The Joy of Running an Old Shed
Discussion
Jimmy Recard said:
Just looking for some thoughts on a minor fault. I think it's just a bad battery.
W163 Mercedes ML270 CDI. I drove it yesterday for the first time in a few days and it was in limp mode (no warning lights, just changing up at 2200rpm and very sluggish).
Took the battery off and charged it overnight. Put the battery back on today and drove to the supermarket. It was fine on the way there but on the way back the limp mode happened again. I think it's from the battery voltage dropping.
I bought a trickle charger at the supermarket and I've put it on. It's only showing the battery as 40% charged.
For a while now I've noticed that the heater function when the car is off is only working for about five minutes where it used to manage about half an hour. This only runs until the battery drops below a certain voltage (11.8v IIRC).
I think I know the answer, but has the battery just finally had it? I'd been driving it 40-50 miles a day until parking it up this week and had three frosty nights. I have no idea how old the battery is, just that it's a big Varta
https://axleaddict.com/auto-repair/Alternator-Voltage-Regulator-TestW163 Mercedes ML270 CDI. I drove it yesterday for the first time in a few days and it was in limp mode (no warning lights, just changing up at 2200rpm and very sluggish).
Took the battery off and charged it overnight. Put the battery back on today and drove to the supermarket. It was fine on the way there but on the way back the limp mode happened again. I think it's from the battery voltage dropping.
I bought a trickle charger at the supermarket and I've put it on. It's only showing the battery as 40% charged.
For a while now I've noticed that the heater function when the car is off is only working for about five minutes where it used to manage about half an hour. This only runs until the battery drops below a certain voltage (11.8v IIRC).
I think I know the answer, but has the battery just finally had it? I'd been driving it 40-50 miles a day until parking it up this week and had three frosty nights. I have no idea how old the battery is, just that it's a big Varta
Have a look on there, you could we’ll figure out exactly your issue with a multimeter and save yourself a few quid.
There’s often people in owners clubs on Facebook who break cars as a sideline or living; if it’s an alternator or voltage regulator on it or something you might be able to fix it for peanuts with a second hand part.
This worked for me:
https://airvidox.com/
Gave it quite a nice 'new car smell' for a couple of months after too, once the immediate smell of the swimming baths subsided.
https://airvidox.com/
Gave it quite a nice 'new car smell' for a couple of months after too, once the immediate smell of the swimming baths subsided.
We would often have coaches with horrible smells in them (bloody tourists! 
) and we use a Wurth product that you release the catch on the can and let the A/C recirculate it around the interior. We use three per bus, one for a car is fine. The citrus smell after the initial hydrocarbon/bleach/alcohol smell is gone and works well.
) and we use a Wurth product that you release the catch on the can and let the A/C recirculate it around the interior. We use three per bus, one for a car is fine. The citrus smell after the initial hydrocarbon/bleach/alcohol smell is gone and works well.A500leroy said:
Alternator and battery?
Demelitia said:
https://axleaddict.com/auto-repair/Alternator-Volt...
Have a look on there, you could we’ll figure out exactly your issue with a multimeter and save yourself a few quid.
There’s often people in owners clubs on Facebook who break cars as a sideline or living; if it’s an alternator or voltage regulator on it or something you might be able to fix it for peanuts with a second hand part.
Thanks both! My research indicated MAF was most likely but battery a possibility and I went off after a red herring with the battery.Have a look on there, you could we’ll figure out exactly your issue with a multimeter and save yourself a few quid.
There’s often people in owners clubs on Facebook who break cars as a sideline or living; if it’s an alternator or voltage regulator on it or something you might be able to fix it for peanuts with a second hand part.
Today I managed to get my hands on a good code reader (Bosch something) and it pointed straight to the MAF. £50 for a new OEM Pierburg one, so I'm happy with that. I'm hoping it'll be here by Friday
This was the code:
P0100 Mass or volume air flow circuit
Voltage too low
watchnut said:
I watched car SOS last night, and they claimed a bowl of white vinegar left in the footwell will get rid of smells......has anyone tried this? did it work?
I suspect the orange peel will smell nicer?
You’d probably want to heat it up if you can, or get it to evaporate somehow; it’s the acid bonding to stinky molecules that does the work.I suspect the orange peel will smell nicer?
Bicarbonate soda does the same thing for different sorts of smells, maybe try both separately in wide, shallow containers?
There’s the old cat litter trick as well; it works faster when it’s crushed up a little bit I’ve found.
tomble22 said:
Hope everyone is well!!
I had a bit of misjudgement in my Accord last week and smacked into a low wall at work, first time I've ever hit anything driving (I blame this bloody pandemic).
Anyway, managed to snap the intercooler off its bracket and stick a great hole in it. Whipped the bumper off last weekend and thankfully that's the only damage so ordered a second hand one off ebay for £25,hopefully fit it this weekend and get it back running at least, not that I'm driving it anywhere.
Plus, some silver lining with this MOT break, will give me a few more months to get a few things sorted, MOT was due on 28th April!!
