The new news 24 thread

[The Moog]

Focus charge light came on twice over 6 miles.

 

Plugged in voltage reader and it seems to spike at 16v then switch light on then drop back to 12v then up again.

 

Does the smart charge system have any codes that can be read?

 

It's a brand new battery Bosch S4 which eurocarparts told me is the right one.

[Skizzer]

Today I finally had a go in this, which we bought a week ago as the new company vehicle for a friend's business that I'm involved with.

 

1999 Jeep Wrangler Sahara 4.0 by Skizzer, on Flickr

 

1999 Jeep Wrangler Sahara 4.0 by Skizzer, on Flickr

 

It's a surprisingly pleasing thing to drive.  It feels a lot less rattly and truck-like than I expected - in fact it's not rattly at all, and much more together than an equivalent Defender.  I'd hoped for slightly more yee-ha roar from the 4 litre six, but performance is perfectly adequate and it runs smoothly.  The steering is less vague than my Discovery's, although that's not saying much.  Brakes are great.  Hardtop is watertight and doesn't boom or rattle.  

 

This one has done 55k and is in excellent condition inside and out, including underneath.  It was one of the cheapest ones around, so I think we got ourselves a bit of a bargain (for a Wrangler that is - it was expensive by shite standards).  Depreciation should be fairly minimal, on a par with Defenders. 

 

Bad points?  The radio lacks a code, it tends to kangaroo in first from cold for some reason, the alloys could do with a refurb and there's either a bulb out or a dodgy connection in the indicator circuit.  Otherwise it's tippy top.

 

I thought it was going to be a bit hopeless as a car, but actually I really like it.

 

Naturally being a Chrysler Jeep product, it came with this:

 

Every Jeep should have one by Skizzer, on Flickr

[DeeJay]

Even if I don't like the car, your passenger seems to be fan.

I said it before and I'll say it again, we need a "groan" button.

[vulgalour]

I'd be worried about that extra fan hinting at an overheating issue, it's probably why it was laid up three years ago.

[seth]

Finally got around to some servicing/tinkering on the Herald today. It was long overdue and oil/filter change.  Wiper motor terminals often misbehave over winter so treated them to some appropriately aged vaseline.

 

[anonymous user]

 

which we bought a week ago as the new company vehicle

I'm just wondering what business requires a Jeep Wrangler as the company vehicle

[Lord Sterling]

Popped around to the bloke who owns this:

 

 

He phoned me after I flyposted his car a few weeks ago. We tried each others cars. It was nice to drive a well-sorted KV6 for once. His Rover sounded nice, sounded great and went well. It was very clean and seemingly looked after.

 

He and his brother also own these:

 

 

Vauxhall FB Victor, belonged to his father, last taxed and running in 1997.

 

 

Range Rover, apparently a rare 4.2 LSE Long wheel base. Runs on LPG. Owned by the chaps brother and a running project.

[320touring]

The octavia of much speed is not very well..

 

On the way to club GLF (drinks are free) It threw a major strop.

 

got it going again, and made it to Crail with no more trouble.

 

First run out it overboosted and hit limp mode. did it all day regardless of map, apart from when on stock map.

 

Onthe way home it got horrific to drive - so i pulled in and put it back to stock, which made it a bit better, but still laggy.

 

Popped some derv in and it behaved a bit better.

 

Thinking is that the fuel filter is clogged so it wasnt seeing enough fuel for the boost -will swap it out and see!

[vulgalour]

That's almost an F1 level excuse for poor on track performance

[320touring]

That's almost an F1 level excuse for poor on track performance

"for sure"

 

it glf'd in 1st and 2nd ok, then deid in 3rd:(

[barmatt]

I may have just worked out a deal on a range rover classic with gas :D

 

I can't wait to get back into a V8.

 

 

 

oh oh and it's a manual as well.

[Lord Sterling]

Also, whilst visiting the chap and his Rover Sterling today. We went to have a shufty at my collection. This weather and where the cars are being stored don't really mix well. I've made a couple of calls and decided that I will try to make an effort to get my G-reg Sterling on the road.

[Lacquer Peel]

The octavia of much speed is not very well..

 

On the way to club GLF (drinks are free) It threw a major strop.

 

got it going again, and made it to Crail with no more trouble.

 

First run out it overboosted and hit limp mode. did it all day regardless of map, apart from when on stock map.

 

Onthe way home it got horrific to drive - so i pulled in and put it back to stock, which made it a bit better, but still laggy.

 

Popped some derv in and it behaved a bit better.

 

Thinking is that the fuel filter is clogged so it wasnt seeing enough fuel for the boost -will swap it out and see!

 

Have you ever changed the fuel filter before?

[Skizzer]

I really have to ask what kind of business requires one of these?

 

Regarding the kangaroo situation, my car does something similar and I was told that one (or more ) of the hydraulic lifters will be leaking and thus sticking when cold.

Other than tearing the top of the engine to pieces to fix a minor issue, a small blip of the the throttle (500rpm or so) before pulling a way seems to get rid of the issue.

