Corsa B - little mint green dream machine

[beko1987]

That looks really good, that colour pops! 

Even if you don't make a regular thing of it, doing it well a few times will stop the paint from fading. When it rains next the car should bead beautifully! 

[beko1987]

But incase you do get into it

https://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/poorboys-black-hole

+

https://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/dodo-juice-rainforest-rub-30ml

Would have it looking beautiful and bring the green out a treat! 

Once you fall into the car cleaning hobby you don't get out... 😂 Equally everything lasts forger, I get 2/3 years out of stuff I buy doing my car  my stepdads car and a few of chris's

[Lord Sterling]

What a nice little Corsa. Similar era to my Vectra.

I've actually got some original rubber mats for this if you are interested? I just need to get them to mine.

[auntiemaryscanary]

11 hours ago, Lord Sterling said:

What a nice little Corsa. Similar era to my Vectra.

I've actually got some original rubber mats for this if you are interested? I just need to get them to mine.

Yes I would be v interested please. Let me know.

[auntiemaryscanary]

On 08/07/2024 at 06:33, beko1987 said:

When it rains next the car should bead beautifully! 

[auntiemaryscanary]

So I'd noticed that the Corsa would wheel spin in 1st in the dry. Tyres checked and we have a Kenda, Fulrun and a Toleda dated 2005, 12, & 17.

Then there are 2 of these. One on the OSR rear and the spare which this is 

Spare aside they were all MoT legal 9 months and 1500ish miles ago and I think they all would pass the next October MoT. Years ago that would have been good enough for me. 

But not now. The 2 x 1997 Firestone's are the originals! I'm having 4 Falken's fitted as mid-price replacements tomorrow. Just got to decide which is the least worst ditch finder to act as a spare. 

Thankfully when I went to Shitefest 2 weeks ago it was dry and I didn't* exceed the motorway speed limit... 

Place your bets now on the Falken's being crack free in 27 years time.

[MrGTI6]

29 minutes ago, auntiemaryscanary said:

So I'd noticed that the Corsa would wheel spin in 1st in the dry. Tyres checked and we have a Kenda, Fulrun and a Toleda dated 2005, 12, & 17.

Then there are 2 of these. One on the OSR rear and the spare which this is 

Spare aside they were all MoT legal 9 months and 1500ish miles ago and I think they all would pass the next October MoT. Years ago that would have been good enough for me. 

But not now. The 2 x 1997 Firestone's are the originals! I'm having 4 Falken's fitted as mid-price replacements tomorrow. Just got to decide which is the least worst ditch finder to act as a spare. 

Thankfully when I went to Shitefest 2 weeks ago it was dry and I didn't* exceed the motorway speed limit... 

Place your bets now on the Falken's being crack free in 27 years time.

Crikey, those Flintstones Firestones belong in a museum! 

Must admit it never occurred to me to check the dates on the tyres. They all had plenty of tread and all held air so that was good enough for me! Probably wouldn't have felt the same way had I known one of them was old enough to have met Princess Diana!

Surely the AS answer would be to keep the "good" 1997 tyre as a spare to preserve the car's originality. 🤣 

[auntiemaryscanary]

In happier news a mate was on holiday on the IoW and instead of a stick of rock bought me back this:

What a star!

I've now had the Corsa 7 weeks and am still loving it. I was a bit apprehensive about it being pressed back into full time daily service but the 900 miles covered (work and local runs plus the drive back from Kent and Shitefest trip) have shown zero mechanical faults. I is a happy boy.

Now 2 days ago both my brother and I separately spotted a P reg mint green Corsa B. The chances of more than one surviving must be low but 2 in the same city and the chances must be miniscule!! The mint greens were going in opposite directions but I'm hoping to see the other one again. A picture of them side by side would be a stunner. 

[auntiemaryscanary]

23 hours ago, MrGTI6 said:

had I known one of them was old enough to have met Princess Diana!

I've asked the Daily Mail to do a full colour memorial supplement for the 2 1997 Firestone's like they did for the People's Princess... (The tyre fitter was considerably younger than those tyres).

Anyway this is looking better 

I feel more comfortable now chucking it about some of the nearby country lanes.

[auntiemaryscanary]

Bugger! An escapee... Just a week after new tyres being fitted. They were the originals too, scratched & marked etc but still p'eed off.

[IronStar]

for the rest and order a replacement one off ebay?