She lives again, intercooler on, EML cleared and all running fine. I had a bit of misjudgement in my Accord last week and smacked into a low wall at work, first time I've ever hit anything driving (I blame this bloody pandemic).
Anyway, managed to snap the intercooler off its bracket and stick a great hole in it. Whipped the bumper off last weekend and thankfully that's the only damage so ordered a second hand one off ebay for £25,hopefully fit it this weekend and get it back running at least, not that I'm driving it anywhere.
Plus, some silver lining with this MOT break, will give me a few more months to get a few things sorted, MOT was due on 28th April!!
Have ordered rear discs and pads and some paint so I can treat the rust on the rear arch over the next few weeks while I'm furloughed.
Shedtastic!
Alright chaps. Thought I'd stick my nose in this thread, as the proud owner of a 19 year old Jaaaaaaaaag X-Type 2.5 V6 AWD Auto.
It's the perfect all-seasons car, being that it's worth no more than one monthly payment on a new BMW 3-Series, and is shod with Michelin CrossClimate tyres all round.
Been running it for 3 years now, and all it's needed is the aforementioned tyres, a new battery, brakes, and a new radiator (not the car's fault - the old rad was holed and repaired badly by a previous owner).
According to the MoT advisory list on its last two tests, one of the rear driveshaft gaiters is knackered... The question is, do I get it fixed, or let it appear a third time?
It's the perfect all-seasons car, being that it's worth no more than one monthly payment on a new BMW 3-Series, and is shod with Michelin CrossClimate tyres all round.
Been running it for 3 years now, and all it's needed is the aforementioned tyres, a new battery, brakes, and a new radiator (not the car's fault - the old rad was holed and repaired badly by a previous owner).
According to the MoT advisory list on its last two tests, one of the rear driveshaft gaiters is knackered... The question is, do I get it fixed, or let it appear a third time?
MorganP104 said:
Alright chaps. Thought I'd stick my nose in this thread, as the proud owner of a 19 year old Jaaaaaaaaag X-Type 2.5 V6 AWD Auto.
It's the perfect all-seasons car, being that it's worth no more than one monthly payment on a new BMW 3-Series, and is shod with Michelin CrossClimate tyres all round.
Been running it for 3 years now, and all it's needed is the aforementioned tyres, a new battery, brakes, and a new radiator (not the car's fault - the old rad was holed and repaired badly by a previous owner).
According to the MoT advisory list on its last two tests, one of the rear driveshaft gaiters is knackered... The question is, do I get it fixed, or let it appear a third time?
It's the perfect all-seasons car, being that it's worth no more than one monthly payment on a new BMW 3-Series, and is shod with Michelin CrossClimate tyres all round.
Been running it for 3 years now, and all it's needed is the aforementioned tyres, a new battery, brakes, and a new radiator (not the car's fault - the old rad was holed and repaired badly by a previous owner).
According to the MoT advisory list on its last two tests, one of the rear driveshaft gaiters is knackered... The question is, do I get it fixed, or let it appear a third time?
I think shed mentality would dictate that you put it in for a test and if it passes then you leave it alone.Well, that's probably what I'd do!
I like X-types, they get a bit of stick for not being a 'proper jag' but for what they sell for these days they're a hint of luxury for peanuts.
I had a 2.2 diesel about 3 years ago, paid £675 for it I think. It drove well, lot of torque steer from what I remember. Only had it 2 weeks as I ended up selling it for double the price!
After seven glorious years together my shed has gone to the scrapyard this morning. After not moving since November I fired it up on Saturday, blew the tyres up and moved it off the drive so my neighbour could pollard his tree. The near side front was making a right racket, the top mount has seized up over the winter.
Insurance due tomorrow, just could not justify that and the repair cost, so off to the scrapyard it went. I only managed two hundred yards before there was a bang, and a smell of burning rubber, the NSF spring had jumped out, as it was being wound up on the top mount, and was now digging into the tyre...
Quite a nerve racking five miles to the scrappy, while waiting for the tyre to let go, but it made it there without me having to put the space saver on, which would more than likely have cleared the spring, but I just couldn’t be arsed on its trip to the final destination.
Wrong time to be weighing a motor in, but came out with £100, so better than nowt.
A Volvo V70 D5 that has served me well.
Insurance due tomorrow, just could not justify that and the repair cost, so off to the scrapyard it went. I only managed two hundred yards before there was a bang, and a smell of burning rubber, the NSF spring had jumped out, as it was being wound up on the top mount, and was now digging into the tyre...
Quite a nerve racking five miles to the scrappy, while waiting for the tyre to let go, but it made it there without me having to put the space saver on, which would more than likely have cleared the spring, but I just couldn’t be arsed on its trip to the final destination.
Wrong time to be weighing a motor in, but came out with £100, so better than nowt.
A Volvo V70 D5 that has served me well.
gazza285 said:
After seven glorious years together my shed has gone to the scrapyard this morning. After not moving since November I fired it up on Saturday, blew the tyres up and moved it off the drive so my neighbour could pollard his tree. The near side front was making a right racket, the top mount has seized up over the winter.
