The grumpy thread

[High Jetter]

Some of our local roads look like target practice for the Luftwaffe...

[RoverFolkUs]

On 14/02/2024 at 17:44, Supernaut said:

Limp mode in the Astra is getting more frequent and more violent.

Tame mechanic isn't replying to messages.

Plugging in my own diagnostic dongle shows no stored codes.

 

Fuuuck's sakes.

What year and what engine?

[rattlecan]

1 hour ago, Bren said:

Potholes.

I know everbody complains about them.

Today I was unlucky enough to drive through Ormskirk. The pot holes are eye wateringly bad - the roads have deteriorated so badly in 12 months.

Never known it so bad, it’s like living in a third world country, which sadly is pretty much where we are going. They will NEVER come back, we will have this forever now. 

[Spiny Norman]

Aye it's going to get a lot worse. The roads in Glasgow are littered with deep, sharp edged craters everywhere. The council DGAF and their legal team sacks off all the complaints.
And now we're going to increase the average private car's weight by another half ton or so with all the EVs we're supposed to be buying. Fuck being eco-friendly, at this rate we'll all need Range Rovers just to get to work.
This is fairly typical, often these are every few yards.

[Split_Pin]

I wasnt sure whether to drop this in the grin, grump or daft tyre name thread.

Typical Rover rivet counter. Simpering over a little piece of plastic when at least one of the tyres on the car is a shitey budget. That's literally the first thing I spot on a car and it speaks volumes.

[Metal Guru]

1 hour ago, Spiny Norman said:

Aye it's going to get a lot worse. The roads in Glasgow are littered with deep, sharp edged craters everywhere. The council DGAF and their legal team sacks off all the complaints.
And now we're going to increase the average private car's weight by another half ton or so with all the EVs we're supposed to be buying. Fuck being eco-friendly, at this rate we'll all need Range Rovers just to get to work.
This is fairly typical, often these are every few yards.

There’s holes like that on the M8 ffs. 

[Spiny Norman]

7 minutes ago, Metal Guru said:

There’s holes like that on the M8 ffs. 

Approach road to Clyde tunnel.

 

[plasticvandan]

Decided that even though I have paperwork to say it was done 2000 miles ago,I would change the oil and filter on my newly acquired Berlingo,having researched the recommended oil (total) to use it would be good peace of mind to get it done.filter change one of the easiest I've done,cartridge type and done from above,no mess! On unscrewing the sump plug it was tight all the way,never a great sign,and low and behold the thread looked... interesting.

Shows that despite a fully stamped book you can still find problems.fortunately there is a gsf up the road who had a new one on the shelf,which felt like it was.recutting a thread all the way in.It did at least tighten and seal on the new washer,but unless I go down the oil sucker route next time.i suspect it will be new sump time for the next oil change as I won't be able to trust it.That said it could.be fine now it's got a new plug in it.

Does seem a bit quieter and smoother.

Air filter looks a pita to do so will leave that for another day 

[Rocket88]

44 minutes ago, plasticvandan said:

Decided that even though I have paperwork to say it was done 2000 miles ago,I would change the oil and filter on my newly acquired Berlingo,having researched the recommended oil (total) to use it would be good peace of mind to get it done.filter change one of the easiest I've done,cartridge type and done from above,no mess! On unscrewing the sump plug it was tight all the way,never a great sign,and low and behold the thread looked... interesting.

Shows that despite a fully stamped book you can still find problems.fortunately there is a gsf up the road who had a new one on the shelf,which felt like it was.recutting a thread all the way in.It did at least tighten and seal on the new washer,but unless I go down the oil sucker route next time.i suspect it will be new sump time for the next oil change as I won't be able to trust it.That said it could.be fine now it's got a new plug in it.

Does seem a bit quieter and smoother.

Air filter looks a pita to do so will leave that for another day 

TBH, I wouldn’t disturb it again. Get one of those oil sucking things instead.

[artdjones]

2 hours ago, plasticvandan said:

Decided that even though I have paperwork to say it was done 2000 miles ago,I would change the oil and filter on my newly acquired Berlingo,having researched the recommended oil (total) to use it would be good peace of mind to get it done.filter change one of the easiest I've done,cartridge type and done from above,no mess! On unscrewing the sump plug it was tight all the way,never a great sign,and low and behold the thread looked... interesting.

