The new news 24 thread

[AlabamaShrimp]

Tried to fix the big hole in my exhaust

 

 

 

About an hour of bodging with paste then one of those stupid bandages and it looked lovely. Very quite on start up and idling so took it for a gental drive at which point it blew an even bigger hole....

 

Took it to the garage down the road who can get me the new back bit for about £55. He changed his mind then said you get it direct from our suppliers so he put me on (they're getting it for Monday at £36) bring it in when we're not busy and he'll stick it on for a tenner to save me lying on the floor (it's only two bolts) which is very nice .

 

Shows you what having an argument with him last year but being the bigger people and apologising can do as this is now the second or third thing they've done.

[egg]

Autoaid are transferring ownership to another insurance broker, just had a letter today. In theory looks like nothing will be changing.

[andy18s]

Tried to fix the big hole in my exhaust

 

IMG_20160408_115415.jpg

 

IMG_20160408_115443.jpg

 

About an hour of bodging with paste then one of those stupid bandages and it looked lovely. Very quite on start up and idling so took it for a gental drive at which point it blew an even bigger hole....

 

Took it to the garage down the road who can get me the new back bit for about £55. He changed his mind then said you get it direct from our suppliers so he put me on (they're getting it for Monday at £36) bring it in when we're not busy and he'll stick it on for a tenner to save me lying on the floor (it's only two bolts) which is very nice .

 

Shows you what having an argument with him last year but being the bigger people and apologising can do as this is now the second or third thing they've done.

Another GSF sale this weekend........

 

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[Mr_Bo11ox]

Automatic are transferring ownership to another insurance broker, just had a letter today. In theory looks like nothing will be changing.

Thanks for sharing

[xtriple]

I have just been to visit the dollop while she is away at the 'spa'. All done and will be ready to collect tomorrow, just waiting for the valeter to come and clean and wax her and clean her inside and out.

I have to say, after all my fears and trepidations about getting more paintwork done, he (John) has done an excellent job! He under-promised and over-delivered which is so rare these days. He has done more than we agreed (removed a few little chips from here and there and sorted out where the bonnet has been badly fitted at some point and scraped the inside of the wing) and I am impressed.
He was even saying how easy the job had gone after all HIS fears and trepidations about the job! Paint match is perfect: not just really close, spot on/perfect. He even mixed up an extra litre for future reference.

So, if you need paintwork doing: 'car cosmetics' in Torquay, speak to John and DON'T say Dave sent you!

 

The front bumper is still being a twat, just doesn't want to fit properly anymore but then it has been hit three times to my certain knowledge  (while parked outside FFS!) so maybe a bracket has been bent or something? But, at least it's now solid and a lot closer than it was so progress.

 

In other news; been and got my door trim from Mazda, seems to have the clips included.... and when I got home, my new Halfords stereo has arrived. So, do I go out and fiddle with the Mazda or sit and watch the Moto GP?

[Anglevan]

This is a mate of mines

 

http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&id=162027480567&alt=web

 

I don't know the car but I know he's pretty handy

Thanks for sharing but he's just turned 21 so is looking for a 318/320 max.

[Kiltox]

Off to collect a boring Corsa from the same auctions I bought the shite Panda from - wish me luck

[RayMK]

Initially mentioned in the Grump thread.  Went outside to check the 205's coolant bottle now that the engine has cooled after the earlier run.  The level is fine, but there is obviously more of the sludge in circulation because the water is now looking slightly mucky.  Another flush after tomorrow's driving will probably be necessary.

 

At about 3-50pm today, I heard a hefty double BOOM which rattled the windows.  Did anyone else hear it?  Sounded like a sonic boom to me.  Maybe the Russians are testing our reaction times again.

[loserone]

Thanks for sharing

 

I think he meant AutoAid - the AS favourite breakdown recovery insurance.  Same letter here today

[Kiltox]

I think he meant AutoAid - the AS favourite breakdown recovery insurance. Same letter here today

Yep - doubt it'll make any difference to the customer mind

[cms206]

Think I've just managed to bag another 406... metallic blue S-reg 1.9LXDT estate with 117k on the clock. MOT failure like mine, needs both sills plated and a fan switch for the demisters. Hopefully hear back soonish about it 'cos I really need* another XUD powered 406LX estate.

[anonymous user]

A fail to proceed with the Land Rover today, it must like me, as I would have been in the shit if it had happened yesterday when towing. Nothing major, just the points had closed up again, resulting in popping, banging, back-fires and no power. Stupid me had taken out the screwdrivers, pliers, etc. that were in there yesterday so I called the RAC. RAC patrolman turned up an hour later, looked at points, removed them to clean them up and promptly lost them in his van.

 

He was very quick to bugger off after that, even though I told him that the garage I go to had them in stock (six miles away). No I had to wait an hour and a half for a recovery truck to take me to the garage. Garage were great and said they'd do it straight away (If they'd given me a screwdriver I could have done it myself). Went and had a cup of coffee and it was done when I came back (condenser replaced at the same time). I am considering changing to electronic ignition, although it would make just as much sense to keep a spare set of points/condenser and a screwdriver in the car.

