The new news 24 thread

[HMC]

Had the water pump off the P4 and just when I though it was going without a hitch one of the tired old bolts  sheared off in the block. After a bit of stareing at the snapped bolt, almost flush in the block, I decided to sleep on it.

Back the following day I got my mig out, and had a go at sorting it. I'm still very much a novice with the welder, I built up some weld on the sheared bolt and then welded that to a different bolt.

 

 

Maybe the heat helped too, and with a sigh of relief that is at least another step forward. Plus for a novice it felt good to get myself out of trouble.

[spike60]

If you can build a little tit of weld on the broken bolt putting a nut over it then filling it with weld usually works for me. Same idea.

[HMC]

^ TBH that sounds a better idea, good tip thanks

[derskine]

Okay update on the 18.

Got home from work and tried to start it, battery dead.

Charged battery but still wouldn't energise starter solenoid.

Nisfan brought round a hefty battery and we fitted that, it cranked over okay but still wouldn't start.

We tried putting a heat gun in the inlet manifold, still wouldn't start.

Tried putting easy start in, still nothing, it very nearly starts but doesn't quite get there.

I'm totally stumped, diesels are new to me, and this is the first time this one has really gone wrong.

 

Its stuck parked in one of my neighbour's spaces and I really need to move it asap.

Plus side the polo is here and working.

[Wackeldackel]

What dollywobbler said

 

Might be a primer bulb somewhere or a spring loaded button under fuel filter. Perhaps crack open an injector, pump the primer see that diesel is reaching the injectors? If theres air in the lines this will also help get it out

[derskine]

I opened the bleed nipple on the fuel filter and pressed the manual pump lever down and was presented with a spurt of diesel.

I'll check at the injectors though.

[wuvvum]

Try towing it round the block in second gear.  That's usually enough to get old diesels running in my experience.

[derskine]

I'll give that a shot as someone else also suggested that, I just need to get it running so I can get it to the unit to work on it/not obstruct anyone's parking.

[320touring]

Try towing it round the block in second gear. That's usually enough to get old diesels running in my experience.

worked a treat on my polo after a fuel filter change

[barrett]

This should come as a surprise to no one here, but people with old cars really are impossible prats to deal with.

Why would you dick around if you're selling a car? Just take my money you miserable old anus.

[derskine]

Will definitely give that a try tomorrow, hope it starts!

[quicksilver]

Wasn't sure where to put this but I've settled on here as it's more of a 'WTF?' than a grin or grump. Bought a model through BIN on ebay on Saturday afternoon because it was the cheapest one of its type. It arrived at lunchtime today, very impressive delivery speed but it really confused me as it was in an Amazon box with an Amazon delivery note and no mention of ebay at all. Even weirder, when I clicked on the listing I found the seller has now increased the price by almost 150% turning it from the cheapest into one of the most expensive items! I've checked I was only charged the original price but that seems a ridiculous hike, although prices on these are all over the place, anywhere from £10 to £30. Strangely there's a load listed on ebay UK in sterling with £9 postage that turned to be in Germany - these models are distributed by a UK company so why would anyone pay that much to reimport one from Germany when they're readily available in the UK? Ebay can be a very strange place...

[TimothyClaypole]

Normally if you have no stock of something to save cancelling the listing I think. Check some other stuff that's £999.00 etc.

[quicksilver]

Normally if you have no stock of something to save cancelling the listing I think. Check some other stuff that's £999.00 etc.

Good thought but doesn't seem to be the case here. It says 1 sold (to me) and 3 available - the new price isn't ridiculously excessive (it's gone from ~£8 to ~£19) and there are more expensive ones so I don't think that's the reason. I reckon he must have lost money on selling it to me for £8 with free express postage but that's a big hike just to cover postage costs.

[MrDuke]

it really confused me as it was in an Amazon box with an Amazon delivery note and no mention of ebay at all.

 

I believe Jakebullet on here has had people selling his eBay stuff on (for £more) via an Amazon a/c, so it's very probably happening the other way round, too. If so, it could be that Amazon have bumped up their price, and the eBay seller is compensating.

[cobblers]

Aye, I've ordered a couple of things off ebay and they have turned up in amazon packets. 

