Discussion
https://youtu.be/KY3Umg5jVDY
Fiat have stopped making UK spec' headlights for Cinquecento models so this is what we have to do when the reflector brackets go brittle or the chrome fades.
Fiat have stopped making UK spec' headlights for Cinquecento models so this is what we have to do when the reflector brackets go brittle or the chrome fades.
Historic Driveway CSI today from 2014...
"My friends Grande Punto has an intermittent indicator switch issue. This is a GM part.
Also his Punto is only a few inches narrower and shorter than my Bravo".
It was a plastic inside the switch that had failed and was making random contact when the indicators were engaged. New switch was the only option in the end.
"My friends Grande Punto has an intermittent indicator switch issue. This is a GM part.
Also his Punto is only a few inches narrower and shorter than my Bravo".
It was a plastic inside the switch that had failed and was making random contact when the indicators were engaged. New switch was the only option in the end.
Driveway CSI today and mysterious hood.
https://youtu.be/fUFD2Mm_oTk
Relay, switch or loom issue then. The fuse is fine and the roof works directly from a battery.
https://youtu.be/fUFD2Mm_oTk
Relay, switch or loom issue then. The fuse is fine and the roof works directly from a battery.
Driveway CSI today is another Punto postmortem.
The thrust bearing was rusted to the gearbox input shaft. Also I read somewhere that gearboxes are supposed to have oil in them. This one didn't.
Sold as a runner and driver eh?
It didn't help that the passenger door didn't shut due to what I thought was being jacked up in the wrong place but from the looks of it under there the car had been lifted with forks.
The thrust bearing was rusted to the gearbox input shaft. Also I read somewhere that gearboxes are supposed to have oil in them. This one didn't.
Sold as a runner and driver eh?
It didn't help that the passenger door didn't shut due to what I thought was being jacked up in the wrong place but from the looks of it under there the car had been lifted with forks.
I recently acquired a Peugeot (I know) 206 Gti 180
Short MOT and wanted by the Police but it was a bargain.
New rear wiper blade, flashing airbag light, some tidying up but most concerning a wobble on the drivers side hub.
I was thinking track rod end or hub bearing. Simple fix right?
More simple than I thought.
I raised the car on ramps, cracked the wheel bolts and jacked the car up.
Took the driver side front wheel off as it was the drivers side that would wobble when I kicked it and had a poke about with a bar around the wishbones, hub, drop links and track rod ends. Nothing.
Perplexed I tried the other side. Again; nothing.
Thinking...
"No wonder it was so cheap. The bloody thing needs a new rack".
...my brother in law suggested I checked the power steering fluid.
It wasn't on the little dip stick. Topped up and run, lock to lock a few times before putting it all together again and going for a run up and down the road.
The first few hundred yards the car rattled a bit then the steering twitched a bit and all of a sudden the rattle stopped.
Must have been an air lock in the line somewhere.
Cheaper fix than expected.
Short MOT and wanted by the Police but it was a bargain.
New rear wiper blade, flashing airbag light, some tidying up but most concerning a wobble on the drivers side hub.
I was thinking track rod end or hub bearing. Simple fix right?
More simple than I thought.
I raised the car on ramps, cracked the wheel bolts and jacked the car up.
Took the driver side front wheel off as it was the drivers side that would wobble when I kicked it and had a poke about with a bar around the wishbones, hub, drop links and track rod ends. Nothing.
Perplexed I tried the other side. Again; nothing.
Thinking...
"No wonder it was so cheap. The bloody thing needs a new rack".
...my brother in law suggested I checked the power steering fluid.
It wasn't on the little dip stick. Topped up and run, lock to lock a few times before putting it all together again and going for a run up and down the road.
The first few hundred yards the car rattled a bit then the steering twitched a bit and all of a sudden the rattle stopped.
Must have been an air lock in the line somewhere.
Cheaper fix than expected.
drdino said:
That's not a GTi 180 though, just a normal 2 litre GTi with 140ish hp...
Oh well. Who would have thought a criminal would mis-advertise and sell something. The exhaust and filter cost more than I paid for the car so not really a big deal.
Thanks for pointing it out though.
I kind of have plans for the engine anyway (if I can find a 406 Sri Turbo anywhere).
Gave up on the 206 as I needed to raise funds for a non-motoring event.
Here's a historic Driveway CSI from 2014
The infamous "Operation Wet Dog" cheap five door Punto that was a valet away from a £150 profit.
Stripping a car out...
...and not fitting a roll cage?
Some interesting stains like ground in chocolate mixed with mud and...
...dried vomit to deal with.
Pressure wash and used the foamer to cover the seats with carpet shampoo and Flash Febreeze 50/50 mix.
