AnnoyingPentium's Adventures - Plodding On.

[AnnoyingPentium]

Since I last posted, there has been something resembling progress!

Some idiot (me) decided it'd be wise to replace the rear axle, having been and viewed a couple of Ayrshire-registered Fabias with the no-cost optional sill delete on all seen. Makes my Edinburgh registered one look mint in comparison. With the axle coming off it just made sense to have the rear brakes converted to discs like the fast* models have, oooh la la. Next up has to be upgrading the front discs from 239mm to 256mm as used on the 1.4 16v 100 and the 1.9 PD100 versions. Did debate 288mm discs but with the calipers on they wouldn't clear me 14" winter steels.

Mmmm, shiny. My mate did the honours of fitting the axle whilst I ran about in the wonderful* Daewoo Nexia as my "courtesy" car. I've never been so glad to get rid of a car in my life (Mk1 Focus estate notwithstanding). The Nexia wasn't bad, but it wasn't my kind of thing once the novelty of it wore off. He's fixed the exhaust for me as well, so no blow, no rattle, and it actually looks like it should be part of the car. What an improvement.

Since having the Fabia back, it's been running a lot nicer. Smoother anyway. As I alluded to in my last post, it does have a couple of issues, but I'm getting a point where I can sort them, I just need time. I'm feeling more positive about the car again (rollercoaster, much), but I know if I keep ignoring what it's needing, it'll bite me on the arse. I've got a list drawn up now, it's mainly smaller, niggly things. It's as MOT ready as it'll ever be, so with any luck it'll scrape a pass. If so, I can throw it on SORN and park it up with a cover (paint is fucked anyway) and get stuck in with the spannering, not having to worry about how I'll get to and from work, etc. At the moment there's a leak coming in from the drainage channel under the scuttle, which has a rubber seal bonding it to the bulkhead. I'll be breaking out the mastic and putting that right as soon as I can. Following up from that, the next step is to have the alloy wheels done, there's a local chap who is good and cheap, but not quick. That'll do me, seeing as they're not on the car now. Then it'll be worrying about getting an MOT. One crisis at a time, and that.

In the meantime I've just been using it as an car, as it should be...

Little trundle over the hills towards Mauchline on this fine Boxing Day was rather nice, even if the car is now absolutely filthy. Charging towards 110k miles now, not bad for a 1.2 3-pot petrol.

To recap - lots to do, not a lot of time to do it. Still enjoying the car most of the time.

[Bmwdumptruck]

Ours is also becoming an ‘an car’ too.  With a nice new battery earlier this year it just starts and goes as it should. The wife is actually using it more than expected too.  
I did a new cambelt earlier this year as there was no history of one, but the old one looked like it was pretty new and the pump looked really quite shiny so I didn’t disturb it.  It turned out a very easy job even with the twin belts so no problem to do the pump if it starts leaking in time. 
We took an opportunity to have the wifes Mazda alloys refurbed by my Nephew a few mnths back, and had a set I’d bought for our T4 based moho done at the same time.  They were so nice I gave in and sent the alloys I’d bought for the Fab in too, so they’re now fitted reusing 2 good Michelins that came with them and the half worn pair of Falkens off the boys old Fab.  Still got 2 nearly new Falkerns to go on when needed (one of which is on the 5th alloy in the spare). 
Still not found any roof rails, but not looking that hard as yet, it’s a desire more than a need. I have been watching a pair of AudiTT front seats in black cloth for it but the wifes not to keen on the idea. 

But we do have a leak to try and fix, NS rear door leaking quite badly into the rear footwell.  I’ve taped across the bottom of the glass for now.   
New clutch is kinda planned for Spring time.  I’ll order up a Sachs kit nearer the time and book my Nephew for a day to help, although I don’t forsee any reasons why I couldn’t manage solo, but he’s offered……(and having recently bought a house with my Niece; which I’ve spent quite a few days helping them move into and do various jobs in, He kinda owes me.  Also got big plans to rework the twin garage he’s now got into a double with a new roof too, so that will take up quite a bit of my time next year). 
Another desire is a towbar, but only if one turns up locally for peanuts. 