Shows that despite a fully stamped book you can still find problems.fortunately there is a gsf up the road who had a new one on the shelf,which felt like it was.recutting a thread all the way in.It did at least tighten and seal on the new washer,but unless I go down the oil sucker route next time.i suspect it will be new sump time for the next oil change as I won't be able to trust it.That said it could.be fine now it's got a new plug in it.

Does seem a bit quieter and smoother.

Air filter looks a pita to do so will leave that for another day 

The suckers are pretty good if the tube is inserted carefully i.e. make sure it hits the bottom of the sump, but don't push it too hard so  it starts bending back up in a U meaning its sucking from a higher level, leaving an inch of the dirtiest oil behind. If I'm sucking out an engine I've never changed oil on before I push a meter long rigid wire down the dipstick hole after I've finished sucking, so that I can be sure all the oil is out.

Having said that, the sump in a Berlingo is one of the easiest to change.

[horriblemercedes]

11 hours ago, Split_Pin said:

I wasnt sure whether to drop this in the grin, grump or daft tyre name thread.

Typical Rover rivet counter. Simpering over a little piece of plastic when at least one of the tyres on the car is a shitey budget. That's literally the first thing I spot on a car and it speaks volumes.

Sincere question - what is a wheel arch finisher? 

[Supernaut]

22 minutes ago, horriblemercedes said:

Sincere question - what is a wheel arch finisher? 

It's a pro wrestling move, involving hooking your opponent round the neck with a repair panel (bonus points for anything BL) then pulling them to the floor with it, thus finishing the match.

[Split_Pin]

23 minutes ago, horriblemercedes said:

Sincere question - what is a wheel arch finisher? 

Total mud traps, best off in the bin imo.

[Supernaut]

5 hours ago, Split_Pin said:

Total mud traps, best off in the bin imo.

TOTAL MUD TRAPS, for all your mud traps and mud trap accessories!

 

No. I don't know why I'm so silly today either. I blame the rhubarb wine from last night.

[kevins]

19 hours ago, Spiny Norman said:

Aye it's going to get a lot worse. The roads in Glasgow are littered with deep, sharp edged craters everywhere. The council DGAF and their legal team sacks off all the complaints.
And now we're going to increase the average private car's weight by another half ton or so with all the EVs we're supposed to be buying. Fuck being eco-friendly, at this rate we'll all need Range Rovers just to get to work.
This is fairly typical, often these are every few yards.

yep my old rangie is the only one of our 8 cars I can drive around in without having to worry about pot holes, the idiot following a foot behind in his Audi/Bmw usually gets a nasty shock when I drive through a bad one with no braking or avoidance!

The work Transits are also pretty impervious to them.

[Remspoor]

Those nice Dutch folk set me two letters after my recent visit.

Two speeding fines. one 62kph corrected to 59 kph in a 50. The other 66kph corrected to 63kph in a 50.  Both on the same road one in the morning the other in the evening. now asking for money 261€. That is expensive.

The grumble is the wife is not letting me forget the amount. She who only has a motorbike licence and has not ridden for about 10 years.😞

[Spiny Norman]

6 hours ago, kevins said:

yep my old rangie is the only one of our 8 cars I can drive around in without having to worry about pot holes, the idiot following a foot behind in his Audi/Bmw usually gets a nasty shock when I drive through a bad one with no braking or avoidance!

The work Transits are also pretty impervious to them.

That's why I'm after a SUV/Jeep type of car, with the tallest profile tyres I can get. My old Citroen CX was fantastic over potholes. Oleopneumatic suspension and 80 profile Michelins meant you barely even noticed it running over a crater in the road.

Work vehicles are pretty much impervious to everything mind....

 

[rattlecan]

7 hours ago, Spiny Norman said:

That's why I'm after a SUV/Jeep type of car, with the tallest profile tyres I can get. My old Citroen CX was fantastic over potholes. Oleopneumatic suspension and 80 profile Michelins meant you barely even noticed it running over a crater in the road.

Work vehicles are pretty much impervious to everything mind....

 

Yeh, in similar style my E30 320i is lovely to drive from that point of view. 70 aspect tyres on , what are by todays standards, tiny diameter rims, coupled with quite soft & waffty suspension. It’s really rather lovely

[myglaren]

Yahoo mail.

I have long held a Yahoo account since they parted ways with BT and took Flickr with them.

Not used much but it now takes an hour to log in.  They make you wait at least an hour after the initial login attempt.

[GMcD]

Spent the last hour pulling the washing machine out as it's decided to lose all its water and soak the utility. Even better waters seeped into both the toilet and my study through the wall. My study floor is squelching. 

