Your fleet running reports

[Sundayjumper]

Coincidentally, there's also windscreen news from my parents. My Mum has a Nissan Pao, I don't seem to have a photo of her car but it's like this:




It's a cute little thing, they've had it for ages now, and despite a few wobbles over the years whether to keep it, it's still there. It's a 30+ year old Jap car that lives near the seaside and inevitably the salt is taking its toll. Some rust had been brewing around the windscreen for a few years and finally got bad enough to crack the windscreen. An MOT fail for sure and with only ~150 left on the roads here a new screen is not easy to acquire

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To cut a very long story short, as my Dad put it, they found a local body shop to do the body and a specialist screen fitter via their car insurance who cut out the old screen and made a one off replacement screen & seal. My parents paid for the bodywork, and the insurance excess for supplying & fitting a custom made screen was £75

They've done a super job of it:

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[Jobbo]

Nice - I was wondering if the Pao had a completely flat screen so it might be feasible to make one, but I think it's only the side windows which are flat. Is that right? Good work getting one made anyway

[Sundayjumper]

I thought the same when my Dad first mentioned it, but it does have a very slight curve to it. It's really gratifying to know that jobs like this are possible.

[mik]

Good that they managed to reduce the size of the lamp-post running through the new one too.

[Mito Man]

I think this was on Wheeler Dealers but perhaps one of the episodes filmed in the USA. They went to the glass fitter who found a windscreen which was oversized but had the correct curve and then cut out the new one from it.

[Broccers]

Its not often I'm impressed these days but the H&R springs transformed the mini.

Proper fun at not too lairy speeds

[DeskJockey]

Spent a bit of time on the Zoe this morning. Rear parking sensor was down to the tape holding it in place failing. Applied new double sided tape and sorted the issue. While under there I got a good look at the quality of the workmanship of the insurance garage that fixed it. Not impressed. Random loose piece of trim falls out as I stick my arm under the bumper, two of six screws are without washers and the wrong type. The parking sensor appears to be missing a cable clip. But it is back in place and works.

Moved on to the heated rear screen. Three screws and the boot lid trim is off, that's easy enough. Check all connectors and they look fine. Then find the connector for the heated rear screen and the earth strap is missing the bolt that secures it to the post, so there's not really contact. Wonder why it didn't work?

Really not a quality piece of work.

[Mito Man]

Managed to service 3 cars before F1 qualifying. Just an oil and filter change on the 6. Did the same on the defender plus both diffs and the transfer box. Also changed the coolant but I ended up having to look at the workshop manual as the bloody thing doesn’t have a drain valve which necessitated removing a fuel coolant hose. But then it has a coolant bleed valve so I forgive it - why don’t all cars have this.
Did the Camaro for my dad but he wanted the diff oil changed too as apparently they like to fail for fun but it was all fine.

[Jimexpl]

Wanted to take the mini for a drive for the first time since the pandemic.
Started immediately but unfortunately the clutch pedal wouldn’t budge. The clutch arm and slave cylinder is free so it must be the master. I’ve never changed it since purchase in 1998, and it definitely wasn’t new then, so probably has been on since new (1979).
Took the white Land Rover out. It needs setting up properly as there’s a big flat spot between 1/4 throttle and pedal to the floor. Not surprising since the carb is from a different engine and it now has a performance cam in it. Just need to find a rolling road with someone who will understand it. I used to use Aldon Automotive for the mini who were very good, but if anyone can recommend someone closer to South Leicestershire I’ll give them a try.

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[Broccers]

Mini - took it for a proper spin around derbyshire on friday night when the roads were empty. The amount of wallow the standard springs made it not very sporty at all - the h&r springs have eliminated any lifting and dipping of the front and as well as the side to side. Result is an absolute weapon of a little car. Love it. Plenty quick enough for the roads and missing random sheeps (pictured).

Also refreshed the boot struts so both sides pop open now.

[Matty]

Any ideas what would cause this?

Only when warm. Car seems to run fine, but idle is uneven when warm, and it then flutters/pops and generally doesn't sound too great. A google seemed to suggest it was plugs...and the 4C forum all said it was plugs too. However...plugs were replaced 9 months/2k miles ago so I don't think it would be?

