big Al & Flat4 fleet fred--- from famine to feast

[Flat4]

Every time I drive this wee car, I like it that little bit more Today was the first time since it's had new boots on that I've used it properly for a 30 minute trip to a neighbouring town centre. The perfect size for parking in such a place, being the smallest car I think I've ever owned!

It appears to have developed a bit of a stutter since the new exhaust was fitted tho. If it's been parked up for more than an hour it kangaroos at slow speeds until it gets a good dose of throttle then it's fine even if you slow down again, at a junction for example. Any ideas what this might be? I'm hoping not a blocked cat but it may be due a service as there's no real history.

EML is still on which will need tame mechanic to read the code. Thought it was down to the lack of exhaust previously but apparently not.

It doesn't appear to be affecting the drive tho as we had a wee play with a Seat Leon FR and a BMW which was badged as an M3 but may not have been because I only let him past me to avoid breaking the speed limit

I'm really rather impressed as it can do far more in reality than the figures would suggest on paper. A big part of that is how little I now need to slow for corners. It handles so nicely with so little body roll that it can carry a fair amount of speed. The Cross Climates have made a huge difference as I now have the confidence to use the power and drive it properly And I still returned over 38mpg after today's hoonage!

Brilliant fun!

[Flat4]

Was intending today with the nice weather to get the locker floor finished on the caravan but as neither the local B+Q nor Jewsons could cut the wood required to size, attention moved to the fun bus.

It has badly needed a new rear light cluster for several years after it came to me with a smashed indicator lens and I couldn't buy a sensibly-priced replacement until now. So it was boshed with the unit off a Hiace,  which is the same shape but the indicator is in the middle rather than the top of the cluster.

It has done the job and kept the bus on the road but it should look like this, as per the other side.

So while I had to take the unit out anyway....

...thought I would set about the rusty bits with the tester pots. They are apparently the correct paint codes for the bus but wanted to confirm that before buying rattle cans, and rattle cans will definitely be needed. Previous owner did this...

Hadn't really done anything with it until now because I think there are maybe 2 panels on the whole car which are straight and mechanically, touch wood, it's sound.

My hand was forced after @big_al_granvia set about it with cheap rust converter, despite being told REPEATEDLY and EXPLICITLY NOT TO TOUCH MY bus. Predictably,  it has proven completely useless, except to make it look even more shite and very nearly ended in divorce. Despite his user name, Al will not be doing any more work on the bus, without permission, ever again. Why do you bloke's never do what you're told??!!!!

Anyway, it's very hard to tell if the white paint is actually going to be a decent match or not, as it's so damn thin!

And the gouges are so damn deep tbf. This is also with zero prep work to make the most of the sunshine. Will see what it's like with another coat on top, although realistically this can only really be camouflaged unless I want to pay a professional body shop to sort it out, which might end up costing more than the bus....

So the plan is to possibly fill the dents once the rust has been properly dealt with and slap a sheet of vinyl over the top, some sort of design that will make it look more like a camper and less like a builders van, which it has been mistaken for before...

The silver on the lower half looks like it is a much better paint match so far, and I'm hoping it will even out even more once the paint dries.

Anyway, have achieved what I have set out to do and that is have a working, not broken light cluster with an indicator in the right place.

Job done! I haven't yet been able to get a light cluster where the plastic part is white, which is how they are from factory but this silver seems to be quite close to the silver on the lower half, so I'll take that over the Hiace version

In other fleet news, Al replaced the fog light and number plate bulbs on the V70. He'll be along shortly to swear about that... 

The Fozzie's new brakes are being problematic - they have apparently had spacers fitted to take bigger, fatter discs and they aren't clearing my alloys that I know do clear 4 pots. Tame mechanic is hoping to take spacers out and then we'll be good to go....Plan B is to buy pads for my 2 pots and put the original calipers back on. Plan C is to leave the spacers in and buy 330mm discs and a fresh set of tyres for my 17 inch alloys which should clear bigger brakes....I will hopefully know by the end of the week!

The Saab is a huge concern atm as even with a jump off the Volvo, it won't fire Collecting a new battery for it on Sunday, in the hope that's all it is, and will get some fresh fuel into it to help coax it back to life. Mobile mechanic was delayed but should be here on Monday to give us a diagnosis. Keep fingers crossed it can be saved....