[24vdiamond]

I havent got any new ones but a set of 4 used if thats any use, all have a bit of scuffing around the very outer edge unfortunately, the part number is 90538087

 

[auntiemaryscanary]

6 hours ago, 24vdiamond said:

I havent got any new ones but a set of 4 used if thats any use, all have a bit of scuffing around the very outer edge unfortunately, the part number is 90538087

 

That would be great @24vdiamond . I'll send you a pm.

[auntiemaryscanary]

So, I've been in a bit of a funk for the last month, family member unwell & in and out of hospital plus a bit (but not full on fortunately) of the old black dog.

Then about 2 weeks ago the Corsa hit a pigeon. Saw a few feathers but not a pigeons worth and no evidence in the rear view mirror of a carcass. Soon as safe to stop had a look underneath to make sure it wasn't under the car. Nothing bird like but an oil leak.

At home I immediately diagnose* a head gasket failing. No coolant in oil though Neighbour mechanic was going to have a look but wasn't able to. So I took it to the friendly garage. 

Yes they can fix it, but £££'s for labour. Anyway mechanic owner says don't worry about it too much, its not head gasket, it's the "cam box" gasket. Is it safe to use I double check. Yep says the gaffer.

So my fix* is to order 5l of engine degreaser to apply every couple of weeks and 5l of Mannol's finest 10w40 semi synthetic "Classic".

Took this when in a good mood 2 months into ownership, early August:

[auntiemaryscanary]

Positive no. 1:

On 09/07/2024 at 01:10, Lord Sterling said:

What a nice little Corsa. Similar era to my Vectra.

I've actually got some original rubber mats for this if you are interested? I just need to get them to mine.

These arrived early August from the fine @Lord Sterling. For a fortnight they stayed in the hallway in the postal packaging and then another 2 weeks unwrapped and in the boot.

Now fitted:

[J R Hartley]

I've really enjoyed this thread. Great little cars these, always preferred them to a Fiesta or Polo. Hope you have many, many happy miles ahead. 👍

[auntiemaryscanary]

Positive no. 2.

@24vdiamond offered me these

I agreed a purchase if he could hold them for me. Tues 28 Aug, after 2 great days watching BSB at Cadwell Park and staying in a lovely BnB me and mate rode over to 24vD to pay and collect.

24vD is a fine fella. Would have loved to stayed and chatted longer as well as looking at his veh-ic-ules and lovely plot but we had to get back home. Maybe next year's BSB I'll plan a bit better and call in for a cuppa 24vD!

After deciding it wasn't a good idea for me to try and ride back with 2 hubcaps strapped onto the backpack I was wearing we lashed the hubcaps onto the bikes and set off from Lincolnshire.

Just got to retrieve 2 of the hubcaps from my mate and the get the cable ties which luckily I've got in invisible* grey.

Mojo revived.

[Lord Sterling]

55 minutes ago, auntiemaryscanary said:

Positive no. 1:

These arrived early August from the fine @Lord Sterling. For a fortnight they stayed in the hallway in the postal packaging and then another 2 weeks unwrapped and in the boot.

Now fitted:

Honestly, they look amazing. Big props to @Spurious for making mats appear at mine. He is indeed a prince.

[MrGTI6]

The new hub caps look mint and better still it appears they're exactly the same design as the originals. Those rubber mats are looking great too!

Shame to hear about the oil leak but glad to hear it's nothing serious. Admittedly I only put 500 or so miles on the Corsa during my ownership but I didn't detect any drop at all. Hopefully it's a very slow leak.

Have those fancy new tyres brought about a noticeable improvement in handling/road-holding?

Also I hope non-car-related matters improve for you. Best wishes to you and your family. ❤️

[auntiemaryscanary]

18 minutes ago, MrGTI6 said:

Also I hope non-car-related matters improve for you. Best wishes to you and your family. ❤️

Many thanks 

[auntiemaryscanary]

23 minutes ago, MrGTI6 said:

Have those fancy new tyres brought about a noticeable improvement in handling/road-holding?

I haven't really been far in it to be fair. A family holiday then hadn't used it for 2 weeks until yesterday due to GasketGate. I've a couple days off soon so I think I'll go on a little tour round a route with some twisties. Will report back 😄

[auntiemaryscanary]

I do wonder if it being pressed back into daily service has exasperated a weak spot in the presumably 26 year old gasket.

There were a few summer days driving home from work sat in continual queues with the exterior temp guage (fancy eh?!) reading 35°c. Lots of nice hot, runny oil taunting the seals shouting "get me out of this old b*stard engine".

[lisbon_road]

Looking really good.  I wouldn't be too worried about the oil leak, just monitor it. 

