Car D.I.Y.

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tyred

Legendary Member
Location
Ireland
Despite what society and the sort of people who write to the local rag or call radio phone in programmes to be hysterical, the young people in the cars covered in body kits etc are rarely the people who are dangerous.

They have invested a lot of time and money in messing up their cars so the last thing they want to do is prang it. Most are just driving around the neighbourhood. Annoying possibly but not really dangerous.
 

fossyant

Ride It Like You Stole It!
Location
South Manchester
Despite what society and the sort of people who write to the local rag or call radio phone in programmes to be hysterical, the young people in the cars covered in body kits etc are rarely the people who are dangerous.

They have invested a lot of time and money in messing up their cars so the last thing they want to do is prang it. Most are just driving around the neighbourhood. Annoying possibly but not really dangerous.

My son was saying he get's people that get angry with him going over some of the pot holed roads when he's delivering pizza, as he's going slowly and carefully. Lots of un-adopted roads near us. Holds up all the 4x4's.

I get the same though when I'm on my MTB, these 4x4's are far slower on un-adopted roads/farm tracks. :whistle:
 

MrGrumpy

Huge Member
Location
Fly Fifer
They spend silly amounts on their cars, for no real improvement, but then again, speaking to a few of my son's mates , they aren't out boozing, taking drugs. They just go for a 'drive' and having seen their instagram pages, they tend to drive to places with great views at sunset etc, and take pictures of their cars.
Must admit back when I was 17-18 I was hanging about with my pal down the harbour. Where we would all meet in cars. We weren’t getting up to much but plod always came for a visit. Just so they knew where we were.
Laughing just now as my mate had a Austin Maestro and I used to sit beside him with L plates on ! We were both only 17:laugh:
 

cosmicbike

Perhaps This One.....
Moderator
Location
Egham
They spend silly amounts on their cars, for no real improvement, but then again, speaking to a few of my son's mates , they aren't out boozing, taking drugs. They just go for a 'drive' and having seen their instagram pages, they tend to drive to places with great views at sunset etc, and take pictures of their cars.

We used to do the same thing, only it was MkI/II Escorts, Renault 5 GT and so forth. Without Instagram.
 

gbb

Legendary Member
Location
Peterborough
Despite what society and the sort of people who write to the local rag or call radio phone in programmes to be hysterical, the young people in the cars covered in body kits etc are rarely the people who are dangerous.

They have invested a lot of time and money in messing up their cars so the last thing they want to do is prang it. Most are just driving around the neighbourhood. Annoying possibly but not really dangerous.
It the minority who spoil it for everyone, their own enthusiast pals get tarnished reputations because of it (I suspect)
We have a huge problem developed here with drifters and car meets. They use a part of an industrial area to drift, engines roaring and tyres howling until sometimes, 2, 3, 4am. Every week give or take for 10 years (there was a year when it didnt happen at all tbf but even covid lockdown didnt stop them)
10 freaking years of howling tyres and roaring engines every weekend that's now spilling out into local roads. Police simply aren't interested, ditto the council....and in the meantime, hundreds of local residents have to grit their teeth and bear it.

It was never dealt with and now it's completely out of control.
 

gbb

Legendary Member
Location
Peterborough
Diy inspection ?
DIL needs a slightly bigger car, she asked me to look over a Vauxhall Corsa, 2006, 1.4,.
I didnt get far, outwardly it looked ok but....
Dipstick out, plenty of oil....does it smell of petrol ?... slight :dry: moment.
Oil filler cap off...looks ok.
Coolant tank...looked inside, a fair film of oil on the surface, dug my finger in, sludge, oily sludge.

I glanced at my DIL....:thumbsdown:
I said to the seller, sorry, were gonna leave it there, not comfortable with that mate, thanks for your time but....
He wasnt happy...i know the head gasket is ok he said.
It may be, equally it might be the timing chain housing gasket, waterway passes through it, seals leaks, oil in the coolant apparently according to our SIL garage mechanic as i explained it to him later.
 
Wiring Question

I know it's viable, as the current draw is minimal, using LEDs....

Has anyone added side-repeater indicators to their caravan (or indeed, a trailer)?
Mine has 'marker-lights' on the side (to either side of the axle)

603364



I was thinking of this in two ways
1. Replace the present marker-lights, with red/white items (BUT.... I think they incorporate reflectors?)
2. Add a separate 'repeater' in a suitable position, something like these; https://www.vehiclewiringproducts.co.uk/c-55-lighting/c-141-indicator-and-rear-lamps?product_id=1318

It'd just really be a case of making sure that all connections are water-tight, & the wiring is clipped/tie-wrapped safely out of the way
 
OP
OP
Drago

Drago

Legendary Member
Full service on my XC90 today. The works, including coolant and brake fluid.

The diesel filter can be a bit of a swine on these, but mine came undone first try.

Conversely, the torx screws holding the airbox lid down were a bugger and I damaged 2 undoing them. Ive ordered a new set of 5 for £3.69 and will grease the threads before fitting them.

Drove Mrs D to the shops and now its cooled off it only needed a slight top up of coolant to get to the max level.

145,172 miles and drives faultlessly. Long may it continue, because when it dies I won't be buying another. When it gets to 150k it'll qualify for the Volvo bronze high mileage badge.

And Thursday next week its the date with the M.O.T. tester.
 
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Son's recently bought a Mini Cooper S, not my cup of tea but there you go.

"Bought some Union Jack rear lights Dad, can you help me fit 'em".

No worries I thought, went in easy enough just plug and play.

Turned them on and they flicker on start up, warning lights on dashboard and half the 'flag' doesn't work!


2 days later, a plug in Bluetooth module, a £30 Bimmercode App and hours of YouTube videos to find out which codes needed changing they're all working fine.

Total cost £400!
 

MrGrumpy

Huge Member
Location
Fly Fifer
Son's recently bought a Mini Cooper S, not my cup of tea but there you go.

"Bought some Union Jack rear lights Dad, can you help me fit 'em".

No worries I thought, went in easy enough just plug and play.

Turned them on and they flicker on start up, warning lights on dashboard and half the 'flag' doesn't work!


2 days later, a plug in Bluetooth module, a £30 Bimmercode App and hours of YouTube videos to find out which codes needed changing they're all working fine.

Total cost £400!
Yes nuts isn’t it, stuff needs coded etc even frickin batteries sometimes !!
 
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OP
Drago

Drago

Legendary Member
My car cleaned and bulbs tested ready for the MOT. It's going to the same place as it did last year, and in 2020 the tester remarked that he could not believe the condition of the car for its mileage.

Was feeling energetic and the sun peeped out, so also did the plastics with Vista, which should keep them looking like new until the spring.

Then tested all lights, how, washers, degreased the screen and checked the wipers, reset the tyre pressures and had my tread depth gauge on them. It ain't going to fail.

Mrs D's car is gopping, but we're saying adios to it on Thursday 2nd when her new Polestar 2 arrives so I have little inclination to do anything about it.
 
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