The Joy of Running an Old Shed (Vol 2)
Discussion
Pit Pony said:
Pit Pony said:
Wife's astra J (bottom.of the range 1.6 auto) 14 years old.
The one we spent £3k on the gearbox because its a good car.
59k on the clock
Recently, it throws up the spanner light.
No codes stored on my cheap code reader.
Goes off when you stop the car
Comes back on about 20 seconds after starting it.
The car drives fine.
I wonder.
Okay, I serviced the bThe one we spent £3k on the gearbox because its a good car.
59k on the clock
Recently, it throws up the spanner light.
No codes stored on my cheap code reader.
Goes off when you stop the car
Comes back on about 20 seconds after starting it.
The car drives fine.
I wonder.
d on Sunday, New oil, oil and air filters and new spark plugs. We now have a problem in addition to the spanner light, which has no fault codes showing.
The radiator fan, is rapidly turning most of the time. Within 10 seconds of starting. Goes off after about a minute then 10 seconds later comes on again. Then stays going for 2 or 3 minutes , then goes off again. I ran out of time, to diagnose it and instead unplugged it, but that's not a solution.
Ideas ?
Car drives fine.
BenS94 said:
Pit Pony said:
Pit Pony said:
Wife's astra J (bottom.of the range 1.6 auto) 14 years old.
The one we spent £3k on the gearbox because its a good car.
59k on the clock
Recently, it throws up the spanner light.
No codes stored on my cheap code reader.
Goes off when you stop the car
Comes back on about 20 seconds after starting it.
The car drives fine.
I wonder.
Okay, I serviced the bThe one we spent £3k on the gearbox because its a good car.
59k on the clock
Recently, it throws up the spanner light.
No codes stored on my cheap code reader.
Goes off when you stop the car
Comes back on about 20 seconds after starting it.
The car drives fine.
I wonder.
d on Sunday, New oil, oil and air filters and new spark plugs. We now have a problem in addition to the spanner light, which has no fault codes showing.
The radiator fan, is rapidly turning most of the time. Within 10 seconds of starting. Goes off after about a minute then 10 seconds later comes on again. Then stays going for 2 or 3 minutes , then goes off again. I ran out of time, to diagnose it and instead unplugged it, but that's not a solution.
Ideas ?
Car drives fine.
free!!! 
Pit Pony said:
BenS94 said:
Pit Pony said:
Pit Pony said:
Wife's astra J (bottom.of the range 1.6 auto) 14 years old.
The one we spent £3k on the gearbox because its a good car.
59k on the clock
Recently, it throws up the spanner light.
No codes stored on my cheap code reader.
Goes off when you stop the car
Comes back on about 20 seconds after starting it.
The car drives fine.
I wonder.
Okay, I serviced the bThe one we spent £3k on the gearbox because its a good car.
59k on the clock
Recently, it throws up the spanner light.
No codes stored on my cheap code reader.
Goes off when you stop the car
Comes back on about 20 seconds after starting it.
The car drives fine.
I wonder.
d on Sunday, New oil, oil and air filters and new spark plugs. We now have a problem in addition to the spanner light, which has no fault codes showing.
The radiator fan, is rapidly turning most of the time. Within 10 seconds of starting. Goes off after about a minute then 10 seconds later comes on again. Then stays going for 2 or 3 minutes , then goes off again. I ran out of time, to diagnose it and instead unplugged it, but that's not a solution.
Ideas ?
Car drives fine.
Pit Pony said:
Okay, I serviced the bd on Sunday, New oil, oil and air filters and new spark plugs.
We now have a problem in addition to the spanner light, which has no fault codes showing.
The radiator fan, is rapidly turning most of the time. Within 10 seconds of starting. Goes off after about a minute then 10 seconds later comes on again. Then stays going for 2 or 3 minutes , then goes off again. I ran out of time, to diagnose it and instead unplugged it, but that's not a solution.
Ideas ?
Car drives fine.
My Vauxhall spanner light was the thermostat stuck open, it drove fine also, but could be anything.d on Sunday, New oil, oil and air filters and new spark plugs. We now have a problem in addition to the spanner light, which has no fault codes showing.
The radiator fan, is rapidly turning most of the time. Within 10 seconds of starting. Goes off after about a minute then 10 seconds later comes on again. Then stays going for 2 or 3 minutes , then goes off again. I ran out of time, to diagnose it and instead unplugged it, but that's not a solution.
