The Joy of Running an Old Shed

[mercedeslimos]

swampy442 said:

Bit of a shed repair carried out. With the MOT looming in July, I noticed a split ball joint boot. I have some in the garage from another job on the Supra, quick chop, glue and fit. Et viola, free fix

Are those split boots any good? I've got some normal replacement ones but those look decent, superglued together?

[swampy442]

The Mad Monk said:

swampy442 said:

Bit of a shed repair carried out. With the MOT looming in July, I noticed a split ball joint boot. I have some in the garage from another job on the Supra, quick chop, glue and fit. Et viola, free fix

Excuse me Mister, I think there is someone lying under your shed!

Thats my, ahem, svelte thigh

[swampy442]

mercedeslimos said:

swampy442 said:

Bit of a shed repair carried out. With the MOT looming in July, I noticed a split ball joint boot. I have some in the garage from another job on the Supra, quick chop, glue and fit. Et viola, free fix

Are those split boots any good? I've got some normal replacement ones but those look decent, superglued together?

It was an intact boot, I split it to make it fit as it was to big lol. I just cut and trimmed it tot fit then used some Loctite superglue to stick it together. Went on no problems, seemed strong, as long as it lasts to July 17th I dont care

[Captain Answer]

Nice little bodge I found yesterday changing the plugs & ignition coil module (which were pretty poor) on my wifes Citroen shed, crank case breather had been broken then just had some electrical tape wrapped around it.. (i also broke another section to rotate it to get a better grip on the release tabs and pull out with pliers) top of the engine all nice and oily from where it had been leaking

New one in post now, easy enough to sort thankfully just a bit of an arse as its off the road now until it comes

Edited by Captain Answer on Thursday 2nd July 14:19

[STIfree]

Captain Answer said:

STIfree said:

Anyone had experiences with Mini Cooper S's at shed money?

Can get 2003 ish ones with a bit over 100k for £1000-1500.


I hear from a friend that Mini's of that era aren't the most reliable but cheap parts and easy to work on makes it bareable.



I'm thinking of getting rid of my '08 Mondeo in favour of one as it barely gets used anymore now I have the Lexus and the other half wants something smaller and I want something fun.

Look at the sheer amount on spares or repairs on eBay and that'll give you a clue, everyone I know who's had one cheap has pretty much ended up with a major issue

That's not great.

I also spoke to my mate mentioned above and I remembered it wrong. He sad they're not easy to work Apparently they rust on everything so its a nightmare to change broken bits, which happens a lot. Think I'll give them a swerve for now and think of something else for the £1k mark that's fun, Mk1 Audi TT maybe?

Captain Answer said:

Nice little bodge I found yesterday changing the plugs & ignition coil module (which were pretty poor) on my wifes Citroen shed, crank case breather had been broken then just had some electrical tape wrapped around it.. (i also broke another section to rotate it to get a better grip on the release tabs and pull out with pliers) top of the engine all nice and oily from where it had been leaking

New one in post now, easy enough to sort thankfully just a bit of an arse as its off the road now until it comes

Edited by Captain Answer on Thursday 2nd July 14:19

I enjoy an easy fix. What issue was it causing with it broke? An oil leak?












I'm doing an oil and filter change on my Lexus LS430 tonight. No idea when the last one was done and the cost for 5 litres of oil & a filter was £28 from ECP so it'd be daft not to.

Tried to get the tracking done the other day, but it was turned away from 2 places as they said everything on it was seized from rust and they wouldn't bother. Hmpf! Guess I'll be driving to Germany on Sunday with the steering wheel still at a slight angle.

[Captain Answer]

STIfree said:

I enjoy an easy fix. What issue was it causing with it broke? An oil leak?

I'm doing an oil and filter change on my Lexus LS430 tonight. No idea when the last one was done and the cost for 5 litres of oil & a filter was £28 from ECP so it'd be daft not to.

Tried to get the tracking done the other day, but it was turned away from 2 places as they said everything on it was seized from rust and they wouldn't bother. Hmpf! Guess I'll be driving to Germany on Sunday with the steering wheel still at a slight angle.

