THE GUBBERMINT ALWAYS KNOWS BEST

[dollywobbler]

I fail to see anywhere that I've extolled the virtues of the 2CV in that post. I just said it was better than a Fiat 500, which is not hard it turns out. Or have I missed another dose of alleged 'merkin humour?

[RoadworkUK]

Sometimes I feel like a total fraud in the Autoshite community; there is (touch wood) simply zero drama in my world of cars.

 

Visited my Nan and Pops tonight, a splendid evening with Shepherds Pie. Delicious. Also, an opportunity to start my other car, the A4 that went into hiding when I put the 825 back on the road. Two months ago I simply reversed the filthy Audi into their garage, switched it off and left it. Didn't disconnect the battery or take any other precautions.

 

Here was the result.

 

 

How fucking boring.

 

So I have two cars, neither of which are worth anything, and neither of which cost me anything to run bar petrol, tax and insurance. Both of which are economical, reliable, fast, enjoyable to drive and presentable. And, by all accounts; reliable!

 

Remind me why people buy new cars....

[wuvvum]

Ignore Wuvvum

That's the most sensible thing that's been said on this forum in ages.

[dollywobbler]

I must admit, I was expecting the Regal to be really bad, but it just sort of wasn't. Yes, it's noisy - as you'd expect as you're nearly wearing the engine (like an H van) but it wasn't that bad and it did drive nicely. I imagine one wouldn't be much fun on a dual carriageway, especially if it had wear in the steering, but there aren't many dual carriageways here anyway. Think I'd prefer a Robin though. Smarter and quicker.

[Cavcraft]

Got to drive a Fiat 500 (proper size, Nuova) today. I'd always thought of it as fairly similar to a 2CV in spirit, yet after 80 miles in the 2CV, the next 20 in the Fiat felt like torture! Slow, noisy, crap steering, crap gearchange (why did they not bother with ANY synchromesh?!) and then it developed a fuel starvation issue. Tellingly, when I leapt from the Italian tin can to a Reliant Regal (my first time in one!) I felt like I'd hopped into a Bentley. Ignore Wuvvum - Reliant Regals are ace (as long as you've just jumped out of a Fiat 500). Also drove a Robin and now want one very, very much...

 

Sounds just like the incredibly hateful 126 then.

[Lankytim]

In one of my last jobs I had to deliver brand new Fiat 500's. I thought they were freaki'n ace! I've never driven a 2CV but I'll wager a 500 is atleast 500 times nicer to drive to Aberdeen from Stoke!

[TagoraSX]

Can anyone tell me the difference between these carbs?

 

Solex 32 DIDTA

 

and

 

Solex 32/35 TDID

[The Moog]

Just been out to swap over wheels on the two T25's. Gold on is on ebay (need to do decent pictures tomorrow) but already had loads of "Whats your reserve mate" How much for Cash right now" etc.

 

Ebay is simple. Bid what you want to spend. Full stop.

 

Oh and on new T25 3 wheels are 19mm bolts or nuts 1 wheel 17mm. Need to get that sorted.

[The Moog]

Fucksticks. Went to start the van this morning to take it to work. Eletrickery present but nothing happened! No Click no nothing. Hmmm will investigate tonight

[wuvvum]

Got to drive a Fiat 500 (proper size, Nuova) today. I'd always thought of it as fairly similar to a 2CV in spirit, yet after 80 miles in the 2CV, the next 20 in the Fiat felt like torture! Slow, noisy, crap steering, crap gearchange (why did they not bother with ANY synchromesh?!) and then it developed a fuel starvation issue.

 

Sounds just like the incredibly hateful 126 then.

The 126 did at least have the luxury of synchromesh on the top three gears.

[dollywobbler]

In one of my last jobs I had to deliver brand new Fiat 500's. I thought they were freaki'n ace! I've never driven a 2CV but I'll wager a 500 is atleast 500 times nicer to drive to Aberdeen from Stoke!

 

Probably true. A new 500 is probably at least 6 zillion times nicer to drive than an old 500. Suddenly, the new one makes some sort of sense.

[Rocket88]

Can anyone tell me the difference between these carbs?

 

Solex 32 DIDTA

 

and

 

Solex 32/35 TDID

 

Sating the bleedin' obvious.one is a twin choke, and the other isn't?

[The Moog]

VW T 25 wont start. Lights on dash ok. Key in and no clicking or attempting to start. I am slightly hampered by the fact that all my tools are round my mums and I am not talking to her at the moment.

 

Any suggestions? Is it likely to be solenoid / Starter ?

[John F]

Are the dash lights dimming when you turn the key? If so, stuck starter (and solenoid?).

 

Otherwise, chafed wire / bad earth to the starter?

[dollywobbler]

Options. Grab something hammer-like and batter the starter, or try rocking back and forth in fourth gear.