[AnnoyingPentium]

14 minutes ago, Bmwdumptruck said:

But we do have a leak to try and fix, NS rear door leaking quite badly into the rear footwell.  I’ve taped across the bottom of the glass for now.   

This is a TADTS thing on these. It's very well documented, the seal on the metal door carrier (responsible for holding all the internal gubbins in) fails and the water that runs through the drainage channels in the door gets diverted into the car. Pretty well documented even back when these cars were new (2003 Briskoda link), shitload of mastic works to seal them up if need be. Mine had the doors done like that all round (by the dealer) in 2009 or so when the car was three years old. That's why if you ever see an early one for sale with the grey/cream cloth and it has staining on the door cards, it's likely pissing water in or has been, and a nightmare to remove the marks due to the type of fabric.

Alloys look good on yours, I had a set of those for 14" ones for a while after bending my old ones when I was down in Wales for Shite Fest '23. Now got another set of the six spokes as seen above, and the steel wheels for winter.

For the towbar, you can get new ones from PF Jones still. I bought mine brand new from them in 2022 and it was a fairly pain-free service. Bought one later for the Vectra I had, never did fit it as I'd sold the car, but again, arrived quickly and in one piece as described. They're all the same between the hatchback, estate, and saloon, so no worries about compatibility.

If you need a hand with owt, let me know.

[Bmwdumptruck]

I’ve used PFJones a few times, my van and the wifes Mazda towbars came from them.  Can actually get one a bit cheaper from an ebay supplier, but I’d prefer a £50 second hand one really.  Not sure I’d use it much so don’t want to spend too much on it. Got bars on all the other 4 wheelers so not short of options for a tow vehicle. 
Think I read that not only are hatches and estates are the same, but also mk1 and mk2 fabias too. 
Daft thing is I’m keener to find roof rails as I think it looks odd without them.  So if you see any  anywhere let me know.  

[AnnoyingPentium]

Oh well that'll do nicely.

I'll get around to the CV boot as soon as I can (palm it off to my mate) and the tyres will be alright as they're getting removed with the steels for my alloys once they're back from a refurb. Result.

[Bmwdumptruck]

Fixed my leak(I think) the other day.  Popped the trim off, or at least around the bottom, no matter what we tried couldn’t get the top edge to release from the door.  We even found the wee screw behind the tweeter, but still no movement.  So instead we just wedged the panel away enough to reach up behind.  Drilled the rivets using an angle drill and eased the mounting panel out enough to get some ct1 around the edges.  Fixed the panel back with self drilling frame screws and sealed over their heads too.   New trim clips and put it back together.  Decided to check the other side to find it not far off the same, but this time I just picked the old seal out of it’s home, dried it all up and just sealed the join with more ct1.  More new trim clips and it’s all nice and dry now.  Bought another bigger bag of trim clips and plan to check the front doors at some point.  It is nice to get into a dry car now. 

[AnnoyingPentium]

1 hour ago, Bmwdumptruck said:

Fixed my leak(I think) the other day.  Popped the trim off, or at least around the bottom, no matter what we tried couldn’t get the top edge to release from the door.  We even found the wee screw behind the tweeter, but still no movement.  So instead we just wedged the panel away enough to reach up behind.  Drilled the rivets using an angle drill and eased the mounting panel out enough to get some ct1 around the edges.  Fixed the panel back with self drilling frame screws and sealed over their heads too.   New trim clips and put it back together.  Decided to check the other side to find it not far off the same, but this time I just picked the old seal out of it’s home, dried it all up and just sealed the join with more ct1.  More new trim clips and it’s all nice and dry now.  Bought another bigger bag of trim clips and plan to check the front doors at some point.  It is nice to get into a dry car now. 

Great to hear you managed to get it sorted. My mate was up at that red estate in the U-Pull-It yard. Wasn't too much left, but he snagged me the heated seats so I can repair mine.

[Bmwdumptruck]

1 hour ago, AnnoyingPentium said:

Great to hear you managed to get it sorted. My mate was up at that red estate in the U-Pull-It yard. Wasn't too much left, but he snagged me the heated seats so I can repair mine.

Wow that was quick.