Discussion
For a few years I have been doing a thing on my Facebook page called "Driveway CSI"
Any repairs or work I do I share with my fellow mechanically minded friends.
Today's Driveway CSI I thought I would try a different format and share with you guys as well.
Cause - Reusing a rusty jubilee clip when the radiator was replaced six months ago.
Effect - Snapped the bleed pipe.
Bodge - Super glued back on.
Repair - Replace radiator and all new jubilee clips...
...I even made sure the fan wasn't rubbing the new one.
Bodges are the Cancer of the car world. Sometimes all you can do is replace parts and start over.
This was just today's example and is nowhere near the worst I have had to deal with. Why not join in? Just a sentence to describe the cause, effect, bodge and repair with a couple of photo's.
Please try not to use this thread as an opportunity to troll or name and shame whoever did the bodge. Just how it was done wrong and how it should be done right so other forum members can read and learn from it. Also more mechanically minded forum members can have a giggle.
All the best Liquid Knight
Any repairs or work I do I share with my fellow mechanically minded friends.
Today's Driveway CSI I thought I would try a different format and share with you guys as well.
Cause - Reusing a rusty jubilee clip when the radiator was replaced six months ago.
Effect - Snapped the bleed pipe.
Bodge - Super glued back on.
Repair - Replace radiator and all new jubilee clips...
...I even made sure the fan wasn't rubbing the new one.
Bodges are the Cancer of the car world. Sometimes all you can do is replace parts and start over.
This was just today's example and is nowhere near the worst I have had to deal with. Why not join in? Just a sentence to describe the cause, effect, bodge and repair with a couple of photo's.
Please try not to use this thread as an opportunity to troll or name and shame whoever did the bodge. Just how it was done wrong and how it should be done right so other forum members can read and learn from it. Also more mechanically minded forum members can have a giggle.
All the best Liquid Knight
No photos, but..
Issue: Random non-starts on escort diesel van.
Cause: Possible ECU reseat required.
Solution: Remove entire dashboard, remove and refit ECU, replace entire dashboard. Probable time = several hours.
Bodge: Open glove box, cut half a house brick sized hole in rear with Dremel, discover ECU (result!) remove ECU, replace ECU, pop plastic cut out back in - van never played up again. Time taken = approx three minutes.
Bodge artist: Me.
Issue: Random non-starts on escort diesel van.
Cause: Possible ECU reseat required.
Solution: Remove entire dashboard, remove and refit ECU, replace entire dashboard. Probable time = several hours.
Bodge: Open glove box, cut half a house brick sized hole in rear with Dremel, discover ECU (result!) remove ECU, replace ECU, pop plastic cut out back in - van never played up again. Time taken = approx three minutes.
Bodge artist: Me.
A few months ago I fitted brand new headlights to my mates Renault Laguna as the old ones plastic was cloudy beyond polishing.
The passenger side one was filling with condensation...
...so bad it was popping bulbs every couple of days. So an hour later...
...the bumper was off enough to get to the bottom headlight bolt and in a typical Renault fashion there was a panel gap between the lens and body big enough to get a small horse through. The plan was to get the lens off with a heat gun, put sealant all the way round and refit it. This didn't happen as the plastic started to distort before the glue holding the lens to the body showed any sign of giving up.
New plan use the head gun to evaporate as much of the water out of the headlight as possible and fill the gaps all the way round with clear silicone. Not ideal but as good as you can do with a poxy French pile of plastic.
All done and I refitted new bulbs before fitting the headlight. Last time I tried changing bulbs in a French headlight while on the car I broke two fingers. Another twenty minutes to put the front of the car back together...
"Hoi France there's this very useful stuff called Copperslip. Try it!"
...and we were done.
Something else I do with my other build and general threads is nominate a...
Tool of the Job
...this time it's this...
...bicycle dust cap I have used to seal the silicone tube. Some use screws and others don't bother but I have found this works best.
The passenger side one was filling with condensation...
...so bad it was popping bulbs every couple of days. So an hour later...
...the bumper was off enough to get to the bottom headlight bolt and in a typical Renault fashion there was a panel gap between the lens and body big enough to get a small horse through. The plan was to get the lens off with a heat gun, put sealant all the way round and refit it. This didn't happen as the plastic started to distort before the glue holding the lens to the body showed any sign of giving up.
