Rank Taxi Two. The Octavia - Back from whence it came..01/09/24

[chodweaver]

^ Liked for the cavalier attitude to ECU programming, and for problem solvering skillz

[320touring]

2 minutes ago, chodweaver said:

^ Liked for the cavalier attitude to ECU programming, and for problem solvering skillz

Thanks!

 

In for a penny, in for a pound. It's a cheap tired car - absolute worst it goes into the bin.

Absolute best it's a BOOZTY BEAST🤩

[Lacquer Peel]

How could you consider scrapping a Classic!

[320touring]

Just now, Lacquer Peel said:

How could you consider scrapping a Classic!

Very easily 😂

[jaypee]

9 minutes ago, Lacquer Peel said:

How could you consider scrapping a Classic!

a cherished vehicle 

[320touring]

On Wednesday last week, I decided to use my non working day to give this a look over..

Parts of me wishes I never did😂

First up, assume the position at the unit

Next up, front brake inspections.

Off to a flying start with the front tyres...

 

This was the better one.

 

Nevermind. I went to the toolbox and got the #SPECIALVAGTOOL out

 

Works a treat on the 7mm hex for the sliders.

Initial inspections suggested the story was not good.

The source of the brake wear light on the dash was identified.

 

The source of the "Parkinson's driving simulator" brake shudder was pretty obvious -

That's not in its first flush of yooof.

The caliper carriers were also in need of a bit of wire brush action

 

Whilst the car was in the air, I decided to see if I could improve the gearshift. Since I have had the car, 3rd has been a 2 stage process to engage, and frankly it was getting frustrating.

Access to the filling and drain plugs on the gearbox is really good. I even remembered to loosen the filling one first😂

What came out was pretty manky and about 1/2 a litre short of a full fill. This is not unsurprising given the (minimum) 302k on it, and general dampness to be found on and surrounding the gearbox.

 

I decided to steal an old trick from my e30bmw days, and put some magic sauce in the gearbox.

Factory spec is 75w90 fully synth.

This got 1.25l 75w80 and 750ml ATF. I even set up a proper filling system.

I'm happy to report that the gearshift is much improved, and it makes it much more enjoyable to drive 

Lastly it was time for a look over the front suspension 

Both sides looked in reasonable order - no obvious worn bushes/damaged CV joint boots or springs/dampers/topmounts/arb bushes or droplinks. Both balljoints looked good and at least 1 suspension arm is new.

The only fault I found was a damaged boot on a track rod end. Based on tyre wear, I suspect some new ones plus a tracking session should mean that improves.

With the front suspension looking in such serviceable order, I went home to ponder my options...

 

 

 

 

 

 

[320touring]

Over the last few days, my mate Andy's pug 807 has been getting steadily less reliable..

It's thrown a myriad of codes. And has become more and more reluctant to start.

Over the past 3/4 days, I've been over with my code reader, we've fitted a new battery and had no success.

We even changed the maxi fuses and cleaned the fusebox.

 

 

This was to no avail.

 

Andy is a truck driver, so often has either early starts or late finishes, so needs something reliable to get to/from work.

Fast forward to Saturday...

I left the unit with 3x 195/65/15 wheels and tyres plus a "reference" brake disk for measuring in the boot of the XJR.

The brake disc measured at 280mm. I fought with eBay (it thinks this 2009 MK1 is a mk2 Octavia - understandable as the MK2 had been out for 5 years when this MK1 was first registered) and managed to ID the correct disc and pad combo - a snip at £45quid delivered.

They were duly ordered with a delivery date of Wed 19th.

 

Imagine my surprise when I got a txt to say that they would be delivered today..

A plan was hatched!

First, off to the local Part worn emporium (demonstrating the Clio's capacious boot!)

Upon arrival, I was presented with 3 tyres in good order, fitted, balanced and with new valves for £30 each.

The chap in the picture always does a great job - old tyre off, wire brushes the beads and puts some bead sealant on. Never had a problem in the 10years or so I've been using them.

 

After work, the discs and pads arrived for the Octavia at 6.12pm, and I put them and the part worns into the Jag.

 Picked Andy who is borrowing the car up. 

Then over to the unit and fitted new discs (decided not to risk piston pushback as needed to be sure the car was mobile tonight)

 

The new* tyres were fitted, all bolts torqued up and then the car was taken for a test drive.

