THE GUBBERMINT ALWAYS KNOWS BEST

[wuvvum]

The engine management light has come back on on the Accord. This time it also appears to have dropped the rev limiter down to 4,000rpm. And I can't find the OBD port anywhere - I know where it's supposed to be, but it ain't there. The clutch has also recently started juddering like fuck on pull-away. At this rate I have a feeling the old girl is going to be going over the bridge when the tax runs out.

 

In other news, I R officially on the dole as of yesterday. Only for a few days, though, new job starts on Monday morning. Was a bit emotional yesterday though - out of all those who were leaving, I was by far the youngest, having only been at the company for just over eight years - one woman had been there since September 1969. We all went out for a final fling last night, and it turned out that the boss had decided the company would pick up the tab. Let's just say I was not a well man this morning. I also discovered that it is in fact impossible to be drunk enough to make Jack Daniels taste good.

[r.welfare]

No OBD port on these - you'll need to pull the kickpanel off beneath the glovebox, pull out the 2-pin connector and bridge the pins with a paperclip. The engine light will then flash a number of times with the ignition on, let me know the results and I can check the factory workshop CD-ROM to tell you what's up with it.

 

Shame about the old job, but if you're back in to a new one on Monday then that's eight years' worth of statutory redundancy (plus whatever company topup was the policy) to splash on new shite, no?

[Pete-M]

My new daily:

 

GR8 4 BEIN A SMALLER PETE-M.

 

4wd or Satanic?

[wuvvum]

that's eight years' worth of statutory redundancy (plus whatever company topup was the policy) to splash on new shite, no?

Well I do have quite a few debts to pay off, and a few things that need replacing (camera for one), plus I need to keep a bit aside to pay for my HGV license. But I'm sure there'll still be a bit left in the kitty for a shite-related purchase or so.

[RoadworkUK]

After spending a day stuck in various traffic jams in the home counties, I returned to work to find my car locked in behind the automatic barriers of the industrial estate behind the dealership. Barriers closed at 18:00, I got in at 18:06. Nobody about. Balls.

 

So. I nicked an old part-ex from work. The only one with a valid tax disc was an '04 S320 CDI. Loooong wheelbase. What a barge! £76k new.

 

Thing is, the thing is riddled with problems. Apart from 123,000 miles of shabbiness, the OMG SRS system warning is shouting its head off, various differently pitched bongs sound every now and again, there's a loud scream that sounds like a vacuum leak whenever you put your foot down, it needs a major (3 spanners on the screen....) service, the airmatic suspension works when it wants to and the rear screen is cracked.

 

And I love it. But it's easy to understand why old ones are so cheap. Fortunately, this one isn't rusty, yet. But I well understand why early T plate ones get sent over the bridge.

[ashmicro]

My new daily:

 

GR8 4 BEIN A SMALLER PETE-M.

 

4wd or Satanic?

 

2.5 V6 SE AWD Auto, looks like someone threw the entire options list at it too. I've blocked off the resonator so he sounds GRRRR!

[The Moog]

After a trip to sunny south Wales I have beige in my life .. and the numberplate almost reads arse!

 

[RoadworkUK]

That's jolly nice. I'll buy you a pint if you leave it as is and don't go all scene on us.

[Lankytim]

The Audi survived Cornwall and back without missing a beat! Oh, and I have bought a Volvo 240 estate.

[Lord Sterling]

After spending a day stuck in various traffic jams in the home counties, I returned to work to find my car locked in behind the automatic barriers of the industrial estate behind the dealership. Barriers closed at 18:00, I got in at 18:06. Nobody about. Balls.

 

Lol, this happend to me once. I was teaching a mate of mine to drive and took him around an industrial estate and pulled into one of the roads where there was more space, as we went to go out of the road I'd noticed the gates had been locked. Thanksfully, despite being young, I actually had some 'credit' on my phone and phoned up the security company, lady onthe other line warned me that it would usually cost me something like £5 to have the gates opened, but the lady gave me the old on this occasion....