 

I'm still wading through the cambelt job on the BX. New water pump now fitted. Now trying to back the tensioner off so I can get the belt on. Horrible job. Those who've done this job on transverse V6s deserve a LOT of respect! Haven't had a lot of tinkering time, which is why this has taken over a week so far. That and horrible illness. I have clocked up over 200 miles in the 2CV this week though, and I've got another 180 to do at the weekend. Would quite like to use the BX for that, but it's not currently looking likely...

[barefoot]

VW T 25 wont start. Lights on dash ok. Key in and no clicking or attempting to start. I am slightly hampered by the fact that all my tools are round my mums and I am not talking to her at the moment.

 

Any suggestions? Is it likely to be solenoid / Starter ?

 

If it won't bump start, then its a bad earth, there's a big fuck off cable that goes to the starter motor.

It fails on all VW Audi (well on my T2 & my old 100L)

[Timewaster]

You should ignore me too, by all means, Ian!

You're in good company with Fiat 500 hate, it's getting terrible reviews here in the States. The QC is simply absent. Doors that don't shut, FFS, are just the beginning of it....

 

Norm, DW means one of these:

 

Whereas you seem to be refering to these:

 

[The Moog]

Success ! Lights werent dimming at all but stuck a jump pack on it anyway. Checked the earth to batter and starter and looked fine. Tried tapping it (well clout it) but made no odds. Had a wiggle of all the wires at the starter / solenoid and it roared into life.

 

Hopefully it will cure it

[Cavcraft]

'Create your own fuel day' so far a roaring success. Car is definately more willing, seems smoother/cleaner through the gears and costs cut by quite a bit.

[RobT]

I’ve got a chip in the bottom right corner of my windscreen, outside the MoT area. Autoglass state it isn’t repairable as it’s less than 6 cm from the edge of the screen, although I think it is just about small enough (their criteria is smaller than the diameter of a £2 coin).

 

What to do? I’ve put some tape over it in the hope that’ll stop the small cracks from spreading, dunno if it will work though. I can just see sourcing and fitting a windscreen for a Montego being a potential PITA, as well as denting the shite contingency fund considerably!

[Rocket88]

Try one of the DIY kits?

[RobT]

Try one of the DIY kits?

 

Didn't know they existed, will give it a go. And no doubt cock it up!

[cort16]

I'm sick of using ebay to unsuccessfully sell my cars. Ebay can bite my banger I'm going old skool and sticking them in the autotrader bargains section.

[dollywobbler]

Get the windscreen replaced? Your insurance may cover it (save a £50-60 excess).

 

BX is running again after a friend kindly helped me with the tensioner. I really did need three arms! Tempting to slap some coolant in and go for a drive, but I want to fit the temperature gauge, and the rad fan switch also needs replacing. Ideal time to do it really.

 

That said, the old water pump looked absolutely dreadful, so I suspect that the waterways are similarly manky. Maybe I should do a coolant flush and drive it for a bit with some of that stuff in, then drain again.

[Shep Shepherd]

Just fitted new windscreen wipers to The Volvo. Pity that I can't drive it in the rain (or the dark) until I figure out why the offside tail light doesn't work and the nearside brake light is permanently on when the lights are turned on; I think I might have crossed a wire or two the last time I removed the rear lights (in June) to clean them and the metalwork underneath them; I haven't actually driven the car in the dark or the rain since then...

 

Also, I passed my driving test on this day sixteen bloody years ago

[scaryoldcortina]

Also, I passed my driving test on this day sixteen bloody years ago

 

Spooky! Me too, but 22 years ago.

[Shep Shepherd]

 

I passed my test in Herne Bay driving a 1995 Nissan Sunny 'Sequel' special edition. How about you?

[scooters]

In hospital again...had gall bladder out and bile duct scraped out this morning...

 

Now have a tube up my Willy and am plumbed into a morphine pump...you press this wee buttoooooooooooooooooonnn.....

[jonathan_dyane]

Get the windscreen replaced? Your insurance may cover it (save a £50-60 excess).

 

BX is running again after a friend kindly helped me with the tensioner. I really did need three arms! Tempting to slap some coolant in and go for a drive, but I want to fit the temperature gauge, and the rad fan switch also needs replacing. Ideal time to do it really.

 

That said, the old water pump looked absolutely dreadful, so I suspect that the waterways are similarly manky. Maybe I should do a coolant flush and drive it for a bit with some of that stuff in, then drain again.

 

Washing powder works well as coolant flush, just add to plain water, run it up to temperature and drain...

[dollywobbler]

Thanks for the tip. Car Mechanics once used Daz in their Skoda Octavia 200,000 mile ex-taxi. Seemed to work an absolute treat! As it was, I had a bottle of coolant flush sitting around anyway - bought it for the Westminster but never used it.