While that was soaking in I did the same to the interior carpet.
Mum and Dad thought they were being clever getting a greenhouse that was too small for me to use as a spray booth. Turns out it's the perfect size for drying out an interior.
So I can move the car about without getting a wet arse I've fitted my Kirkey. I wish it had floor mounted seatbelts as it would be hilarious to drive to work like this tonight.
I found a silver cuff-link, a couple of grams of Cannabis resin, two broken cigars, child's hair clips, a couple of crayons, moldy dog food (under the carpet) and 81p in change. Such a varied life this car has had.
Also back in 2010 I made this revelation...
"Formula for working on Land Rovers. The amount of time it take to do the same job on a normal car times four in relation to the amount of swearing (in French while the nephews are within earshot) to create a parabolic curve".
Bringing you up to date. I needed a sensible family wagon so I bought an MG ZT V6
The clutch pedal got stuck...
...we pulled it back, checked for leaking fluid as it's one of those internal diaphragm clutch set ups. No fluid loss and it had been fine if a tad temperamental since.
All clean and has been a tad thirsty but trusty for a week...
...but now has an intermittent fuel pump issue. Who would have thought a BMW MG would be as reliable as a BL one?
Here's a historic Driveway CSI from 2014
The infamous "Operation Wet Dog" cheap five door Punto that was a valet away from a £150 profit.
Stripping a car out...
...and not fitting a roll cage?
Some interesting stains like ground in chocolate mixed with mud and...
...dried vomit to deal with.
Pressure wash and used the foamer to cover the seats with carpet shampoo and Flash Febreeze 50/50 mix.
While that was soaking in I did the same to the interior carpet.
Mum and Dad thought they were being clever getting a greenhouse that was too small for me to use as a spray booth. Turns out it's the perfect size for drying out an interior.
So I can move the car about without getting a wet arse I've fitted my Kirkey. I wish it had floor mounted seatbelts as it would be hilarious to drive to work like this tonight.
I found a silver cuff-link, a couple of grams of Cannabis resin, two broken cigars, child's hair clips, a couple of crayons, moldy dog food (under the carpet) and 81p in change. Such a varied life this car has had.
Also back in 2010 I made this revelation...
"Formula for working on Land Rovers. The amount of time it take to do the same job on a normal car times four in relation to the amount of swearing (in French while the nephews are within earshot) to create a parabolic curve".
Bringing you up to date. I needed a sensible family wagon so I bought an MG ZT V6
The clutch pedal got stuck...
...we pulled it back, checked for leaking fluid as it's one of those internal diaphragm clutch set ups. No fluid loss and it had been fine if a tad temperamental since.
All clean and has been a tad thirsty but trusty for a week...
...but now has an intermittent fuel pump issue. Who would have thought a BMW MG would be as reliable as a BL one?
I did the charity track day in my trusted and beloved Alfa 145 Cloverleaf.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/frankhall/sets/72157...
The only issue was the gear stick was got really stiff between 3rd and 4th. As those are the ones you use the most at Blyton I called it a day early and nursed the old girl home.
The next morning I started digging around to discover this...
...lump of plastic trim was lodged in the linkage.
If you're interested in how my 145 performed compared to the other cars I have taken to Blyton as part of #FCTDC here's the table...
Modified Bravo HLX - 1:24.8 (dry and sunny)
Standard Alfa 145 Cloverleaf with sticky tyres and stuff removed from the boot and door cards - 1:26.23 (dry and sunny)
Standard Punto HGT with Uniroyal Rainsport 3 tyres - 1:29.6 (damp-ish dank and cool)
Standard Bravo HLX with Toyo T1R tyres and EBC brake pads - 1:41.3 (dry and sunny)
Trap speeds at the end of the straight.
Alfa 145 Cloverleaf - 84mph (camera 91mph indicated)
Modified Fiat Bravo - 83mph (camera 90mph indicated)
Fiat Punto HGT - 82mph (camera 85 indicated)
Standard Fiat Punto HLX - 81mph (camera 85mph indicated)
...and the lap itself.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QG-d5PghTBM
It's not going to take much for the 145 to beat the Bravo but who knows what direction I'll have to take next?
https://www.flickr.com/photos/frankhall/sets/72157...
The only issue was the gear stick was got really stiff between 3rd and 4th. As those are the ones you use the most at Blyton I called it a day early and nursed the old girl home.
The next morning I started digging around to discover this...
...lump of plastic trim was lodged in the linkage.
If you're interested in how my 145 performed compared to the other cars I have taken to Blyton as part of #FCTDC here's the table...