 

So. I nicked an old part-ex from work. The only one with a valid tax disc was an '04 S320 CDI. Loooong wheelbase. What a barge! £76k new.

 

Thing is, the thing is riddled with problems. Apart from 123,000 miles of shabbiness, the OMG SRS system warning is shouting its head off, various differently pitched bongs sound every now and again, there's a loud scream that sounds like a vacuum leak whenever you put your foot down, it needs a major (3 spanners on the screen....) service, the airmatic suspension works when it wants to and the rear screen is cracked.

 

And I love it. But it's easy to understand why old ones are so cheap. Fortunately, this one isn't rusty, yet. But I well understand why early T plate ones get sent over the bridge.

 

I recently drove an 01' S320L, it had something in the region of 238k on the clock but still drove pretty well, though some interior trim was starting to come off and was pretty shabby. I also drove a 01' S600L a few weeks back. Very nice, very powerful, very smooth. It had all the touches that I like in luxury barges.

 

I take it the PXs are to be repaired and sold on or will they be just shoved through the auction?

[The Moog]

That's jolly nice. I'll buy you a pint if you leave it as is and don't go all scene on us.

 

Will do for the moment. My gf has got designs on turning it into full on camper but that doesn't really do it for me. She wants a Bernard Mark2 (Bedford from DW) and even wants to paint this already.

 

List of jobs to do

 

Sort gear linkage (bit of a lucky dip including no first)

New rear tyres

Get Speedo working

Sort Temo gauge

Fit electric windows properly

service it

decide what to do about bits of rust

 

Bloke chucked in a Sub woofer and an Amp as well. Not sure I am ever going to use them so will have to find a way to flog em on ..

[M'coli]

After a trip to sunny south Wales I have beige in my life .. and the numberplate almost reads arse!

That just needs something like this creatively placed on it!

[RoadworkUK]

 

I take it the PXs are to be repaired and sold on or will they be just shoved through the auction?

 

As a rule of thumb, if a Merc comes in that's less than 7 years old and not completely horrible we'll do a quick check in the workshop to see if it's worth doing the full Approved Used Car treatment. If there's anything more than £500 prep needed we won't bother, if it's a spec that doesn't have any particular USP, we won't bother, and if it's the kind of car that's likely to sit on the forecourt for ages and not go anywhere, we won't bother.

 

And we don't really bother with traders, either. With a non Merc, If it's interesting-ish or within warranty then one of the dealers in our group will underwrite it. If not it'll go straight to BCA. We never send anything over the bridge, incidentally.

[eddyramrod]

We never send anything over the bridge, incidentally.

 

Staff discount available? Surely that's the major perk of working for a main stealer, that you get first pick of all the old crud they don't want littering the forecourt? Or doesn't it work like that these days?

[Mr_Bo11ox]

The Audi survived Cornwall and back without missing a beat! Oh, and I have bought a Volvo 240 estate.

 

Great news for me if I need owt A-framed! Which i might shortly....

[The Moog]

That just needs something like this creatively placed on it!

or a Feck Drink Gurls sticker after it..

[M'coli]

That just needs something like this creatively placed on it!

or a Feck Drink Gurls sticker after it..

Good call! Although I suspect a picture of Father Jack would be enough!

[RoadworkUK]

Surely that's the major perk of working for a main stealer, that you get first pick of all the old crud they don't want littering the forecourt?

 

Oh, aye, that's where my Audi and my Alfa came from, but we're only "allowed" one a year (presumably for the fear of us starting a splinter dealership).

 

Stuff does go missing from p/x'd snotters from time to time. I have a burgeoning collection of BMW E39 Scissor jacks...

[Conrad D. Conelrad]

Went to the American car show at Tatton today, which was great - fewer cars than at the normal classic show, but much more variety and they're cars you don't see out and about much so very enjoyable.