[stuboy]

perfect couple

italian and my name

[The Moog]

405 returned with new rear flexis and brake pipes fitted. Apparently they were a proper bastard and new swear words had to be introduced. They were so rusted the guy took it back to the compensator and changed them from there. Wasnt as bad as the 406 they had in last week for same job which in the end they just ran complete new brake lines front to back as they had rusted to buggery

 

3 hours labour plus flexis etc came to £110 so not too bad. 

 

Downsides - compensator spring is rusted through so i need to work out if I can replace that and more importantly there was a puddle of rain water in the passengers side.  

I know the windscreen surround is slowly returning to orange crumbly earth but up to now it has been water tight. When I get a chance on thursday i am going to whip out the passenger seat and see if I can get to the bottom of it. 

 

It is starting to get to the niggly point where there are a load of jobs that need doing but really it could do with a full overhaul. Central locking has decided to give up the ghost so I have just taken to leaving it open.  

[drum]

Evel Knievel not welcome here.

 

[Richard]

What's the latest news on the fate of the Gairie Works?

[drum]

What's the latest news on the fate of the Gairie Works?

The building in the photo is empty but the rest of the factory still operates on a much reduced work force and no night shift. No sign of the supermarket that was supposed to fill the void.

Kirrie man?

[derskine]

Still not got the big green French bitch running.

Too much snow to tow it so tonight I'm going to take a look at the diesel filter (It's only 5000 miles old or something), make sure there's fuel in the filter if it's okay, bleed it up and bleed the injectors too and fingers crossed it starts because it's really annoying me!

 

[castros_bro]

Latest news from 1936

[alf892]

Still not got the big green French bitch running.

Too much snow to tow it so tonight I'm going to take a look at the diesel filter (It's only 5000 miles old or something), make sure there's fuel in the filter if it's okay, bleed it up and bleed the injectors too and fingers crossed it starts because it's really annoying me!

Did you check the heater plugs for actual operation?

 

With indirect injection you can have much fuel as you like......... it ain't gonna go without heat. Towing and sensible amounts of easy start don't help either (ether?).............

[trigger]

I've gained a diesel Vauxhall Zafira a few days ago to try and sell for my wife's Auntie, It's the first time I've driven one of these and I'm not sure what to make of it.

 

They are easy to drive and quite comfortable, the gear lever feels a little low down for my liking and it feels a bit open, the engine pulls well though but it's vibrates/drones a lot when pulling in 1st and 2nd, It's like a taxi really. I'd imagine if the government made all the young girls drive one whilst warning them of teenage pregnancy and what they could end up with it would make them celibate for life. 

 

It was really grubby when they dropped it off the other night but she gave me £20 to get it cleaned so i ran it down the local car wash who in fairness done a great job of it for £18.

 

 

I wouldn't want to do that job all day long in this weather, I've took some nice photos and put it up on Gumtree for now, I suspect i'll get fucked around a fair bit, especially as the MFD doesn't light up and one of the rear wheel arches are bubbling inside the door but if someones after a cheap workhorse or dogging wagon then it's alright. I doubt anyone on here would be interested but if you are I'll let it go for £900 (133k, Full history, mot August etc etc.).

 

 

 

[cobblers]

Some time ten years ago:

"I know, I'll spend £500+ on the wheels that will look fantastic on my Zafira"

[steve_earwig]

My bro has a Zaf, I think it's a later version with the self-blocking diesel engine . I've driven it a couple of times over here and it is quite nice to drive, the only thing I didn't like about it was the huge windscreen pillars, coupled with the quarterlight frames I reckon they could quite easily hide something the size of a motorcycle or woman with a pushchair from view. I'm not sure if it's a RHD car on LHD roads thing but I found it quite annoying.

[cort16]

I'm sorry to hear about your gain. Those wheels are thunderously shite.

 

You should sell it okay though they seem to quite popular old crates. I worry if I owned one I'd keep trying to get into my tumble dryer and drive to work.

[trigger]

It has all the charisma of a Hotpoint i must say! The alloys were on it then they bought it 4 years ago. I thought they looked shit too, even the steel wheels with trims would look smarter IMHO.

[cort16]

I had someone and come and check out my CL at lunchtime. He made me and offer but I turned him down. It wasn't a terrible offer but I think the car's worth more. I wonder how long until I regret doing that?