Ideas ?
Car drives fine.
Shame on the Astra J's you can't do the "pedal test" like on the previous H, where you can count the EML flashes to get your code.
Edited by 7 5 7 on Monday 18th March 23:07
SimonTheSailor said:
The ECU on the ABS pump (Bosch 5.7) breaks down over time (think it's the soldering joints inside) and will give out erroneous error messages. Probably never needed the wheel sensor replaced whose bolt sheared off whilst trying to replace 
Same thing on BMWs around the millennium - it's almost like Bosch designed a great ABS ECU, and then BMW etc sent it back saying, "now please re-design it so it's certain to fail after 10 years or so." Which they did by adding an apparently pointless system of extra tiny little wires to carry the signal from the perfectly input/output wires to the circuit board itself... which looks like just the normal sort of board the wires could be soldered directly to. Note - these tiny wires are, as I understand it, ultra-sonically welded each end rather than soldered; they can not be repaired by soldering. Then fix the whole thing right by the exhaust manifold with no heat shielding.7 5 7 said:
silverback mike said:
I like that, +10 shed points for roofbars, and +10 shed points for small 16" wheels!
Another work trip this week which involved a football trip part way home and visit to central Birmingham which has a ULEZ low emission type zone.
Couldn't take the "EURO 5" 2014 BMW 318d, so shed Astra H was again pressed into service and performed faultless, bedding in its two new rear tyres (the old ones were rather perished and lacking grip in cold/wet).
Its mad isnt it, when your daughter's slightly tatty 15 year old Astra is ULEZ exempt but your own immaculate, but sadly not EURO 6 diesel isn't.....! Both the Astra and my wife's even older Fiesta ST150 are Euro 4 petrol cars so absolutely fine.....Sheds win again..
Couldn't take the "EURO 5" 2014 BMW 318d, so shed Astra H was again pressed into service and performed faultless, bedding in its two new rear tyres (the old ones were rather perished and lacking grip in cold/wet).
Its mad isnt it, when your daughter's slightly tatty 15 year old Astra is ULEZ exempt but your own immaculate, but sadly not EURO 6 diesel isn't.....! Both the Astra and my wife's even older Fiesta ST150 are Euro 4 petrol cars so absolutely fine.....Sheds win again..
cknotty said:
Pit Pony said:
BenS94 said:
Pit Pony said:
Pit Pony said:
Wife's astra J (bottom.of the range 1.6 auto) 14 years old.
The one we spent £3k on the gearbox because its a good car.
59k on the clock
Recently, it throws up the spanner light.
No codes stored on my cheap code reader.
Goes off when you stop the car
Comes back on about 20 seconds after starting it.
The car drives fine.
I wonder.
Okay, I serviced the bThe one we spent £3k on the gearbox because its a good car.
59k on the clock
Recently, it throws up the spanner light.
No codes stored on my cheap code reader.
Goes off when you stop the car
Comes back on about 20 seconds after starting it.
The car drives fine.
I wonder.
d on Sunday, New oil, oil and air filters and new spark plugs. We now have a problem in addition to the spanner light, which has no fault codes showing.
The radiator fan, is rapidly turning most of the time. Within 10 seconds of starting. Goes off after about a minute then 10 seconds later comes on again. Then stays going for 2 or 3 minutes , then goes off again. I ran out of time, to diagnose it and instead unplugged it, but that's not a solution.
Ideas ?
Car drives fine.
Joining the thread as I'm back into shedding...
I previously ran a Pug 309 alongside my Fiat Coupe 20vT - around 2005 to 2009 ish.
Then when that died I picked up a ZX 1.9D which lasted another 4-5 years.
(both of the above 'died' when the MoT bill exceeded the value and my willingness to fix)
When the ZX died, my wife still urgently needed a car to get to work, so we got a £2K+ Hyundai Getz which was a hateful thing, then when I sold the Fiat and bought an Elise, we needed a practical 'proper' car, so the Getz went and we bought a decent Fiesta Mk7 which as a shared main car for many years.
Now we've moved to 'the sticks' with no public transport, I couldn't really clear off in the Fiesta and leave Mrs YC stranded (she won't drive the Elise) so I thought time for another shed
Facebook seems to be the new equivalent of the local rag's classified, so I tracked it for a couple of weeks, constantly plugging registrations into the MoT history checker. I missed a couple of potentials, as it seems the promising ones literally go overnight.
