Vorsprung Durch Ticket (MOT) - Ohdearme’s turn of the century emporium

[bangernomics]

Bung a jet wash under the edge of the bonnet perhaps? Could be shite and old grease giving you the pain that may take a blasting?


Gzongenflatch.
In memory of Phil.

[Rust Collector]

2 hours ago, Ohdearme said:

Fucksticks.

Repeated attempts to disengage the bonnet have succeeded in freeing off the cable.

Sadly it has done so at the lever end so I now have a loose release cable mechanism flopping about the cabin like a geriatric’s limp todger.

Long weekend ahead at least to figure it out…

I feel your pain. I've had this happen on both my W210's, and had to go in from underneath to get back into the engine bay. My Disco 3 is threatening to break in the same way soon too.

On both the mercs it was a stretched cable that was causing grief and cost about £30 to replace. Sounds a lot for a cable but well worth it for the knowledge that the bonnet will stay closed when you shut it and then also open again later.

I can't help but wonder if a new cable would sort yours out once you get back into it again.

[Ohdearme]

Frustratingly I’ve got one side that won’t latch down and one side that won’t free up so between them they’re feckering my odds off passing an mot.

Battery is also goosed so once I’ve got the front open I’ll throw some more money at it.

Annoyingly, I was going to slip a cable tie round each part of the cable so I could tug them locally from the front and pop it.

i think there’s some stretch and wear in the cable but not sure if the cable is a stante audi 80 or if it’s a special convertible-cost-a-fortune-technic part.

 

[bangernomics]

It’ll be parts bin standard (I hope!!)


Gzongenflatch.
In memory of Phil.

[Split_Pin]

7 hours ago, Ohdearme said:

special convertible-cost-a-fortune-technic part

Knowing this car, more than likely.

I found the only way to reliably get parts is from Donald Munn via Messenger. I had to get a brake bias valve from him last year on behalf of Fairkens so it could pass its MOT. There was 0% chance of one being found elsewhere.

Remember this car is based on an 80s design 80 B4, modified into a convertible but excluded from the B5 facelift, instead getting a unique but B5-looking front end and in 1998 was updated again to take a modern 5v engine. That's why I bought all the suspension and steering bits as they're unique to the 1.8 5v model which was made for only 2 years or so, and in quite small numbers.

You have to love them!

[fairkens]

Sorry man I can't help about the bonnet. It was up and down a lot while I tried to figure out the problem that turned out to be the starter motor and I never had an issue with it. 

Related - I replaced the battery as part of my troubleshooting so its a bit shit that it's discharged to that extent even if it has been sitting. The old battery is doing good work powering my electric fence.

 

[Ohdearme]

After theee years of sterling service (and services) the Espace has left the building.

The Audi hasn’t left anything, it is still sat on the drive with the bonnet stuck down and flat battery…

I do however now have what I hope to be the right cable for the Frankenstein monster that is the Audi B3/B4 Front end bolted onto other bits. It may become someone else’s  delight* to discover if it fits.

Removal of the Espace allowed the £595 Octavia into the fold, amazingly for someone that’s owned a zillion cars in my lifetime, I’ve thus far avoided ever having a PD Diesel.

At 2004 it just scrapes into Mk2 territory and has 103horses. It might be the torque or the noise, but it feels more capable than that but either way, it will dispatch its duties well and is frugal enough to be a wedding car for that Gret Thungernator lass.

With 187k on the clock, a remap would seem a bit like pulling the pin out of a grenade and popping it back in your pocket.

I have however, ordered a few bits, new gas struts for the hatch, and new rear vent unit as the flaps on one side are cracked and the kids will no doubt fight over it.

Interior lights need a look at too as they’re all weird LED affairs, I’d say they were a Friday factory shift special, but the factory they came from probably doesn’t even recognise weekends as a thing 🇨🇳

It’s also missing the rear storage bin but I might fabricate something up to store some of their gubbins and give them a cup holder.

It gained approval from Mrs ODM by virtue of handling the last tip run I didn’t get round to in the Espace.

Only feedback was - “Good, but keep it clean cos you’re banned from my car now this does the same miles as mine…”

Married Bliss.

[Ohdearme]

As most of the foibles have been ticked off by @95 quid Peugeot I turned my attention to the bodywork.

Clamps, hammer and Mrs ODM’s hairdryer was borrowed.

First up was the door ding.

It was a bit bent on the shut so off with the rubber and out with a block of wood.

and another block of wood…

Apply heat

Twisty, twisty, squashy, squashy…

 

Still a bit of a kink…

Few knocks with the wood block and a mallet later and ready for inspection…

Much improved

 

[Ohdearme]

Some further manipulation of the front bonnet went on try and improve it.