Insurance due tomorrow, just could not justify that and the repair cost, so off to the scrapyard it went. I only managed two hundred yards before there was a bang, and a smell of burning rubber, the NSF spring had jumped out, as it was being wound up on the top mount, and was now digging into the tyre...
Quite a nerve racking five miles to the scrappy, while waiting for the tyre to let go, but it made it there without me having to put the space saver on, which would more than likely have cleared the spring, but I just couldn’t be arsed on its trip to the final destination.
Wrong time to be weighing a motor in, but came out with £100, so better than nowt.
A Volvo V70 D5 that has served me well.
And the replacement..Insurance due tomorrow, just could not justify that and the repair cost, so off to the scrapyard it went. I only managed two hundred yards before there was a bang, and a smell of burning rubber, the NSF spring had jumped out, as it was being wound up on the top mount, and was now digging into the tyre...
Quite a nerve racking five miles to the scrappy, while waiting for the tyre to let go, but it made it there without me having to put the space saver on, which would more than likely have cleared the spring, but I just couldn’t be arsed on its trip to the final destination.
Wrong time to be weighing a motor in, but came out with £100, so better than nowt.
A Volvo V70 D5 that has served me well.
A500leroy said:
gazza285 said:
After seven glorious years together my shed has gone to the scrapyard this morning. After not moving since November I fired it up on Saturday, blew the tyres up and moved it off the drive so my neighbour could pollard his tree. The near side front was making a right racket, the top mount has seized up over the winter.
Insurance due tomorrow, just could not justify that and the repair cost, so off to the scrapyard it went. I only managed two hundred yards before there was a bang, and a smell of burning rubber, the NSF spring had jumped out, as it was being wound up on the top mount, and was now digging into the tyre...
Quite a nerve racking five miles to the scrappy, while waiting for the tyre to let go, but it made it there without me having to put the space saver on, which would more than likely have cleared the spring, but I just couldn’t be arsed on its trip to the final destination.
Wrong time to be weighing a motor in, but came out with £100, so better than nowt.
A Volvo V70 D5 that has served me well.
And the replacement..Insurance due tomorrow, just could not justify that and the repair cost, so off to the scrapyard it went. I only managed two hundred yards before there was a bang, and a smell of burning rubber, the NSF spring had jumped out, as it was being wound up on the top mount, and was now digging into the tyre...
Quite a nerve racking five miles to the scrappy, while waiting for the tyre to let go, but it made it there without me having to put the space saver on, which would more than likely have cleared the spring, but I just couldn’t be arsed on its trip to the final destination.
Wrong time to be weighing a motor in, but came out with £100, so better than nowt.
A Volvo V70 D5 that has served me well.
gazza285 said:
A500leroy said:
gazza285 said:
After seven glorious years together my shed has gone to the scrapyard this morning. After not moving since November I fired it up on Saturday, blew the tyres up and moved it off the drive so my neighbour could pollard his tree. The near side front was making a right racket, the top mount has seized up over the winter.
Insurance due tomorrow, just could not justify that and the repair cost, so off to the scrapyard it went. I only managed two hundred yards before there was a bang, and a smell of burning rubber, the NSF spring had jumped out, as it was being wound up on the top mount, and was now digging into the tyre...
Quite a nerve racking five miles to the scrappy, while waiting for the tyre to let go, but it made it there without me having to put the space saver on, which would more than likely have cleared the spring, but I just couldn’t be arsed on its trip to the final destination.
Wrong time to be weighing a motor in, but came out with £100, so better than nowt.
A Volvo V70 D5 that has served me well.
And the replacement..Insurance due tomorrow, just could not justify that and the repair cost, so off to the scrapyard it went. I only managed two hundred yards before there was a bang, and a smell of burning rubber, the NSF spring had jumped out, as it was being wound up on the top mount, and was now digging into the tyre...
Quite a nerve racking five miles to the scrappy, while waiting for the tyre to let go, but it made it there without me having to put the space saver on, which would more than likely have cleared the spring, but I just couldn’t be arsed on its trip to the final destination.
Wrong time to be weighing a motor in, but came out with £100, so better than nowt.
A Volvo V70 D5 that has served me well.
Steve91 said:
New tyre fitted to my MK1 focus. £63 thanks to the 17's I've got on. Nangkangs to match the rest.
Currently furloughed and the temptation to machine polish it is driving me crazy. Got everything except the machine itself but Argos do one for £50
Do it without the machine, twice, itll take longer.. lolCurrently furloughed and the temptation to machine polish it is driving me crazy. Got everything except the machine itself but Argos do one for £50
A500leroy said:
Do it without the machine, twice, it'll take longer.. lol
did that on my old E46 at the weekend - now looks fab under social distancing rules 
(Close up I've now got shiny scratches and dings )Still removing various polishes/waxes from under my fingernails though - and got sunburnt into the bargain
Despite absolutely no need to pass the time today the headlights are coming off so I can try polishing the inside of the plastic headlight protectors as they are now letting the side down.... now where's the toothpaste.....
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff