The new news 24 thread

[stuboy]

Took a few more photos of the Transit - here it is in all its minging glory.DSC_0589.JPG

 

DSC_0588.JPG

 

DSC_0583.JPG

 

DSC_0582.JPG

 

Flashing beacon works, which is nice.

 

 

This arch had to be gaffer taped up for the MOT cos sharp edges - tape has since gone.

 

DSC_0584.JPG

 

 

Anyone know what this is for?

 

DSC_0581.JPG

 

 

Engine.  All nice and shiny, but looks "different" somehow.  I'm no expert on these, but this isn't how I remember Transit engines looking.  It's definitely a DI though - nothing else makes that sound - and it pulls the van along quite happily so I don't suppose it really matters.

 

DSC_0580.JPG

Look underneath sliding rear door for copper tank

[stuboy]

Friend and excollegue saw me and followed me too say hi..

[wuvvum]

This happened to me a couple of weeks ago and the BMW got towed away. Had evil thoughts about removing the clamp but throught that would land me in even more shite. I did get it back but had to pay £242, I'd already paid the tax the day before, even so, it still got clamped and towed.

Surely you can challenge it then?  If the DVLA clamp and tow a taxed car, it's their fuckup, and there's no reason why you should be out of pocket for it.  It's not your fault the DVLA computers take fucking ages to update.

[Kiltox]

Even a £0 tax car needs to be "taxed" yearly I think!

[trigger]

Now that's a smart looking Mk5!

[MarvinsMom]

Friend and excollegue saw me and followed me too say hi..

 

that philip glenister is taller in real life than what he looks like on the telly.....

 

maybe the Quatro was been serviced?

[danthecapriman]

That Cortina is nice, looks really tidy.

[seth]

I really, really, hope that this is the beginnings of a little cycle-car, preferably with a wickerwork body and brass headlights

 

Well, probably. But I've not really considered having any bodywork so I'll leave that for when/if it becomes mobile and it certainly wouldn't warrant more than a single headlight.

[wuvvum]

I took both Transit vans to my favourite stretch of bypass this evening for some "performance testing".  Interestingly, although the newer van feels subjectively quite a bit quicker to drive, against the clock it's only a second and a half quicker to 60 (23.5 seconds against 25 for the DI).  The DI is lower geared, which I suppose helps its case.  The difference is more noticeable when overtaking though - I suppose that's where the turbo diesel's superior torque comes into play. 

 

I also hadn't noticed until I had them side by side how much bigger the Mk6 is in the back.  The vans are quite similar in size, but the DI's floor is a lot higher (because RWD) so the load volume is quite a lot smaller.

 

I still can't decide which to keep.

[chodweaver]

I thought, having bought some new plugs and an air filter, plus some 'crud-be-gone' fuel additive for the catalyser, it was time to figure out the enormity of the task of getting the Presidential Renner's emissions back in line with current regs and a new MOT being likely
 
And they are so far out, I hadn't realised that the target figures were already on the emissions test results sheet.
 
So here, for your amusement, are the results:

 

 

*Identity of my tame MOT tester has been redacted to protect the innocent

 

Yes, the CO is 33 times greater than the limit at fast idle, while the HC is 12.5% over.

 

Oh dear. How is this engine even running? Will one bottle of crud-be-gone be enough? Or is this total cat failure? Only time will tell...

[twosmoke300]

That emissions read out is a car running crazy rich - no treatment will help that . 

Id put money on a coolant temp sensor or maf ( if it has one ) fault or maybe a misfire.

 

Its not a cat failure at the mo but it may have poisoned it if its been running like that for ages

Typical cat failure is a "just fail " of about 0.5% CO

[dave21478]

I thought my Pandas emissions were bad.....Im surprised it didnt set fire to the guys exhaust probe.

[Guest Hooli]

I took both Transit vans to my favourite stretch of bypass this evening for some "performance testing".  Interestingly, although the newer van feels subjectively quite a bit quicker to drive, against the clock it's only a second and a half quicker to 60 (23.5 seconds against 25 for the DI).  The DI is lower geared, which I suppose helps its case.  The difference is more noticeable when overtaking though - I suppose that's where the turbo diesel's superior torque comes into play. 

 

I also hadn't noticed until I had them side by side how much bigger the Mk6 is in the back.  The vans are quite similar in size, but the DI's floor is a lot higher (because RWD) so the load volume is quite a lot smaller.