 

On the way home my accelerator fell to the floor (the brass bit which holds the cable failed). This happened just before joining the A556, where I discovered that I had a top speed of 30mph and it took a mile to reach it. I hate that feeling of holding up traffic. Decided to press on, but hit every damn red light on the way

[CreepingJesus]

I can has new motor too. Couldn't be left out, y'see! It's how I roll. Pics later...

[dollywobbler]

400 miles in the 2CV over the weekend. Only slight issues were the dipstick not being quite home, so we lost a fair bit of oil on the way there and the roof trying to jump off twice on the way home. Might need a new oil breather to cure the former while I'd already ordered new roof studs at the weekend for the roof issue.

 

S'pose noise is also an issue. Ears were ringing after 4.5hrs of driving. Definitely something I need to work on as every show is bloomin' miles away now!

 

Range Rover's new battery has arrived. Will lob it on in a bit and see if it'll actually start - though relatives are coming so tinkering time will be at a minimum for the rest of the week.

[Polystratus]

400 miles in the 2CV over the weekend. Only slight issues were the dipstick not being quite home, so we lost a fair bit of oil on the way there and the roof trying to jump off twice on the way home. Might need a new oil breather to cure the former while I'd already ordered new roof studs at the weekend for the roof issue.

 

S'pose noise is also an issue. Ears were ringing after 4.5hrs of driving. Definitely something I need to work on as every show is bloomin' miles away now!

 

 

What's your soundproofing like under the bonnet - mine has the coconut type matting, suppose you could try a thicker material?

[catsinthewelder]

I'm getting unreasonably excited that I'm still the top bidder on the purple 1100 on ebay

 

In other news I've been tinkering with the bus to try and make it run properly. If the HT lead won't go back on, check that the rubber insert from the plug socket is still in the socket and not on the plug

[michiel]

S'pose noise is also an issue. Ears were ringing after 4.5hrs of driving. Definitely something I need to work on as every show is bloomin' miles away now!

 

What's your soundproofing like under the bonnet - mine has the coconut type matting, suppose you could try a thicker material?

 

Soundproofing under the bonnet? Don't think mine has any at all...

[Negative Creep]

MOT is now sorted. A tyre, 2 front brake hoses, balljoint and a brake pipe for £250 fitted. Oddly one of the indicators had blown today (insert "they aren't needed anyway" joke here) but I guess they either didn't check that or it literally blew just after driving off.

 

 

So.................who wants to buy an e30?

[dollywobbler]

My 2CV has none at all. Did have the glassfibre mat stuff, but that's crap so I pulled it off to stop it falling on the engine. None on the bulkhead really either so definitely work to be done! Not sure what I can do about the wind noise though, short of redesigning the entire body...

 

Range Rover seems to start fine with the new battery and the brakes seem good too, though still to find someone to fit discs and pads and quiz the ABS system as the light is still on.

[Cavcraft]

I can has new motor too. Couldn't be left out, y'see! It's how I roll. Pics later...

 

More than 24 hours have passed and still no news? Come on old lad, spill the bloody beans.

[CreepingJesus]

^It's all gone a bit Pete Tong, courtesy of the Bank of Scotland. I should really change banks, they don't deserve my hard-earned cash.

More on Thursday when I actually pick the bloody thing up. Altho', it may be a bit cursory, as I've a serious need to get some work in.

[dollywobbler]

Went for a short spell of laning in the Rangie this afternoon. Was great - much more comfortable than the 90! Diesel engine is much better for that sort of thing as well. Sadly, the ABS pump kept cutting in for long periods - think I've still got air in the system.

[Cavcraft]

Jesus wept. Took the Frontender to work today to give it a quick run out and so my lad can have a poke round with it on his dinner hour.

Started first crack, drove well for about 500 yards then started spluttering and didn't want to rev up. Coaxed it to the lad's work and about a mile before we got there the sodding EML came on.

Think (o.k, hope) it's the fuel filter as the car hasn't seen much action the last few months.