The new news 24 thread

[stripped fred]

Today's news, used my mr2 as I'm trying to use it once a week at least when the weather's nice. Came off the motorway and the revs stayed at 2.5/3k. Pulled over to have a look and found a rubber grommet had come loose and was getting caught in the mechanism. Put grommet back where it should be, easy fix!

 

Girlfriend told me someone advised her a brake light wasn't working on her car, last week! OK, couldn't for the life of me see how to get to the bulb on a new beetle but one YouTube video later, all sorted. On to the next job... The bracket on the rear fog lamp has been broken for some time which results in it hanging a bit loose. I have a replacement lamp but it's off a left-hand drive car so the lens is clear. Recently found some red led bulbs of the correct size, £3.24 delivered from Hong Kong for two of them. Fitted the new bulbs and replacement lamp. All good apart from I don't think it's bright enough. It will do for now. In the meantime I used some gorilla glue on the old lamp to see if I can fix it. It's strange stuff. Needs water to work and them swells up. I've left it overnight so i'll see if it's worked in the morning.

 

Finally, prompted by another thread I bought a coolant tester and a brake fluid tester recently so have been testing my cars lately. They were pretty cheap off amazon and I'm impressed. Coolant needs changing on my 406 as only 2 of the 5 balls floated but fine on the other cars. All cars came back with brake fluid amber meaning OK but change soon. That would make sense as none of them have been done recently.

[xtriple]

Decided in my infinite wisdom/OCD/stupidity that the rad cap in the dollop is faulty. No, I don't know why I think this either but having had the thought, it has stuck in the brain thing and so a new one needs to be acquired...

 

Having winced at the price from flying spares I have Googled and searched for alternative part numbers everywhere I can think of. I have just bought the one from Flying Spares as I cannot find anything else. I am failing in my google-foo and costing me money!

 

Also, currently obsessing about ;Mulliner wing vents'. Yes, I am aware that I am a sad old bastard with more money than sense (and I have NO money!) but I want them, they look cool as poo and would let heat out of the engine bay. Best to be prepared in case of epic summer sunshine and temps in the 30s (ha ha ha ha ha....). Fs say they have secondhand ones, they haven't. I really want them but REALLY DO NOT want to spend a thousand quid on plastic fucking vents!

 

I am insane and it is worrying me....

[Mr_Bo11ox]

Mulliner wing vents are going to look like a right council 'upgrade', I would defo advise against

[anonymous user]

Just cut some slots in the bonnet like I had on the A35

[vulgalour]

Potentially nice purchase there, Mel.  I do hate K-seal though, people need to stop using it, you'll have to spend a good long while getting it out of the system to find out why it was put in there.  Check the radiator isn't leaking, seems that is a common OMGHGF misdiagnosis on Rovers of all ages.  For water getting in, that's probably the trim seals on the rear wings, rear light clusters and the seam between the bit under the windscreen and the rear wings, you'd be amazed how much pours in on these things in a relatively short period of time.  The water in the footwells is probably also the cause of the ABS light coming on because they'll have been underwater for a while.  As horrible a job as it is I would recommend removing the carpets from the car for a bit until you know it's not letting water in, even after you think it's dried out the foam on the back of the carpet retains an horrendous volume of liquid that won't dry out in situ and it will continue to plague your ABS sensors.  It's a chore, but they are a lovely enough thing to waft about in to warrant the effort.

[wuvvum]

I do love a Wisp.  Had one once, never got it running though.

 

That Rover 75 sounds like the bulkhead / scuttle drains are blocked solid - shove a BFO screwdriver through them and it might improve matters a bit.

[vulgalour]

I'd forgotten about those, good call, Mr Wuvvum.  I learned all this from the Autoshite bike MG ZT which was basically letting water in from everywhere it could all at once.  Oh, that reminds me, the expansion cap was buggered on that and it kept air locking which made it seem like it was OMGHGF, but wasn't.  I reckon some 75s have the same issue, so that could be another reason for the copper glitter of doom.

[richardmorris]

That's a lot of water in the rover- had it been flooded?

[Skoze]

I can't help but picture skoze stood in front of the Capri just before the picture was took shouting "show me" then the lights eerily coming on

You're not massively far from the truth!replace "show me" with "please for the love of Christ do not set on fire" while stood with an extinguisher ready to go and you're there.

 

Hooli; as said, you could get proper Ford V6s until 81, mine's a pretty early mk3 3.0S.

 

No progress yesterday, getting a barbed fitting back into old hard nylon pipe is really, really difficult.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[burraston2006]

 

 

Also, currently obsessing about ;Mulliner wing vents'. Yes, I am aware that I am a sad old bastard with more money than sense (and I have NO money!) but I want them, they look cool as poo and would let heat out of the engine bay. Best to be prepared in case of epic summer sunshine and temps in the 30s (ha ha ha ha ha....). Fs say they have secondhand ones, they haven't. I really want them but REALLY DO NOT want to spend a thousand quid on plastic fucking vents!