So last Friday I kept a close watch on new posts, and up came a Clio 1.5d from 2007 for £720 - a Cat N with a long MoT and £35 tax band, and a Mondeo 2.0 TDCi on 107K miles and FSH for £1495. I messaged both within minutes and managed to get a first viewing of both for Saturday.
The Clio was OK - a bargain for the price, but needed 4 new tyres (£200), cambelt (another £100 and half a day under the car), the heater only worked on setting 3 so likely a failing resistor pack (?).
The Mondeo was shockingly good. No bodywork issues, recent cambelt, fully stamped-up service book, and only a headlight full of condensation going against it. The test drive as fine, so I bought it without any haggling.
I've since checked the DPF on Forscan and it's saying it's about 48% through its life (which was a slight worry with a low mileage deisel) so that's all good, and I've found that one of the rear window regulators is borked - so that's £22 for a used one from eBay on the way.
Other than that early days, but frankly if this is modern shedding then I'm very happy.
I previously ran a Pug 309 alongside my Fiat Coupe 20vT - around 2005 to 2009 ish.
Then when that died I picked up a ZX 1.9D which lasted another 4-5 years.
(both of the above 'died' when the MoT bill exceeded the value and my willingness to fix)
When the ZX died, my wife still urgently needed a car to get to work, so we got a £2K+ Hyundai Getz which was a hateful thing, then when I sold the Fiat and bought an Elise, we needed a practical 'proper' car, so the Getz went and we bought a decent Fiesta Mk7 which as a shared main car for many years.
Now we've moved to 'the sticks' with no public transport, I couldn't really clear off in the Fiesta and leave Mrs YC stranded (she won't drive the Elise) so I thought time for another shed
Facebook seems to be the new equivalent of the local rag's classified, so I tracked it for a couple of weeks, constantly plugging registrations into the MoT history checker. I missed a couple of potentials, as it seems the promising ones literally go overnight.
So last Friday I kept a close watch on new posts, and up came a Clio 1.5d from 2007 for £720 - a Cat N with a long MoT and £35 tax band, and a Mondeo 2.0 TDCi on 107K miles and FSH for £1495. I messaged both within minutes and managed to get a first viewing of both for Saturday.
The Clio was OK - a bargain for the price, but needed 4 new tyres (£200), cambelt (another £100 and half a day under the car), the heater only worked on setting 3 so likely a failing resistor pack (?).
The Mondeo was shockingly good. No bodywork issues, recent cambelt, fully stamped-up service book, and only a headlight full of condensation going against it. The test drive as fine, so I bought it without any haggling.
I've since checked the DPF on Forscan and it's saying it's about 48% through its life (which was a slight worry with a low mileage deisel) so that's all good, and I've found that one of the rear window regulators is borked - so that's £22 for a used one from eBay on the way.
Other than that early days, but frankly if this is modern shedding then I'm very happy.
YellowCar said:
Joining the thread as I'm back into shedding...
I previously ran a Pug 309 alongside my Fiat Coupe 20vT - around 2005 to 2009 ish.
Then when that died I picked up a ZX 1.9D which lasted another 4-5 years.
(both of the above 'died' when the MoT bill exceeded the value and my willingness to fix)
When the ZX died, my wife still urgently needed a car to get to work, so we got a £2K+ Hyundai Getz which was a hateful thing, then when I sold the Fiat and bought an Elise, we needed a practical 'proper' car, so the Getz went and we bought a decent Fiesta Mk7 which as a shared main car for many years.
Now we've moved to 'the sticks' with no public transport, I couldn't really clear off in the Fiesta and leave Mrs YC stranded (she won't drive the Elise) so I thought time for another shed
Facebook seems to be the new equivalent of the local rag's classified, so I tracked it for a couple of weeks, constantly plugging registrations into the MoT history checker. I missed a couple of potentials, as it seems the promising ones literally go overnight.
So last Friday I kept a close watch on new posts, and up came a Clio 1.5d from 2007 for £720 - a Cat N with a long MoT and £35 tax band, and a Mondeo 2.0 TDCi on 107K miles and FSH for £1495. I messaged both within minutes and managed to get a first viewing of both for Saturday.
The Clio was OK - a bargain for the price, but needed 4 new tyres (£200), cambelt (another £100 and half a day under the car), the heater only worked on setting 3 so likely a failing resistor pack (?).
