THE GUBBERMINT ALWAYS KNOWS BEST

[dollywobbler]

I'm going to try and get the BX back to our house today. No more snow since early yesterday afternoon, and I think the plough has already been through, so hopefully I can get up the hill it's stuck at the bottom of now. Mind you, our drive still has at least 6 inches of snow on it (and it's a long one, so forget about clearing it!) so I'll have to get the suspension in high mode! Have ordered some snow chains in case I can't get back out of the drive again.

 

I might take the 2CV for a spin. It excels in these conditions, but I'm not sure I can actually be bothered to dig it out of the garage and then subject it to super-salted roads just for a bit of fun.

[seth]

I might take the 2CV for a spin. It excels in these conditions, but I'm not sure I can actually be bothered to dig it out of the garage and then subject it to super-salted roads just for a bit of fun.

 

Go on! It'll be worth it! I think I just made someones day by "drifting" the Herald in a vaguely straight line (at various steering locks) up a local street Cheered me up too since the thing I'd driven out to had been canceled due to SNOW CHaOs even though all the roads there were perfectly passable.

[dollywobbler]

Roads are clear enough, but the driveway is a different story. Not sure I'd get it much out of the garage to be honest! Have just spent a good while hurling snow around without actually managing to clear a track. Snow is about 20 inches deep in places in front of the garage because all the snow avalanched off the roof yesterday!

 

I might just leave the BX where it is...

[mk2_craig]

Hey guess what, the MGF that my other half paid top dollar for in the middle of June managed to boil over the other night after I put my foot down a bit too soon after starting the engine. Damn you Rover and your fragile cooling systems! I had just spent half an evening fixing the faulty heater resistor pack too (another guaranteed F weak point).

 

Therefore XR2 is evicted from the garage + now covered in a ton of white stuff while the Metro Coupe is tucked up in the garage drained of coolant

[myglaren]

I'm going to try and get the BX back to our house today. No more snow since early yesterday afternoon, and I think the plough has already been through, so hopefully I can get up the hill it's stuck at the bottom of now. Mind you, our drive still has at least 6 inches of snow on it (and it's a long one, so forget about clearing it!) so I'll have to get the suspension in high mode! Have ordered some snow chains in case I can't get back out of the drive again.

 

I might take the 2CV for a spin. It excels in these conditions, but I'm not sure I can actually be bothered to dig it out of the garage and then subject it to super-salted roads just for a bit of fun.

 

 

These snow shovels are ace for shifting snow from large areas. link.

 

It is law there for everyone to keep pathways outside their property clear. Anyone slipping and sustaining an injury has an automatic claim against the property owner (usually covered by their buildings insurance)Everyone just does it anyway. As everyone does it, there are far fewer problems with access to any property or business, things just run so much smoother.

Not that they like it any more than we do. Sooner be out skiing.

[myglaren]

Roads are clear enough, but the driveway is a different story. Not sure I'd get it much out of the garage to be honest! Have just spent a good while hurling snow around without actually managing to clear a track. Snow is about 20 inches deep in places in front of the garage because all the snow avalanched off the roof yesterday!

 

I might just leave the BX where it is...

 

Was out in our 'garden'* yesterday and found that there was no snow but lots of bricks & tiles that came down with the avalanche last week.

Right where my son usually stands smoking.

 

I did warn him as a girl in Cumbria had sustained serious spinal injuries while clearing snow round her house and an avalanche of snow and ice had fallen on her and crushed her.

 

 

*I have bigger handkerchieves

[Shep Shepherd]

I realised today - after seven years - just how much easier driving in snow and ice if the manually-selectable first and second gears that The Volvo's transmission is equipped with are used at appropriate moments, especially when moving off and going up small, steep inclines, such as the run-up to the alley leading to my courtyard.

 

Autoboxes for the win, even old ones which need a fluid change

[wuvvum]

Found ice in the expansion bottle of the Skoda this morning.

 

Not frozen solid, more like a Slush Puppy sort of consistency, but still not good. I siphoned some coolant out of the expansion bottle and topped up with another 3/4 litre or so of antifreeze (all I had left in the can), then I started the car and ran it for ten minutes or so to pump it round the system. Hopefully this will be enough to keep it from freezing up any more - I'll check the state of the coolant tomorrow morning before I leave for my Christmas hols, and if it's started to freeze up again I'll just whip the bottom rad hose off and let all the coolant drain out.

 

On the plus side the car is running OK and doesn't seem to be pissing coolant out of anywhere, so hopefully no harm done. Plus I've discovered that the original mechanical fuel pump is still in fine working order, which means I can nick the Facet pump for the Volvo.