New plan use the head gun to evaporate as much of the water out of the headlight as possible and fill the gaps all the way round with clear silicone. Not ideal but as good as you can do with a poxy French pile of plastic.
All done and I refitted new bulbs before fitting the headlight. Last time I tried changing bulbs in a French headlight while on the car I broke two fingers. Another twenty minutes to put the front of the car back together...
"Hoi France there's this very useful stuff called Copperslip. Try it!"
...and we were done.
Something else I do with my other build and general threads is nominate a...
Tool of the Job
...this time it's this...
...bicycle dust cap I have used to seal the silicone tube. Some use screws and others don't bother but I have found this works best.
Previously on Driveway CSI
I was working on my car until about half eleven when a local and his Mrs were walking their dog.
"Why don't you take it to a garage and pay someone to do it?"
Why pay a prostitute for a hand job when you can rub one out yourself?
"Have you been seeing prostitutes again? After last time? You F£$%&*g B@#$&d!"...
....off into the distance.
Sorry. I had no idea and was just paraphrasing.
I was working on my car until about half eleven when a local and his Mrs were walking their dog.
"Why don't you take it to a garage and pay someone to do it?"
Why pay a prostitute for a hand job when you can rub one out yourself?
"Have you been seeing prostitutes again? After last time? You F£$%&*g B@#$&d!"...
....off into the distance.
Sorry. I had no idea and was just paraphrasing.
Liquid Knight said:
Previously on Driveway CSI
I was working on my car until about half eleven when a local and his Mrs were walking their dog.
"Why don't you take it to a garage and pay someone to do it?"
Why pay a prostitute for a hand job when you can rub one out yourself?
"Have you been seeing prostitutes again? After last time? You F£$%&*g B@#$&d!"...
....off into the distance.
Sorry. I had no idea and was just paraphrasing.
I was working on my car until about half eleven when a local and his Mrs were walking their dog.
"Why don't you take it to a garage and pay someone to do it?"
Why pay a prostitute for a hand job when you can rub one out yourself?
"Have you been seeing prostitutes again? After last time? You F£$%&*g B@#$&d!"...
....off into the distance.
Sorry. I had no idea and was just paraphrasing.
Replace faulty part before it lets you down.
Intermittent dip switch, could be revived with a good dose of switch cleaner (kept in the glove box). Forgot about it for six months, failed on the MOT ramp.
The garage was only 5 mins away, the MOT guys were good enough to call me and have a cuppa while I went down and "fixed it" (again) on the ramp.
Intermittent dip switch, could be revived with a good dose of switch cleaner (kept in the glove box). Forgot about it for six months, failed on the MOT ramp.
The garage was only 5 mins away, the MOT guys were good enough to call me and have a cuppa while I went down and "fixed it" (again) on the ramp.
I don't know how to turn this into a pithy one-liner but -
I have a 1986 MR2, what is commonly known as a mk1a. The suspension was revised for the 1987 model (mk1b).
Almost every parts vendor lists eg balljoints as "suits mr2 1984-1989", when the parts are not interchangeable between early and late mk1's.
It seems they all use the same database, so if one vendor has it wrong, they all do. This has resulted in me having to exchange several newly purchased parts, which is why I usually purchase from a local supplier rather than ebay.
I have a 1986 MR2, what is commonly known as a mk1a. The suspension was revised for the 1987 model (mk1b).
Almost every parts vendor lists eg balljoints as "suits mr2 1984-1989", when the parts are not interchangeable between early and late mk1's.
It seems they all use the same database, so if one vendor has it wrong, they all do. This has resulted in me having to exchange several newly purchased parts, which is why I usually purchase from a local supplier rather than ebay.
I've been working on my bike this week.
As a driver I find it irritating when cyclists have those Cre LED 1,000 Lumen lights dazzling people because they don't pencil properly. I have one myself and as a cyclist they are simply brilliant. As my commute is a 50/50 split of unlit country lanes and domestic town roads having a decent set of lights is essential.
Get an ice cream tub lid. I chose this one as it was very nice and is black inside.
Use the template to cut a section out, graphic side up.
Test fit and...
...mark the rim of the light where it needs to be stuck later.
Cover the printed side with double sided tape and trim a lolly pop stick to fit to the outer edge.
Peel off the tape backing and stick Aluminium or Tin foil to the printed side of the template leaving an 8mm gap on the inner edge and staple the stick to the outer edge.
