The new news 24 thread

[Stroller133]

Ford Diesels- they all do that sir! Mileage about 70k?

[trigger]

Yep! 75000 in fact! This year it's had a new instrument panel and a fuel pump as well as new fuel filter housing and a number of other little things, it's cost me over £1000 in parts so far alone!

[twosmoke300]

Trig . Make sure the battery is the proper calcium type and that is fully charged before you fire it up with the new alternator. If you can put an amp clamp on the battery lead after its all done and running. I had one where even a fully charged battery was pulling 100amps from the alternator . This is what cooked the original one .

Stupid "smart" charge shit

[brickwall]

Just back from MOT.

 

Passed, he just said adjust yer bearings a tad but it's all cool.

[Cavcraft]

Get the Suzuki mate, that Focus has been a nightmare.

[Noel Tidybeard]

 

 

 

 

is this legal? aren't they a bit too closely related?

[AlabamaShrimp]

Forgot I had taken these. Been on a classic restoration course for the last 4 weeks. Bit slow going but will get there in the end

 

 

 

 

The delta intagrale (can't spell it) and Audi quattro have been there for at least 5 years. Don't think either will ever be finished

[brickwall]

Okay, spill the beans....was the course good?

[SambaS]

HELP FOR FUCKS SAKE HELP!

 

 

I always liked that wavy line over the badge on these early ones. So I think I'm gonna have to have a Kia Pride

[SambaS]

Didn't take much looking!

 

http://www.gumtree.com/p/kia/kia-pride/1083166951

 

[AlabamaShrimp]

Okay, spill the beans....was the course good?

Am still on it! It's full time for the next year. Already learned how to mig weld and realised that changing the cam belt isn't witchcraft so yeah I would say it's pretty good

[Lord Sterling]

827 decided to try and overheat at traffic lights this morning, thankfully I was on the way back home and it did cool down whilst driving due to the cooler air hitting the engine. I found that the coolant had disappeared from the expansion tank again. I filled it up a few weeks ago and it seemed Ok even a few days ago though lower than topped up. Now this either means; there is a leak somewhere or the head gasket is starting to call it a day. To be honest, I don't care either way.

 

Fluids were topped up again including power steering and brake fluids.

 

Whilst putting coolant bottle in the boot and replacing the boot carpet (the fitted one doesn't fit due to LPG tank) I noticed some old stereo wiring coming from the rear of the back seat, the jacks had nicely rusted which were useless. So I set about taking it out:

 

 

Of course, this meant getting my toolbox out and finding a bit of time to do little jobs like reposition the window cassette as wind noise had returned to annoy me. Whilst the door card was off I took the opportunity to liberally spray WD40 into the all the contacts to see if that was what was causing the window to still not work. It wasn't.

 

I repositioned the window cassette and whilst there is no more wind noise from around the wing mirror area, there is still a gap by the B-pillar area. If I leave the car I'll have to push it by the window to get the seal to seal around the B-pillar area. At least it's better than before.

 

I found a few spare interior light bulbs whilst searching for some centre caps (which I still can't find) and changed a few of the bulbs. Everywhere on the car, a lot of the electrics contacts are either 'dried out' and powdery or have green powder settled in the contacts.

 

The exhaust is getting worse and I found out what is may be causing the uneven idle, there are 3 flashes from the ECU (1 long flash and 2 short flashes) so I guess it's either:

 

2 Rear Oxygen Sensor

3 Manifold Absolute Pressure Sensor

 

So something to with the exhaust then. Bastard thing needs changing, but then the whole bloody car needs changing.

 

Job wise; Went to an interview in Cheltenham yesterday, I answered all the questions with confidence linking them to my experiences in previous, similar roles. Today I'd heard that I didn't get the job due to "lack of experience in an office" which sounds like bullshit to me. Looks like telling the truth doesn't help. I guess though as a mate of mine once said: ever 'no' gets you closer to a 'yes'.