 

The annoying thing is that when I checked my email when I got home I had received a copy of the RAC customer service* form advising me that it was recorded as a distributor fault. I tried to ring customer service and was on hold for half an hour before being cut off, rang back to the recorded message that the office was closed.

[Supernaut]

Think I've just managed to bag another 406... metallic blue S-reg 1.9LXDT estate with 117k on the clock. MOT failure like mine, needs both sills plated and a fan switch for the demisters. Hopefully hear back soonish about it 'cos I really need* another XUD powered 406LX estate.

I'll have it for a knock-down price once you've done all the hard work.

[Lacquer Peel]

I'll buy it too

[Kiltox]

Note to self - when you look at a bunch of the same model of car at auction, carefully track which is which

 

This Corsa isn't as good as I thought it was..... but it's not Panda bad either and I'm halfway home

[xtriple]

Just fitted my new stereo in the Maz. Totally destroyed the old Sony cassette player getting it out!  It has adaptors for a double din into a single din (didn't know that or I would have got a double din jobby) and everything screws into the side of the stereo itself. Ho hum...

 

New one is in and works nicely. Need to download some destructions as it didn't come with any.

[egg]

^^

 

apologies for the autoaid automatic autocorrect disaster earlier!

 

[RayMK]

Sonic boom confirmed. ref. my earlier comment.  Typhoon jets intercepted an unresponsive private jet.  Communications with it were re-established and it was escorted to its destination, Cardiff airport.

[DodgyBastard]

I'll buy it too

Fancy a xantia instead?

 

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[LC Torana]

A fail to proceed with the Land Rover today... Nothing major, just the points had closed up again...

 

I'm finding that on modern (i.e. cheap Chinese) points, the little nylon nubbin that the cam engages with to bump the points open is made of too soft a material and wears away to the extent that the points just don't open.

 

The solution?

 

I scour swap meets for new-old-stock Bosch points.

[dollywobbler]

Had an utterly, utterly horrible drive from Sussex to Devon yesterday. Traffic almost all of the way. Parked in Sidmouth to catch up with a friend and the cooling fans were running after I turned off. A bit of relay wiggling sorted it out. BECAUSE FRENCH. 

[mercrocker]

I'm finding that on modern (i.e. cheap Chinese) points, the little nylon nubbin that the cam engages with to bump the points open is made of too soft a material and wears away to the extent that the points just don't open.

 

The solution?

 

I scour swap meets for new-old-stock Bosch points.

 

This is exactly the reason I switched to electronic.   I don't necessarily think its better but it seems to contain 100pc more reliable componentry.   I have even found these foreign crap points in Lucas boxes at jumbles so that is no guarantee these days, either.  

[fordperv]

I'm finding that on modern (i.e. cheap Chinese) points, the little nylon nubbin that the cam engages with to bump the points open is made of too soft a material and wears away to the extent that the points just don't open.

 

The solution?

 

I scour swap meets for new-old-stock Bosch points.

Exactly the reason I put one of those little powerspark electronic units in my mates cortina, the cheaply made points and condensers kept failing

[Lacquer Peel]

Fancy a xantia instead?

 

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I do actually, just need to punt the van through an MOT and sell it to generate some cash.

[DodgyBastard]

I do actually, just need to punt the van through an MOT and sell it to generate some cash.

Ooh what kind of van is it?

 

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[Lacquer Peel]

Ooh what kind of van is it?

 

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Mk2 Caddy TDI

[LC Torana]

Couldn't agree less.

 

I had an electronic ignition module in my car once, too.

 

WHEN it inevitably failed and stranded me by the side of the road, I threw it away and put the points back in.

 

I am much more confident in the car now.

[Ghosty]

rimz_yo collectificated.

 

 

They're Antera Style 123 (yes, there are 4).

 

Tyres are scrap (two Contis down to the cords and been run on stupid camber, one Goodyear Excellence with a cut in the sidewall, and one good Goodyear) - but even if they were good they're 50 profile (225/50/17!) and don't look like they'll fit, so 45s (correct profile) will probably be going on in time (Old Man seems to have got confused as he was all-out refusing to before - but if 50s won't fit, ha I win) - it's going to be properly stance_yo. Whoops.

 

Quattro decals are coming off and they'll be repainted silver in time too.

Had a quick look, they'll look good on the car.

[Fat_Pirate]

After much faff, swearing, and removal of 40% of the stuff in the engine bay, I finally got the (cracked) exhaust manifold off the Berlingo.  I don't suppose anyone has one going spare, do they?  1.6 16V petrol engine of 2003 vintage, found in everything PSA of that period.  Else I've got the same amount of work removing one from a scrapyard tomorrow...

 

 

[John F]

The Series 2a was earning its keep today, lugging concrete slabs as a greenhouse base for miss F's new allotment