The grumpy thread

[tooSavvy]

Still spent less than most people do on newer cars...

Yup.. I have a 100% reliable auld nail (breezed MOT 'again') for washers + just spent a months PCP on a years insurance

[greengartside]

PIC HEVVY.

 

Went to the local breakers yard earlier and saw the Fiesta that I’d taken many parts off awaiting its turn for the crusher.

 

 

This made me very sad, although there was only ever going to be one outcome for this fine machine and that wasn’t going to be the right one to me.

 

 

In happier-ish times back in Sep ‘17.

 

Thing is, I still would like to salvage a few more parts off it before it is cubed, as I have some project ideas of building a realistic PC / X-Box car gaming setup which would involve using the dashboard and side trims and centre console (have a look on YouTube for car gaming setups). I may ring him to ask to keep it to one side as I don’t think it would be in the way if he moved it to the far end of the yard until I decided if I wanted to do that.

 

Yes I know I could use another Fiesta dashboard as they are ten a penny but I really want to use this one for the colour scheme.

 

 

Yum, caramel colour. Am I mad in doing that?

 

Also in other news, there is a Rover 218SD just in, I did check the centre console for Vulg but it has an armrest and I think he didn’t want that.

 

 

[omegod]

Mother in laws heating not working on her KA, bought a new heater valve and took a load of dismantling to get to the fucker, changed it and ran it for ages but the heater wouldn't blow hot, rechecked everything and primed the matrix in case of an airlock, fuck all heat so assumed the part was a dud, in desperation went for a run and the little fucker only started blowing toasty hot 

 

Grump because I don't know why it suddenly started working, answers on a postcard 

[Craig the Princess]

PIC HEVVY.

 

Went to the local breakers yard earlier and saw the Fiesta that I’d taken many parts off awaiting its turn for the crusher.

 

 

This made me very sad, although there was only ever going to be one outcome for this fine machine and that wasn’t going to be the right one to me.

 

 

In happier-ish times back in Sep ‘17.

 

Thing is, I still would like to salvage a few more parts off it before it is cubed, as I have some project ideas of building a realistic PC / X-Box car gaming setup which would involve using the dashboard and side trims and centre console (have a look on YouTube for car gaming setups). I may ring him to ask to keep it to one side as I don’t think it would be in the way if he moved it to the far end of the yard until I decided if I wanted to do that.

 

Yes I know I could use another Fiesta dashboard as they are ten a penny but I really want to use this one for the colour scheme.

 

 

Yum, caramel colour. Am I mad in doing that?

 

Also in other news, there is a Rover 218SD just in, I did check the centre console for Vulg but it has an armrest and I think he didn’t want that.

 

 

If cheap get the armrest, friend of mine used to get £30/40 a time on eBay.

 

But obviously the value of your investment may go down instead of up.

[MikeR]

the Royal is up for sale   , only pub in Formby with Dart boards and pool table .......

 

 

what will I do when I retire ?

[anonymous user]

the Royal is up for sale , only pub in Formby with Dart boards and pool table .......

 

 

what will I do when I retire ?

Buy pub?

[D Spares & Tyres]

I came home from work just over a month ago and parked my car, that night I was taken into hospital and I have been off work since.

I haven't driven the car since, i have been too unwell, it has just sat on the drive.

Today I had reason to use it, but now it is smoking from under the bonnet and rattling like a machine gun.

I did put a post in Modern Shite, but there isn't a lot of traffic in that forum.

Has anybody got any idea of the cause?

Car is a Ford Grand C Max 1.6 diesel.

Alternator semi seized? They like to seize up when stood, then crack the casing

[artdjones]

I came home from work just over a month ago and parked my car, that night I was taken into hospital and I have been off work since.

 

I haven't driven the car since, i have been too unwell, it has just sat on the drive.

 

Today I had reason to use it, but now it is smoking from under the bonnet and rattling like a machine gun.

 

I did put a post in Modern Shite, but there isn't a lot of traffic in that forum.

 

 

Has anybody got any idea of the cause?

Car is a Ford Grand C Max 1.6 diesel.

I hate to say this,but someone is going to have to lift that bonnet and see what's actually happening.Maybe not you,if you're in poor health,but someone.

[dome]

, in desperation went for a run and the little fucker only started blowing toasty hot

 

Grump because I don't know why it suddenly started working, answers on a postcard

I've had this before when trying to bleed cooling systems. I reckon taking it a run has got any airlocks out of the system

[vulgalour]

Thanks for looking anyway GG!  I appreciate the thought.

[wuvvum]

Why the fuck can I not buy a car without wanting to change it within 5 minutes? 19 years since I passed my test, and closing on the 100 cars mark.

If it's any consolation, I've only been driving three years longer than you, and the C-Class I got off Skattrd the other week was #546.

[The Moog]

the Royal is up for sale , only pub in Formby with Dart boards and pool table .......

 

 

what will I do when I retire ?

Have you bought it yet?

[Shirley Knott]

Yup.. I have a 100% reliable auld nail (breezed MOT 'again') for washers + just spent a months PCP on a years insurance

 

^I feel much the same but you do have to take into account the time and emotional cost too.

