The new news 24 thread

[wuvvum]

Just realised that the tax on the SVX runs out in 38 minutes' time. Best take it for one last legal blat then. Back in a bit.

[rml2345]

Had another go at the serpentine belt tightening on the "Leyland" Yaris with some success!

Celebrated this by swearing at the plastic bit of the rear bumper for a few hours, before finding out that the local scrappies had precisely 1 Toyotas (to the nearest whole number) and that Halfrauds don't sell number plate bulb holders. Mine is rather past it...

[wuvvum]

Well that was enjoyable.

 

Subaru now smells of hot brake pads and hot oil (it has the usual Subaru Boxer slight weep from the rocker covers). Been a while since I've driven it in anger, and it's definitely quicker than the Rover - not a lot in it up to 60 due to the SVX's lardy weight and autobox, but from 60 onwards and especially above 100 it's quite noticeably more rapid. More stable at those speeds too, and a lot of grip for a car its size. Sounds gorgeous at high revs as well. I'm going to have to hide the keys somewhere as if I keep driving it I'm going to end up deciding I don't want to sell it...

[Cavcraft]

Sorry it's an utterly dull car but I was actually chuffed to bits to get it yesterday. Have a dull write up before I take/load the pictures:

 

My daughter pointed out an 'advert' on Freecycle yesterday morning from someone who was offering a few small parts from an old Corsa as it was off to be scrapped this week.

This seemed a bit of a waste to me so I mailed the lady in question and said I'd offer the scrap price and a bit on top if she wanted, as it seemed madness to just see it weighed off.

Luckily the lady got back to me yesterday afternoon so my son and I rushed up to view it. The lady was brilliant and was chuffed it wasn't going to get scrapped as she was quite a 'green' person and we both agreed it was a right waste of a car. Seemingly it'd been her mother-in-law's from new and she gave it to her grandson when, at the age of 93, she decided to buy a brand new Hyundai!

She'd had a problem with the Corsa previously when the water pump packed it's bags and a local garage 'repaired' it for her by fitting anew headgasket and water pump etc. This 'repair' seemed to involve an awful lot of mastic for my liking so wasn't surprised to find the h/g had gone again.

Anyhow took my son up to view the car as he'll be doing the work on it and we couldn't believe how good it is under the dust and the odd pensioner related ding. Driver's door is terrible, not seen one this bad before but we'll try repairing it (Isopon!) before getting a replacement. It still has the factory wax stuff in the engine bay.

Got the head off yesterday afternoon to assess the damage/see what needs to be done and it has to be said it came off very easily, undoutably due to the fact it was off fairly recently. Even the exhaust studs didn't put up a fight!

Today we're going to strip the head (inlet manifold etc) and carry on cleaning up the top of the block. My lad thinks the headgasket had gone again because it was either fitted wrongly or upside down or that the garage hadn't bothered cleaning up properly before fitting the new one, quite possibly they couldn't be arsed scraping the original one off enough.

Doesn't look that good here but it's not been cleaned yet and is 'as bought' aside from the head being taken off:

 

 

Shit picture of shit door:

 

 

Not seen one this clean inside before...

 

But there's a reason for that, and here it is:

 

Yep, that's 38,000 from new!

 

It's a 1.4 Spazmatic and we drove it home which was a laugh with a blowing headgasket but it was only about nine miles or so. The lady kindly followed us back and then ran us back to her's to get the car we went up in and refused any fuel money!

 

Oh, did I mention it has about 6 months MOT and was taxed?

I know they're not desperately popular on here but we were absolutely made up to get it and couldn't wait to go and get it. Hats off to the lady who was selling it, it'd probably have been easier to just weigh it off and see the back of it but she agreed it was a waste of a car and she was really happy we saved it from the crusher.

It's been great for me too as I'm a mechanical chimp, so I got my lad to supervise whilst I stripped it down and got the head off which was quite an achievement for me. He did loads too though so it wasn't just me.

Head is going away for a crack test and skim this week and we'll get the headgasket set. Water pump still like new so that'll be saved and although the cam belt looks like it's hardly seen any action we'll replace that too to be on the safe side.

*Edit: she wouldn't take over what she'd been offered scrap for it so it cost us the princely sum of £150!

