What did you do today?

[DodgeRover]

Chatting to the plumber today, where's your Transit mate? 'Fucking thing blew up, had to borrow a van.
Modern vans are shit, I'm going back to a proper transit"

I'm assuming he means a TD Mk5 rather than a proper leaf sprung version. I guess even if he bought one then spent £3000 on body work at least it's tax deductable and not likely to shit itself in new and expensive ways as well as going up in value, unlike newer ones.

[paulplom]

I think the 2000 and on were pretty bomb proof other than the rust. They had a 2.0 mildly turboed diesel that I did many miles in back in the day. Never serviced and never went wrong. Very under powered though. I was travelling to Birmingham in a new '51 one and wouldn't bother with fifth geat as loaded up it would just slow down.
My mk7 2010 never put a foot wrong in 125k which was why I bought the custom with the same engine. The new ones are strangled to fuck and mapped solely for emissions which fucks them.

[SiC]

In an hours lunch break I've bought lunch, eaten lunch and bought a car. Not quite a record for me but close! I wanted a 225 or 3.2 V6 but this literally was down the road from me. Still quattro and the 180 has the advantages of simpler under the bonnet - less intercoolers, no extra electric water pump, stuff like that. Also they're all CAZ which makes things easier. It's not exactly a car for life either.

Needs wheel alignment, exhaust blows (£120 from ECP/similar) and dash has done the usual Audi pixel thing (still usable though). Thermostat may need doing but blows hot so maybe just the dash (another known issue). Could do with a service. Paint is in decent condition. Back rear wing lacquer is cloudy and a scuff. 

Was up for £1250 and paid £1050. Don't think I did too bad. Especially in this market for a 180bhp AWD vehicle.

Just need to shift the Focus on now. Anyone want it? Probably put an advert up later today. It's a 2007 Focus MK2 1.6 16v petrol that drives well but cosmetically challenged.

Link for the eBay advert while it's still around: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/334628721684

[paulplom]

You've got your car mojo back then?
A cheap remap will see 225bhp anyway.
You've got me looking at them now ffs. A lad at work had a Yreg one when they were new. I got a lift in it a few times but he'd never give me a shot of it. Same colour as that one too iirc.

[SiC]

You've got your car mojo back then?

Not really. But it scratches an itch. More interesting to drive than the Focarse, even if it'll probably be far more of a headache.

[PhilA]

I have been contacted by the guy who is willing to send me a free valve block off a used 1951 Cadillac Hydra-Matic.

He says he's collected the transmission from where it was stored, and shall be able to liberate any parts I need within the next couple weeks.

[DodgeRover]

You've got your car mojo back then?

Not really. But it scratches an itch. More interesting to drive than the Focarse, even if it'll probably be far more of a headache.

That focus isn't an auto is it?

[SiC]

You've got your car mojo back then?

Not really. But it scratches an itch. More interesting to drive than the Focarse, even if it'll probably be far more of a headache.

That focus isn't an auto is it?

No it's a five speed manual.

[SiC]

The fuel gauge is twitching around a bit so I suspect something is up. Screen has lines but it's not actually bad enough to be too much of a problem tbh. At least not a priority.

I need to get some petrol asap which should get things up to temperature. Then I can read the live data and see if it gets to 90c+.

PXL_20221116_190624734.jpg (330.78 KiB) Viewed 359 times

Fixed the remote central locking by replacing the batteries and resyncing the fobs. Ignition lock isn't the best. Doesn't always clunk off, so leaving things alive. Likewise the battery seems a bit weak. I'll see what spare batteries I've got that I can persuade to fit.

Naturally a 19yr old Audi has stored codes. They all cleared apart from the alarm siren error. I'm not bothered about that really as I rather not have the car siren going off during the middle of the night.

Engine codes are ones I need to watch to see if they come back. Maybe it needs a (commonly failing) Diverter Valve. Not sure how hard these are to get to, but it wasn't terrible on my 2.0TFSi MK2 I had. Rich mixture maybe if the thermostat isn't allowing the engine up to temperature.

[xtriple]

Drove the Merc today after a period of just Jaguar driving, it is always a surprise how different they feel whenever I change from one to the other, the Jag is very quiet and laid back while the Merc is quite aggressive and actually makes a sound (especially at 3000 rpm and after), and so they are the perfect pairing... I think.

However, for months it has made a multiple beep noise at me at random intervals. I thought it was the stereo playing up as it cuts the stereo out completely when it makes the beeping noise, but as the battery was probably pretty flat after sitting for a month, I turned the stereo and the A/C/fan 'off' to allow it to get a modicum of charge into its thirsty little cells, and it still beeped at me!

What the fuck is it? My brain cell asked the other one still working.

After a period of driving and sort of paying attention to everything (occasionally even the road!) I concluded that it is the poxy Parrot kit! Every time Chester *who sits in the footwell) catches the device with his ear/nose or jowl it makes the beeping noise, sometimes, it makes the beeping noise just when it feels like it but it's definitely it as the display powers up when it beeps.

Cool and indeed, excellent. How do you turn it off?

Er, you can't it seems. Needs to be paired to a phone which I have never done and never will as it is far beyond my techno-cripple brain cell to achieve so I am probably doomed to be beeped to death until I cut the wires in desperation.

Anyone got any ideas?