The Mondeo was shockingly good. No bodywork issues, recent cambelt, fully stamped-up service book, and only a headlight full of condensation going against it. The test drive as fine, so I bought it without any haggling.
I've since checked the DPF on Forscan and it's saying it's about 48% through its life (which was a slight worry with a low mileage deisel) so that's all good, and I've found that one of the rear window regulators is borked - so that's £22 for a used one from eBay on the way.
Other than that early days, but frankly if this is modern shedding then I'm very happy.
I've had one almost identical to that for 4+ years. Bought Nov 2019 at 182k miles, now on 268k miles. I previously ran a Pug 309 alongside my Fiat Coupe 20vT - around 2005 to 2009 ish.
Then when that died I picked up a ZX 1.9D which lasted another 4-5 years.
(both of the above 'died' when the MoT bill exceeded the value and my willingness to fix)
When the ZX died, my wife still urgently needed a car to get to work, so we got a £2K+ Hyundai Getz which was a hateful thing, then when I sold the Fiat and bought an Elise, we needed a practical 'proper' car, so the Getz went and we bought a decent Fiesta Mk7 which as a shared main car for many years.
Now we've moved to 'the sticks' with no public transport, I couldn't really clear off in the Fiesta and leave Mrs YC stranded (she won't drive the Elise) so I thought time for another shed
Facebook seems to be the new equivalent of the local rag's classified, so I tracked it for a couple of weeks, constantly plugging registrations into the MoT history checker. I missed a couple of potentials, as it seems the promising ones literally go overnight.
So last Friday I kept a close watch on new posts, and up came a Clio 1.5d from 2007 for £720 - a Cat N with a long MoT and £35 tax band, and a Mondeo 2.0 TDCi on 107K miles and FSH for £1495. I messaged both within minutes and managed to get a first viewing of both for Saturday.
The Clio was OK - a bargain for the price, but needed 4 new tyres (£200), cambelt (another £100 and half a day under the car), the heater only worked on setting 3 so likely a failing resistor pack (?).
The Mondeo was shockingly good. No bodywork issues, recent cambelt, fully stamped-up service book, and only a headlight full of condensation going against it. The test drive as fine, so I bought it without any haggling.
I've since checked the DPF on Forscan and it's saying it's about 48% through its life (which was a slight worry with a low mileage deisel) so that's all good, and I've found that one of the rear window regulators is borked - so that's £22 for a used one from eBay on the way.
Other than that early days, but frankly if this is modern shedding then I'm very happy.
Has to be one of the best cars I've ever owned for doing what it says on the tin.
YellowCar said:
James_N said:
£1,500 for that in today's market seems an absolute bargain! Still look pretty fresh these I think!
I thought so.Should have added - It's a 2010 60 plate (missed out on being a 2011 by one day - registered 31/12/2010!)
But seems too new to me to be a Shed! (Mine is on a 55 plate).
mercedeslimos said:
YellowCar said:
Joining the thread as I'm back into shedding...
I previously ran a Pug 309 alongside my Fiat Coupe 20vT - around 2005 to 2009 ish.
Then when that died I picked up a ZX 1.9D which lasted another 4-5 years.
(both of the above 'died' when the MoT bill exceeded the value and my willingness to fix)
When the ZX died, my wife still urgently needed a car to get to work, so we got a £2K+ Hyundai Getz which was a hateful thing, then when I sold the Fiat and bought an Elise, we needed a practical 'proper' car, so the Getz went and we bought a decent Fiesta Mk7 which as a shared main car for many years.
Now we've moved to 'the sticks' with no public transport, I couldn't really clear off in the Fiesta and leave Mrs YC stranded (she won't drive the Elise) so I thought time for another shed
Facebook seems to be the new equivalent of the local rag's classified, so I tracked it for a couple of weeks, constantly plugging registrations into the MoT history checker. I missed a couple of potentials, as it seems the promising ones literally go overnight.
So last Friday I kept a close watch on new posts, and up came a Clio 1.5d from 2007 for £720 - a Cat N with a long MoT and £35 tax band, and a Mondeo 2.0 TDCi on 107K miles and FSH for £1495. I messaged both within minutes and managed to get a first viewing of both for Saturday.
The Clio was OK - a bargain for the price, but needed 4 new tyres (£200), cambelt (another £100 and half a day under the car), the heater only worked on setting 3 so likely a failing resistor pack (?).