[big_al_granvia]

no swearing from me about my lovely ovlov, numberplate light lens came off no probs once i rescued my torx bits from the saab, fog was a simple click and twist. getting it in again was awkward especially with cracked ribs but job done. the ovlov's trim which had gone grey has also been treated with black trim restorer.. just got 2 wheels to refurb and give it a good machine polish

aye the boss was not happy with me a few weeks back, credit to auld bus, not used in 3 weeks and it was a quick top up of the rad and she fired up no probs thanks to the heavy duty battery she got earlier this year

[Flat4]

The beast is back ?

Spot the new calipers, which are so huge they only JUST clear the standard 16 inch wheels.

There is room to slide a credit card between the wheel and the calliper, and that's about it

It will be getting 17 inch alloys put on for winter which will give us much more breathing space.

In other news, paint match on the bus is virtually non-existent ? The white is too sparkley and the silver is too dark. Glad these were just tester pots!

 Reverting to plan A - deal with rust, chuck a load of filler at the worst of the dents and vinyl over the top.

Better news on the Saab front - battery appears to have a short according to the charger so hoping once a new battery is sourced, it will at least run long enough to get it on the drive to fix the rad.

 

[big_al_granvia]

Sliding one's credit or debit card between the caliper and wheel, how posh my beloved has become. In Scottish engineering terms there is barely a bawhair or fag paper's gap. Bawhair is as good as a eighth of a inch in my book

Aye the scab's battery was a pain, havent had one reading short in ages, thought it was the charger that was goosed so dismantled it to check wiring and okay. Then put charger on another battery and it was sweet... Arse

[Flat4]

Some updates for the Fozzie. First up - 

Tail gate guard for the dogs, which I just happened to pop up on FB Marketplace and the seller kindly agreed to keep it for me until I had a day off to collect it.

It is lockable and feels very well made, manufactured by Guardsman, but will be used almost exclusively when we're mantrailling in summer and need to leave a dog, or 2, in the car while the other is working. There is usually other participants around to keep an eye on the dogs anyway but means the boot can be left open to keep some air flow and hopefully keep the car cooler.

This also arrived yesterday 

Can you tell what it is yet? Lol

Nice beefy tow bar, made by Witter, secured for less than half the price of a new one.

It does need paint as the powder coating is all flaking off but it is still solid underneath. I get the impression it wasn't on the original car for it's full life. It's also been so carefully dismantled that I think for the first time ever buying a second hand tow bar, I actually have bolts with it!

These were a nice surprise as they weren't mentioned in the advert and I was ready for taking the fitting instructions down to the local motor factors to source some but most of these look re-useable to me? I will likely replace some of washers though.

Al is buying materials to refurb the tow bar so fitting will likely be on my next day off next week.

Thankfully I have also been able to source a plug and play kit for the lighting electrics. Because this is what arrived with the tow bar

This age of Fozzie has a pre-wired connection/multi plug behind the driver's side light cluster and a slot for the bulb failure warning buzzer under the dash some where. I am yet to locate that! But should be much easier than splicing wires and means the whole lot can be removed much more simply  should I ever need it for another Fozzie. Can't see this one going any where any time soon though

[big_al_granvia]

suppose i am going to have to take photos as i dismantle, scrape, prep, prime,paint and stonechip the thing.... going to be fun

[big_al_granvia]

did the refurb, took photos, the boss can upload them with witty captions... comments from me, that impact wrench from a shiter is great but bloody heavy, wire brush on grinder is a godsend and it is now looking great

[Flat4]

Long overdue fleet update.

Fozzie still doesn't have a tow bar fitted. I may get the rectified next week as I am off Monday to Friday before I move into my promoted role  It disgraced itself in spectacular fashion on Tuesday, on the way to a vets appointment with 2 dogs and a pouched rat with attitude on board! The remote fob is broken so to start the bugger you need to enter a code into the pin pad under the dash, twice. Once to lock the car, then again to unlock the car then you can start it without the alarm blaring....I'll bet you can guess what happened...It accepted the pin the first time  which locks the car and arms the alarm but then refused to accept it 3 times in a row! Which of course meant when the alarm inevitably went off and I couldn't turn the bastard thing off coz the keypad had now locked me out for 30 minutes. Missed vet appointments, called Al to come and get the furries home at least and shove it out the way of the petrol pumps while I wait for the AA...except by the time Al gets there, I'd done my 30 minutes and the bloody thing behaved itself and fired first go!

