Amelia's Automotive Adventures - One out, One in...

[hairnet]

9 minutes ago, Rustybullethole said:

Me too.

The nasty surprise of finding a massive gapping crusty hole is a better found with an exploratory finger rather than...

the mot man

[Rustybullethole]

32 minutes ago, hairnet said:

the mot man

Indeed though there's worse ways to find the structural rigidity has worn off a bit. 

A case in point. 

 

 

[Amelia]

It's finished. 

FTP happened on the way into work - it's absolutely fucked, but entirely my fault as I pressed on with my journey in spite of knowing it was broken!

Here's what happened.

Auxiliary belt started squealing last Friday AM, I revved the engine and it shut up. I think perhaps it snapped because a little way into the journey the battery light came on,  as well as the brake warning light. 

My first thought was 'Oh, that's not good - I'd best turn off any electrics I don't need.' And I carried on. 

A short while later... I realised the heater wasn't hot anymore.  At that point it dawned on me that the water pump was on the same belt and that meant the water wasn't pumping.  At this point the lights were dimming and electricity was definitely running out. So I took it easy and kept an eye on the temperature, because work was only 5 or so miles away.,,,,in East London.... 

Needless to say, I got to within 1.5 miles of work and the temp shot up, the car started smoking out the exhaust badly and spluttering. It died just before the North Circular junction, and I coasted to the side of the road and bumped up onto the pavement. Car completely dead - luckily I have breakdown cover. It took an hour to get collected and dropped off at work, where the car has remained since.

Oh well, you win some, you lose some.

 

PS. I managed to fix the heater on the Mini, so at least I have reliable warm transport!

[Amelia]

Rio has been collected now, a sad close to a rather pathetic chapter in my car ownership saga.

 

Just for shits and giggles, I got the jump leads out and attempted to start it.

The noise was most horrible, it sounded really weird, a whirwhirwhir type noise with no catching at all - like only half of the engine was turning over - cambelt snapped maybe? 

Whatever the case, I wasn't exactly heartbroken to see it being dragged onto the back of the truck. 

[Amelia]

[Rustybullethole]

Some burn bright though not for long. Or something. 
Looking forward to further adventures. Can't wait to see what you pick up next.