[cort16]

Cavette don't listen to the H8RZ. That's a result for 150 quid and it does seem a shame to bin even a corsa with such low mileage espcially given it's got t&t. It sounds like you're already half way there with the head .

 

In other news I rebuilt the brakes on the back of the sd1 after putting the half shaft back in and the cocking wheel cylinders now weeping out brake fluid.

They're not expensive but I bet the pipe will snap off when I go to change it. I did however get the back box on properly by sticking a couple of weld tacks on it and as it's been pissed around with so much in the past a clamp won't hold it on tight enough.

[vulgalour]

That Corsa is a bit of a bargain really, and you don't see many 5 door ones. With some TLC that could be a little stunner, especially if it's left alone and just cleaned and maintained to within an inch of its life.

[Lankytim]

It's tidy, taxed and tested and has 5 doors, the problems should be easy to fix, too. It's a bargain in my book!

[dollywobbler]

Aye. Looks great. I do like these - though I learnt to drive in several of them, which probably explains it. Felt like a bleedin' Rolls-Royce compared to my first car - a Mk2 Fezza (albeit a particularly shite one!).

 

Spent most of yesterday getting stuck in the Maverick. Spent the day trying to keep up with my mate in a Defender 110 with proper mud tyres on it. Unsurprisingly, a Maverick on all-terrains cannot keep up in the boggy stuff - mainly because Defenders on big tyres have created ruts that are too deep for my little Mav. Learnt a lot about recovery methods and at one stage, it took over two hours to clear a section all of about 200 yards long. Did get a bit wearing!

 

Have spent all of today so far cleaning the Maverick. I had two heaped cat litter tray's worth (well, the cat doesn't use it anymore...) of clay that I pulled out of the front end and I even had to wash out the rear drums - which weren't working at all. The level seems to have dropped and so I had to top up and bleed the rear brakes again. Now it actually stops! Hoping it was just an oversight after the front caliper job and that there isn't a leak. No way of spotting one while the underside was soaking wet and covered in mud.

 

Pics to follow later. I'm knackered!

[ashmicro]

That little Corsa looks pretty tidy, Sir William. Hard to go wrong at that money.

 

Today, I have been mostly cleaning up the paintwork on the Jaaaaaaag

 

 

T-Cunt Metallic, Autoglym Paintwork Renovator, then Meguiars 1,2 and 3. The car looked good before, but closer inspection showed a lot of swirliness and general gunge and shit in the paint. The pic doesn't really show it, but there's a real depth to the shine now, and the bodywork feels smooth to the touch. I reckon a lot of the muck on the car was due to the FAT BASTARD across the street not having had his chimney swept. Ever. Whenever he lights the fire it looks like a new Pope has been appointed.

[eddyramrod]

That looks like a right result Billy! Well spotted, well saved. OK, an old Corsa might be nothing to write home about but a save is a save, and it made a good story too. Let us know how it behaves when you've put it back together, won't you?

[Conrad D. Conelrad]

Corsa is a result indeed. I agree with the owner, I hate that so many repairable cars are scrapped (the majority even?) just because they're old and 'worthless'. Rich countries are so wasteful.

[greengartside]

TOP BOMBING, BILLY! That's bloody brilliant for the money. Heather Mills will be proud of you.

 

On a side-note, does anyone want my Peugeot 106 1.1? Taxed and tested and drives soup-erb, 5923646 MPG too. I can shower you with pictures if any of you are interested?

[Craig the Princess]

TOP BOMBING, BILLY! That's bloody brilliant for the money. Heather Mills will be proud of you.

 

On a side-note, does anyone want my Peugeot 106 1.1? Taxed and tested and drives soup-erb, 5923646 MPG too. I can shower you with pictures if any of you are interested?

 

No more cars for me but pics are alwasy good

[greengartside]

 

 

I'm looking for about 450 squid, or if anyone has a boring Focus or Zetec-S Fiesta they'd be willing to do a deal with then that'd be super smashing great.

[Cavcraft]

That's a very fair price for one of those, they do seem to command decent dollar and no mistaking. We got £270 for one with no MOT and lacquer peeling problems!