Have now replaced the battery in the key fob but it's made no difference. Choice now is to pay £120 for 2 new keys and hope I can programme them to the car - instructions supplied - or do I get tame mechanic to rip out said alarm system entirely? It still has an immboliser chip so it still couldn't be hot wired unless you have the key.

Aside from that, there's been a few movers and shakers this month. 

This arrived at the start of the month for me to have a play with. 

2.3 Vector coming to the end of it's useable life and the weirdest wheels I have ever seen on any car! I ran it for 19 days, which is the most I could get away with under insurance cooling off rules. Did a few hundred miles in it and decided while the seats are comfy, the driving position definitely isn't. The clutch feels much further away than any of the other pedals, so you feel like you're sitting too far forward and personally it made my ankle hurt on my right foot. Al briefly considered keeping it due to how fast it is and it handles none too shabby for a barge of this size but I do believe there are better examples out there. So it's been sold on for what I paid for it, minus a wing mirror for Aldo and a built in dog guard for me.

It has definitely spurred me on to get the black auto 9-5 sorted out and tame mechanic is going to be collecting that next week, all being well. It needs some fresh fuel and I'm confident it will then fire now it has a new battery.

First up, the V70 needs to go for an MOT asap as it's due on the 13th November that's being dropped off to tame mechanic tomorrow for that and a service. I don't think it needs anything but we'll see.

I now have 3 cars all due MOT at the end of November/start of December. I think the Civic will be next in, then the fun bus can go off the road for December for it's suspension upgrades and then there's this -

The picture does flatter it but I've always wanted a Focus since I learned to drive in one. This particular example being a very early one, white, with a cam belt in date and a tow bar plus cheap, made it very appealing. No collection thread as I had a trade plate driver bring it up, couldn't leave the dogs during firework season. It was one of the oldest cars they'd delivered but it performed flawlessly on the journey home.

Only now I've had several years driving experience under my belt, can I appreciate just how nicely these little cars handle. Bonus our car crate which only just fit in the 530 and the Fozzie and is only just short enough to fit in the V70 has a ridiculous amount of space in the Focus!

Which is baffling considering it's supposed to be a little hatchback in non-estate trim. It does need new tailgate struts as they currently fail to hold the boot open.

 It definitely didn't feel like a little car when I was learning lol But it's the second smallest car I've ever had, the Civic is the smallest. 

Talking of which, the Type S is making rattley noises at me on a front corner. Suspecting a drop link or ball joint so that can get done at MOT time.

Focus threw a bit of a wobbler yesterday when it was absolutely chucking down rain. Al went to start it and said it was 'running like a bag of nails', like it was down to 2 cylinders. It's dry today, and it started and drove fine for me. Checked coil packs and leads and they look okay, but will get tame mechanic to give it a once over when it goes for an MOT. Main issue is lots of rusty scabs on most panels, which Al can get stuck into assuming it behaves at MOT time....

Behold my mid life crisis fleet lol The 2 cars I've wanted since I passed my test.

Not sure how long I'll keep them and to anyone else, they probably don't look like much but I worked for those and I'm chuffed to have them.

 

[Noel Tidybeard]

if a 7th gen civic is anything like an 8th gen knackered droplinks sound like a skeleton winkang in a biscuit tin

[big_al_granvia]

wee update, volvo has been away to trusty tame mechanic who has done a service, egr blank and got her mot'd, only advisories were for wishbone bushes and surface rust underneath.. Driving a lot better with just oxygen being drawn into the inlet, lot sharper on acceleration. treated he to a 3 quid jetwash and spray detailer, civic left with tame mechanic for service and mot. also picked up a new set of wheels from gerry of the parish.... 

 

[Flat4]

Fozzie got new boots today too, fitted to the multi spokes that I think have been on most of my Subarus over the years. I absolutely love these wheels, apart from how heavy they are, and I think they suit the Fozzie.

