The new news 24 thread

[Pete-M]

I think it'll be the same one Mike, yup. I could do with the lower column shroud too if that's there....

[Mike D]

I'm pretty sure it should be there, i'll take a trip over at the weekend and have a gander, and grab it if it is Is there anything else you need?

[rml2345]

EML is still on, which is fine as the little Japanese hatchback doesn't seem to mind but it's annoying me. Staring from the dash like a little orange LIGHT OF DOOM.

Being a mechanical clot, I took a look at it today, and noticed the spark plug on No.1 cylinder was past it's best. All 4 had fairly copious tan deposits on them so off to Halfrauds for some new ones.

Has it made a difference?

Has it buggery.

So I painted the sills black instead,. Mostly to cover up some earlier repainting in the wrong shade of blue. and to better hide the massive dents. Now has black Hammerite. brush, dust, fuff and whatever else has stuck to the paint instead.

Still looks better though!

 

[cobblers]

I reckon anyone with a modern vehicle should drop £12 on a USB code reader off ebay - You'll be able to plug it in, immediately see what's turned the light on, then turn the light off and know what you need to do to fix the problem. It's not always 100% accurate, but it's pretty much always better than just throwing parts at it and hoping.

[meggersdog]

I agree with cobblers.Management lights work off low voltage so sparkplugs (high voltage) won't cause it.Could be one of many oxygen sensors which might improve with injector/cat cleaner.Without the fault code you will be chasing shadows.

[Pete-M]

I'm pretty sure it should be there, i'll take a trip over at the weekend and have a gander, and grab it if it is Is there anything else you need?

 

Much obliged tA.

[ashmicro]

I agree with cobblers.Management lights work off low voltage so sparkplugs (high voltage) won't cause it.Could be one of many oxygen sensors which might improve with injector/cat cleaner.Without the fault code you will be chasing shadows.

 

 

Although - a cracked plug logged a fault (and lit the EML) in my 25. With you on the code reader, though. These days they're as indispensable as a 1/2" drive.

[DSdriver]

News from abroad: Mercedes-Benz press release:

 

A case had arisen in which a company based in Germany had built an unlawful replica of a Mercedes-Benz 300 SL (W 198 series). The first step in destroying the replica was to separate the chassis from the body. The Mercedes-Benz used-parts centre, which is also responsible for scrapping all Mercedes-Benz prototypes from the development units, then destroyed the body on behalf of Daimler AG. The certified equipment used in the centre includes two presses, each applying over 30 tonnes of pressure. The replica sports car had a fibreglass body weighing precisely 148 kilograms, which the compressor smashed into small pieces. This dramatic end to the unlawful body was officially documented with a signed and stamped ‘confirmation of scrappage’.

 

I suppose they gave the rest of the car back?

[ashmicro]

They'll be smashing up another few in the very near future - the new Merc E200 has a 1.6 turbo petrol four-banger. From RENAULT.

[barefoot]

Brand new front springs on Scirocco cost £14.40 each.

[rml2345]

I reckon anyone with a modern vehicle should drop £12 on a USB code reader off ebay - You'll be able to plug it in, immediately see what's turned the light on, then turn the light off and know what you need to do to fix the problem. It's not always 100% accurate, but it's pretty much always better than just throwing parts at it and hoping.

 

I should probably have done that first but baulked at the cost and having to borrow a laptop.

Cheaper than getting the local garage to plug it in though, so will invest.

[ashmicro]

In that case buy a handheld scanner, rather than getting an laptop. From £70 ish, or basic ones like this

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Autel-Maxisca ... 27c2eadc2c

[dollywobbler]

First time I've removed a door on something modern(ish). What a PITA! Hinge pins = horrible.

 

Now to start building up the replacement door, which has a rather funky BX graphic on it. Pics later, depending on how I get on...

[cort16]

That's some dent in the sill there.

[Cavcraft]

Hey Ian, you should try taking the doors and boot lid hinges off a Mk2 Cavalier-absolute nightmare of a job. The boot hinges were incredibly difficult and I ended up taking a hacksaw and axe to the bastard and cut myself badly.

[dollywobbler]

That's some dent in the sill there.

 

It certainly is. It's getting crunchy in places too. Have a replacement that needs to go on before the MOT.

 

Hey Ian, you should try taking the doors and boot lid hinges off a Mk2 Cavalier-absolute nightmare of a job. The boot hinges were incredibly difficult and I ended up taking a hacksaw and axe to the bastard and cut myself badly.