Fuck sakes! 

 

[High Jetter]

5 minutes ago, GMcD said:

Spent the last hour pulling the washing machine out as it's decided to lose all its water and soak the utility. Even better waters seeped into both the toilet and my study through the wall. My study floor is squelching. 

Fuck sakes! 

 

Uh, that's not a washing machine!

[Metal Guru]

16 hours ago, rattlecan said:

Yeh, in similar style my E30 320i is lovely to drive from that point of view. 70 aspect tyres on , what are by todays standards, tiny diameter rims, coupled with quite soft & waffty suspension. It’s really rather lovely

I suppose this is tempting fate, but I have driven the last 20 years in a car with 40 or 45 profile tyres and not had a single puncture or any other pot hole damage. Wife’s Bini has 55 profile tyres and shudders badly if you hit a pot hole but again no wheel or tyre damage. In fact all of the punctures I’ve ever had , have been from nails or screws.

[rattlecan]

Arseholes in their company cars (usually reps, but not exclusively) sat outside my business unit  talking on their phones through the car speakers with the volume still on 90mph driving  setting so you can here them in the next county.

Which has just happened for 15 mins 

[GMcD]

17 hours ago, GMcD said:

Spent the last hour pulling the washing machine out as it's decided to lose all its water and soak the utility. Even better waters seeped into both the toilet and my study through the wall. My study floor is squelching. 

Fuck sakes! 

 

Ripped up the flooring in the Utility and Study. 

I've got it pretty dry now through using the dehumidifier, fan heaters and central heating on full pelt. My mate has a damp meter I can borrow to check it's actually dried out. New build concrete floors so no basement to worry about. 

I could go through insurance, but unless I run into issues I'll probably be able to fix it over a weekend for less the excess,  increased premiums and general fucking hassle of it all. (£550 excess for escape of water..must remember to check the small print of my renewal next time!).

LVT will be used instead of laminate as it least that won't be immediately fucked should it happen again.   Annoying but could've been worse. 

[jakebullet]

I've stayed an extra day at the Mrs's for an appointment. Just got back home, and I'm in the shit 'cos idiot sister wanted a lift to fetch her car. Er, nobody mentioned anything about IS to me. Yes, Ma knows I'm totally in the dark. But I should have come back pronto, just in case some halfwit who can't be arsed to drop a text message wants driving around. 

TLDR: I'm crap at mind reading.

[anonymous user]

4 hours ago, rattlecan said:

Arseholes in their company cars (usually reps, but not exclusively) sat outside my business unit  talking on their phones through the car speakers with the volume still on 90mph driving  setting so you can here them in the next county.

Which has just happened for 15 mins 

Next time join in on the conversation with them, offer helpful suggestions, or alternatively pretend the chap is in a pub and start arguing that they have had enough to drink and spilled your pint that should go down well with their boss.

[brandersnatch]

49 minutes ago, jakebullet said:

I've stayed an extra day at the Mrs's for an appointment. Just got back home, and I'm in the shit 'cos idiot sister wanted a lift to fetch her car. Er, nobody mentioned anything about IS to me. Yes, Ma knows I'm totally in the dark. But I should have come back pronto, just in case some halfwit who can't be arsed to drop a text message wants driving around. 

TLDR: I'm crap at mind reading.

Can you not just tell Idiot Sister to fuck right off? Seems a reasonable solution to me. 

[jakebullet]

15 minutes ago, brandersnatch said:

Can you not just tell Idiot Sister to fuck right off? Seems a reasonable solution to me. 

Poor little lamb has been having a terrible day. I didn't mind read to drive her about. Then when she went to pay for car timing belt changing man told her engine isn't original to car and belt was about to pop. N he wants paying in Johnny Cash, when she has no actual money and was intending to bang it on credit card.

But yeah, a fuck off would be reasonable, except as usual she doesn't communicate with me. It's all suggestions* to the Ma, n hope I do what she wants by remote control. Perhaps she'll learn to ask after having to walk home.

[Rightnider]

The drainage system has finally had it.  It’s been raining and snowing a lot this winter and water is seeping through the wall in the basement. Time to talk to the bank I guess. 

[brandersnatch]

18 minutes ago, jakebullet said:

But yeah, a fuck off would be reasonable, except as usual she doesn't communicate with me. It's all suggestions* to the Ma, n hope I do what she wants by remote control. Perhaps she'll learn to ask after having to walk home.

Not communicating with you is surely all the more reason to play the fuck right off card?