The Dark Wob

Are you taking all the road worthy cars Phil?
Good luck

Time to build an underground garage/ bunker unless you are below water level?

Sometimes his garden is an inch underwater purely with rain, I suspect a basement might be pushing it...

Hope you can get back soon and there isn't too much damage Phil!

Today I had to get up early doors to do the biggest waste of time ever: Driver CPC

Normally it's a necessary waste of time, but as I'm a shunter , I don't even need to have one. It's a complete waste of time. Gold-plated EU Directive here dictates that my 5 yearly / 35 hours must be done in 7h blocks every year and I can't save them up to do them all in one week at any time in the 5 year cycle. Also for those keeping their lorry and bus entitlements up-to-date, they insist on doing 7 extra hours over and above the requirements of the Directive (42 total).

There's nothing practical in the courses. They are Power Point presentations requiring attendance only. No test, either written or oral. You just have to be there.

A work mate decided to send me this when I actively participating* in the spirit of the thing...
I was just resting* my eyes. Honest.

I went in a charity shop whilst my missus was picking up sniffles testing kit in the chemists

For £1, had to didn't I? Solido 1 43.. Reliant 30ts
Better still , bought a pair of concave faced fog/ spotlights too ! £4 Still boxed

Looks like that Renner needs new tyres....I'd start begging if I were you.

Frontera is officially off the road as I couldn't get it in for the test in time with me being on holiday. No worries as it'll take the time pressure off me trying to get the front bumper off and move its test and insurance from being in the same month as the Fiesta.

I needed a car for work though so got this from a friend.


Mini Shrimp love it but it's only temporary as I can imagine it's shit in winter. Not bad really but got a wobbly boot so the roof doesn't always close right.

AlabamaShrimp wrote: ↑Sat Aug 28, 2021 11:30 pm Mini Shrimp love it but it's only temporary as I can imagine it's shit because Vauxhall.

Let's not beat around the bush.

My Nissan X Fail has been playing up, as previously mentioned, so as it was Saturday I tried to do something about it.

The p0488 error code points to the egr valve being at fault, possibly dirty. Looking for a quick fix, I had ordered up Wynns EGR cleaner aerosol a couple of days ago. One second bursts into the air intake until the can is empty.
But what's this? Oil on the air filter FFS. Google tells me there's a problem with the oil separator.

A quick test drive after the egr cleaner suggested the snake oil was a waste of time and money. Still down on power and not wanting to rev above 3000 rpm. Same error code returned as well.

Decided to take EGR off and clean it properly.
It is located at the front of the engine but access to some of the bolts was hellish. Had to remove hoses and clips and the oil filler tube and other sundries to get to the bolts holding the egr on.
Finally after much swearing the valve was off.
I was expecting to find it full of carbon deposits and black soot.

Not this wet gunge! Could this be the Wynn's cleaner?

Underneath the sludge the valve was caked in carbon.

Lots of scrubbing later. And started the old 'refitting is the reverse of removal' scutter.

Gloves were a partial success So did I fix it?

No, i didn't
Not only is it still drive as badly as before, I now have a couple more errors to keep the original one company!

I'll get the voltmeter out tomorrow and test some of the sensors.

I thought mr muscle oven cleaner was good for clearing turbos and egr valves in situ?