I said in another thread that I was looking forward to seeing how the Bridgestone Weather Control tyres I've had fitted, cope with the snow but I didn't think that would happen the same day! Okay, the vet's car park was more slush than snow but it was also icey and slippy. Bit too early to tell how the Bridgestones will be but first impressions are good. They feel quite grippy and the Fozzie seems to like the fact the tyres have had to come down in profile to fit, mainly because I'm going from 16 inch alloys to 17 inch but also because 215 50 was one of the few sizes of Weather Control that National tyres had left in their Black Friday event. 

I really want to get out and go for random drives now

Other members of the fleet - Civic still with tame mechanic for MOT and service, Focus stored safely on the drive to swap over when the Civic is ready and hope it's worth MOTing. Hoping to get some time to take the Granvia a run tomorrow as it hasn't moved for weeks, then it'll likely get laid up for the winter. Saab will go to tame mechanic once the Focus is back as local mechanic keeps no showing every time I book him. No one seems to want to do this rad! That's the plan anyway. Watch this space!

[Flat4]

Quick fleet update. Wee Civic is finally home from MOT with 2 new Cross Climates on the rear to make up a full set, a rebuilt front caliper, a new rear caliper and discs and pads on the back Plus a well over due service, including spark plugs. It feels a bit livelier now! But I could be imagining that as it's been so long since I've driven it. Certainly hasn't hurt the MPG any

Comparing this to the 22.7mpg my tame mechanic managed... And no I don't usually have all these disco lights, I just forgot to take a picture of my record MPG so turned the ignition to position 2! 

Still battling to figure out the ABS/VSA fault but it certainly doesn't drive like there's a problem

The fleet currently look like this

And yes, my neighbours love me lol Those not in shot - Focus and Almera on the drive (at the back of the queue pending MOTs), Legacy GT-V still with tame mechanic, Forester further up the street, where I can see it from our window

I'm off to finally get a new key made for that at a local specialist on Sunday, so that in 2 weeks time it can go for an MOT with a working, normal key that doesn't need a pin code over ride. That has been getting temperamental as time has gone on and has left me stranded twice so will be a relief to get it sorted.

The Granvia will be off after that for MOT, service, long over due new rad and new shocks all round. Hopefully have them both back and with tow bars fitted in time for the May bank holiday

That's the plan anyway. Wish us luck...

[Floatylight]

7 minutes ago, Flat4 said:

Quick fleet update. Wee Civic is finally home from MOT with 2 new Cross Climates on the rear to make up a full set, a rebuilt front caliper, a new rear caliper and discs and pads on the back Plus a well over due service, including spark plugs. It feels a bit livelier now! But I could be imagining that as it's been so long since I've driven it. Certainly hasn't hurt the MPG any

Comparing this to the 22.7mpg my tame mechanic managed... And no I don't usually have all these disco lights, I just forgot to take a picture of my record MPG so turned the ignition to position 2! 

Still battling to figure out the ABS/VSA fault but it certainly doesn't drive like there's a problem

The fleet currently look like this

And yes, my neighbours love me lol Those not in shot - Focus and Almera on the drive (at the back of the queue pending MOTs), Legacy GT-V still with tame mechanic, Forester further up the street, where I can see it from our window

I'm off to finally get a new key made for that at a local specialist on Sunday, so that in 2 weeks time it can go for an MOT with a working, normal key that doesn't need a pin code over ride. That has been getting temperamental as time has gone on and has left me stranded twice so will be a relief to get it sorted.

The Granvia will be off after that for MOT, service, long over due new rad and new shocks all round. Hopefully have them both back and with tow bars fitted in time for the May bank holiday

That's the plan anyway. Wish us luck...

Did the Saab go for bean tins?

[Flat4]

The Saab is in front of the Volvo, behind the Granvia, but I fear that will be it's fate because no other shiter seems to want it, even for nowt and it would cost too much to transport it to storage until tame mechanic has room to diagnose it, especially as, at this point, I don't even know if it is something repairable causing the non-start. 

[big_al_granvia]

aye and they are all fukin manky, jetwash shite off the spray on detailer... wheels to repaint on volvo and civic... give me some nice weather

[Flat4]

Wee Civic is looking pretty damn good, now Al put his back out washing it yesterday...

 

I'm about to leave with the Fozzie to Hoover it and get it's new key. The faff I've had with this alarm/immobilizer nonsense, I'm genuinely worried it will throw another curve ball and won't take it's new key or something. But if I can finally get the remote central locking working, get in and start the car without entering a pin code, I'll be absolutely delighted! Wish us luck...

