The grumpy thread

[cort16]

Sorry to see DaveAspley is selling his Valiant

 

 

http://retrorides.proboards.com/thread/188236/1972-plymouth-valiant-nuneaton-4000ono

[dugong]

Much sad. So Duel. Such Grebleips. 

[AlabamaShrimp]

Drove the Fiesta to pick up my son this afternoon all OK,park it up.

 

An hour later start it up and it up, sounds like a tank. Got it home and best I could see laying in the rain is the few tiny holes in the back box have turned in to it peeling apart.

 

Quick look on Google and I can't even find a standard replacement they're all spam versions. Anyone know a decent place that does normal Ford spares?

[RayMK]

My Pug 205 auto needed a new master cylinder and rear brake cylinders prior to its MOT about 3 weeks ago.  Lousy weather forced my hand and a garage did the job for £250 (inc MOT).  Since then, its insurance and tax has been renewed.  In total,  moderate wallet ache but as I like driving the car it seemed less painful.  Whilst the Peugeot was in the garage, and in fact for a few weeks prior to that because I was beginning to lose confidence in its brakes, my Stellar took on daily duties.  The Stellar, normally ultra reliable and fuss free, then developed a growling front wheel bearing, so the Peugeot was pressed into full time duty as soon as it had the MOT.  About 700 miles later, the 205 has started displaying head gasket failure symptoms.  No water in the oil (yet) and no steaming exhaust, but the expansion bottle is making very rude noises and belching water/oil emulsion out of the top.  Apart from that, the car is running fine and the temperature is normal.  Even the heater is operating normally.  Needless to say, the Stellar's bearing has not been replaced yet.  While I get used to the idea of more spending, it looks as though I'm down to driving the Tipo until its Italian driving position gives me chronic back ache and an aching clutch leg.  

[HH-R]

Next door is having their whole place renovated so all I've heard for weeks is workmen braying the shit out of something.

 

Thought it was all over until a double glazing van parked outside when I got home from work, now they're braying the shit out of something repeatedly.

 

Who starts putting windows in at 5 o clock at night? They've had all day to make a fucking racket.

 

In addition to making so much noise I can't even watch TV after work, some **** turned up and started sanding or something and hammering at 7:30 AM. Legal, but hardly considerate. Great first impression to make...

[HH-R]

Glad you're OK RE bus crash, as Pete says at least it's another Vectra off the road.

[Slappy]

Drove the Fiesta to pick up my son this afternoon all OK,park it up.

 

An hour later start it up and it up, sounds like a tank. Got it home and best I could see laying in the rain is the few tiny holes in the back box have turned in to it peeling apart.

 

Quick look on Google and I can't even find a standard replacement they're all spam versions. Anyone know a decent place that does normal Ford spares?

 

I've used http://www.fordpartsuk.com/ for my mk6. I have found a few items NLA though. I won't pretend that they're cheap either

[Lacquer Peel]

I battled through the rain to work on the van today and made it worse. Great job!

The TRW handbrake cable supplied by Mister-Auto is slightly too long. I broke the anti-roll bar drop link with no replacement available, I'm going to have to drive it without, the wishbone bolts did a Thatcher and weren't for turning, my blow torch ran out of gas so no boiling them to fuck til they shift, and I spotted some crumbly metal that might fail the MOT.

 

On the plus side, rebuilding and cleaning the rear brakes with new springs was satisfying.

[Danblez]

Grand National is on and I am having to suffer pissed up tarts and tramps falling all over me on the train. Smashing!

[cobblers]

I'd saved up some cash to treat myself to some proper good boots. Boots that'll last forever and I can just keep getting new soles put on etc. Our lass got us a pair for my birthday last year and they're the most comfortable shoes I've ever owned so I wanted another pair made on the same last (mold) for everyday use rather than just sunday best. My old dr martens are starting to stink and it's getting past what a couple of days in the freezer will sort.

 

So on saturday I went to't cobblers in town, our lass knows the bloke. She worked with him for years. I saw a pair that were basically the same as what I already had but darker - Ideal, apart from the welt (sides of the sole)  was bright natural leather and I wanted some which were all a bit more low key. He said he'd ink these in, and it'd take about an hour. I came back an hour later and they weren't done. Didn't look like they were even started tbh.

"Sorry, I'm having to put a couple of coats on, It might be tomorrow before they're dry". I just told him to take as long as it takes, no rush.

 

One day turns into two days turns into five days. Our lass picked them up for me today. I came home to find this

 

 

 

Looks like they've painted the welts with fuckin tyre paint! Then they've obviously dripped blebs onto the upper and wiped round with white spirits, which has took all the colour off them. Looks like something a half blind old giffer would do in his shed with some bloody hammerite to an old pair of boots he dug out of garden

Bear in mind I've paid three hundred quid for them!

To top it all off they're not even the size I asked for. 

[richardmorris]

Bit late now. But you'd have been better doing them yourself with some darker polish.

[cobblers]

They're going back and he's getting an earful - I really don't know what was going through their minds - they're well respected shoe repairers and sell loads of these shoes. If they'd done this to some shoes I'd sent in for repair I'd have gone absolutely mental. At least I can just take these back and get my money back.

 

Like you say, they just needed a bit of pigment in with dye or polish not flipping emulsioning.

[AlabamaShrimp]

I've used http://www.fordpartsuk.com/ for my mk6. I have found a few items NLA though. I won't pretend that they're cheap either

Thanks for that but they don't have any parts for the mk2. Looks like I can order it from euro carparts but it has to be delivered. Will have to ring them as their shite system has rejected 2 of my credit cards that I know are at 0 balance

[cort16]

They're going back and he's getting an earful - I really don't know what was going through their minds - they're well respected shoe repairers and sell loads of these shoes. If they'd done this to some shoes I'd sent in for repair I'd have gone absolutely mental. At least I can just take these back and get my money back.

