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.
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.
E-bmw said:
Did the same job on my 06 MCS last month & found the same, I decuced as it is pretty difficult to do that at 90k miles it would probably be the original one.
After removing it I was still thinking it was probably the original one!
The old one was a BMW marked part. MG/Rover tank with an extra BMW "O" ring inside the MG/Rover one. Nice bit of bean counter engineering. o make the BMW pump (that failed) and BMW filter housing fit the MG/Rover tank it must have worked out a lot cheaper to Russian doll the "O" rings than retrofit the tank with a smaller threaded collar. After removing it I was still thinking it was probably the original one!
I do like the metal top collars though. So much easier to work with then the plastic ones that snap if you hit them too hard with a hammer.
Special edition of Driveway CSI today.
Paddock CSI
At another charity track day going into the first bend I heard and felt a "pop". I tried to make the first bend but my Alfa didn't feel right. So I then tried to go round the back of the bend instead.
If I had tried that first I would not have straddled the curb smashing the exhaust bracket on the sump. The bolts that hold the bracket in place bent and cracked the sump. My day was over and I made it home despite the oil leak.
Well I made it home with a little help from some bungee rope and crow hitch knot.
Paddock CSI
At another charity track day going into the first bend I heard and felt a "pop". I tried to make the first bend but my Alfa didn't feel right. So I then tried to go round the back of the bend instead.
If I had tried that first I would not have straddled the curb smashing the exhaust bracket on the sump. The bolts that hold the bracket in place bent and cracked the sump. My day was over and I made it home despite the oil leak.
Well I made it home with a little help from some bungee rope and crow hitch knot.
Historic Driveway CSI from today in 2013
"I love hot days like today. I peeled the Halfords "M" badge of my neighbors BMW 318 and stuck it back on up side down.
Place your bets how long will it take for him to notice?"
He didn't until he tried to sell the car seven months later.
Today I have been mostly working on my Fiat Uno track day project. The mystery of why the brakes are stuck on a car that has been stored outside for over ten years isn't exactly a where's Lord Lucan thing but still a faff.
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
"I love hot days like today. I peeled the Halfords "M" badge of my neighbors BMW 318 and stuck it back on up side down.
Place your bets how long will it take for him to notice?"
He didn't until he tried to sell the car seven months later.
Today I have been mostly working on my Fiat Uno track day project. The mystery of why the brakes are stuck on a car that has been stored outside for over ten years isn't exactly a where's Lord Lucan thing but still a faff.
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
Historic Driveway CSI from 2016
"Driveway CSI today and new shocks for the Bravo.
Rear shocks and the chance to pretend I'm a gynecologist for a while. For those who don't know the bottom nuts come undone with ease but you need a 15mm socket and long extension to get to the top bolts. Located thorough a hole protected by a plastic bung on the inner wheel arch you need to carefully extract the bolt. If it drops into the chassis rail chamber you will need a special tool to get it out. I used a fridge magnet held on the end of a bicycle cable surround with duct tape.
Half an hour later and it was time to tackle the front. About three in the afternoon I should be done in time for tea.
Nope as you can tell by the time of this post I was out there until half eleven. The top strut nuts were seized on, one of the bolts fell into the bulkhead and the magnet on a cable trick didn't work because they are aluminum. The drive shaft popped apart and split the brand new cv boot. But it's all done now and what a transformation. The shocks weren't bad at all and good for MOT and the road but all the new bits have come together to make the car feel so good I've deleted the for sale advert".
I have since revised my bicycle outer cable with a magnet tool to include a key ring torch illuminating optic fiber so you can light the magnet end making things easier.
"Driveway CSI today and new shocks for the Bravo.
Rear shocks and the chance to pretend I'm a gynecologist for a while. For those who don't know the bottom nuts come undone with ease but you need a 15mm socket and long extension to get to the top bolts. Located thorough a hole protected by a plastic bung on the inner wheel arch you need to carefully extract the bolt. If it drops into the chassis rail chamber you will need a special tool to get it out. I used a fridge magnet held on the end of a bicycle cable surround with duct tape.
Half an hour later and it was time to tackle the front. About three in the afternoon I should be done in time for tea.
Nope as you can tell by the time of this post I was out there until half eleven. The top strut nuts were seized on, one of the bolts fell into the bulkhead and the magnet on a cable trick didn't work because they are aluminum. The drive shaft popped apart and split the brand new cv boot. But it's all done now and what a transformation. The shocks weren't bad at all and good for MOT and the road but all the new bits have come together to make the car feel so good I've deleted the for sale advert".
I have since revised my bicycle outer cable with a magnet tool to include a key ring torch illuminating optic fiber so you can light the magnet end making things easier.
Today I have shafting a squealing wet box and making sure when I removed the plug there was a bucket to catch any mess.
Yep.
I have found out why the gearbox on my Uno track day project....
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
...had a noisy gearbox.
Here's a clue.
A bit of a bearing basket and more metal flake than a House of Kolor catalog.
Yep.
I have found out why the gearbox on my Uno track day project....
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
...had a noisy gearbox.
Here's a clue.
A bit of a bearing basket and more metal flake than a House of Kolor catalog.
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