THE GUBBERMINT ALWAYS KNOWS BEST

[Cavcraft]

New shite arrived. Has a few 'issues' such as ABS sensor knack'd, EML on, dent on rear quarter and the fact somebody seems to have welded the bleeding towing eye on to the front. The interior was disgusting too, but a wangle with the trusty K'archer yesterday has seen mass improvement. Next up will be a bit of a polish/closer examination of the bodywork, then when my lad gets home we're going to plug his new Snap-On fault code reader 'thing' in to see what that throws up. Suspect a trapped/kinked/holed pipe under the airbox or engine cover as this has happened before apparantly. Oh, and just for good measure it needs a handbrake cable too

First impressions are that the 2.5 V6 doesn't half pull it very nicely (with a half decent roar too) and it seems quicker than the 3.0 S-type I had very recently. Not as nice inside though and prefer the look of the 'S' too.

I'd been to look at it when it was live on eBay, he was only a mile or so away, and I lobbed a cheeky-ish offer his way. He refused, left it to run and then surprise, surprise the 'winning' bidder sent him a Dear John e-mail and cocked on the deal, so the seller dropped me a text Friday night and the rest is history as they say...

 

[dollywobbler]

Blimey. This one actually is an elephant-amended Mondeo! Not that this is necessarily a bad thing.

[jonathan_dyane]

Just about to go out the door to head off to Exeter to fetch myself a metallic gold Merc 190D. Wish me luck...

[Shep Shepherd]

Printed out a new label for TV2's rear number plate using my Dymo thingy, just in time for my week-long German sojourn, which begins tomorrow morning:

 

 

Also, Volvo 740 estates make GR9 temporary storage sheds!

 

 

[Pete-M]

  Cavette said:

New shite arrived. Has a few 'issues' such as ABS sensor knack'd, EML on, dent on rear quarter and the fact somebody seems to have welded the bleeding towing eye on to the front. The interior was disgusting too, but a wangle with the trusty K'archer yesterday has seen mass improvement. Next up will be a bit of a polish/closer examination of the bodywork, then when my lad gets home we're going to plug his new Snap-On fault code reader 'thing' in to see what that throws up. Suspect a trapped/kinked/holed pipe under the airbox or engine cover as this has happened before apparantly. Oh, and just for good measure it needs a handbrake cable too

First impressions are that the 2.5 V6 doesn't half pull it very nicely (with a half decent roar too) and it seems quicker than the 3.0 S-type I had very recently. Not as nice inside though and prefer the look of the 'S' too.

 

Good choice Sah. Petrol, V engine, 4x4 and they're pretty nice to drive. Slightly cheapo inside but still a nicer place to be than a 3 series.

 

My Mac Tools fault code reader won't talk to these (although it will talk to Mondeos, so anyone about to say "It's a Mondeo" please STFU).

 

Thinking about it, my Mac Tools ET-50 won't talk to anything I own other than the Mondeo...

[Cavcraft]

This is a 2WD Pete!

Got an FCR on it, it wiped the EML light off and the ABS one for ahsort while. ABS transpired to be the n/s/r wheel sensor, EML is possibly actually related to the last time the car had a problem as it looks like whoever did it didn't actually clear the fault fully, if that makes sense mate?

'Advertised elsewhere' and had shit loads of interest in it, I didn't think they were that popular in truth. Oh, knocked some of the rear dent out of it today so looks a fair bit better, interior coming up well now and we got the towing eye off.

[Pete-M]

  Cavette said:

This is a 2WD Pete!

Got an FCR on it, it wiped the EML light off and the ABS one for ahsort while. ABS transpired to be the n/s/r wheel sensor, EML is possibly actually related to the last time the car had a problem as it looks like whoever did it didn't actually clear the fault fully, if that makes sense mate?

'Advertised elsewhere' and had shit loads of interest in it, I didn't think they were that popular in truth. Oh, knocked some of the rear dent out of it today so looks a fair bit better, interior coming up well now and we got the towing eye off.

 

a 2.5 2wd? Dammit I didn't know they made those in 2wd. Thought it was just the 2.0 and dieseasels. Ah well, close enough. Learn something new, I'll look for a 3.0 when I buy an estate in a couple of years then... They are popular with pretty much everyone other than the mouth breathing "It's a Mondeo" clueless crowd.

 

The fault code thingy may well be down to someone just plugging an FCR in, hitting 'clear codes' and not investigating further using proper diagnostic equipment. Often things can still be there but the FCR has just switched the light out.

[Cavcraft]

Ah, cheers Pete. The pipe he mentioned that was at fault last time is clearly quite new so I reckon we'll have to get it onto a 'proper' FCR at a garage.

[trigger]

My sisters been badging me for ages about fitting a Ipod Stereo into her Honda Civic Type R, A local audio shop quote her £50 to fit it and me being me said i can do that, It wouldn't take 1/2 hour....

