The new news 24 thread

[trigger]

The poxy digital computer display still doesn't work on my 2008 Focus, bloody thing, it lights up but the writing doesn't work.

 

I'm thinking of sending the cluster of to one of these instrument repairers on the Internet where they guarantee to fix them with 24 hours if you post it to them.

 

Has anybody on here ever used one before and got any advice to give before I waste £150?.

 

[Mr Lobster]

That Focus sounds like its been a right load of trouble. I think I'd be sending the entire thing to a dealer and p/x'ing it for something less likely to dissolve into into a world of financial pain tbh.

[twosmoke300]

I used cluster repairs uk , quick turnaround and clocks looked and worked like new afterwards.

Oh and it was only 100 delivered off ebay

[cort16]

That Focus sounds like its been a right load of trouble. I think I'd be sending the entire thing to a dealer and p/x'ing it for something less likely to dissolve into into a world of financial pain tbh.

 

You should buy a BMW**************************************************************************

[Cavcraft]

I've fixed the broken speedo on the Kangoo.

 

I say fixed but I actually mean I just downloaded a speedometer application to my phone.

[Angrydicky]

You should buy a Maestro van

EFA

[trigger]

If I could afford to sack the poxy thing off I would! It does drive quite nice when it's works properly, which i think last happened one day back in last October...

[dollywobbler]

Could do with some rain.

[Sloth in a bowl]

I have just spent a week in Rome, chod picture upload will be happening this evening.

 

Lots of rain, lots of ruins, not enough old Fiats

 

Just to add, I seen one of these beasts

 

[Cavcraft]

Could do with some Maestro van

 

 

 

FTFY

[Junkman]

What a shame:

 

http://www.classiccarsforsale.co.uk/news/general/800023495/600000-toyota-2000gt-wrecked-by-fallen-tree/?utm_campaign=200614

[Angrydicky]

Well my dad and I painted the Maestro today, it came out pretty well for an amateur job! A few runs here and there, but nothing that won't cut out.

 

 

I will get some more pictures tomorrow hopefully, once I've finished fitting the headlights, bumpers and stuff back on!

[dave21478]

Nice. What kind of paint did you use?

[Shep Shepherd]

Does anyone know how to re-align a Volvo 940 estate's rear wiper linkage? I have just fitted a replacement (used) linkage to The Wentworth in lieu of its seized original and I simply cannot get the wiper to properly clear the screen, no matter what I do; the best I have got after an hour of fiddling with it is it wiping half the rear window and half of the tailgate

[dave21478]

In other news, I am attempting an experiment in "dynamic wheel balancing".

I got a set of chunky tyres for the pickup....Insa Turbo Rangers - remoulds that use the BFGoodrich tread pattern. The internet suggests that they are a good tyre for the money but can be hard to balance. I fit my own tyres at home but dont have a balancer machine. Most cars seem to get away without balancing these days and if there is a vibration, I take them to a place I know that balances for a fiver per pair if I take the wheels in loose - ie not fitted to the car.

 

Anyway, with 4 of these remoulds on the pickup it was shoogling about all over the place so in I went. The fronts eventually balanced after a bit of faff and a lot of weights, but the last two needed 250 and 275 grams each. Thats seemingly more than most HGV wheels, and it was just not practical to fit that much weight to the rims.

 

Thinking I cant be the only person with this problem, I hit the internet for research and discovered an old truckers trick of putting a couple of golf balls inside the tyre has been updated to modern times and used a lot by muddy funsters in lifted trucks in USA with big balloon tyres by adding plastic BB gun pellets inside the tyre. As you roll, centrifugal force spreads them around the inside of the tyre casing and as the unbalanced wheel vibrates up and down, they arrange themselves in the optimal position to smooth out the vibrations. This all happens within the first few meters as you accelerate.

So, this afternoon I raided the local toyshop for a bottle of airsoft 0.2g pellets. I split the bead on each rear tyre and tipped 250g of pellets in, then re-inflated.

I will see how it goes and update accordingly. initial impressions are that it makes a beautiful* "swishing" noise at low speeds.

[dave21478]

Does anyone know how to re-align a Volvo 940 estate's rear wiper linkage? I have just fitted a replacement (used) linkage to The Wentworth in lieu of its seized original and I simply cannot get the wiper to properly clear the screen, no matter what I do; the best I have got after an hour of fiddling with it is it wiping half the rear window and half of the tailgate

 

Surely just a case of running the wiper a couple of times sans the arm and letting the mechanism self-park, then adding the arm at its rest position? Thats what I do for front wipers.

[Shep Shepherd]

I've tried that many times, with no success. Perhaps the motor's self-park mechanism is up the creek?

[Richard]

Surely just a case of running the wiper a couple of times sans the arm and letting the mechanism self-park, then adding the arm at its rest position? Thats what I do for front wipers.