[Mito Man]

Maybe a coil pack going bad. Could have been removed quite hamfistedly whilst replacing the plugs which is now causing problems when warm.

[mr_jon]

Yes that is definitely a misfire. If not a coil pack then it might just be a duff plug - it does happen. Even little things like if the mechanic accidentally drops the plug when fitting and closes the gap can make a big difference. Or simply fouled given you don't do many miles. However I'd go with CP, any crack in the casing will open up when warm.

[Matty]

Thanks both - thankfully coil packs aren't too expensive @£50 each...but would rather not chance all 4 CP's and Plugs on a whim. I've got a new ODB2 reader to try out, despite no engine mangement light there could be a stored code which might point in the right direction.

[mik]

I would have thought an ignition problem would be more apparently when under load? It’s pulling well through the rev range?

[Matty]

I would have thought an ignition problem would be more apparently when under load? It’s pulling well through the rev range?

Yeah, it seems fine otherwise - no huccips or hestiation when revved through, and it idles fine from cold. It's due a service in October, but I'd rather not risk getting dumped at the side of the road if it is a coil pack which then decides to give up the ghost.

I mean, an Alfa broken down at the roadside? People will talk.

[integrale_evo]

How much of a pain is it to work on? I’ve had similar symptoms in the past with oil down the plug holes which only seems to cause an issue at hot idle.

[drcarlos]

Wanted to take the mini for a drive for the first time since the pandemic.
Started immediately but unfortunately the clutch pedal wouldn’t budge. The clutch arm and slave cylinder is free so it must be the master. I’ve never changed it since purchase in 1998, and it definitely wasn’t new then, so probably has been on since new (1979).
Took the white Land Rover out. It needs setting up properly as there’s a big flat spot between 1/4 throttle and pedal to the floor. Not surprising since the carb is from a different engine and it now has a performance cam in it. Just need to find a rolling road with someone who will understand it. I used to use Aldon Automotive for the mini who were very good, but if anyone can recommend someone closer to South Leicestershire I’ll give them a try.

28E83FEC-660C-4457-B312-B811EA597BF7.jpeg

1275gt, my favourite mini, didn't realise you had one, nice. Hope it's sorted soon. Another friend has one and there are a couple a the local classic club too. Lovely bit of 70s nostalgia.

[Jimexpl]

Wanted to take the mini for a drive for the first time since the pandemic.
Started immediately but unfortunately the clutch pedal wouldn’t budge. The clutch arm and slave cylinder is free so it must be the master. I’ve never changed it since purchase in 1998, and it definitely wasn’t new then, so probably has been on since new (1979).
Took the white Land Rover out. It needs setting up properly as there’s a big flat spot between 1/4 throttle and pedal to the floor. Not surprising since the carb is from a different engine and it now has a performance cam in it. Just need to find a rolling road with someone who will understand it. I used to use Aldon Automotive for the mini who were very good, but if anyone can recommend someone closer to South Leicestershire I’ll give them a try.

28E83FEC-660C-4457-B312-B811EA597BF7.jpeg

1275gt, my favourite mini, didn't realise you had one, nice. Hope it's sorted soon. Another friend has one and there are a couple a the local classic club too. Lovely bit of 70s nostalgia.

Sadly I rarely use it much these days. It’s got a 1330cc M.E.D engine in it which put out 104hp on a rolling road years ago and still feels just as strong. It’s a 60 minute car - go for a one hour drive and you come back buzzing, but anything over two hours becomes a chore!

[simon_g]

I can't see any clues to who the couriers who sent the door were either. No packaging Makes sense I suppose - no fighting over damage being bad packing or bad handing.

I bought a tailgate and a few other bits from Synetiq and was either their own truck or some sort of specialist courier, had racking to safely stash most parts. You lucked out on the colour though, mine's been sat in the garage for years until I can find the enthusiasm and a few extra pairs of hands to swap it then get it painted.

Got round to an oil change on the Stepwgn today though - thanks to a youtube video discovered the oil filter is best accessed by taking a wheel off. First time I've done my own for about 15 years but easy enough, the local garages do "computer says no" when it comes up as an import and the specialist is too far to bother with for this.