 

WONG. Over a hour to fit a bloody stereo, You have to remove half the dash just to get the old one out inculding the gear lever, and heater controls, GR8. Still I got it fitted OK in the end so that was nice.

 

 

And in other news I dropped my Kadett of at my dad's this morning in readiness for it to go to the garage on Wednesday to get a new clutch fitted and ended up bring it home again and leaving my Mondeo TDCi there due to the bottom tensioner pulley rattling like buggerly and having to get that fixed now instead, another £300 down the drain.

[worldofceri]

  Shep Shepherd said:

Just obtained a TÃœV Emissions Sticker for TV2, as I'll have to drive through/park in at least one Umweltzone (low emissions zone) in Germany when I'm there in a couple of weeks:

 

 

It cost me €12.50, but it is valid throughout Germany and is good for the life of the car. Not sure what happens if I ever need to get a new windscreen, though, as it doesn't look likely that the sticker will be reusable...

 

I suggest that anyone considering driving to Germany obtains a sticker ASAP, if they haven't already done so, in order to avoid a €40 fine should they inadvertently end up in an Umweltzone. I drove The Volvo into one in Duisburg last year without realising and got away with it, but I might not be as lucky this time...

 

Shep's Link-O-Matic: http://www.tuev-nord.de/de/verkehr/ENGL ... e_8648.htm

 

Some mates and I took two vehicles to Cologne last year, realising too late about the Umweltzone to get stickers by post. We also arrived in Germany too late on a Friday evening to find somewhere that would sell us them. So we risked it. Drove in and out of Cologne three times without a problem, although we did shell out for the hotel's underground car park to avoid parking on the street.

[Shep Shepherd]

  worldofceri said:

Some mates and I took two vehicles to Cologne last year, realising too late about the Umweltzone to get stickers by post. We also arrived in Germany too late on a Friday evening to find somewhere that would sell us them. So we risked it. Drove in and out of Cologne three times without a problem, although we did shell out for the hotel's underground car park to avoid parking on the street.

 

I drove The Volvo (which is too old to qualify for a sticker) around Duisburg last year without realising it was an Umweltzone and got away with it, but I decided that I might not be as lucky this year when I drive into Essen (where I'm staying tomorrow evening en route to Magdeburg and an Umweltzone since 2008), so I got a sticker. A few people whom I'm tagging along with were unable/unwilling to get stickers, however. I wish them the best of luck...

[Pete-M]

Another one is if anyone is planning on visiting Czech. If you're going to use their motorways you need to pay motorway tax. I've still got last years disc in the window of the Jag, but it's only about £8 for three or four months and you can buy it in petrol stations anyhow.

 

No road tax if you don't use the motorways however. Another example of common sense.

[Shep Shepherd]

Just about to embark on my EPIC Euro-trip. Toodle pipski!

[dieselnutjob]

I thought that one of the principles of the EU was freedom of movement.

All of these different low emission zones with local rules that will be unknown to foreigners contravenes the spirit of freedom of movement in my opinion.

[Mike D]

It does seem a bit of a crock, when all and sundry can drive their cars over here and not pay road tax.... I'd just turn up and wing it!

[Lankytim]

Mr recent Volvo 240 purchase FAILED its MOT today, however it was only on perished front brake hoses and an "insecure" rear numberplate light. Not too bad, really. Tester missed the rust hole in the sill though!

[scaryoldcortina]

  Lankytim said:

Mr recent Volvo 240 purchase FAILED its MOT today, however it was only on perished front brake hoses and an "insecure" rear numberplate light. Not too bad, really. Tester missed the rust hole in the sill though!

 

That depends on where the hole is... 240 sills are huge enough for large bits of them to not be prescribed area....

[Conrad D. Conelrad]

  trigger said:

My sisters been badging me for ages about fitting a Ipod Stereo into her Honda Civic Type R, A local audio shop quote her £50 to fit it and me being me said i can do that, It wouldn't take 1/2 hour....

 

A neighbour asked me to replace the stereo in their Rover 400 shaped Civic. There was a big ball of wires at the back of the cavity and just not enough room for this damned radio to fit. Ended up with it a bit loose.

[The Moog]

Spent a fruitful day with cars.

 

Started on Micra and finally got the hub nut off. Ended up having to buy a 24 inch breaker bar but bought a decent make one so it wouldn't bend. Lovely jubbly it came off. All of the nuts were rusted to buggery so took ages getting it all off. The ball joint was knackered so dashed off to Eurocarparts just before they shut to get one. £80 lighter tootled home and fitted it. Also fitted new disc and pads on one side. Antiroll drop links were shot as well so I will change them tomorrow.

 

Feeling all satisfied I looked online to check price of lower wishbones for the other side. £25 ! Ouch. So ordered one for the the side online. Means will have to do it later on in the week. Finished just before it started raining so feel very pleased and smug!