 

I am insane and it is worrying me....

Could you not stick these on? Cheaper than Mulliner and look classyish as well!

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/like/272248079241?lpid=122&chn=ps&googleloc=1006563&poi=&campaignid=270621186&device=c&adgroupid=16885268106&rlsatarget=pla-146650310466&adtype=pla&crdt=0

[panhard65]

Decided in my infinite wisdom/OCD/stupidity that the rad cap in the dollop is faulty. No, I don't know why I think this either but having had the thought, it has stuck in the brain thing and so a new one needs to be acquired...

 

Having winced at the price from flying spares I have Googled and searched for alternative part numbers everywhere I can think of. I have just bought the one from Flying Spares as I cannot find anything else. I am failing in my google-foo and costing me money!

 

Also, currently obsessing about ;Mulliner wing vents'. Yes, I am aware that I am a sad old bastard with more money than sense (and I have NO money!) but I want them, they look cool as poo and would let heat out of the engine bay. Best to be prepared in case of epic summer sunshine and temps in the 30s (ha ha ha ha ha....). Fs say they have secondhand ones, they haven't. I really want them but REALLY DO NOT want to spend a thousand quid on plastic fucking vents!

 

I am insane and it is worrying me....

I wouldn't worry about the vents I am sure some used ones will turn up soon enough but knowing flying spares they will still be about £800. The rad cap thing is a pain though, I looked for one for my Spirit and there is no cross reference so it has to come from Crewe with the resultant stupid price.

[oldcars]

 

My replacement front plate arrived today from DMB, it only took a couple of days too. I'm really impressed with it. I'll post some proper photos in the thread in a few days once I've fitted it, cleaned the bumpers and finished sorting the rear sills.

 

Looks good. Did you need to weld up the sill ends or did they clean up ok?

[oldcars]

no point in a collection thread for this, as it was delivered from the bodyshop's yard of tat next door to my place of work.

 

bought by myself sight unseen for use as a field banger - but saved for now

 

1.8 rover 75 club se

 

plus points:

 

1 months mot as bought

13 months mot with no advisories after i sent it for a speculative test!

quite tidy all round

3 months as a demo car and then 1 private owner 'till it hit the trade.

fsh from local rover/mg garage

 

negative points:

beige interior - i am a fabricator so end up filthy nearly all the time

full (1-1/2" deep) of water in boot and all footwells

smells a bit mouldy

low rev misfire/hesitation

abs playing up at first then abs and airbag/srs lights on all the time (within 10 miles of the mot lol)

super fresh clean oil and a rad full of kseal indicates a potential reason for the tradein 

 

IMG_20160521_161705.jpg

 

IMG_20160521_161651.jpg

 

only pics i have for now - water level was so high the only simple solution was to drill holes in all the low points to let it out - took 20 minutes for the flow to stop!

 

now driving around with heater on full blast to help dry out the carpets

 

seat covers bought to protect the interior

 

missfire fixed with £30! of platinum plugs

 

updates as and when (it assplodes )

Boot leak can be a number or things, im still working on mine. Does it have a sunroof? Drain pipes can come off in boot and fill with water, lamp gaskets leak, chrome trim around rear screen can leak too.

[dollywobbler]

Took (some of) the 2CV for a drive.

https://twitter.com/dollywobbler/status/735423189430468608

[trigger]

Looks good. Did you need to weld up the sill ends or did they clean up ok?

There was a couple of small holes appearing which ideally should have been welded but i got the P40 out and filled them for now as i don't have a welder and it's only a cheap car at the end of the day.

[cort1977]

I done an oopsy

received_10204812036140412.jpeg

That looks great but what's it like to ride?   I have a couple of Raleigh 20s and they feel a little sketchy at bicycle speeds never mind the dizzy heights of 25mph which I imagine a Wisp can get up to.  

[vulgalour]

Yep, other motorists will know exactly what that sticker's all about.

[dollywobbler]

Not all that long ago, Wuvvum was complaining about wheels that wouldn't come off. "Odd," thought I. "I've never had that happen." Until today! The rears on the RAV are seriously stuck. 

 

Put the wheel nuts back on loosely and went for a drive. Not a sausage. Went down a bumpy track. Nope. Visited the hotel car park and pulled a few handbrake turns. Bang! One of them freed off. The other is resolutely stuck. Oh well. I'll check the side I can check - drums need to come off for an inspection.

[twosmoke300]

All because everyone thinks that an oil change is a "service " and no bigger takes the wheels off to do a proper brake and suspension inspection

[Bren]

More audi side skirt shenanigans.

 

Ever seen crap taxidermy on tinterweb? I am thinking of a similar site for bodykits.