Stick this to the rim of the light and use a heat gun to make the plastic more malleable and the tape stick better. Hold in place with a cable tie, refit to the bike and you're ready to go.
Decent pencil beam so I no longer dazzle oncoming traffic and the centre of the beam is still there so I can tilt it up and have a good view ahead when there is no traffic.
As a driver I find it irritating when cyclists have those Cre LED 1,000 Lumen lights dazzling people because they don't pencil properly. I have one myself and as a cyclist they are simply brilliant. As my commute is a 50/50 split of unlit country lanes and domestic town roads having a decent set of lights is essential.
Get an ice cream tub lid. I chose this one as it was very nice and is black inside.
Use the template to cut a section out, graphic side up.
Test fit and...
...mark the rim of the light where it needs to be stuck later.
Cover the printed side with double sided tape and trim a lolly pop stick to fit to the outer edge.
Peel off the tape backing and stick Aluminium or Tin foil to the printed side of the template leaving an 8mm gap on the inner edge and staple the stick to the outer edge.
Stick this to the rim of the light and use a heat gun to make the plastic more malleable and the tape stick better. Hold in place with a cable tie, refit to the bike and you're ready to go.
Decent pencil beam so I no longer dazzle oncoming traffic and the centre of the beam is still there so I can tilt it up and have a good view ahead when there is no traffic.
Liquid Knight said:
I've been working on my bike this week.
As a driver I find it irritating when cyclists have those Cre LED 1,000 Lumen lights dazzling people because they don't pencil properly. I have one myself and as a cyclist they are simply brilliant. As my commute is a 50/50 split of unlit country lanes and domestic town roads having a decent set of lights is essential.
Get an ice cream tub lid. I chose this one as it was very nice and is black inside.
Use the template to cut a section out, graphic side up.
Test fit and...
...mark the rim of the light where it needs to be stuck later.
Cover the printed side with double sided tape and trim a lolly pop stick to fit to the outer edge.
Peel off the tape backing and stick Aluminium or Tin foil to the printed side of the template leaving an 8mm gap on the inner edge and staple the stick to the outer edge.
Stick this to the rim of the light and use a heat gun to make the plastic more malleable and the tape stick better. Hold in place with a cable tie, refit to the bike and you're ready to go.
Decent pencil beam so I no longer dazzle oncoming traffic and the centre of the beam is still there so I can tilt it up and have a good view ahead when there is no traffic.
Excellent work, Considerate cyclist alert! As a driver I find it irritating when cyclists have those Cre LED 1,000 Lumen lights dazzling people because they don't pencil properly. I have one myself and as a cyclist they are simply brilliant. As my commute is a 50/50 split of unlit country lanes and domestic town roads having a decent set of lights is essential.
Get an ice cream tub lid. I chose this one as it was very nice and is black inside.
Use the template to cut a section out, graphic side up.
Test fit and...
...mark the rim of the light where it needs to be stuck later.
Cover the printed side with double sided tape and trim a lolly pop stick to fit to the outer edge.
Peel off the tape backing and stick Aluminium or Tin foil to the printed side of the template leaving an 8mm gap on the inner edge and staple the stick to the outer edge.
Stick this to the rim of the light and use a heat gun to make the plastic more malleable and the tape stick better. Hold in place with a cable tie, refit to the bike and you're ready to go.
Decent pencil beam so I no longer dazzle oncoming traffic and the centre of the beam is still there so I can tilt it up and have a good view ahead when there is no traffic.
NicheMonkey said:
Liquid Knight said:
I've been working on my bike this week.
As a driver I find it irritating when cyclists have those Cre LED 1,000 Lumen lights dazzling people because they don't pencil properly. I have one myself and as a cyclist they are simply brilliant. As my commute is a 50/50 split of unlit country lanes and domestic town roads having a decent set of lights is essential.
Get an ice cream tub lid. I chose this one as it was very nice and is black inside.
Use the template to cut a section out, graphic side up.
Test fit and...
...mark the rim of the light where it needs to be stuck later.
Cover the printed side with double sided tape and trim a lolly pop stick to fit to the outer edge.
Peel off the tape backing and stick Aluminium or Tin foil to the printed side of the template leaving an 8mm gap on the inner edge and staple the stick to the outer edge.
Stick this to the rim of the light and use a heat gun to make the plastic more malleable and the tape stick better. Hold in place with a cable tie, refit to the bike and you're ready to go.