[Lankytim]

A new gas mixer arrived for the Audi to replace the one which went up in flames along with the air filter housing last week.. Its of a different design to the old one and fits directly to the top of the carb. The result is far quicker starting, instant throttle response, zero flat spots, billiard table smooth idling, much smoother running and a quieter engine. Its flipping amazing! Did that little fire actually do me a favour? I'm hoping it betters the usual 18 MPG on gas, too! All I need now is a decent chrome/stainless pancake air filter to chop up and adapt to fit the mixer, if anyone has a spare one lying about. Metal filter housings can't burn!

 

I also replaced the front discs and pads as the pervious set were worn to excess. The NSF caliper is still partially seized though, I was hoping the change in position plus a little exercise in and out would cure the sticky cylinder, alas- no. During the work I found that one outer CV boot had had a bit of bukkake fun with the brake caliper. I feel on a roll at the moment so i'll get cracked on with that over the Crimbo holidays.

 

This evening I got the old tub up on ramps and changed a gearbox mount in the freezing cold dark. The old mount has completely disintegrated meaning the gearstick was at a funny angle and the engine could rock about excessively. The stick is now righted and doesn't vibrate about everywhere. The broken exhaust joint can now also be fixed with a degree of permanency, seeing as the engine and wobblyness of the engine will no longer tend to overstress and break it.

 

I do intend to replace the other mount, but its behind the exhaust, doesn't look half as collapsed and perished as the other side and I was cold and hungry. Another job for later I think, but all in all a very productive weekend!

[AlsoMike]

I've driven a few hundred miles in the 205 TD now and it's going pretty damn well, the performance is ace and I'm getting low 40s in MPGeez, which isn't bad considering I drive like a hooligan. I could deffo get more if I tootled around a bit slower. Now I've determined that it isn't going to implode (I always get new car PHEAR) I'll give it a service and start sorting all of the niggling little problems with it, passenger door not opening from the inside, indicator lens broken, drivers side window not closing properly... Great stuff to be doing in this weather.

 

Anyone got a 205 parcel shelf or ashtray going spare? Both are strangely absent in this car.

[dollywobbler]

Tried to get the 2CV out to play in the snow. Made it one car length before it was completely stuck. Just about managed to reverse it back into the garage...

 

Headed down to the hotel to see if I could get the BX out. Bloke who works at the hotel (who owns a Mitsubishi Delica) kindly gave me a tug out, which saved having to dig my way out. He unhitched and I found that the BX could not move. So much ice in the wheelarches that the wheels were locked! BX is equipped for this. Going into the highest suspension setting allowed me to just about reverse out of people's way while I then knocked the ice out with a shovel.

 

So, I can now drive to Aberystwyth, albeit I have to stay in intermediate height as any lower and the ice starts catching on the rear wheels again. While in town, I re-inflate the tyres to normal pressure. Well, three of them because those stupid machines don't give you enough time for four wheels it seems.

 

Get back home and park at the end of our driveway, half on the road. It's as close as I'm going to get. Unload shopping. Get very tired - it's quite a trudge in the deep snow. Now I've just got the small problem of where to park. I can't leave it where it is, because it's a bend and likely to get clobbered. Road is too narrow and too poorly cleared to park there, but I manage to find a car park up a steep slope - the slope has been cleared for farm access. I get a run up and just about get up it. Car now abandoned there - hopefully we'll be able to get out when we head to Devon on Friday... (more SNOW CHAOS forecast though, stay tuned).

[The Moog]

Astra had no reversing lights. £7 swtich and 10 minutes to fit it. Bargain .. starting to love the simplicity of it all ...

[Shep Shepherd]

Just given The Volvo a thorough jet-wash at the local Clean Park, due to it turning almost black with road dirt over the past five days. I really must start using TV2 as a daily driver again...

[Claypole]

Astra had no reversing lights. £7 swtich and 10 minutes to fit it. Bargain .. starting to love the simplicity of it all ...

 

Mine are duff too on my Astra Estate.

 

Do you have the part number for said switch?

[gearoil]

I have increased my snow ballast in the works van from 8 empty pallets to 12, got all the service swag for the Vectra but the unit is under 259ft of snow. Daily family bimmer coping well in swmbos hands, bloke from the borders still hasn't showed to collect the Sierra.

 

The thought has crossed my mind about putting it back on the road... will need (minimum) inner & outer sills, arches, plenty of plates here there and everywhere, fuel & brake pipes and probably the petrol tank too (have 2 spare) Hmm...

[dollywobbler]

Lining up a Landy. It's in the Midlands. It's a V8...