 

I still can't decide which to keep.

Keep the RWD one, you'll thank me with the huge grin when it snows/rains/gets slightly damp etc.

[HillmanImp]

it'll be dealt with in a nice reasonable way

I used to work as a tax officer about 15yrs ago for a couple of years and used to apply the rule that if someone rang up and was reasonable I would sort them out, even bending the rules as much as I could to assist them as if they were nice to me I would be nice to them.

 

On the other hand, if they rang up giving me shit I used to go out of my way to totally bum them for every penny I could and make the process as painfull as possible for them. If they were total arseholes I would even refer them up to the inspectors for an audit investigation to really wind them up.

 

Sadly when I have problems, either I never get someone with the same outlook as me or I must come across as a right cock on the phone when I don't mean to be, as I seem to get absolutely dicked by everyone at every organisation I deal with.

[chodweaver]

That emissions read out is a car running crazy rich - no treatment will help that . 

Id put money on a coolant temp sensor or maf ( if it has one ) fault or maybe a misfire.

 

Its not a cat failure at the mo but it may have poisoned it if its been running like that for ages

Typical cat failure is a "just fail " of about 0.5% CO

 

Would a lot of oil getting into the combustion chamber give the same values?

 

Sent from my GT-S5830i using Tapatalk 2

 

 

[Barry Cade]

Hydrocarbons aren't too bad so I'd rule out a missfire,or oil burning. Something is causing it to go rich, coolant temp sensor as mentioned, or I've seen Lambda sensors doing this on Renners. Can you get a diagnostic machine on it, even a cheap hand held one can tell you if the Lambda is switching properly. Inlet air leaks also can give a crazy reading like this as the lambda sensor tries to compensate for the really lean mixture.

[Supernaut]

Hello from Wengen. Not spotted any chod yet, but check out the view from the balcony!

 

[MarvinsMom]

Hydrocarbons aren't too bad so I'd rule out a missfire,or oil burning. Something is causing it to go rich, coolant temp sensor as mentioned, or I've seen Lambda sensors doing this on Renners. Can you get a diagnostic machine on it, even a cheap hand held one can tell you if the Lambda is switching properly. Inlet air leaks also can give a crazy reading like this as the lambda sensor tries to compensate for the really lean mixture.

when the jaguar had a cracked exhaust manifold, that too caused the lambda thing to get all squiffy and have the car over fuel itself, and run really rich.

[dugong]

Went on a training course with a colleague; discovered afterwards said facility had a large, empty gravel car park. 

 

 

It was a rubbish training course and we hope we're not asked back.

[320touring]

good effort!

 

sometimes the simplest things in life are the best. RWD plus gravel =joy!

[dugong]

good effort!

 

sometimes the simplest things in life are the best. RWD plus gravel =joy!

It needs about a quarter throttle to do that. Live axle + 170lb/ft = DIRFT.

[dollywobbler]

I'm up to 1100 miles in 9 days in the XM now. I'm getting fed up with having to actually put fuel in it. Today, on a very twisty drive towards Coventry, I decided to see whether Sports mode makes any difference to the suspension. I reckon it actually does now all the spheres are behaving. Definitely firmer in the corners. 

 

I have nowhere to be for a few days, so the poor thing can have a rest at last.

[twosmoke300]

It needs about a quarter throttle to do that. Live axle + 170lb/ft = DIRFT.

Chevette drifted just as easily - wonder if there is any connection ? 😄

[billyboy406v6]

Its easier to drift a company car rather your own ! Fact !!!!!

[320touring]

It needs about a quarter throttle to do that. Live axle + 170lb/ft = DIRFT.

It looks happy doing it- were they ever rallied(even privateered)?

 

With a wee bit more than that it was hard work not to diff the 335i to buggery in the shitefest carpark..

 

a most engaging passtime:)

[fordperv]

Chevette drifted just as easily - wonder if there is any connection ? 😄

Please no one mention potential axle upgrades

[vulgalour]

Don't be silly, the Chevette axle won't fit a Piazza.

[twosmoke300]

Are you sure ? If heard it was a straight swap !

[cort16]

I saw someone trying to drift a Vectra c around a busy round about tonight. I wondered wtf he was doing as it had the classic Vectra C cornering pose until he pulled the handbrake on. By the looks of it I don't think drift works will be stocking custom adjustable Vectra camber arms any time soon.

[Richard]

I can remember when it was something of an achievement not to drift on a wet roundabout.