[vulgalour]

Hey Samba, if you get a Pride can I come play?  I love these things.

[rml2345]

A Pride turned up at Shitefest Cymru and turned out to be a delightfully cheery wee thing to drive.

[nacho man]

It's Friday afternoon the vans using water and smoking like someone who wants a fag in stoptober. I have topped it up twice in ten miles, my water bottle is now empty.

 

Heaters on full whack and going slow.

 

Please lord don't let me konk out on a Friday afternoon.

 

10 mile to go

 

[nacho man]

I mean it's only done 367k what's its problem.

[Micrashed]

Today it stopped pissing it down long enough to whip the wheels off the Micrashed and pop on some chunky-wunky winter rubber.

 

The Yokohamas that have come off have done just over 9K miles and are coming to thwir end of life

 

 

Spotted some more rust that needs a quick fettle

 

Then went into college to find this is what my lad is working on....

 

 

And they get to play with one of these too...

 

Need to try and use the word "Cockwomble" in everyday conversation

[DS20]

I need new number plates for the DS, and am going to go for age-appropriate (it's a 1974 car) rivetted-plastic on aluminium - has anyone had any of these made up recently and happy to recommend where to go for them (equally welcome are recommendations of where not to use!).  Thankyouplease.  

[Micrashed]

Framptons, but they are expensive

 

http://www.pl8s.co.uk/RaisedRivetedBlack.html

[trigger]

I used Tippers last plates i bought for the Civic, They were the cheapest i could find and they look 100%, I think they cost £51 inc postage.

 

http://www.tippersvintageplates.co.uk/phdi/p1.nsf/supppages/tippers?opendocument&part=3

 

[DS20]

Thank you, Micrashed and Trigger, it's reassuring to have recommendations  I just can't bring myself to put post-2001-style plates on her.  It would be plain wrong.  

[trigger]

I agree, It's a major bug bare of mine seeing a nicely restored car with modern plates fitted.

[The Moog]

Servicing the Saab today.

 

Parts and fluids came to a reasonable £72. Pretty straight forward except I am waiting on the inlet gasket as the old one is toast.

 

The fuel filter was a pig to change as it was rusted to buggery. Ended up using a hack saw blade to cut the retaining clip. Took forever as had about 2cm of movement.

 

Ordered a brake fluid tester to check the fluid to see if it needs changing.

 

Going to try and fit the reversing sensors on Sunday and fix the heated rear screen which has stopped working.

[trigger]

I'm of to Kent shortly as I've been asked to display my Civic again for the BTCC finals at Brands Hatch this weekend, I'm still a bit nervous about driving down there, especially on the M25 is it has the habit of cutting out in heavy traffic, hopefully this time of day it should be a bit quieter by the time I get there.

 

I also parked next to this Accord this morning.

 

 

 

[Lacquer Peel]

Yep! 75000 in fact! This year it's had a new instrument panel and a fuel pump as well as new fuel filter housing and a number of other little things, it's cost me over £1000 in parts so far alone!

I'd be disappointed if a £500 car shat on me like that.

[Stroller133]

Our C-max went at about 80k, the 2nd one i bought had one at about 85k, mates went at about 85k too. We paid about £260 fitted at a mid/high priced independent garage. Ford Stealers ranged from about 280-450.

[trigger]

I've bought one this afternoon for £140 from the local motor factors, thankfully my old man's gonna fit it for me

[cort16]

That smart charging bollox just blows my mind with it's needless ness. I dunno if the focus is the same but when you get a new battery in a modern BMW you have to get the system recoded . Fuck off. !

[hairnet]

smart charge??

 

ford one is obv the village idiot

 

trig fix then ruuuuuunnnnnnnnn

[DS20]

It is, the BBC news website says, ten years since invalid carriages / Invacars were withdrawn from service: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/blogs-ouch-23061676 I rather miss seeing them trundling around, although given someone who drove them said 'I had a few go on fire on me', it's probably for the best that they're not on the road any longer.