Before

 

 

Pop for access

As above…

…and so below…

Attempted the same technique- less effective due to the crease and my resistance to taking off the cracked front grille without a spare…

Heat it then beat it…


Squodge it back together…

Fin - marginally better, I think.

 

 

[Ohdearme]

As is often the case when a new thing arrives, initial tinkerage is high.

Its already done a good chunk of miles for me, a few trips to hospital/hospice in Barnsley and back and taken the family to Beamish and a coupe of National Trusts.

Beamish was rammed and we were bundled on the field, the slight upward incline of parking caused the probably original (and well worn) lift struts to fail to hold up the boot, leaving it to unceremoniously clonk me on the head.

Fortunately a few gibbons arrived this morning, two new struts were added and then a handy mixed touch up pen arrived to cover a few cracks and chips around the door and bonnet.

Not tweed jacket on parcel shelf for added giffer points.

Here’s the door after straightening* it out,

 

I chipped off the loose bits of paint and then I filled with the pen, not perfect but it will do to get it back to a ten footer…

There’s a few other internal parts coming to refresh inside and I have noticed a clicking on right lock, so suspect there’s a CV joint to be done in my near future.

[Ohdearme]

A few more parcels from the bay of fleas arrived today and I got a minute today to fix them up and plug a few little minor things that give me completist pleasure, if not exactly concourse…

The rear ashtray/cubby was missing and the spindle needed to fit a new one was snapped off.

A new cubby and rear part were ordered and duly fitted, now is found a small enough torx screwdriver to fit inside and open and remove it.

The rear vent also needs replacing as the flap mount has broken and there’s a gouge in the rotary dial.

That will be next on the list.

 

[Ohdearme]

Life goals acheived…

Beige.

 

[Ohdearme]

Minor update as yet another fleabay parcel graced the doorstep….

Whatever could this be?

Ingenious VAG click removal trick. Push and rotate to retract the retaining pins.

Et, voila!

[Ohdearme]

In other news, on the way back from Barnsley to Castleford I indulged in a spot of hypermiling out of curiosity.

Normally I get around 50-55 mpg each way (it’s better on the way back as net downhill).

A bit of coasting and preservation of momentum here and there (but still at 70mph in the fast bits) and it pulled this out of the bag.

My diagnostic ear was correct on the CV joint, a browse of the MOT history uncovered more CVs than a job advert to be [insert current hottie of the moment]’s knicker drawer attendant.

[Ohdearme]

Octavia is doing sterling service on the motorway, I’ve done just shy of 800 miles with nothing to report as such…

I’d loaded the car up with an old double glazed window I’d smashed up and ended up driving around with it in the boot for a week.

At the same time, I’d noticed a tinkling/jngling sound as I hit the bumps.

With no obvious handling maladies, I assumed it was the cargo of broken glass but on finally getting to the tip this week, the glass went but the tinkling remained.

Last time I had this, it was a snapped spring on the espace so I poked my head under the wheel arches to see what it might be.

See if you can spot anything…

Yup, the foams on the shocks have perished and the metal cups have dropped and were bouncing off the damper top over bumps, hence the clinking noises.

I’ve delivered a fix of sorts, by wedging them up through the foam but I expect they’ll drop back in short order.

MOT is looming in September so along with the CV joint, new rear shocks will be required.

Overall it keeps running, the vent flaps keep clicking - even after reset but with the radio on, it’s not a big deal - and it’s returning a healthy 55mpg  average which is about 500 miles per 3/4 tank.

I thought I’d miss the extra oomph of the espace but I’m finding the Octavia a very serene place to be and there’s enough talk to waft along with.

It sounds like and shivers like a traction engine at start up but otherwise it’s fine.

 

[AnnoyingPentium]

9 minutes ago, Ohdearme said:

Yup, the foams on the shocks have perished and the metal cups have dropped and were bouncing off the damper top over bumps, hence the clinking noises.

My Mk1 Fabia has done the exact same thing. Been putting it off for ages since it hardly moves now.

[Ohdearme]

Catching with a post from the news 24, something had to be done about the use of the Audi as a skip by the missus…

One tip run in the Skoda later and lovely and clean.

I also fitted the original period radio but have not turned it on yet, due to non use related flat battery.

Feeling the despairing gaze of @Split_Pin I figured I’d carry on getting the bigger back on the road so the under tray was dropped so I could get under and force open the bonnet that had set this all off in the first place.

It was two clips and then two cable ties I had to saw through with a Stanley blade.

Been catching a fair bit of oil so will check levels (allowing for snapped dipstick) once I get sorted.

