The grumpy thread

[Lord Sterling]

French cars and their shitty electrics.

Last night coming home I noticed the r/h indicator was flashing faster than normal indicating a bulb issue. Went out today and after getting removing the rear light unit I notced that the bulb was as right as rain but the actual connector was burnt:

I tried cleaning off the burn residue but to no avail. I mean, FFS, is there really any need for this? More money now to be needlessly spent 😠

[iainrcz]

Back ache and one shift left in the fun factory.

It'll probably piss it down all next week as well.

[R1152]

1 hour ago, Lord Sterling said:

French cars and their shitty electrics.

Last night coming home I noticed the r/h indicator was flashing faster than normal indicating a bulb issue. Went out today and after getting removing the rear light unit I notced that the bulb was as right as rain but the actual connector was burnt:

I tried cleaning off the burn residue but to no avail. I mean, FFS, is there really any need for this? More money now to be needlessly spent 😠

For what it's worth my BMW did that too on one of its rear lights; it was an earth and later cars actually had a recall over it (not my old banger though).

You might be able to replace just the cable housing; then with a fibreglass brush clean the contacts as you transfer them from the old to the new moulding. A small needle file should sort the light unit itself.

[R1152]

On 20/02/2021 at 13:30, barefoot said:

 I suspect that the telephone moderates the volume at the other end. All it did for me was to cause my two cats to leap up in the air and run outside at high speed. 

They do - they're level-limited to prevent acoustic shock. Even the later GPO/BT 746 phones had limiter diodes across the earpiece.

[clayts450]

This smug cunt can get in the sea with his perfectly-executed routine maintenance jobs. Changing the brake pads and discs on a Combo/Doblo should, I agree, be a piece of piss, and as simple as smug cunt makes it look.

Sadly, however, it does not account for the fact the brake disc is welded to the hub and will not shift for love nor money. Why me no get 'disc slides off smoothly' like smug cunt ?

[cort1977]

Need a bigger hammer m9.

[beko1987]

5 hours ago, clayts450 said:

This smug cunt can get in the sea with his perfectly-executed routine maintenance jobs. Changing the brake pads and discs on a Combo/Doblo should, I agree, be a piece of piss, and as simple as smug cunt makes it look.

Sadly, however, it does not account for the fact the brake disc is welded to the hub and will not shift for love nor money. Why me no get 'disc slides off smoothly' like smug cunt ?

Oh I love these! I found one for my 406 for the ball joint job and it was like looking at a different car. 

I also missed the subtle hint where he took the strut off the car and clamped it in a good few grands worth of holder... 

[OM646]

Took apart the instrument cluster off the Aldi to change bulbs.

Decided also to align the needles.

Broke off needle on temp gauge. Had to order a used gauge now.

[Timewaster]

2 hours ago, cort1977 said:

Need a bigger hammer m9.

Whenever I've had problems working on shite, I ring my mechanic mate up and his advice is always word for word the same. 

You ain't hitting it hard enough. 

 

There is another mate who's advice is always "cherry the fukka" which means apply lots of heat. 

[Stanky]

On 21/02/2021 at 16:46, R1152 said:

For what it's worth my BMW did that too on one of its rear lights; it was an earth and later cars actually had a recall over it (not my old banger though).

You might be able to replace just the cable housing; then with a fibreglass brush clean the contacts as you transfer them from the old to the new moulding. A small needle file should sort the light unit itself.

Snap, my Saab had done the same to one of the rear cluster connectors, I snipped them off and soldered a new end onto the wires.

Soldering on a windy day in the open air is challenging. 

[R1152]

18 minutes ago, Stanky said:

Snap, my Saab had done the same to one of the rear cluster connectors, I snipped them off and soldered a new end onto the wires.

Soldering on a windy day in the open air is challenging. 

Been there, done that; it was wiring foglights on a mate's Viva HC back in the late 70s.... now try replacing the burst pipe on an outside tap where the stopcock doesn't quite shut completely and it's below zero... 🤬

In the end I cut the pipe, bought a push-fit stop end and walked away, swearing profusely.

[Mrcento]

Fife.

Swore on here i'd never buy another car from Fife (Shitter aside) because dealing with folk from there is largely just a total waste of time.

Well low and behold, i'm carless and something i want comes up in Fife, in budget.

First off, trying to get an answer? Fucking nigh on impossible. Then when you finally do, it's absolute vagueness.

Trying to arrange going to see/collect, he won't give me any details, as usual 'Fife',  then didn't answer when i tried to arrange it....given i have to know where the fuck i'm going in 'FIFE' because my only way there is public transport. It helps to know what fucking bus to get on.

Look back at the ad and he's put sold at the end of it.

Just fuck off, cunt.

Utter waste of fucking time. As per.

[beko1987]

Remembered the old zx would have been due it's mot a month or 2 ago... 

Rip then... 

[LightBulbFun]

8 minutes ago, beko1987 said:

Remembered the old zx would have been due it's mot a month or 2 ago... 

Rip then... 

its currently SORN so might not be dead just yet!  

[Aston Martin]

I needed some wiper blades and I couldn't be bothered to queue for 17 years at eurowankmeoff. 

But they had free delivery. Obviously the wipers don't fucking fit, so I had to dismantle the old rusty as fuck one to replace the rubber.