The Mondeo was shockingly good. No bodywork issues, recent cambelt, fully stamped-up service book, and only a headlight full of condensation going against it. The test drive as fine, so I bought it without any haggling.
I've since checked the DPF on Forscan and it's saying it's about 48% through its life (which was a slight worry with a low mileage deisel) so that's all good, and I've found that one of the rear window regulators is borked - so that's £22 for a used one from eBay on the way.
Other than that early days, but frankly if this is modern shedding then I'm very happy.
I've had one almost identical to that for 4+ years. Bought Nov 2019 at 182k miles, now on 268k miles. I previously ran a Pug 309 alongside my Fiat Coupe 20vT - around 2005 to 2009 ish.
Then when that died I picked up a ZX 1.9D which lasted another 4-5 years.
(both of the above 'died' when the MoT bill exceeded the value and my willingness to fix)
When the ZX died, my wife still urgently needed a car to get to work, so we got a £2K+ Hyundai Getz which was a hateful thing, then when I sold the Fiat and bought an Elise, we needed a practical 'proper' car, so the Getz went and we bought a decent Fiesta Mk7 which as a shared main car for many years.
Now we've moved to 'the sticks' with no public transport, I couldn't really clear off in the Fiesta and leave Mrs YC stranded (she won't drive the Elise) so I thought time for another shed
Facebook seems to be the new equivalent of the local rag's classified, so I tracked it for a couple of weeks, constantly plugging registrations into the MoT history checker. I missed a couple of potentials, as it seems the promising ones literally go overnight.
So last Friday I kept a close watch on new posts, and up came a Clio 1.5d from 2007 for £720 - a Cat N with a long MoT and £35 tax band, and a Mondeo 2.0 TDCi on 107K miles and FSH for £1495. I messaged both within minutes and managed to get a first viewing of both for Saturday.
The Clio was OK - a bargain for the price, but needed 4 new tyres (£200), cambelt (another £100 and half a day under the car), the heater only worked on setting 3 so likely a failing resistor pack (?).
The Mondeo was shockingly good. No bodywork issues, recent cambelt, fully stamped-up service book, and only a headlight full of condensation going against it. The test drive as fine, so I bought it without any haggling.
I've since checked the DPF on Forscan and it's saying it's about 48% through its life (which was a slight worry with a low mileage deisel) so that's all good, and I've found that one of the rear window regulators is borked - so that's £22 for a used one from eBay on the way.
Other than that early days, but frankly if this is modern shedding then I'm very happy.
Has to be one of the best cars I've ever owned for doing what it says on the tin.
My neighbour had one of the first Mondeo MK4s back in 2007, it was a 1.8 TD. I remember being gob smacked at how smoothly it rode and how quiet it was inside compared with my 5 year old VAG 1.9 PD diesel. The only negative for me was that I felt the Mondeo just got a little bit too big in Mk4 guise. The MK3 was very roomy inside and for me the limit of how long and wide I want my family car to be....
James_N said:
£1,500 for that in today's market seems an absolute bargain! Still look pretty fresh these I think!
Quite a few around that price now, looking around on AT similar age/mileage even at dealers - mixture of 1.6TDCI's and the 20TDCI'sWhat are these like on injectors and other diesel delicacies? I am quite tempted as a shed replacement, but the petrol ones are neigh on bulletproof for simple motorway plodding imo, but agree some of the diesels are quite happily carrying on too.
7 5 7 said:
Quite a few around that price now, looking around on AT similar age/mileage even at dealers - mixture of 1.6TDCI's and the 20TDCI's
What are these like on injectors and other diesel delicacies? I am quite tempted as a shed replacement, but the petrol ones are neigh on bulletproof for simple motorway plodding imo, but agree some of the diesels are quite happily carrying on too.
The perceived wisdom on these is 2.0-litre—good, 1.6—bad.What are these like on injectors and other diesel delicacies? I am quite tempted as a shed replacement, but the petrol ones are neigh on bulletproof for simple motorway plodding imo, but agree some of the diesels are quite happily carrying on too.
The 2.0 is the legendary DW10 which I know bearman raves about. The 1.6 is the DLD which is supposedly good in 8v form, but not 16v.
I'm interested in a Peugeot 508 with this engine, FWIW. Planning on going to see it tomorrow, so I'll report back: https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202403037...
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