 

I shall consider myself lucky then! Very few flesh wounds today. Have just finished stripping the old door but think I've had enough for today. Will risk sleeping before building the new door up. Can I remember how everything went? We'll see...

[wuvvum]

Got my first fine through the post today for "keeping a vehicle with no insurance" for the Solara. Fortunately the date they quote for the "offence" is 3rd February, two days after the tax ran out, and I have a SORN confirmation letter from DVLA saying that the SORN starts from 1st February. So I'm going to send them that and tell them to swivel.

[barefoot]

twats - How much is your 'fine'?

[wuvvum]

£100. Taking the piss really for such a trumped-up "offence". I would imagine I'll get a few more similar letters in due course too as I'm fugging useless at remembering to update the MID when I buy new tat.

[Mr_Bo11ox]

Nice to see they gave you a generous two days before starting to send out the invoices, what a shower of wankers.

[CreepingJesus]

^+1. 2 days to send out the fines; 9 months and counting to get me a V5 (as I've mentioned elsewhere). Shows you exactly where their priorities lie. As if that were any kind of surprise.

[Mr_Bo11ox]

On the directgov website it reckons they send out a warning letter first, I presume they fooked that step off as it was too time consuming.

[CreepingJesus]

Back in the dark times, before the databases and ANPR and the like, it was a bit hit-and-miss whether a warning letter turned up. I used to keep a heap or two kicking about, for spares and such. Invariably out of legalities, but demonstrably non-functional. One or two were fined straight out, without warning; the upside was that the system was just as easily confused the other way, and I rarely paid the fines.

I sometimes still have a giggle at the thought of the SAS turning up, storming the house, and me ending up in a show trial at The Hague...doubt it tho'

[Cavcraft]

Just done the Autoshite tyre strip challenge. Thanks to advice on here I jacked the alloys up against the underside of my lad's Frontera (thank God for the lift kit on it!) and started breaking the beads. The first one was a bit tight, the second came off easy and the current one is an absolute bastard!

Recalling one of the first things I was ever taught at the start of my tyre fitting career, I did 'little and often' working along the beads. Also just found that shoving old spark plugs and stones into the gap before moving further round helped a lot.

Sweating like a bastard here so it's time for a brew and maybe take the dog for a walk before the 'fun' resumes.

[cort16]

I got the half shaft out my SD1 without too much bother after warnings of doom from others in the SD1 fraternity. I put a bit of thread bar into one of the holes the halfshaft bolts into and wound it out with a nut and washer on the back of the halfshaft and it popped out no bother much to my surprise . I cut the old bearing off with the grinder but I'm going to get the garage next door to press the new bearing on. Because this has been straight forward you can gaurentee all the nuts on the caliper will be seized/rounded when I come to change the pads.

[Mike D]

I have successfully eliminated the worlds most annoying squeaking noise that was eminating from the rear of the Mongdeo, turned out to be the boot catch after much removing of every bit of plastic trim before I found the actual cause! A swift lowering of the catch and it is much better Rear door speakers to change to ones out a breaker at my mates tomorrow as the passenger one is blown, and it should be getting there!

 

I've also done 220 miles in it, and it's still above half a tank of fuel! GR9 after the 840! It isn't the most exciting thing in the world to drive, but it does the job

[R9UKE]

Crossed another item of shite off my wanted list today. For me, this car, in Fastback form only, represents proper 90s Britain. Feels like an episode of Police Stop! every time I get into it

 

 

Letchworth Rover dealer sticker and tax disc holder. V5 and the absolute OMG SHIT LOADZ of service history says it stayed there all it's life wearing the private plate "44 JT" - so some posh fucker! Service history includes 2 timing belt changes and 2 head gasket changes. Also one receipt for a new digital clock from Rover in 2004 for £84

[Shep Shepherd]

That is ASTOUNDING!

[Mike D]

MAGNIFICENT!

[Pete-M]

Spent pretty much all day sorting the 604. Interior is all in properly now. Sill covers attached properly with the chrome strip and rubber seals along the top edge. All inner arches cleaned up and undersealed.

 

Had a little spin around the compound in it. Wish I didn't have to sell it, but next week it'll go for the MOT and I'll have driven a working 604 that belongs to me along the road. Which is another one off the bucket list. It drives bloody well considering the amount of sitting around it has done recently.

 

Next week, re-attach all the side rubbing strips and make an entry onto Greenpeace's most wanted list when I'm cleaning it. It'll be MOT'd hopefully by the end of the week.

 

Tomorrow, work on the Jag begins..