The grumpy thread

[Louise2cv]

Did the new electronic setup require any new connections being made, re-terminating cables or anything, 'dicky? Is it worth fiddling with anything there?

 

I fitted electronic ignition (2nd hand unit) to the 2cv and it stopped with a bang one day while we were on holiday, followed by no spark. We were recovered from Buxton to mom and Dad's as I knew there'd be a points box lying round somewhere in the garden. Fitted that, and sure enough, no spark! Traced it back to a broken LT lead at the coil by wiggling all the wires in the ignition circuit as a last desperate attempt after running out of any logical ideas!

[Richard]

Tried a different rotor arm Seth, and there's no spark at the points . It did run - badly, and only for a few seconds - earlier, then it cut out, I swapped back to the points and condenser, and now I can't get anything out of it. It would help if I had a multimeter.

 

You can get multimeters for about £4. Obviously they aren't very good but they are fine for most stuff on the car. The biggest annoyance with the really cheap ones is the lack of a buzzer on the continuity test.

[beko1987]

 

 

Sad as its the original dealer tax disc holder, relegated after 20 years to the paperwork folder (once I remember its in the glovebox!

[Angrydicky]

Just leave it in, it's not illegal to. I still can't get used to seeing cars on the road without tax discs in the window, saw a handful yesterday.

[beko1987]

I've taken it out to experience driving about without one! Feels odd removing something that I've known to be a legal requirement since forever!

 

No more having to forge a valid insurance cert on a Friday night so my mate can get a disc from the post office Saturday morning so we could drive down to Bournemouth to go clubbing sat night. Happy days!

[EssDeeWon]

I could be wrong but because they no longer issue tax discs from today doesn't mean you can whip your current one out the screen i,e. if your car was taxed under the old regime and the tax disc is still valid beyond 1st October then it has to stay in the screen.....its the new regime where a disc is not required to be on show, not the old one.

 

I could have that completely wrong of course.

[beko1987]

Ah buggar, better have a look then!

[beko1987]

Checked and yep, paper discs with time left can be removed. Won't bin it yet though, but it dies allow me to execute plan B!

[dollywobbler]

Yup. Failure to display is no longer an offence, regardless of when the disc expires. 

 

This thread also reminds me that I need to buy a new multimeter. My previous cheap, shitty one did not respond well to me changing the batteries. It didn't seem to be designed to come apart! That's cheap shit for you. Maybe I'll spend a bit more this time. Any recommendations?

[Inspector Morose]

Buy an old avo meter. Bomb proof (well me proof) got a needle to show variations of voltages clearer than digital, repairable so can be made to last for ever, able to cope with silly high voltages and they're pretty cool! Last one cost me £15 from the bay. You can get "tropicalised" ones that cope with very high humidity/wetness so ideal for Welsh winters!

[mat_the_cat]

I've got a Laser 1574, which has lasted well although is not a quality item like those of old. Main plus point for me is that it has shutters on the sockets so you can't accidentally try and measure voltage whilst plugged into the current socket... Plus it does dwell and rpm, which is useful for car stuff.

[dave21478]

WTactualF? Is today international "Act like a bastard" day or some similar event that I and about six other people have not heard about because we dont use facebook?

 

Seriously, if I had easy access to firearms you would be hearing about me on the news this evening....Scottish man goes on killing spree in French city centre....

 

So I go to the hardware store which has eight parking spaces outside. Four of which are taken up by a Porsche Panamera.

 

Then I go to the supermarket and some guy is wandering around in a daze, bumping into people and getting in everyones way due to him holding his iphone horizontally eight inches in front of his face and talking to someone over the speakerphone. As if it wasnt bad enough hearing one side of someone elses tedious phone conversation this prick needs to make everyone listen to both sides! The temptation to slap it out of his hand was almost too great.

 

Then I get to the tills and as I am putting my stuff on the conveyor the woman in front exclaims that she has forgotten to get washing powder and just wanders off. The till dude kept ringing her stuff through and then had to sit and wait, while I stood waiting too until this woman eventually sauntered back with a box of Daz. She then has a huffy, stompy-foot temper tantrum because her shopping was all piled up at the end of the till.

 

I go to the pez station which is really busy with long queues for the pumps and everyone is too stupid to realise that the hoses are long enough to reach round to the other side of their car so they are all queueing up for a pump with the nozzle on the same side as their filler. I see an empty pump and drive past everyone and start filling up only to get an earfull from some fud for skipping the queue. Fuck you, man - its not complicated.

 

And there is a bit of dual carriageway which is busy because its lunchtime and French people are genetically programmed to spontaneously combust if they are not sitting down to eat at the stroke of midday and while everyone is rushing, one prick who is obviously more important than everyone else in his Porsche Cayenne was bullying his way past everyone, weaving in and out, overtaking and undertaking like a fucking video game.

 

I finally get home and my fucking neighbour is blocking my gates with his car again. 