[big_al_granvia]

not bad for cheap spray wax and detailer, needs a good proper polish and wheels painted as fronts are really bad. got paint there, just need a dry and warmish day to rattle can them. interior a bit grotty having been away with tame mechanic, bit of elbow grease there too

[Flat4]

Spoke too soon. Forester has refused to acknowledge it's pin code while trying to pair new key and has now locked us out for 30 minutes....Fucking thing! Had to disconnect battery to stop alarm blaring. Round 2 when I eventually get it home but at this rate I may end up reverting to plan B and bypassing the sodding alarm altogether!

[Flat4]

Round 2 is now going to be tomorrow coz the sodding alarm keeps blaring every time the battery is re-connected. The repairer is going to have another go at it in the morning, by which point having the battery off overnight should hopefully have stopped the lockout on the pin pad. Now waiting on Al to collect me in the Volvo and hopefully get the car back in working order tomorrow. I bloody hope so anyway....

[GeorgeB]

m30 alarm intructions.doc

The trick with the keypad is to go slow and make sure each press has worked before doing the next.

I managed to programme two keys the other day by taking my time.

[Flat4]

It breathes, it lives!

[Flat4]

Even better, now working off BOTH keys! Murray has fixed my original key! It had some how become de-programmed from the system and re-programming it plus the new key has now given me 2 working keys! Shakey start but it's all come good in the end  Thoroughly recommend this chap  https://www.facebook.com/jdmsubarukeys I cannot put into words how relieved I am!

[Flat4]

After seeing the sad demise of Tock's Mk1 Focus, I thought I had best check my own example for any potential welding needed before it goes for MOT. First off, the bad bits.

It will definitely need at least 1 new front wing.

And it looks like the jacking point behind said wing is also rather crusty so I think that will need a patch, at the very least.

I'm also concerned about the opposite side rear wheel arch at the bottom where it meets the sill, looks a tad thin to my untrained eye but may be okay.

Al and I can't agree on whether it will need new complete sills. He says yes coz he hates it, I say no because yes, I love it, but I also hit it them much harder with the hammer than he did and didn't make any holes!

On the plus side, the rear tyre well is still surprisingly solid with only very minor surface rust. The whole boot floor is good tbf.

The area I was most concerned about from Tock's post was the inner rear arches where it meets the boot. Didn't take the interior out completely but can see enough of it to be rather relieved!

Both sides exactly the same - shiney white metal!

It also hasn't run for weeks so Al chucked a semi charged battery on and it fired first go! I'm so pleased I've had the chance to own this little car. 

It did let me down my breaking an exterior door handle 😕 So I can't open the driver's door from the outside - of course it had to be the driver's door which is the one that's gonna be in use more than the others! But tbh if a wing, a door handle and a bit of welding to a jacking point really is all it's gonna need to pass an MOT, then I'm happy

[big_al_granvia]

the focus is all about emotion, for me 2000 to 2003 i worked for ford in customer care within hq, worked my way up to tech rep then worked so hard i ended up in a bad place. complaint after complaint, useless dealers, parts on back order, i never saw the good in the product. did get to go to m-sport and meet colin mcrae. being practical it is a early mk1 ghia estate, there isnt many left especially with the short oval lads racing them as bangers or prostox. the car doest need much to be roadworthy but we have 3 others that are roadworthy and probably better cars. so so i put the graft in and bring it up as a classic or future classic, that would take a shitload of time and elbow grease as the paint is flat, engine bay hasnt seen a clean in years, it woulnt cost much money to do but will it ever be a classic. 

the v70 isnt a classic in my book, it is a workhorse albeit a very high spec one, it deserves to be clean and polished, the civic type s is more of a classic because it isnt a type r and the s is overlooked despite being a cracking drive, it has earned its elbow grease, the fozzie is netti's baby and is a classic, plus it is a phenomenal drive... So where does the focus fit in, back in 98 it was a quantum leap for for over the escort, it set the benchmark, is it a workhorse like it has been for the last 20 years?? or should it be brought back to how it left the plant. i dont know

[Flat4]

Long overdue fleet update, to have a whinge.