[twosmoke300]

I’ll say it again but why do people bother with ECP ? Boggles my mind 

[artdjones]

We've just been condemned to another six weeks of almost total lockdown, including a 5km limit on going anywhere other than essential activities. They "may" consider extending it then. I wonder what the scientific basis is for the 5km figure, as you're not allowed to visit anyone indoors, and the virus is very hard to catch outdoors.

[iainrcz]

French cars and their shitty electrics.
Last night coming home I noticed the r/h indicator was flashing faster than normal indicating a bulb issue. Went out today and after getting removing the rear light unit I notced that the bulb was as right as rain but the actual connector was burnt:



I tried cleaning off the burn residue but to no avail. I mean, FFS, is there really any need for this? More money now to be needlessly spent

I've had two 407s, imagine how mental that must make me.

Sent from my VFD 710 using Tapatalk

[Crispian_J_Hotson]

On 1/16/2021 at 4:01 PM, jakebullet said:

Being a greedy grump today. Bob the builder burning chipboard in a smokeless zone with obvious smoky results. Ma expecting me to email the council's illegal fire department, who will come and stop BTB instantly. Doesn't work like that Ma. But if you want to start an official feud and blight your property value etc go right ahead.

Our neighbours decided to chop up and burn their sofa on their front drive. The wind wasn't kind to us and we spent the night inhaling fumes but, they are a bit thick so I generally allow them room for spontaneous madness and sometimes... You just gotta burn your sofa. It's all part of living in the ghetto.

[Crispian_J_Hotson]

1 hour ago, twosmoke300 said:

I’ll say it again but why do people bother with ECP ? Boggles my mind 

Any part for any car though m9. 

 

Except pretty much every car I work on. I actually emailed their office once about that slogan and told them it's absolute shit but alas, no reply.

[somewhatfoolish]

19 minutes ago, Crispian_J_Hotson said:

Our neighbours decided to chop up and burn their sofa on their front drive. The wind wasn't kind to us and we spent the night inhaling fumes but, they are a bit thick so I generally allow them room for spontaneous madness and sometimes... You just gotta burn your sofa. It's all part of living in the ghetto.

Call Trumpton; it's shit like this that you pay taxes for.

[anonymous user]

33 minutes ago, Crispian_J_Hotson said:

Any part for any car though m9. 

 

But that is what they do, literally any part (the first that comes to hand), for any car.

 

[High Jetter]

A bit like Unifart, in the 80's. "The answer is Yes! Now, what's the question?"

[beko1987]

Cos if I really need to I can jump in the car and if the planets align return home with the part I need not long later. 

I use them, I've only had 3 issues with them and 2 were on parts I don't need for the xsara and one solved as I fitted the wiper blades in their car park and 33 minutes and 2 other boxes later had the right mounting hardware for whatever car it was at the time... 

 

[iainrcz]

I've had two 407s, imagine how mental that must make me.

Sent from my VFD 710 using Tapatalk

You know what, now I've had a think I vaguely recall them having an issue with burning wires in the rear clusters.
I think you can tag on an extra earth that stops it.
Or helps.

And I'm meant to be replying to the guy with the 407 being a 407 here.

I've quoted the wrong post, but I'm a rebel so ner.

Also I'm on my phone, which is shit for faffing around on.

@Lord Sterling

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[GrumpiusMaximus]

12 hours ago, Crispian_J_Hotson said:

Our neighbours decided to chop up and burn their sofa on their front drive. The wind wasn't kind to us and we spent the night inhaling fumes but, they are a bit thick so I generally allow them room for spontaneous madness and sometimes... You just gotta burn your sofa. It's all part of living in the ghetto.

'Flame Retardant'.

[GrumpiusMaximus]

9 hours ago, beko1987 said:

Cos if I really need to I can jump in the car and if the planets align return home with the part I need not long later. 

I use them, I've only had 3 issues with them and 2 were on parts I don't need for the xsara and one solved as I fitted the wiper blades in their car park and 33 minutes and 2 other boxes later had the right mounting hardware for whatever car it was at the time... 

 

I picked up an air filter from there once, got home, pulled it out of the box to find it was jet black and heavily used.  Took it back and the person behind the till just rolled their eyes.  'It happens all the time...' while they swapped it out.

Didn't quite say, 'so why don't you fucking check them when the box isn't sealed, then?' but should have.  Evidently people take the filter, fit it to their car, put the old one back in the box and claim a refund because it the 'wrong part'.  So they've failed to check it twice...

[Lacquer Peel]

I don't like using the phone so pre-ordering online on ECP is desirable. 

The only time I have had bother with them was when I got brake pads for my Volvo and there was an odd wrong one. Sealed packet so a fault at the supplier. 

I try to use TMS and the small car parts shop in town instead now, TMS can usually get non stock parts quicker and the prices aren't far off ECP's for better quality parts. 

 

[Stanky]

Should you find yourself in or around Portsmouth, especially on a rainy day, and you look in your rear view mirror to see a following astra H in silver, with some Sri bits attached - think yourself, it could be THIS astra H in silver, papped today in the works car park

Yes sir or madam, you have had your 'moneys worth' from this particular set of front tyres.

It had an advisory in July 2020 for front tyres close to the limit, so clearly 

A. Does a lot miles considering the circumstances

B. Has had lethally bald tyres for 8 months and counting

FFS people

 

 

 

[R1152]

Bit of spilt diesel on a wet bend and Darwin will do the rest.

Joking aside, I'd report that to Plod.