 

Over the last 3 years I recon I've saved the best part of £8K by running millennium era VAG SDI's as an alternative to having two cars on hire purchase deals, but both initially involved a few months of lost weekends sorting out timing belts/cooling systems/tyres service parts and a host of other bits to bring them up to a standard that reliable daily use was achievable.

 

ATOTD I've knocked another 8k off the mortgage as a result but the time/work and frazzled nerves involved needs to be taken into account, also that's time I could have been spending with my family and enjoying with my little boy that I'll never get back. A good used PAS pump for a Lupo is just £20 but that only tells half the story of what's actually involved in doing things/living life that way.

[Mally]

Took the 75 on a 300 mile trip today.

Son was driving, said it's perfect except for very slight clutch slippage when you are doing 70 and boot it.

Not sure why he wants to boot it at 70 though?

So, new clutch £200 plus a lot of work for me?  I'm getting past it but It's a nice car and worth it.

Pay £600 to have it done? Feared of the "sorry sir you also need a new DMF".

Drive it sensibly for a while? Probably get 12 months at the mileage I do If I don't tow.

Buy an Auto?

Decisions decisions.

[Timewaster]

I hate to say this,but someone is going to have to lift that bonnet and see what's actually happening.Maybe not you,if you're in poor health,but someone.

Borked alternator could explain the smoke if the belt is dragging across a seized pulley.

[yellowperil]

I hate to say this,but someone is going to have to lift that bonnet and see what's actually happening.Maybe not you,if you're in poor health,but someone.

Yes, you are right, it's a job for a garage.

 

What a pisser!

[DodgeRover]

Went to put the spare onto the van tonight as the outer rear tyre was looking ready, crap the 10k old Chinese inner is bald in the centre, outer becomes inner and the spare is on.

Need to hurry up and get the replacements fitted all round!

 

I did get my valve extender air tubes fitted though so I can check/ inflate the tyres without requiring mild double jointedness from myself and the compressor.

[Ghosty]

I wouldn't mind one of those armrest consoles if it was cheap.

[New POD]

the Royal is up for sale , only pub in Formby with Dart boards and pool table .......

 

 

what will I do when I retire ?

Die. How much do they want for it ? Can you brew beer? We could turn it into a retro 80's Early Doors type pub......oh wait..

[vulgalour]

Ghosty:  the price is one not-cubby centre console in dark grey.  No point me selling it if I don't have one to replace it with.

[Guest Hooli]

Guess which idiot got a new bank card, cut up the wrong old one and now only has a card he doesn't know the PIN for so can't login to online banking to get a new PIN sent? That'll be the same idiot who has never used telephone banking so hasn't set up a passcode for that to contact them that way either...

 

Fucksticks. I shall try again later when the phone banking is open.

[Mally]

Don't boot it from 70.... it'll probably plod on for years. 

ISTR the clutch is a fucker on those manual 75s. Hence why I bought a diesel auto..... and had injector and emissions issues instead.

 

Realise that, but I use it mainly to tow the stock car and trailer up a very steep drive!

I will stop doing this and use my wife's car instead. Actually we don't even have a stock car, but a new one is in the pipeline.

I wanted an auto, but this turned up at £600, I've had it 2-1/2 years and spent very little, hence the reluctance to get my wallet out as I know something else will then break.

Shall plod on and keep my eyes open for a diesel auto tourer,

[155V6]

I wouldn't mind one of those armrest consoles if it was cheap.

They come from the Coupes I think.They were quite sought after a while ago,as they fit into MG ZRs.

[320touring]

Ideal for hiding weed then..

[BorniteIdentity]

Realise that, but I use it mainly to tow the stock car and trailer up a very steep drive!

I will stop doing this and use my wife's car instead. Actually we don't even have a stock car, but a new one is in the pipeline.

I wanted an auto, but this turned up at £600, I've had it 2-1/2 years and spent very little, hence the reluctance to get my wallet out as I know something else will then break.

Shall plod on and keep my eyes open for a diesel auto tourer,

They are vastly under appreciated cars the 75. The auto diesels aren’t very frugal but, with a clutch north of £600 to have it done for you, make better man maths sense.

[DodgeRover]

How much do they cost if the DMF isn't knackered, that doesn't seem too bad if it's including a new one.

We had a turbo auto diesel ZT which shat the solenoids in the box with no warning giving us a £500 bill

[vulgalour]

In trying to reseat the telltale bulb for the hazards on the Princess I've somehow managed to burn out the hazard relay.  Or it was just an unfortunate coincidence that me putting a bulb in a holder was timed with the relay going kaput.  I've opened up the relay, it's literally burned the little wire inside, same thing happened with the old indicator relay too.  I should just avoid anything electrical I think.

[richardmorris]

Is anyone else plagued with harlequin ladybirds?

[Fumbler]

Yes, sash windows were. Never saw any aphids again.

[richardmorris]

Yes, sash windows were. Never saw any aphids again.

No aphids either, but one of the damn things bit me yesterday when I was trying to usher a pile back outside!