I couldn’t access the jacking point with my shit arse trolley jack from the side, so went in for the suspension instead and disappointed a family of wood lice as it went skyward.

[Ohdearme]

Issue had been the cable, it won’t pop both sides but then neither will it lock both sides, it appears to be perfectly the wrong length to make things work, and then the handle came off in my hand.

First things first a screwdriver up the bonnet to open it. Except my attention was diverted by a minor* issue when my head went under the vehicle.

Umm…

Umm…

Tits

 

[Ohdearme]

Anyway, AUTODOC can get me one of those as I doubt I’m friendly enough with or stupid enough to find an inspector that would overlook that for an MOT.

Getting under the car meant I could pop the bonnet with a long screwdriver and once it was open I didn’t want to chance it being stuck again so deployed my emergency solution.

Cable ties.

Ahead of the two latches there are eyelets so I threaded a long cable tie through so I could use the tails to tug it n and pop or lock the bonnet…

It worked well enough to risk shitting the bonnet and trying to get on with a more long term fix.

 

I had to first disassemble the dash to fit the bracket back securely so it could be operated.

A bunch of 8mm bolts out to get the driver tray off and enough space to work.

One of the fixing screws was missing so I nicked a less visible one from a bit of trim and stuck a self tapper in there. 

Pulling the cable now successfully pops both pins again so the bonnet can be opened! Hurrah!

It didn’t latch though…

[Split_Pin]

Crikey that's rotted away quickly. Subframe doesn't look too clever 😞

Good work on the bonnet though!

[Ohdearme]

Emergency Access - The ties can be hidden away, it still needs the right hand one to lock the bonnet in place.

Much success official version.

Battery currently on charge, MOT station is literally a one minute drive away and I’ll be giving it to them to have a conversation with the bolts.
 

Judging by the rust on them, the little fellas probably still think Ze Berlin Vall is a thing.

[Ohdearme]

13 hours ago, Split_Pin said:

Crikey that's rotted away quickly. Subframe doesn't look too clever 😞

Good work on the bonnet though!

Weirdly only this one side.

Other side is fine.

Its only been driven a few times and miles by me and then been parked there on hard standing so not sure why the passenger side has contracted ginger fever.

 

[Split_Pin]

There were 2 types of suspension arm on these, cast and pressed, no doubt which this one is as the former last forever.

If you're needing a subframe contact Donald Munn on Messenger, he breaks these all the time.

I'd give that brake accumulator a lick of paint too, dont want it getting holed and having no brakes. You will have a spare though in that stash.

Looking back it makes me wonder how much pain I could have saved myself by just never changing cars unless something was critical. Should have kept this!

[MAF260]

That suspension looks very Jacques Cousteau spec! Did the later cars suffer from cost cutting? I had a 1998 car which was mint underneath

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Split_Pin]

They are only partly galvanised, the inner wings and subframes being the only areas not included. Remember this car spent a lot of its life in the north of Scotland too.

[Ohdearme]

2 hours ago, Split_Pin said:

There were 2 types of suspension arm on these, cast and pressed, no doubt which this one is as the former last forever.

If you're needing a subframe contact Donald Munn on Messenger, he breaks these all the time.

I'd give that brake accumulator a lick of paint too, dont want it getting holed and having no brakes. You will have a spare though in that stash.

Looking back it makes me wonder how much pain I could have saved myself by just never changing cars unless something was critical. Should have kept this!

To be fair, I’m likely to get it running just in time to overwinter the bloody thing 😂

I’ll probably fix it a bit more, get some ticket on it and move it on to some other shiter for less than it owes me and less than 100 miles of usage 😂.

Those are the rules aren’t they?

There is an identical minty 5v about three miles from me for sale, perhaps if I rock up and switch plates he’ll never notice…

[Ohdearme]

Well, been out for the day and the 2022 battery is fully juiced up. It’s been sat a while so had to crank a bit, this is the second start after I cranked her up.

Waiting on the new arm from autodoc and provided I’ve order the right side, I’ll pop off the wheel and wipe brush it all to see what I’m looking at and then see if I can’t treat the subframe and tidy it up for test.

Depending on brave pills I may try the arm change on the drive. Ordered new arm with rubbers and a ball joint included to reduce the amount of faff it will be.

I now await the postman.

[Ohdearme]

Radio is also working fine and making for a very red Audi dash display.

One of the bottom dials of the three is non functional but key oil and ammeter are fine.

 

[Split_Pin]

Still sounds sweet!

I am loving that Audi Delta radio too, great colour ambience.

[bangernomics]

Well done it is a good feeling to win occasionally.