 

Not quite. It's a few years ago that I did it but IIRC you have to put the mechanism together in such a way that it is already in the park position, otherwise the wiper will park mid-sweep. I ended up with mine parked at the wrong side, but still wiping the window properly. Unfortunately I can't remember any of the details but I did manage to work it out at the time. It could be that you have to take the spindle out and move it round a bit.

[NorfolkNWeigh]

I have just spent a week in Rome, chod picture upload will be happening this evening.

 

Lots of rain, lots of ruins, not enough old Fiats

 

Just to add, I seen one of these beasts

 ]

That's given me a brilliant * idea. When my 300 finally fucks up, I'll stick some lancia badges on it , paint some rust all over it and swap all the wires in the fuse box for that authentic Italian feel. Then certain shiters will be falling over themselves to buy it more much lira.

[Ghosty]

 

 

 

Rebadged Chrysler 300C. I guess that's what Lancia get in return for letting the Delta and Ypsilon wear a Chrysler badge.

[Skizzer]

That's given me a brilliant * idea. When my 300 finally fucks up, I'll stick some lancia badges on it , paint some rust all over it and swap all the wires in the fuse box for that authentic Italian feel. Then certain shiters will be falling over themselves to buy it more much lira.

Where do I sign?

[Cavcraft]

Because Renault:

 

Kangoo central locking doesn't work, not amount of pissing about locking/unlocking doors, pressing the key fobs etc makes any difference. Went to get fuel before (a fiver's worth) and upon piss-arsing about trying to get the locking fuel cap before the locking started going mental. Anyhow, daughter and mate were ina  beauty supplies place so I got some interior cleaner foam out and with the spray air freshener I lobbed in earlier it now smells slightly less dead dog than it did before.

[loserone]

Autoshite Midlife Crisis : you're doing it wrong ! What you need is an MX5 with 160K miles and sills mostly made of MARSHMALLOW BOX

 

I have one of these which is likely to be for sale / scrapped shortly.  If anyone IS interested in becoming middle-aged in autoshite style, PM me!

[derskine]

Diesel 18s starter motor got stuck at KFC today.

Embarrassingly there were quite a lot of people around and attempts at bump starting it due to lack of tools proved futile.

I managed to get it in the end by hitting the solenoid with the scissor jack.

[rml2345]

Does anyone know how to re-align a Volvo 940 estate's rear wiper linkage? I have just fitted a replacement (used) linkage to The Wentworth in lieu of its seized original and I simply cannot get the wiper to properly clear the screen, no matter what I do; the best I have got after an hour of fiddling with it is it wiping half the rear window and half of the tailgate

I had that problem earlier with the headlamp wipers. Unfortunately it involves taking the thing apart again and trying to reassemble it as close to the "parked" position as possible. It takes a bit of faffing about but you'll get there in the end. Apparently it's much easier just to keep the wiper linkage and motor together but that's not always possible.

[320touring]

Diesel 18s starter motor got stuck at KFC today.

Embarrassingly there were quite a lot of people around and attempts at bump starting it due to lack of tools proved futile.

I managed to get it in the end by hitting the solenoid with the scissor jack.

Another e30 touring I had suffered from a sticking starter. A trolly jack handle was ideal for tapping it to loosen it off. It was an auto so bump starting was not an option.

 

I managed to punch a hole in the starter casing one day..

[DVee8]

I have one of these which is likely to be for sale / scrapped shortly.  If anyone IS interested in becoming middle-aged in autoshite style, PM me!

More details,photos  please.

[NorfolkNWeigh]

Yesterday I picked up a regular client from Heathrow, he wanted to be dropped off at a Porsche specialist in Cheddington ( a stones throw from where Great Train Robbery happened) to pick up his 997 Turbo. It was in for 'detailing' ready for going to Le Mans classic in a few weeks. I went in with him to have a nosey at the sales cars etc which included a Group C 962 and a 12 month old quite basic 911 for £90k (WTF?).

All very interesting but not really my bag, but then, just as I was leaving a mechanic pulled up in this beauty

 

It's a non S manual with cloth seats, I had to hide the beginnings of a trouser bulge.

 

Just looked on their website and it is up for £15,000, that has to be a solid gold bargain- although it does mean the current Autoshiteist Porsche must be a £6000 Cayenne, now that these are heading skywards price wise.

 

Incidentally the 'detailer' was a knob, talking loads of bollocks about the drivers door only having 75% paint in one area. When I suggested that maybe someone had T-Cutted a scratch out at some time. He comes out with ' No proffesional detailed would do that it must have been a valet er at an OPC' Twat! Although a clever twat,the bill for a bit of a clean was £450!!!!!

http://www.rpmtechnik.co.uk/sales/vehicle/928-4-5/

[dome]

I've came close to getting a 928 a couple of times but the potential world of bork scared the shit out of me. That's not to say I won't man up one day and get one though...

[Mr_Bo11ox]

I reckon you'd need to be a bit of a bullshit spouter to make a living charging folk 450 for a 'detail', I reckon you'd have to start by coming up with new scientific-sounding names for your bucket, cloths, sponge etc and take it from there.