Fozzie proved itself as a tow car last week. This was after the slider on a replacement rear caliper seized and took all the material off the pads with it! Bought new discs and pads to re-fit the original caliper which had only beem changed to upgrade to vented discs and ever so slowly realised, after 3 re-build attempts, that said previously good caliper now had a seized piston 😡 Inbetween times, Al had freed off the slider on the caliper for the vented discs and after making the local motor factors work hard for their money, eventually sourced a matching set of pads. On the 4th rebuild, everything FINALLY worked and I had brakes that didn't stick! Just in time to take the dogs away in the caravan to keep them out of earshot of fireworks over Bonfire week. It performed flawlessly!

Took it to Glasgow this week to meet a client of my company and came back with this

It's even got a fucking washer on it, for heaven's sake! Fortunately it does appear to be in the fixable area and the puncture repair will be free as I got a tyre guarantee from National for buying Bridgestones from them.

Went to retrieve the spare, one of my 16s from before I put my gold multi-spokes on, and discovered it was flat 😕 Cue Al digging out another from the set in our ridiculous pile of alloys... Also found this

No idea where it's come from but glad I was able to mop it out before it damaged anything, at least.

In other news, Civic has 2 new Cross Climates on the front so it has a full set of fresh ones for winter. Still has the VSA/ABS issue but is otherwise continuing to be a typical Honda - reliable, the best on fuel of the fleet and quite fun. Does need a driveshaft for next MOT in February....

Talking of which, new Saab has finally been dropped with tame mechanic to see if it'll get through another.

So far, apart from the stuff I was already informed about pre-purchase, it should only require a new rear spring....Which I've snapped at some point...Fuck knows when. I hadn't driven it for weeks but it fired first go and reminded me how much I actually love driving these things. It picks up speed so quickly and effortlessly, and handles much better than I expected, even with a broken spring 😆

Once it's back road legal, the Volvo is going in for it's MOT, usual annual oil service and this time a gear box oil change. It's flaring often, seems to develop a new warning message every other day (engine service required, transmission service required, alarm service required, check brake light etc etc) and making worrying grinding noises so need to see if fresh oil helps at all, before spending any more money on it.

Then the big one - the Granvia is currently in storage until I gather all the parts it needs. I've finally gotten a new rad and the turbo oil return pipe. It still needs suspension all round, an exhaust and a tow bar fitted. Since the change in  B+E laws, I can now legally use it as a tow car, not just a camper and I'm very much looking forward to that!

Once that's all done, the Focus and the Almera can also get fixed, MOT'd and sold in summer. That's the plan anyway...Watch this space!

[big_al_granvia]

okay end of year fleet update

fozzie still behaving, been using it as a daily, fukin great in the wet, drinks fuel faster than a rugby team can drink ale

civic, been too cold and wet to strip nsf corner to investigate properly, tried putting back tyres on front, did hee haw

saab, still at tame mechanic, spotted on ramp getting worked on

volvo, once saab has mot its going to tame mechanic, still

almera and focus still stored on drive, almera did get a wash this year

bus, in storage

scoob leggy twin turbo, still in undercover storage so not rusting

merc s class, flat4 organizing megabus to pick up, will hopefully go straight into traffic as it has mot and should do more than 30mpg

any comments wifey @Flat4

[Flat4]

Currently playing Connect 4 in the street All of these are ours

Altho the Civic is for sale and might sell this weekend, if a sensible buyer comes forward in amongst a bunch of wankers who want to break it for bits...

V70 is getting swapped with the Saab next week, now tame mechanic has finished work on it The Volvo's fate will depend on whether it starts behaving after a gearbox flush.

Forester is going for a jet wash today coz it's manky!

[big_al_granvia]

took merc to jetwash yesterday, the paint is nae bad, few dings and bits needing repaint but it should polish okay. i do like it to drive but if the box flush makes the v70 usable then i will have a problem

[Flat4]

And then there were 3  (...and another 4 not pictured 😉)

The Merc scrubs up pretty well after a bath! I like the subtle shade of blue.

All change at the weekend tho as the Saab has passed it's MOT with only 2 advisories So the Volvo is going to get plugged in to VIDA on Friday to see if we can get any more info on the the gear box issues and then it's getting left with tame mechanic when I collect the Saab. V70 also needs an MOT now and gear box oil will be changed, along with it's usual engine oil service, to see if that makes any improvement to the flaring. 🤞