 

Like you say, they just needed a bit of pigment in with dye or polish not flipping emulsioning.

 

 

Must have painted cars in a previous career,.

[brownnova]

Motoring wise an irritating day.. Some twat scraped a nice big gouge out of the bumper and head light of my modern whilst it was parked in a car park... Was there a nice note to apologise... Was there bollocks!!

 

Then going for a simple tyre change on the Mazda and it turns out the locking wheel nut key (which I've never had cause to wield) isn't for the locking wheel nuts on the car!!

 

P.O. Is going to have a look for it...

 

Grrrrrrr.....

[wuvvum]

My Pug 205 auto needed a new master cylinder and rear brake cylinders prior to its MOT about 3 weeks ago.  Lousy weather forced my hand and a garage did the job for £250 (inc MOT).  Since then, its insurance and tax has been renewed.  In total,  moderate wallet ache but as I like driving the car it seemed less painful.  Whilst the Peugeot was in the garage, and in fact for a few weeks prior to that because I was beginning to lose confidence in its brakes, my Stellar took on daily duties.  The Stellar, normally ultra reliable and fuss free, then developed a growling front wheel bearing, so the Peugeot was pressed into full time duty as soon as it had the MOT.  About 700 miles later, the 205 has started displaying head gasket failure symptoms.  No water in the oil (yet) and no steaming exhaust, but the expansion bottle is making very rude noises and belching water/oil emulsion out of the top.  Apart from that, the car is running fine and the temperature is normal.  Even the heater is operating normally.  Needless to say, the Stellar's bearing has not been replaced yet.  While I get used to the idea of more spending, it looks as though I'm down to driving the Tipo until its Italian driving position gives me chronic back ache and an aching clutch leg.  

 

[jakebullet]

Replaced the melted headlight bulb plug on the disco today. It was a drunken fryup and the bulb contacts where less than clever too so decided to splash out on a new bulb. Went to halfords, 1 offroad* 80/100w h4 plz. 14 bastard quid. I expected bum rapage, but not that much.

 

What's with the attempt to collect email address so they can send you a receipt? No thanks love, the one coming out of your printer will do just fine.

[jakebullet]

Bonus grump maybe. Just had someone on amazon tell me the pool ball gear knob I sent him doesn't fit his car and it's my fault. description is 'fits fiesta mk 1 - 4'. His fiesta is 2001. Er, isn't that a mk 5, or am I being thick too?

[RayMK]

 

    .  It may temporarily stop leaks in the rad or pipe joints, but I would not trust it to do anything useful at the head gasket despite the claims.

[AlabamaShrimp]

Bonus grump maybe. Just had someone on amazon tell me the pool ball gear knob I sent him doesn't fit his car and it's my fault. description is 'fits fiesta mk 1 - 4'. His fiesta is 2001. Er, isn't that a mk 5, or am I being thick too?

It is a mk5, which is exactly the same as mk's 3 and 4 underneath.

[robinmasters]

Sat through Masterchef earlier.

 

Every sentenced began with 'So,...'.

 

I understand that language evolves, and that there will inevitably be stupid faddy affectations adopted by the masses because it's been on the telly. That doesn't excuse basic grammar being ignored, and it definitely doesn't make it acceptable for grown men to speak like dim-witted American teenage girls.

[cort1977]

Ah, bless.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[wuvvum]

    .  It may temporarily stop leaks in the rad or pipe joints, but I would not trust it to do anything useful at the head gasket despite the claims.

OK then.

 

[LC Torana]

How does that stuff know that the hole it is plugging up is a head gasket hole?

 

A:  It doesn't.  It just plugs up every waterway and gallery in your entire engine and cooling system.

 

Jiggle valve in your thermostat?  Clogged.

Heater matrix:  Clogged.

Radiator core: Clogged.

[Parky]

MacGuyver would crack an egg in the radiator. Works on bullet holes apparently!

[sporty-shite]

How does that stuff know that the hole it is plugging up is a head gasket hole?

 

A: It doesn't. It just plugs up every waterway and gallery in your entire engine and cooling system.

 

Jiggle valve in your thermostat? Clogged.

Heater matrix: Clogged.

Radiator core: Clogged.

I don't know the finer details, but I'm told it reacts to air, so will only seal leaks rather than just thickening up and clogging everything.

 

I'm sure someone more knowledgeable than me can explain it better.

[Tamworthbay]

I was VERY sceptical about k seal but my father in law used it in his Passat as it was that or scrap it, that was four or five years ago and it is still running fine.

[Bren]

I had a voicemail to get in touch with the secretary at my local GP - presumably about my referral to a cardiologist.

 

I was informed the secretary was off sick and could I call back on Monday?

 

This is the same GP were you cannot get an appointment- you get referred to a walk in centre.

 

The same GP where there is a three and a half week wait for a blood test - quicker to go to hospital.

 

They did nothing for my mother in law.

 

I think I need to change practices.

[oldcars]

Shuma battery flattens over night. Was trying to look at it last night and the door blew into the house. Nice scratch and dent. What with the battery drain, sill needing welded and new exhaust and mot up Monday i can't see it being back on the road anytime soon 

[DavidB]

How does that stuff know that the hole it is plugging up is a head gasket hole?

 

A: It doesn't. It just plugs up every waterway and gallery in your entire engine and cooling system.

 

Jiggle valve in your thermostat? Clogged.

Heater matrix: Clogged.

Radiator core: Clogged.

No it doesn't. Simple thermodynamics, it hardens when it is exposed to heat and oxygen (same as glue with a catalyst (epoxy) which won't harden without air).