 

 

gah....

[xtriple]

I'm feeling guilty as fook. Just had a text then a phonecall from someone who used to be a really good friend but I've barely seen for the past year,  to ask to borrow a large sum of money. I know I shouldn't but I just feel so bad....  I've tried to keep in touch this last year but he never picks up the phone or replies to texts when I've contacted him. Now he wants to borrow dosh.

[cort1977]

Not to be a b*stard or anything, and it's obviously your decision, but be very careful and think hard about lending money.   Have seen a few friendships and family relations fall apart over the years due to this.   Maybe you could find another way to help starting with finding out what the problem is and investigating ways to help.   Citizens advice can be very helpful sometimes with dept repayment options etc.  

 

Christ, I sound like my Dad....

[trigger]

Aye, I'd tell him to FRO personally, Explain that you short yourself at the moment and haven't get any spare money, It's a cheek to ask in the first place if you haven't seen them for ages and they have been ignoring you.

[chaseracer]

Some years ago, a good friend of mine lent another (ex-) good friend ten large "to save his business".  Friend B promptly emigrated to Australia leaving Friend A holding the debt, which he is still struggling to repay.

 

Just saying, like.

 

[Lankytim]

Lend it, but don't expect to see it again.

[EssDeeWon]

As Tim says, only lend it if you can afford to not see it again.

 

I wouldn't but then i am quite a tight fooker and prefer my money to be in my pocket etc.

[Station]

Tell him the truth and say you have absolutely no money and all your shopping has yellow 'Whoops' sticker on.

[Parky]

Just no.

 

I lent a mate 500 quid back in 2000. Despite assurances I would get it, I never did and gave up asking in 2004.

 

A few weeks back he asked for another loan.......to say that my refusal of credit was considered offensive is an understatement.

 

If it was 20 quid, then fine. If its several hundred or even thousands and you can't afford to lose it, then avoid

[xtriple]

I did say 'No!' but made an excuse as he knows I have got some dosh. I know he's been borrowing off everybody and I know I'd never get it back.  If someone had asked my advice on this subject I would have said 'do not do it as you'll never see the money again and lose the friend' but following my own advice is hard....

 

If he'd been a better friend this last year or so while I REALLY needed a mate, I probably would have, even knowing that I'd never see it again.  It's not easy this 'life' lark is it?

[Bren]

I'm feeling guilty as fook. Just had a text then a phonecall from someone who used to be a really good friend but I've barely seen for the past year,  to ask to borrow a large sum of money. I know I shouldn't but I just feel so bad....  I've tried to keep in touch this last year but he never picks up the phone or replies to texts when I've contacted him. Now he wants to borrow dosh.

Never let money ruin a friendship.

 

Explain that you cannot help him, and that it would be nice to hear from him now and again.

[Cavcraft]

I'm feeling guilty as fook. Just had a text then a phonecall from someone who used to be a really good friend but I've barely seen for the past year,  to ask to borrow a large sum of money. I know I shouldn't but I just feel so bad....  I've tried to keep in touch this last year but he never picks up the phone or replies to texts when I've contacted him. Now he wants to borrow dosh.

 

Text him back in 12 months time and ask him how much he wants. When he says whatever the amount is, just say 'oh you should have asked me a year ago.'

[cort16]

Sold car, agreed to fix clunky ball joint with seller. Turns out it needs lower arm. £160 bill

 

[beko1987]

Came home and cracked on with fitting my accelerator cable. Bit short though, so isn't quite routed how it was... Annoying but is the seller emailed me asking for the reg number so he could check, and said it would fit...

 

Pics and snotty email later when the laptop charges up a bit, although the pedal doesn't flop down now when I take my foot off, and jerk the car onto the anti stall stop...

[purplebargeken]

Fucking minicab drivers, just when I want to grump them for being obnoxious twats, one comes along who knows lane discipline, how to use his indicators and says thank you. Fuckers. 

[Des]

Fucking minicab drivers, just when I want to grump them for being obnoxious twats, one comes along who knows lane discipline, how to use his indicators and says thank you. Fuckers. 

Whatever medication or recreational drugs you're on, you need to cut right back if they're so extremely hallucinogenic, that's a dangerous game, don't take my word for it, ask the unicorn sitting on your knee.

[holbeck]

I lent twelve hundred quid to a mate in 1992, I had just lost my job and it was a good proportion of my redundancy money. To date five hundred still outstanding, we are still friends, I just had to learn how to shrug and treat it as a life lesson.

[ShiteRider]

Fucking dvla site. I'm trying to tax one car and sorn another, all the post offices near work where rammed today so thought i'd do it online. I'll have to try the automated phone service, which i imagine will be as shit as it sounds.

I've quit smoking after 18 years as well today so am in a constant state of homicidal rage.

[Mr_Bo11ox]

Just leave it for a couple of days man, it makes fuck all difference to anything