Modified Bravo HLX - 1:24.8 (dry and sunny)
Standard Alfa 145 Cloverleaf with sticky tyres and stuff removed from the boot and door cards - 1:26.23 (dry and sunny)
Standard Punto HGT with Uniroyal Rainsport 3 tyres - 1:29.6 (damp-ish dank and cool)
Standard Bravo HLX with Toyo T1R tyres and EBC brake pads - 1:41.3 (dry and sunny)
Trap speeds at the end of the straight.
Alfa 145 Cloverleaf - 84mph (camera 91mph indicated)
Modified Fiat Bravo - 83mph (camera 90mph indicated)
Fiat Punto HGT - 82mph (camera 85 indicated)
Standard Fiat Punto HLX - 81mph (camera 85mph indicated)
...and the lap itself.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QG-d5PghTBM
It's not going to take much for the 145 to beat the Bravo but who knows what direction I'll have to take next?
Historic Driveway CSI from 2016
Ahhhhhhhhh, that's better. De-manured my engine bay. Now I need to tidy the rest of it.
Oh I also replaced the fuel tank straps but that wasn't worth the photo'.
Before...
...after.
Yesterday (sorry not my car so no photo's) my neighbor had a starter motor failure on his Focus TDi.
It was fitted new just before Christmas. I had a look and it was covered in oil that had dripped from the intercooler pipe. This is when my neighbor told me the car had been "laggy" so I checked the pipe and it popped off. I loosened the jubilee clip, refitted it, tightened it as far as it would go but it was still lose.
There was a notch in the thread so it felt like it was tight when it wasn't. Oil dripping into the starter had meshed it. Another new starter motor (£75 exchange instead of £120+VAT new) a new clip £0.10 and the car is as good as (well a Focus diesel can be) new.
Ahhhhhhhhh, that's better. De-manured my engine bay. Now I need to tidy the rest of it.
Oh I also replaced the fuel tank straps but that wasn't worth the photo'.
Before...
...after.
Yesterday (sorry not my car so no photo's) my neighbor had a starter motor failure on his Focus TDi.
It was fitted new just before Christmas. I had a look and it was covered in oil that had dripped from the intercooler pipe. This is when my neighbor told me the car had been "laggy" so I checked the pipe and it popped off. I loosened the jubilee clip, refitted it, tightened it as far as it would go but it was still lose.
There was a notch in the thread so it felt like it was tight when it wasn't. Oil dripping into the starter had meshed it. Another new starter motor (£75 exchange instead of £120+VAT new) a new clip £0.10 and the car is as good as (well a Focus diesel can be) new.
Road Outside My House CSI
No pictures because it wasn't terribly photogenic.
Fault: Horn and interior light said nay
Bodge: Bulb removed from interior light and tossed in the glovebox
Fix: A fuse. Well....
My car previous to my ownership had been sat for a few years and being 52 years old it has bodges in layers. Today revealed some new ones. I had previously found the interior light bulb rolling around in the glove box and fitted it with not much success. Today I found out why. The door plungers I don't believe to be connected. When the wire was connected it just ate the fuse. I'm short on time so to fix I just cleaned the connections on the interior light and activate it by the switch on it instead. I'll investigate in more detail another day. The other reason for it not lighting at all was the metal contacts were too far apart to hold the bulb.
Cost: £0
A tame one but I'm sure more fun ones will be found.
No pictures because it wasn't terribly photogenic.
Fault: Horn and interior light said nay
Bodge: Bulb removed from interior light and tossed in the glovebox
Fix: A fuse. Well....
My car previous to my ownership had been sat for a few years and being 52 years old it has bodges in layers. Today revealed some new ones. I had previously found the interior light bulb rolling around in the glove box and fitted it with not much success. Today I found out why. The door plungers I don't believe to be connected. When the wire was connected it just ate the fuse. I'm short on time so to fix I just cleaned the connections on the interior light and activate it by the switch on it instead. I'll investigate in more detail another day. The other reason for it not lighting at all was the metal contacts were too far apart to hold the bulb.
Cost: £0
A tame one but I'm sure more fun ones will be found.
Driveway CSI today
I like making mistakes. It means I'm about to learn something.
I changed the pump on my MG ZT yesterday and what I thought was an in line external filter housing on the MG ZT turned out to be a "Purge pot".
The filter lives inside the tank the other side to the pump . From the photo you can tell it needed doing.
So far so good with the MG and I have had no further issues. Just need to wire up the tow bar and she's track day ready.
I like making mistakes. It means I'm about to learn something.
I changed the pump on my MG ZT yesterday and what I thought was an in line external filter housing on the MG ZT turned out to be a "Purge pot".
The filter lives inside the tank the other side to the pump . From the photo you can tell it needed doing.
So far so good with the MG and I have had no further issues. Just need to wire up the tow bar and she's track day ready.
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