Decent pencil beam so I no longer dazzle oncoming traffic and the centre of the beam is still there so I can tilt it up and have a good view ahead when there is no traffic.
Excellent work, Considerate cyclist alert! As a driver I find it irritating when cyclists have those Cre LED 1,000 Lumen lights dazzling people because they don't pencil properly. I have one myself and as a cyclist they are simply brilliant. As my commute is a 50/50 split of unlit country lanes and domestic town roads having a decent set of lights is essential.
Get an ice cream tub lid. I chose this one as it was very nice and is black inside.
Use the template to cut a section out, graphic side up.
Test fit and...
...mark the rim of the light where it needs to be stuck later.
Cover the printed side with double sided tape and trim a lolly pop stick to fit to the outer edge.
Peel off the tape backing and stick Aluminium or Tin foil to the printed side of the template leaving an 8mm gap on the inner edge and staple the stick to the outer edge.
Stick this to the rim of the light and use a heat gun to make the plastic more malleable and the tape stick better. Hold in place with a cable tie, refit to the bike and you're ready to go.
Decent pencil beam so I no longer dazzle oncoming traffic and the centre of the beam is still there so I can tilt it up and have a good view ahead when there is no traffic.
I've even been dazzled by cyclists in the daylight while dog walking. 
Market it? How much Ice Cream would I have to eat? 
I like to cycle to the same standard as I drive. I check my vehicles over regularly and if anything is wrong I fix it before I go anywhere. Nothing irritates me more than seeing vehicles especially on my commute every day for weeks sometimes months with the same fault. This week every morning I have seen a Ford Fiesta van with only one functional headlight cluster. We've had fog, clear skies with ice and heavy rain and at no point has this idiot ever thought...
"Hmmm, I'd better buy a fuse and some light bulbs".
...chances are it's a company vehicle and the operator doesn't feel it's his responsibility. Last year every day on the same bit of road and roughly the same time (on my bike) I was overtaken by a Vauxhall Corsa that from March to October only had one tail light. Both of these vehicles have dash warning lights to tell you something is wrong. There is simply no excuse.
Sorry.
My current set up on my bike, both front and two rear lights come to roughly £70 and those twunts and many, many others simply can't be bothered to buy a £6.99 bulb.
Back on topic. When they come up on my Facebook "On this Day" feed I'll post Driveway CSI's from the past.
I like to cycle to the same standard as I drive. I check my vehicles over regularly and if anything is wrong I fix it before I go anywhere. Nothing irritates me more than seeing vehicles especially on my commute every day for weeks sometimes months with the same fault. This week every morning I have seen a Ford Fiesta van with only one functional headlight cluster. We've had fog, clear skies with ice and heavy rain and at no point has this idiot ever thought...
"Hmmm, I'd better buy a fuse and some light bulbs".
...chances are it's a company vehicle and the operator doesn't feel it's his responsibility. Last year every day on the same bit of road and roughly the same time (on my bike) I was overtaken by a Vauxhall Corsa that from March to October only had one tail light. Both of these vehicles have dash warning lights to tell you something is wrong. There is simply no excuse.
Sorry.
My current set up on my bike, both front and two rear lights come to roughly £70 and those twunts and many, many others simply can't be bothered to buy a £6.99 bulb.
"vehicle operator" as neither deserve to be described as a "driver"
Back on topic. When they come up on my Facebook "On this Day" feed I'll post Driveway CSI's from the past.
So I am a bit of an insomniac and have been doing night shifts. The last two days I have taken apart the suspension on a donor Bravo for my Bravo and today the plan was to rest and rebuild.
Driveway CSI became concrete pad in a field CSI when I forgot the lower wishbone pin bolt.
An hour later I was home again. A little cosmetic wing damage, smashed ABS sensor and slashed steering rack gaiter. Very, very; very lucky.
I'm going to take some herbal sleeping tabs and fix what I broke in the morning.
So today's top tip. Make sure you've had more than two hours sleep in three days if you'e doing anything serious to the car.
Driveway CSI became concrete pad in a field CSI when I forgot the lower wishbone pin bolt.
An hour later I was home again. A little cosmetic wing damage, smashed ABS sensor and slashed steering rack gaiter. Very, very; very lucky.
I'm going to take some herbal sleeping tabs and fix what I broke in the morning.
So today's top tip. Make sure you've had more than two hours sleep in three days if you'e doing anything serious to the car.
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