Yeh its been dripping out the pipe onto the top of the engine so oil all around the plugs, ignition coil etc but don't look like it was too bad, its only the breather so there's not too much liquid circulating at that point - just cleaned it all up with some kitchen roll for the easy bits and kitchen roll looped over a long screw driver for the recess where the spark plug sits - didn't have the right spark plug socket for it (ordered one now), but got em out with a deep 14mm socket to loosen then just a magnet to lift the old ones out.. new ones i just put a bit of blue tack inside the socket and got em in that way

Sill got to do oil and filter and air filter on it, all service bits were about £36 and £12 for 2nd hand ignition coil, shes only had it 2 week and already fixed coolant leak (£5 for cap and a pipe at the scrap yard, whatever the fluid costs, I had a load in the garage luckily), center console screen (£15 ebay salvage unit), radio (weren't plugged in right so free except the cut i got doing it), heating resistor (£16 local motor factors) - but for a £500 car with a full MOT I wouldn't expect much better and she needed something in a hurry

That sucks about the steering component rust... how rusty is it? Find a local garage to tackle it tho they will charge you the time to do it

MK1 TT is meant to actually be a decent shed - not sure I'd drive on tho

Edited by Captain Answer on Thursday 2nd July 15:39

Edited by Captain Answer on Thursday 2nd July 15:41

Edited by Captain Answer on Thursday 2nd July 15:47

[tomble22]

I didn't have any issues with my Clio 182 and I only paid £1,500 for that. Brilliant cars, obviously the reputation they have bigs them up but they really do live up to it. I'd definitely recommend one.

[mercedeslimos]

STIfree said:

Audi TT

Do it!

Doubt you'll get a 225Q at that, but they are all good fun (Even the FWD-only 150). 180 is a good bet, most have quattro and don't attract the scumbag tax or insurance penalty of the 225.

Sam

[STIfree]

Captain Answer said:

Yeh its been dripping out the pipe onto the top of the engine so oil all around the plugs, ignition coil etc but don't look like it was too bad, its only the breather so there's not too much liquid circulating at that point - just cleaned it all up with some kitchen roll for the easy bits and kitchen roll looped over a long screw driver for the recess where the spark plug sits - didn't have the right spark plug socket for it (ordered one now), but got em out with a deep 14mm socket to loosen then just a magnet to lift the old ones out.. new ones i just put a bit of blue tack inside the socket and got em in that way

Sill got to do oil and filter and air filter on it, all service bits were about £36 and £12 for 2nd hand ignition coil, shes only had it 2 week and already fixed coolant leak (£5 for cap and a pipe at the scrap yard, whatever the fluid costs, I had a load in the garage luckily), center console screen (£15 ebay salvage unit), radio (weren't plugged in right so free except the cut i got doing it), heating resistor (£16 local motor factors) - but for a £500 car with a full MOT I wouldn't expect much better and she needed something in a hurry

That sucks about the steering component rust... how rusty is it? Find a local garage to tackle it tho they will charge you the time to do it

MK1 TT is meant to actually be a decent shed - not sure I'd drive on tho

Edited by Captain Answer on Thursday 2nd July 15:39

Edited by Captain Answer on Thursday 2nd July 15:41

Edited by Captain Answer on Thursday 2nd July 15:47

That's a very easy oil leak fix! All 3 of my sheds currently have oil leaks None of which are major and because of that and my lack of effort, I've yet to diagnose why.

I think my best bet for the tracking it to spend some time with heat to loosen everything off first before taking it for tracking. But I've got an MOT due in 2 months on it so will see how much that drains my wallet before I do 'non essential' stuff!

tomble22 said:

I didn't have any issues with my Clio 182 and I only paid £1,500 for that. Brilliant cars, obviously the reputation they have bigs them up but they really do live up to it. I'd definitely recommend one.

I'd love a 182 (or 172) but I tell you what, they're going up in price these days! I've had a quick browse and I can't find any for under £1750. I recall when you could get them close to the £1k mark, think those times are gone now. Did notice the Twingo Sports are coming down a bit in price now, they could be the next cheap French hot hatch.

mercedeslimos said:

Do it!

Doubt you'll get a 225Q at that, but they are all good fun (Even the FWD-only 150). 180 is a good bet, most have quattro and don't attract the scumbag tax or insurance penalty of the 225.

Sam

I think they're the wiser choice. I borrowed a 225 for a couple of weeks in Sydney a few years ago, did well in the city and out.

A friend recently bought a 180 for I think around £7-800 mark. I know they're getting on a bit now, but they're still a nice car with a few choice mods.

[Jimmy Recard]

STIfree said:

I'm doing an oil and filter change on my Lexus LS430 tonight. No idea when the last one was done and the cost for 5 litres of oil & a filter was £28 from ECP so it'd be daft not to.

I suspect it might want more than 5 litres

[tomble22]

STIfree said:

tomble22 said:

I didn't have any issues with my Clio 182 and I only paid £1,500 for that. Brilliant cars, obviously the reputation they have bigs them up but they really do live up to it. I'd definitely recommend one.

I'd love a 182 (or 172) but I tell you what, they're going up in price these days! I've had a quick browse and I can't find any for under £1750. I recall when you could get them close to the £1k mark, think those times are gone now. Did notice the Twingo Sports are coming down a bit in price now, they could be the next cheap French hot hatch.

Ha, i just did the same thing and they do seem to have shot up recently. When i was looking early last year there were quite a few knocking around at the £1k mark that needed a bit of tidying.