It is working well and everything is needed in after a few hard stops. The shake is completely gone. I will fit new pads asap once I can get the car back from Andy.

We drove the Jag and Octavia to Andy's then I took Andy back to depot to get the car he'd borrowed to cover for 807 being deid.

 

Enjoyed a wee sunset blast down my local backroad

Got home, and made a cuppa.

 

Andy was very complementary about how the Octavia drove, so hopefully it gets him out a hole and gets some use.

It's been a sensible and reliable purchase. A spend of £135 has transformed how it feels to drive.

 

 

 

 

 

[320touring]

Updates:

 

Andy got to his shift on time with no issues

#ranktaxitotherescue

[hairnet]

ya might not get it back and gain an 807?

[320touring]

1 hour ago, hairnet said:

ya might not get it back and gain an 807?

Fuck no, not today thank you kindly.

[320touring]

Look who is back on fleet!

Came back with a full tank, so would be a shame to waste it.

Currently en- route to Manchester airport for a trip to Lisbon.

Came via Nottingham to see some mates.

Leave for Manchester airport at 6.30 tomorrow morning. Discovered this morning that one of the valves on the newly fitted tyres was leaking - took the. Exceptionally adult step of getting it repaired.

I didn't fancy getting back to the airport then having to inflate bit before having to drive home.

 

Currently in Nottingham city centre

Novel experience of getting a tram

And then a tram replacement bus service

 

Nottingham City centre is the picture of health and prosperity 

[beko1987]

I bet it'll get ever so confused as it enters an airport and just gets parked, not picking up people and leaving again 😂

[hairnet]

2 hours ago, 320touring said:

 

Currently en- route to Manchester airport for a trip to Lisbon

Just fcukkng why

Leave for Manchester airport at 6.30 tomorrow morning. 

After considering your options 

Still fcukkng why

[320touring]

Suitably abandoned until Thursday..

Now for breakfast 😄

[320touring]

Landed back at Manchester this evening at 5pm. Eventually got through passport control, then had the trepidation of seeing if this would start...

Of course it did😄

After having to ask the helpdesk to open the barrier so we could escape the car park (it couldn't read the REG number apparently -despite it working on the way in), we made brisk progress to Tebay.

We scored a prime parking spot 

And shovelled some scran into our faces.

Then homeward.

Parked in the hedge until needed again.

572 miles done and fuel light just on

[320touring]

In a coincidence entirely unrelated* to this

That's the Octy away out on a short term hire with @sdkrc

 

Gawd bless it's cotton socks

 

 

[320touring]

Since I have owned this, the paint has been flatter than a Paul Shane concert...

But no more!

I dug it out from under the conifer it had been residing beneath for the last 17 days (after @sdkrc had returned it) and drove it over to the unit.

Once at the unit it had a good hoover and interior clean before being dispatched to the wash bay for a snowfoaming and hand wash.

After this, I decided to polish it...

The polish was liberally applied!

4! Passes were required to bring the bonnet up to this level. I wasn't so thorough with the rest of the car - doing 1 heavy pass per panel.

Actually having a reflection on every panel is most novel and hopefully won't be short lived as @jaypee very graciously waxed the car too.

It's a big improvement!

Props to @davidfowler2000 for providing new bonnets for my polisher too - was nice to have new gear to use😁

[beko1987]

Go full concourse spec! 

[320touring]

52 minutes ago, beko1987 said:

Go full concourse spec! 

Step 1. Start with a different car

[loserone]

That's gotta be worth another 3 mpg 

[Dave_Q]

Someone's taxi inspection must be due

[fatharris]

Looks better with every update!

[320touring]

Covered in shite again😁🤣

 

At least the wax should make it easier to get off

[loserone]

You have to think about going to all these scat parties if you will keep buying white cars.

[hairnet]

2 hours ago, loserone said:

You have to think about going to all these scot parties if you will keep buying white cars.

 

[320touring]

I rounded off ownership of this by returning it from whence it came..

Just under 4000 miles done in 5 months + a great car.

 

£0.19/mile in cost, so almost cheaper than walking. Would recommend!

Big thanks to @scaryoldcortina for procurement, and to @loserone for a most convivial lift back up the road!

 

I took this masterpiece whilst @loserone filled up with fuel.

I call it "summer in Hexham"