Falkens are a very good choice of tyre for sure.

 

[MrGTI6]

4 minutes ago, auntiemaryscanary said:

I do wonder if it being pressed back into daily service has exasperated a weak spot in the presumably 26 year old gasket.

There were a few summer days driving home from work sat in continual queues with the exterior temp guage (fancy eh?!) reading 35°c. Lots of nice hot, runny oil taunting the seals shouting "get me out of this old b*stard engine".

I remember looking back through the MOT history and from what I recall some years it was covering less than 100 miles between tests! 

Getting up to temperature was probably its birthday treat. 🤣

 

[auntiemaryscanary]

13 minutes ago, MrGTI6 said:

24 minutes ago, auntiemaryscanary said:

Expand  

I remember looking back through the MOT history and from what I recall some years it was covering less than 100 miles between tests! 

39 miles in 2 years of which 5 were in one of those years!!

Edit - between 2013 and 2017 MoTs it did a massive 56 miles.

Edited September 4, 2024 by auntiemaryscanary

[auntiemaryscanary]

FTP!

Went to start it this morning and there was no electricity. Not a flicker of a light or a click from owt.

The £12 randomly sized 5 yr old EPC purchase was liberated from it's position powering the garage diesel heater. Too tall for the engine bay and the Corsa cables too short to attach.

Just enough juice to turn it over and it fired up.

Well that Lion has had it's last roar. Tanya Batteries delivering the appropriate 12vdc store tomorrow.

[MrGTI6]

Seems strange how the battery's gone from being fine to being completely flat overnight. Even more so given we're not in the depths of winter. 

My own personal experience with deteriorating car batteries has always been much more gradual.

Could it be possible that something was still draining the battery while the engine was off? 

Or perhaps the battery is the original and it's just died of old age! 

[auntiemaryscanary]

2 hours ago, MrGTI6 said:

Seems strange how the battery's gone from being fine to being completely flat overnight. Even more so given we're not in the depths of winter. 

My own personal experience with deteriorating car batteries has always been much more gradual.

Could it be possible that something was still draining the battery while the engine was off? 

Or perhaps the battery is the original and it's just died of old age! 

It crossed my mind that it was odd that there was absolutely nothing when I tried to start it. I checked and exterior and interior lights had not been left on and nothing was plugged into the always live cigarette lighter. The only thing it may have been was I'd knocked the always live radio when fitting the mats last night. I'll probably never know. I may disconnect power from the wireless as I don't use it now.

Anyway, I'll be happier knowing there is a good new 4 year warranty battery on there tomorrow so as the nights get colder I won't have to worry about starting it on frosty mornings. It's only an 063 size so not expensive. I couldn't even be bothered to try and charge the who knows how old battery.

I'll see if there is any dating on the old Lion before it gets weighed in.

[auntiemaryscanary]

New battery arrived at 8am and fitted.

I have an unexpected day off so have been for a blast round some twisty lanes.

On 04/09/2024 at 19:21, MrGTI6 said:

Have those fancy new tyres brought about a noticeable improvement in handling/road-holding?

Well I'm not really sure if I can tell the difference but chucking it about a little was good fun especially being confident  the new rubber wouldn't loose grip and I'd end up in the hedge! The car is never going to be rapid but if I want massive acceleration I get the motorbike out.

I do know that the tyres have improved braking. A couple of slam the brakes on (making sure there was nothing else around) shows it stops better than anything without ABS is entitled to.

[auntiemaryscanary]

Thought I best check the lights before the MoT in the morning. Mrs auntiemaryscanary tell me a brake light is out before she goes out for the evening.

On your own brake light testing device deployed 

Rear lights are easy to access. A removable hatch and your in. Phew, got one 21w bulb. On checking the brake lights the other side isn't very bright - its got a 5w in there.

Of course I've no more 21w. Neighbour mechanic has one, ta muchly. Fully working brake lights but now one of the rear indicators has blown. Probably my cack handedness has finished it off.

MoT is 8.40am tomorrow, I could probably get a new bulb 1st thing but pushing it a little. Idea: 24hr petrol station round the corner. Thankfully amongst the over priced chocolate they have a full range of bulbs!! I bought 4 x 21w, indicator bulb replaced plus the less than perfect one from the neighbour. The 2 spares will go to the test centre just in case.

That took an hour of faffing about but I know I won't fail on lights now.

Bugger, haven't checked main beam...

Edit: main beam is good. I also degreased the engine yesterday.

Edited September 29, 2024 by auntiemaryscanary