself shearing the bearing retaining clips and damaging the fingers on the cutch plate as well as plenty of swarf!

So now the engine is dropped to the floor and the car is up on stands awaiting new clutch delivery.

Although it is a pain it had to be done, just wish I'd changed it when it was apart 1st time!

[Cavcraft]

Did you go via Llanfair Caerinion, DW? I had 88mph out of my work's Iveco down there but bottled out of trying for the magic ton.

[Inspector Morose]

This week, I shall be mostly driving this:

 

Around Cambridge and there abouts. Tomorrow I'm in Chelmsford so if anyone's around I can put a brew on.

BTW for the bus minded it's a coach spec Metrobus. 60+ mph on 't motorway on the way down. Showed a coach a clean pair of heels only for it to go storming past on the next incline. A Gardner 180 is not the most pokey of engines, especially with as high gearing as this has got.

[dollywobbler]

Cor! Ex-Timesaver. 

 

Anyway, back to Welsh matters. The A458 between Welshpool and Newtown is a disaster area at the moment. Part of the road has collapsed! On the way back, I ended up heading towards Montgomery on what felt like a Roman road. I'm not used to straight roads in Wales! We were just over an indicated 70mph at one point, which is barely breaking the speed limit in reality (honest officer). That was just after I overtook a Toyota Celica using gravity.

[vulgalour]

Actually, I was utterly frustrated as I was stuck behind a Xantia being driven in a very annoying fashion. ie almost crawling around bends, then accelerating up to the speed limit on the straight bits. A 2CV doesn't have enough power in reserve to deal with that!

 

But Xantia are excellent in corners, far more so than a FWD car has any right to be.  Must have been piloted by a moron.

[dollywobbler]

That indeed was my conclusion. 

 

I do have a problem when driving the 2CV though. I feel under massive pressure to not drive it slowly! I overtook a Moggy Minor on the way there. I was practically there but had to prove how unslow 2CVs are. Why?! They are slow!

[vulgalour]

A witty friend made the observation that my car running on veg makes it very Crisp 'n Drive.

 

Can anyone construct a sticker illustrating this for the veg powered contingency of Autoshite?  I'd probably be happy with just a Crisp 'n Dry sticker and a marker pen.

 

[barefoot]

I have just received the most expensive sticker I have ever bought through the post courtesy of that nice Mr Shitpeas.

Still it could have been much, much worse.

It could have been that fucking Volvo.

[cms206]

I have just received the most expensive sticker I have ever bought through the post courtesy of that nice Mr Shitpeas.

Still it could have been much, much worse.

It could have been that fucking Volvo.

What Vol... oh. THAT Volvo. I'm never entering another raffle ever. Although the EXCLUSIVE Autoshite taxdisc holder was worth every penny.

[Cavcraft]

Fleet swap around day today. Vectra gone as security feature against the garage, came to work in the BX instead. I forgot what a bloody good laugh it is to drive, much fun was had down the lanes.

Must wheel the Corsa out next it needs an airing, and possibly the unthinkable-selling it as my daughter has found a 'new' car she wants instead.

[The Moog]

405 is still causing issues. Did 600 miles over weekend and didn't miss a beat. Came out this morning and would barely turn over.

 

Checked battery and it has got 12.6v. All dash lights come on but barely can turn the car over. Slapped a jump pack on it and it starts straight away.

 

Once running it is getting 14v so should be charging well enough.

 

Can a battery be knackered and still show 12v?

[vulgalour]

I'd say yes.  From what I've learned, you want at least 13.8v from a battery, ideally just over 14v so if you're down at 12v it's likely not enough to get the diesel chugging hence why the jump pack could give it that bit of a leg up to get going.

[dollywobbler]

It can be, but this sounds more like the earth issue from the starter that's also a problem on BXs. Why a jump pack would 'fix' that I don't know but if it does it again, just try running an HT lead from the engine to the battery. Or it's a fault with the ignition switch and it self-cured by the time you'd connected the jump pack up. That's entirely possible too!

[dollywobbler]

I'd say yes.  From what I've learned, you want at least 13.8v from a battery, ideally just over 14v so if you're down at 12v it's likely not enough to get the diesel chugging hence why the jump pack could give it that bit of a leg up to get going.

 

With the engine off, 12.6v is fine. As you say, should be more when running.

[The Moog]

Running it is over 14v it is 12.6v when turned off. Lobbed the battery on trickle charge. Will try with a jump lead earth to see if that improves it. Earths looked ok last time i checked

[cobblers]

A battery can easily show 12.6v when stood and be knackered - the internal resistance increases as they age, so with no load on it the voltage seems fine. 14ish v is fine when charging, and if it starts OK with a boost pack directly on the battery terminals then the battery is the only possible culprit really. 

[320touring]

320 back on the road yesterday. Wing bolt funked off tonight..applied cable tie for temporary* repair..

[Pillock]

Where was the jump pack connected? If across the battery, your earth strap is fine and the battery is chuffed. If you earthed the jump pack to the engine block then I'd look at the strap since bypassing it made things work.

[vulgalour]

Every time someone posts a picture of a Honda Insight I want one.  You never see them up for grabs and you hardly ever see them on the road, never did when they were new for that matter.  I want one exactly like this.

 

 

I think they look amazing.

[NorfolkNWeigh]

Just noticed the page number ,so;

[The Moog]

Attached a jump lead from engine block to bat neg and made no difference. Looks like battery is knackered. Checked again with jump pack and it starts although it has now flattened it.

 

Will have a look on ebay for one as DW said they were cheapish on there. It has a funky screw on neg terminal which i like

[dollywobbler]

I don't remember saying anything about batteries on Ebay! I use www.thebatteryguys.co.uk

[The Moog]

Must have misremebered apologies. Eurocarparts have got one for £45 which i can collect tomorrow so that should sort it.

[ruffgeezer]

 

Can anyone construct a sticker illustrating this for the veg powered contingency of Autoshite?  I'd probably be happy with just a Crisp 'n Dry sticker and a marker pen.

 

 

 

 

Like this?

 

 

I can probably do a single colour vinyl version If I've got any red.

[Conrad D. Conelrad]

 

If anyone likes that I can fix the uneven borders. 

[vulgalour]

I like these things, they are good things.

[The Moog]

One new battery and £45 lighter car seems happy enough. Place your bets now on the next thing to stop working:)

 

To celebrate i have taken off winter tyres and put on the summer boots.

 

Still waiting for the fan relays