 

Thanks, that sounds like a very good fit to the symptoms.

 

The business is to do with sport and fitness training.  It didn't necessarily have to be a Wrangler, but it will sometimes have to carry kit off road, and it helps being a bit distinctive (vinyl graphics to come).  A Discovery, Cherokee or something would also have done the job, but a decent low mileage one would have cost much the same.

[Richard]

I managed to get a code for this today. Three disc changer in the dash and 6 disc changer in the boot for maximum pointlessness.

 

 

No sound unfortunately, apparently you have to connect it to an amplifier, even though there is a place on the unit to plug the speakers in.

[320touring]

Have you ever changed the fuel filter before?

It has just been done in the pissing rain..

 

I'll fire another map on it tomorrow and see how she goes:)

[Craig the Princess]

Oil change done on the Rover coupé.

Even bought a little note book for the glove box to write that sorry of thing in because I have no idea when I last did it.

 

Only slight hiccup was leaving the oil filter claw at home while I was doing the change at beige1100's house so had to run home in the LDV van to get it. Twat.

[xtriple]

Just been looking at a Rolls Royce! It's been on eBay/Autotrader for ages at £4K and was in Torquay so it seemed I may as well. Turned out to be a part timer who last had a big Yankee wagon for sale that I drove passed a dozen times.

 

This poor old Spirit is absolutely hanging!

 

Not a decent panel on it,paint ruined, interior trashed and when started... ooh dear! Brake pressure warnings don't go out but 'they all do that' quoth the seller it did have whitewall tyres though.

[The Moog]

I am close to resorting to using fire to fix this smart charging system on the focus.

 

It had a new S4 Bosch battery at the weekend which cured the disco light but now the alt is charging the battery up to 16v and putting on the battery light.

Not only that but is is misfiring when smart charge is plugged in, also it is causing the car to stall. It doesn't need a new IACV as that seems to be a symptom of the charging issue. 

 

Reading around it seems jump starting it causes issues and guess what I did when I test drove it!  It also had the wrong type of battery in it which I dont think helped. 

 

So I need to replace the alternator (i think) or alternatively leave smart charge unplugged but carry a boost starter pack just in case. 

[dave21478]

I would unplug the smartcharge nonsense and get a wee voltmeter to keep an eye on things - IIRC the last Kit Thread had one that plugs into the fag lighter for a couple of quid.

[The Moog]

I would unplug the smartcharge nonsense and get a wee voltmeter to keep an eye on things - IIRC the last Kit Thread had one that plugs into the fag lighter for a couple of quid.

Yep got one plugged in already, hence knowing it was playing silly buggers. That was £2 well spent.

 

Will 13.6v be enough to keep it charged?

[Bear]

Yes. But check the relays, like I said earlier in the thread. Not saying that the alternator isn't trashed, but they're the cheap and easy bit to go through.

[dollywobbler]

What a shitty day weather wise. Haven't managed to find out why the slider size is coming up as the wrong one on the XM (Have spoken to two different companies now), but did managed to cancel my Mytyres order for Nippa rubber. Useless twats. I've gone mad and ordered a full set of winters from Tyreleader instead, who it seems actually do have the tyres in stock.

 

Bashed my way through some work, then distracted myself after finding I'd never got around to finishing this video.

 

Gosh that thing is awesome.

 

EDIT - new video link with better sound.

[Coprolalia]

I have to say I really enjoy your v-logs. Unassuming and relaxed presenting style excelling itself.

 

You are an antithesis to Clarkson et al, and it's very much welcomed.

[anonymous user]

Just been looking at a Rolls Royce! Not a decent panel on it,paint ruined, interior trashed and when started... ooh dear! Brake pressure warnings don't go out but 'they all do that' quoth the seller it did have whitewall tyres though.

Don't tell me, you bought it and it's already in the paint shop

[purplebargeken]

Yep, he's out catching cows as we speak

[loserone]

Gosh that thing is awesome.

 

Great video, and now once again I'm looking at badly painted amis with no MOT and full of wob on ebay.  

 

Wonder if they'll swap for a pretzel.

[twosmoke300]

Ref the focus smart charge probs check the loom that goes to the 3 pin plug on the alt . They used to have probs with the wires breaking or rubbing and getting corroded inside .

[stuboy]

Repaid favour to gf's father letting me use his press to do my wheel bearings, he wanted plates welded on to a frame so wheels can be added for mobile work bench, had bit of mare with conductivitt being galvenised

[fordperv]

This evening I have been prepping the centre caps from mrs fp's wheels for paint, they were bloody rough, the wheels got powdercoated so the centres couldn't be done, anyway I could have got a brand new set for £32 but I would have still have to paint them so it was worthwhile to sort these ones

 

This is how they started, the gouges were really deep

 

 

After a bit of time with the wet and dry paper they looked nice and crisp again

 

I dusted the top right one as I wanted to check the colour match of the paint against the wheels, my local paint shop did me the can to match the powdercoated wheel I took up but I wanted to be certain

 

 

I'm planning on painting and lacquering tomorrow