 

Train from Aber to there is £21! Bargain. Biggest problem is getting to Aber. There is apparently a bus service, but you need to phone in advance and it only operates Mon, Wed, Fri! Car logistics are against us as the Mini is already in Aber awaiting some fettling from a Mini specialist (the brake caliper pistons are more pitted than the local landscape) so I can't just drive and leave a car there or we'll have TWO out of place. Wife isn't keen on driving something that isn't her Mini, especially in unfavourable conditions (snow has not entirely cleared on the main road).

 

Question is, do I pay the extra £2 (only £2!) for a return ticket just in case it turns out to be crap? (Won't be a bus to get me home then though!) Or do I just go for it based on a fairly iffy pic and a short description (oh, and a fresh MoT pass this morning).

[Lankytim]

For the love of God get a return ticket!

[Tayne]

.

[dollywobbler]

I'll try my luck with the bus company first of all. Seems quite quaint really. And yes, I'll get a return ticket!

[The Moog]

Astra had no reversing lights. £7 swtich and 10 minutes to fit it. Bargain .. starting to love the simplicity of it all ...

 

Mine are duff too on my Astra Estate.

 

Do you have the part number for said switch?

 

Reverse Light Switch

Brand New Part

Part No. 90482454

 

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... 1340wt_698

 

Really easy fix as well. Screws in on the gearbox (right hand side standing in front of the bonnet) and will need 19mm spanner to get it out. 10 mins tops today in the snow.

[Timewaster]

Just been outside. Need to take the Transit and leave it outside the garage for a retest. (Cost nowt to repair, free servo seal off a scrapper FTW)

 

Wont Start. Bum Holes. Probably due to the utterly shagged fan belt that I refused to replace fearing the worst for the test!

At least I tried starting it before I scraped all the ice off.

Looks like the retest will have to be wednesday now.

[Claypole]

Many thanks Mr Moog.

[Angrydicky]

Just given The Volvo a thorough jet-wash at the local Clean Park, due to it turning almost black with road dirt over the past five days. I really must start using TV2 as a daily driver again...

 

Guessing you mean the one opposite the Cemetary in Sutton Road? Is that metallic green A reg Chevette saloon still parked outside did you notice?

 

Again, another one I wanted to snap but haven't got around to it

[dollywobbler]

Right. I'm all set for my day of public transport horror, which will make me feel much better about it costing so much to drive home again. Though just in case it isn't as good as I hope, a return plan will be in place.

 

I've booked the local bus - a single will cost me £1.95, which is a lot less than a much shorter journey on one of those fancy hybrid buses in Oxford! Then I've got an hour to loiter in Aberystwyth before the train to Birmingham, then another hour wait (but I'll check out the German Christmas market) before my train to where the car is. Should arrive there about 4pm just in time for it to be dark... (must remember a torch!).

 

My journey commences at 9:45 tomorrow morning. I'd better do some work until then to ensure I can afford to get home!

[michiel]

Good luck - hope you'll be burbling home...

[dollywobbler]

Thanks Michiel. Today I've been lining up insurance. Hit a snag when Footman James refused to add it to my existing policy (a different bracket of vehicle apparently) so made the mistake of seeking cover elsewhere. Direct Line = £570! Highest quote of the day = £2600!!! One accident (the sadly deceased Minor) and no no-claims are a big problem.

 

Then I remembered Peter D James and gave them a call. It's JUST old enough for them to cover it - £141. More than I was hoping to pay (ie nothing) but that'll do.

 

Wasted a morning on the phones speaking to idiots in call centres who have no idea how to pronounce Aberystwyth or the name of our cottage (one even asked if I'd said Pottage - feeling hungry was he?) so I think I'll go and see if the CX starts. Bidding was over £530 last time I looked...

[Tayne]

.

[dollywobbler]

Bit worried by the latest snow forecast. Seems to be pretty much between here and the Land Rover! I haven't pre-booked my train ticket as I've no idea if I'll actually make it as far as Aberystwyth, let alone Birmingham. I think I'm going to follow the migrating birds next winter. They've got the right idea!

[autofive]

my first post on the news24 thread

 

my pinto cortina went for its first long run today over 300 miles durham - wigan and back

 

but all is not well .....

 

slightly binding front brake - annoying when it pulls to one side

oil pissing out the rocker cover onto the dizzy cap

whining diff at high speeds (private road type speeds)

prop rubbing on the exhaust - sounds like cozy powell is on the back seat when you decelerate

5th gear noisy - might need to top up the box

heaters crap - i think a bit of channel to the screen is missing

drivers seat saggy - only noticed it after my back started aching 50 miles into the journey

headlights crap

 

still, got me to wigan to pick up about a 1000 old car mags

[The Moog]

Ashtray now has Outside temp inside Took a whole 1 minute to swap the sensor over but in that time I got cold and wet. Still worth it...