[dollywobbler]

All because everyone thinks that an oil change is a "service " and no bigger takes the wheels off to do a proper brake and suspension inspection

 

Ah. Yes. Well. I've never had the drums off on the Nippa...

 

At least I've been able to check the shoes one side. All ok. 

[Lord Sterling]

What a day yesterday was

 

Picked up and dropped off car in some proper northern backwood. Really nice area but one of those in the middle of nowhere, near a place called Hope Valley. Couldn't be arsed to pay £4.30 for a bus ticket into town. So walked 45 minutes to the nearest station, Chin Valley or something only to find the next train wasn't due for an hour and a half. At the station I found a phone on the floor. It was still working so after a bit of detective work I found the owner. He popped to the station and thanked me for finding his phone, it probably dropped out of his pocket.

 

 

Eventually I got to my next pick up. A massive Fiat camper van with 0 miles on clock, unregistered thing. Took me nearly 5 hours to get it from Mexborough to Birkenhead via Huddersfield as a mate and fellow driver had missed his connecting train to his next job.

 

Got to Birkenhead drop off at 8pm which then I had to travel by bus to Widnes where my hotel was. Didn't step into hotel until gone 10pm. Much better today though. A couple of Mercs and free accommodation chez_Ma.

[Rocket88]

What a day yesterday was

 

Picked up and dropped off car in some proper northern backwood. Really nice area but one of those in the middle of nowhere, near a place called Hope Valley. Couldn't be arsed to pay £4.30 for a bus ticket into town. So walked 45 minutes to the nearest station, Chin Valley or something only to find the next train wasn't due for an hour and a half. At the station I found a phone on the floor. It was still working so after a bit of detective work I found the owner. He popped to the station and thanked me for finding his phone, it probably dropped out of his pocket.

 

 

Eventually I got to my next pick up. A massive Fiat camper van with 0 miles on clock, unregistered thing. Took me nearly 5 hours to get it from Mexborough to Birkenhead via Huddersfield as a mate and fellow driver had missed his connecting train to his next job.

 

Got to Birkenhead drop off at 8pm which then I had to travel by bus to Widnes where my hotel was. Didn't step into hotel until gone 10pm. Much better today though. A couple of Mercs and free accommodation chez_Ma.

 

The joys of plating....................

[Cavcraft]

Took the 405 to the garage:

 

Drop links: FAIL. They could only get one.

 

Drop links: UNFAIL, they can get the other one.

 

ARB bushes: FAIL: Can't get them as there's two different sizes and the motor factors they use are hopeless.

 

Sod it, noticed the front tyres are badly cracked, checks web, goes to C*stc* for some new Michelins: FAIL. Speed rating on theirs are 86, mine are 88, they won't sell me them (H&S, and all that) and because they're not exactly a popular size these day everyone seems to want to order them in first.

[Lacquer Peel]

That's not a bad fail list.

 

The number is the load index of the tyre, 86 is 530kg, 88 is 560kg, not a big difference and both are man enough for a 405 even fully laden.

[Kiltox]

Chickened out of using the mighty Scenic for 1000 miles next week and booked a hire car instead

 

I'll hand in my membership card on the way out

[SiC]

Wuss. I'm taking the Gooner for a 400 odd mile trip to Gatwick for our honeymoon

[beko1987]

All because everyone thinks that an oil change is a "service " and no bigger takes the wheels off to do a proper brake and suspension inspection

I remember the joy of getting the wheels off a mates 10 plate 40k octavia when we changed the original discs and pads, ended up laying under the car and giving them both boots with both eyes firmly on the axle stands...

[BorniteIdentity]

Whilst the 190e is FUBAR'd... the Avensis quietly goes about its business as per.

 

Obviously did the whole Darts MC thing of #180!!1!

 

[hairymel]

Suck it out with a wet+dry vac?

 

don't got one of those either 

 

With that much water i'd expect an airbag light to be on, side crash sensors tend to suffer badly on 75's when they get wet, ace shitter though !!

 

 

airbag light went on within ten miles of mot - i had thought it was because of moving the seat to big fat bastard setting lol

 

...leaky rover....  It's a chore, but they are a lovely enough thing to waft about in to warrant the effort.

 

did i mention i am lazy Angyl 

 

 

 

That Rover 75 sounds like the bulkhead / scuttle drains are blocked solid - shove a BFO screwdriver through them and it might improve matters a bit.

 

aaah - super advice i have a BFO screwdriver

 

That's a lot of water in the rover- had it been flooded?

 

don't think so - rear windows may have been cracked halfway down the rubber seal and the rear lights have been inexpertly silicone-ed  previously. i will see how random investigation/screwdrivering goes!

 

Boot leak can be a number or things, im still working on mine. Does it have a sunroof? Drain pipes can come off in boot and fill with water, lamp gaskets leak, chrome trim around rear screen can leak too.

 

another good list but a worrying nonfixment of your leak

 

 

thanks for the advice guys 

 

ps did i mention it was £60