What about an Ignis Sport, I drove one once and it was good fun, something you can really wring out.

[WJNB]

No problem when the first tt on a E scooter gets crushed between me & the kerb or whacks into the back of me because he/she/it didn't see me brake suddenly.

[swampy442]

Jimmy Recard said:

STIfree said:

I'm doing an oil and filter change on my Lexus LS430 tonight. No idea when the last one was done and the cost for 5 litres of oil & a filter was £28 from ECP so it'd be daft not to.

I suspect it might want more than 5 litres

I serviced a 430 yesterday, takes 5.5 litres with a filter change

[Captain Answer]

STIfree said:

That's a very easy oil leak fix! All 3 of my sheds currently have oil leaks hehe None of which are major and because of that and my lack of effort, I've yet to diagnose why.

Don't worry - its got at least one other major one somewhere, either the cylinder head or apparently it can run out and down one of the bolts for the cam shaft sprocket .. watching that one at the moment, my plan is to not worry about it and just keep her topped up with cheapo oil till it goes next year

Saab has always had a small ones in the 5 years i've had it, never been serious enough to warrant attention

Chrysler - Not sure, but not spotted any on it so far

[egor110]

tomble22 said:

STIfree said:

tomble22 said:

I didn't have any issues with my Clio 182 and I only paid £1,500 for that. Brilliant cars, obviously the reputation they have bigs them up but they really do live up to it. I'd definitely recommend one.

I'd love a 182 (or 172) but I tell you what, they're going up in price these days! I've had a quick browse and I can't find any for under £1750. I recall when you could get them close to the £1k mark, think those times are gone now. Did notice the Twingo Sports are coming down a bit in price now, they could be the next cheap French hot hatch.

Ha, i just did the same thing and they do seem to have shot up recently. When i was looking early last year there were quite a few knocking around at the £1k mark that needed a bit of tidying.

What about an Ignis Sport, I drove one once and it was good fun, something you can really wring out.

Mini cooper s's are the new cheap hot hatch , plenty for sub 1500.

[ghost83]

My heater motor has stopped working on my shed (picasso)

Not too bothered did fly through its mot though even with a cracked windscreen

[Jimmy Recard]

swampy442 said:

I serviced a 430 yesterday, takes 5.5 litres with a filter change

Oh ok, I was expecting more like 8 or 9. Not far off!

[STIfree]

WJNB said:

No problem when the first tt on a E scooter gets crushed between me & the kerb or whacks into the back of me because he/she/it didn't see me brake suddenly.

What?

swampy442 said:

Jimmy Recard said:

STIfree said:

I'm doing an oil and filter change on my Lexus LS430 tonight. No idea when the last one was done and the cost for 5 litres of oil & a filter was £28 from ECP so it'd be daft not to.

I suspect it might want more than 5 litres

I serviced a 430 yesterday, takes 5.5 litres with a filter change

Castrol website quoted 4.5l for service, plus 0.3l for filter.

It did take a bit over 5 litres though.


I had no paper work (despite a lot of other stuff dating back to when it was new) that said when the last service was done.

Certainly was due!

[greenarrow]

egor110 said:

tomble22 said:

STIfree said:

tomble22 said:

I didn't have any issues with my Clio 182 and I only paid £1,500 for that. Brilliant cars, obviously the reputation they have bigs them up but they really do live up to it. I'd definitely recommend one.

I'd love a 182 (or 172) but I tell you what, they're going up in price these days! I've had a quick browse and I can't find any for under £1750. I recall when you could get them close to the £1k mark, think those times are gone now. Did notice the Twingo Sports are coming down a bit in price now, they could be the next cheap French hot hatch.

Ha, i just did the same thing and they do seem to have shot up recently. When i was looking early last year there were quite a few knocking around at the £1k mark that needed a bit of tidying.

What about an Ignis Sport, I drove one once and it was good fun, something you can really wring out.

Mini cooper s's are the new cheap hot hatch , plenty for sub 1500.

Cooper S' are tempting but have a bad reputation for issues don't they, as they get older?

For me the Suzuki Swift Sport is the most tempting car dropping down towards the £1K mark. A whole lot of fun, but with Japanese reliability built in.

[youngsod]

A500leroy said:

Red Sleeper said:

I'm trying my best to keep the shed mentality and not finance something for around 8k that's a bit nicer to sit in and a bit more stylish. But it's hard somethings driving old heaps.

You can still play the shed if you keep it for 10 years, it works out at £800 a year then which is shed money just in one hit instead of 10 different sheds.

Does this mean I qualify? Bought a Corolla from a Toyota dealer (not shedding), but I've kept it for 10 years and a further 160k. Now sitting on 187k being exactly what Corollas are: boring, dull and utterly, utterly reliable. I love her deeply.