 

Also ordered a slide hammer to have a go at getting the dents out

 

 

 

Changed the speedo cable in the VW but now it works but bounces all over the shop. Will have to investigate that tomorrow. Also discovered at 40 mph + the windscreen whistles... it is very very annoying Also cant find 1st gear. Got the rest but not 1st. Looking online sounds like it is a pain to do so will live with pulling off in 2nd at the moment. Flogged the bass bin and amp from van as well getting £50 back

 

Saab still wouldn't start so took the pump out. The new bellows I have fitted has split. Must have been when I forced it back in. Will have to reorder one from sweden. If it isn't then it is going to be scrapped I think.

[Lord Sterling]

I thought you had a Silver Micra? Or was that someone else I'm thinking of. As I said on the other thread, if you need any parts I can certainly try and get my hands on the correct part in the right colour if needs be.

[Cavcraft]

Hey Moog, if you get a slide hammer and have a go at the dent would you mind doing a 'how to' thread please? I've got one but haven't used it yet as not got the confidence.

[The Moog]

Will try to. Depends on how brave I am being!

[dollywobbler]

More interest in dent removal techniques here! Do post how you get on.

[scaryoldcortina]

Diagnostics shite.... I bought an OBD adapter on ebay from the crispy fried dangerous toy and vehicle electronics corp, it arrived yesterday with a singapore postmark.

 

Why? Because a genuine ELM327 chip to build an adapter around would be almost £30 to buy on it's own, and this whole bluetooth enabled final product was £10.50 including post. Of course, all the internet advice says not to buy one of these, it won't work, may be made from nuclear waste, will contain a dead mouse instead of a circuit board etc, and there are "please help me, it doesn't work" threads everywhere too. So, worst case it does nothing but I can use its case and OBD plug (itself more than a tenner) and build one, best case?

 

It works fine. Tried it out last night on a 2000 polo, it functions exactly the same as a "real" one. Don't know about the software they sent, I didn't try the disk but I'm fairly certain it will be 10 year old windows only freeware that didn't work a decade ago.

 

Verdict? Worth a punt if you know what you are doing. I'll do a thread on it when I get a moment.

[barefoot]

New silencer for the van...

 

 

Hand made from stainless by Turbo Thomas

It should last longer than I do!

 

- I have to say that that is a spectacularly poor photograph!

[trigger]

Are you planing on repainting the panel again Moog? The slide hammers I've used in the past involved either welding a rod to the panel or drilling a hole into it to attach the puller?

 

I'd had thought you'd be better of removing the interior trim and knocking it out from the inside?.

[The Moog]

I was thinking that I would drill a little hole to screw hammer in. Then after take paint back and fill the hole then spray it with rattle cans. I didn't think that I would be able to get it from the otherside, will go and have a look.

 

In the meantime fitted new droplinks to the front ARB and finished the brakes. Micra now handles really well and bumps are handled in its stride. One of those jobs that you don't really think need doing until you have done it. Feels massively different.

 

Changed the Oil in both Micra and VW. Cant get at the micro oil filter as it is tucked right at the back of the engine. WIll live with it for a bit and from now on get garage to do oil and filter for me on it, not worth the handle.

 

Fitted new temp sensor to the van but because it has been fitted with mk3 golf engine I am not sure it is wired properly. There is a wire coming from the sensor which goes no where. Going to have to try and work out what to do with it as it looks a world of grief. Still got no 1st gear but I am going to live without it for now..

[dollywobbler]

Had a quick look at the Range Rover's clutch after it went all funny at the weekend. Still a bit too much free play, but it's behaving properly now. In fact, after topping up the fluid and doing a few miles, there were no more crunchy gearchanges. Reckon it'll be worth trying to bleed it, but not while it's raining...

 

Lobbed the two wheels and tyres I collected yesterday onto the BX and gave it a quick run up and down the drive. Can't really do a lot more until I get a new rad as the water's pretty much falling straight back out at the moment. Settled for giving the inside a much needed clean - still lots to be done there.

[Lankytim]

  scaryoldcortina said:

  Lankytim said:

Mr recent Volvo 240 purchase FAILED its MOT today, however it was only on perished front brake hoses and an "insecure" rear numberplate light. Not too bad, really. Tester missed the rust hole in the sill though!

 

That depends on where the hole is... 240 sills are huge enough for large bits of them to not be prescribed area....

 

I didn't know that!

 

I thought that the whole sill was loadbearing as its a monocoque shell and forms part of the chassis. Its right at the rear end so I suspect would be close enough to the trailing arm mounting anyway.

[The Moog]

Decided to whip off the trim inside the micro to see if I could get at the dent. And I could!! Woo hoo. Managed to pop it out .. well most of it.

 

Before

 

After

 

Not perfect but will do. Also changed the rear high level brake light at the same time.

 

Took bus out for the run and taa dah the temp gauge has now decided to work. Must have been a mixture of changing sensor plus clean a few contacts. Need to get some tyres for the van as well.

 

Speedo still being a bit jumpy below 30mph but above that it works normally. Going to swap the hub caps around I think.