[wuvvum]

Managed to get out in the sunshine for a while this afternoon. Went for a walk after lunch, which was not something I'd done since about September last year. After that I refitted the fuel pump to carb fuel line on the DS (I'd taken it off as it was needed to help bleed the Merc when I ran it out of diesel) and fired it up - it took rather longer than usual to get to its feet, but then it hasn't been started for a couple of weeks.

 

Then I took the BMW for a good blast, which was most enjoyable, and made me even less keen to sell it. I think it might end up staying after all, and having some money spent on it to tidy it up and rustproof it as much as possible.

 

Both Citroëns are now on eBay; the current high bidder on the CX is the chap I bought my GTI Turbo from years ago. The SVX, 607 and 75 will probably be going on there in the near future. I'm still determined to cut the fleet right down - which will mean I'm going to have to stop looking at pics of Pete M's 604, as I feel my resolve weakening every time I see that car.

[dollywobbler]

I know you have the Tatra dream Wuv, but cutting the fleet down on focussing on some of the ones you already have seems very sensible. I'd certainly be wanting to keep the Beemer a bit longer if I were in your shoes, and I'm a certified Citroen-freak!

[Pete-M]

I'm going to have to stop looking at pics of Pete M's 604, as I feel my resolve weakening every time I see that car.

 

Reserve of plenty cheapness...... Phone is going friggin' mental, mind.

[trigger]

I seem to have a poorly Cortina, Arse, the car still seems to pull to the right badly under braking, it looks like my tie bar bushes have seen better days so I need to fit a new set and see if that helps.

 

 

but even worse after going out for a drive in it yesterday the steering started knocking quite badly, i got Mrs T to wiggle the steering whilst i looked underneath and found the track rod was loose inside the rubber gaiter.

 

 

Instead of the bar pulling in and out like it should it goes up and down, I think somethings broke on the rack so I've ordered a new one this morning from the local motor factors, £32.50 all in which isn't bad, Just need to change it now...

[vulgalour]

Do you know, I can't help thinking it would be more convenient for there to be a Direct Debit option for paying Road Tax. All this lump-sum nonsense makes it jolly hard work to keep road legal at times.

[Lord Sterling]

I have done absolutely nothing of interest to my cars apart from valet them:

 

Rowvah:

 

Moicra:

 

Whilst sort of helping out at the carwash where I take my cars I got the valet-kit out and tried something called glass-cleaner, its some sort of t-cut like substance that you wipe onto the windows, wait 'til it dries (almost as soon as you wipe it on) then wipe off, leaves the glass clean and very silky smooth.

 

Not sure what this stuff is called as it comes from ARC-IMO and its usually in a generic bottle, the stuff itself is light green in colour and smells/feels the same as T-cut. Wouldnt mind finding out what this stuff is called.

 

The Rover, to be honest need a good T-cut session, the paint isnt bad, though the top bits (Bonnet, roof and boot) feel a bit rough, the carpet needs a serious clean as do the original mats and the seats whilst protected with generic leather seat treatment stuff, does need a better clean.

 

The Micra needs a new wheel trim, the original one made a bid for freedom somewhere between here and Telford, I'd also like to find a Grey-coloured rear coin/ashtray, found one and fitted it, but its Beige:

 

 

Also found some cheap carpet samples in a scrapped Previa, used it to fit over the transmission tunnel.

[Conrad D. Conelrad]

Whilst sort of helping out at the carwash where I take my cars I got the valet-kit out and tried something called glass-cleaner, its some sort of t-cut like substance that you wipe onto the windows, wait 'til it dries (almost as soon as you wipe it on) then wipe off, leaves the glass clean and very silky smooth.

 

Not sure what this stuff is called as it comes from ARC-IMO and its usually in a generic bottle, the stuff itself is light green in colour and smells/feels the same as T-cut. Wouldnt mind finding out what this stuff is called.

 

I have a bottle of AutoGlym Car Glass Polish which is a pale green and behaves in the manner described. Might be worth a try.

[Lord Sterling]

Cheers Peter, must be the same stuff, will have a look at/buy that. Its a damn site lot better than normal house glass cleaner and old newspapers.

[vulgalour]

+1 on the Autoglym stuff. It shifted a lot of the seemingly ingrained dirt on the Princess windscreen and keeps the side windows lovely and clean. Something in the Autoglym stuff helps keep the rain moving as well so the screens sort of self-clean as you're going along... makes more sense when you see it in action.

[Shep Shepherd]

TV2 got a bath on the way home from work today, as it hadn't been washed for about five weeks:

 

 

I daresay that I'll be doing the same thing with The Volvo at some point this week

[ashmicro]

+2 on the Autoglym Car Glass polish. Be aware that when using it on the inside of the windows, it will create quite a bit of powder residue, so wait until you've used it before running the vacuum round the inside of the car. Very good stuff.

[barefoot]

Dropped my wallet on my way back from the pub & a bloke brought it back to me before I'd started to re-trace my steps.

Nature/Faith/Human - re-arrange etc.

 

& T2 off to fail MOT this morning.

I've not driven it since October & Id forgotten how bad they are.

Slow as shite & doesn't stop, noisy etc. etc.

Can't wait!

[MrDuke]

AshtrayVan had its final 'valet' from me over the weekend, now suitably gleaming and ready to fail the MOT this afternoon. Discovered yesterday after changing a headlight bulb that the sidelights are both non-functioning, and I can't face the physical injuries involved in changing any more bulbs. Maybe the garage (which I've never used before) will be nice and fix them for me. Or not.

Either way, the thing will be going on various newsagents' notice-boards this week, and possibly the Bay if I can be arsed.

[RobT]

Had a busy shite-related weekend. New bits on the BX include front brake pads that were relatively easy to do (now the handbrake lever no longer sits almost vertical!), new boot struts which was a tricky one-man job as plastic estate bootlids are flippin’ heavy, and an oil change. I’ve only done 2,000 miles since the last one but now that winter is over I figured it’s a good time to have a clear out.

 

On the Montego the exhaust blow has been doing my head in. On the slit where the two pieces join (middle to back box) water was dribbling out so the gum couldn’t harden as it was getting watered down. Cue a mega bodge – cable tie around part of the slit to block it off and then metal putty around the rest. Time will tell if it works long-term but the blow has stopped. Also, there was a new knock from the rear when on the move so thought I’d check the wheel nuts first off.. Good job I did as the ones on the rear NS were barely finger tight. I must have forgotten to tighten them the last time I was fettling the exhaust. So there you go folks, if you only do one thing this week check your nuts

 

Despite the potential for a wheel coming loose at 80 on the M25 yesterday I had a lovely drive out in the Monty, although the numerous mother funster tailgaters was annoying me a bit

[MK5 Escort]

Last Thursday I had to use the Escort for company business. The company A4 was in use elsewhere and one of our Transit’s broke down at Hartshead Moor services along the M62 on it's way to Whinmoor – the east end of Leeds. No spare vehicles to rescue what had to be delivered (fortunately only a couple of light boxes for that particular end user – and they had to get there), the manager with his company car was out and none of the girls in the office fancied a run out in their own cars. So, it was left to me. So, off I went on the proviso I get a full tank on fuel from the boss (which I did – used some if it yesterday!). He cheekily suggested he’ll get the AA to deal with the van and the Escort together when mine will probably breakdown at Hartshead Moor . So, I blasted off to Heartshead where I collected the boxes from the driver, nipped them to the end user (should have seen the look on goods-in faces when amongst the newish vans offloading was a 21 year old Escort). A round trip of 184.8 miles. Performed flawlessly – barring that 'dry' sounding third gear issue of course, which I’m still undecided what to do about… The first time the Escort had done more than about twelve miles without stopping/continuously since new year and barring getting to work that morning, the first time it had been used for about two weeks.

 

Yesterday, it went for a trip, with my father behind the wheel, across to the western shore of Llandudno yesterday. Along the A55 there for a cruise and then a potter back along the ever depressing A548 coast road with it’s relentless speed limit changes (low, to lower still, to ridiculous, to low…). A 95 mile round trip in glorious sunshine. Sunroof open, sunglasses on…

 

Autoglym – top stuff. Used to use it all time although it’s expensive. Still have various bottles of it in the ‘car washing bucket’ in the garage. These days I tend to use Greased Lightening’s ‘Showroom Shine’. For quick rainwater removal on windows, try Rainex. I’ve used it for the last four or five years and it works a treat. A bit smeary when it’s first applied though. Tends to keep the bug-splatters to a minimum too (easier cleaning next time…) but whether this is just co-incidence I don’t know…