Your fleet running reports

[Matty]

When you changed it did you go through all of the OBD backup palava or just swap it out?

I just swapped it out.

Had it recovered today. Starter motor is overheating trying to start the engine....so either the starter is dead, which isn't too expensive....or more worrying the engine won't move. If it's the latter then...yikes. Then I would have wished it was the transmission.

[Sundayjumper]

Or could be as simple as a dodgy earth ? I’ve never had a correct diagnosis from a recovery guy, except when I told them exactly what the problem was before they started.

[JonMad]

From my experience, anything starting related is a coil pack (or a fuse problem, caused by a coil pack).

[drcarlos]

When you changed it did you go through all of the OBD backup palava or just swap it out?

I just swapped it out.

Had it recovered today. Starter motor is overheating trying to start the engine....so either the starter is dead, which isn't too expensive....or more worrying the engine won't move. If it's the latter then...yikes. Then I would have wished it was the transmission.

Hopefully just a dead starter then, finger crossed. I can't put to much faith in that battery change over process. After all the stuff is solid state electronics and if it's that fragile where it can't take a power interruption without shitting itself it has no business being in a car.

[integrale_evo]

Sometimes a low voltage from a battery slowly during can cause modules to spazz out, but leaving the battery disconnected overnight usually sorts it out.

[Matty]

Or could be as simple as a dodgy earth ? I’ve never had a correct diagnosis from a recovery guy, except when I told them exactly what the problem was before they started.

Funnily enough that's what my tuna thought, re: bad earth.

Either way, turns out alternator had seized completely. Removed the belt, starts and runs. Although a new alternator is £380 ...so getting mine refurbed instead.

[mr_jon]

Not a bad result. Is it in a position, like on the old MR2's, where it gets damp?

[Sundayjumper]

It's the first competitive event in the 'xie tomorrow, a daylight regularity 12 car event, superbly navigated by @JonMad. A first time at this kind of event for all of us ! We don't really know what we're doing but we start off with a bacon sandwich about 09:30, drive around Hampshire for a couple of hours attempting to stick to a schedule (it's not about being fast, it's about being on time), then end up at a pub just in time for lunch.

It all sounds like a very pleasant way to spend a Sunday morning

[Coaster1]

Manual boxes have given me more grief than Autos. I mean needing a rebuild at 3yrs/40k isn't rgeat is it? But then it could be more a French vs German thing tbh.

My German gearbox lasted 16 years / 74k miles

Current state:

[V8Granite]

It's the first competitive event in the 'xie tomorrow, a daylight regularity 12 car event, superbly navigated by @JonMad. A first time at this kind of event for all of us ! We don't really know what we're doing but we start off with a bacon sandwich about 09:30, drive around Hampshire for a couple of hours attempting to stick to a schedule (it's not about being fast, it's about being on time), then end up at a pub just in time for lunch.

It all sounds like a very pleasant way to spend a Sunday morning

Do they time you from the front or rear bumper as this genuinely could make a difference

Dave!

[JonMad]

It's the first competitive event in the 'xie tomorrow, a daylight regularity 12 car event, superbly navigated by @JonMad. A first time at this kind of event for all of us ! We don't really know what we're doing but we start off with a bacon sandwich about 09:30, drive around Hampshire for a couple of hours attempting to stick to a schedule (it's not about being fast, it's about being on time), then end up at a pub just in time for lunch.

It all sounds like a very pleasant way to spend a Sunday morning

Route superbly planned. Let’s see about ‘superbly navigated’

[Sundayjumper]

Well, I properly messed that up

Part way to collecting Jon, the exhaust suddenly got louder. Too loud. I pulled up near Blackbushe and jumped out, gashing my head on the quarter light.

The exhaust noise was a previous owner’s shocking bodge to the manifold. It was plastered in sealant and stuff, it turns out there was an actual hole that someone had filled over !!!

I’m back home and feeling a bit wobbly. Car is going to be off the road for a bit as I’m positive this will be a whole can of worms.

58067A23-AAFB-4290-A443-7056A47993A8.jpeg (121.32 KiB) Viewed 1519 times

[Beany]

Jesus fucking Christ, I've done some bodge jobs, but that's the fucking manifold - just bite the bullet and replace it when you have the time. I mean, was the guy running it as his only car and need to get to work or something???

[DeskJockey]

Galaxy completed journey from home to my dad's in Copenhagen without issue (about 500-something miles). Been spending my day charging round trying to get a Torx50 so I can take the seats out, as the little one vomited copiously as we were waiting for the ferry in Dover.

[Beany]

Galaxy completed journey from home to my dad's in Copenhagen without issue (about 500-something miles). Been spending my day charging round trying to get a Torx50 so I can take the seats out, as the little one vomited copiously as we were waiting for the ferry in Dover.

Lidl had chunky torx sets in last week but they might be gone by now. Worst case, any given Halfords will likely have them on a 3/8 socket as an individual piece?

[V8Granite]

Galaxy completed journey from home to my dad's in Copenhagen without issue (about 500-something miles). Been spending my day charging round trying to get a Torx50 so I can take the seats out, as the little one vomited copiously as we were waiting for the ferry in Dover.

Child seat protectors!!!

We got some when Maxwell was born and they have been amazing. They have a small lip all around and it has saved wotzit vomit, sick and other liquids ejected from their bodies.

I’ll try and find the make as all the other ones I see don’t seem to catch the gunk, only protect the seat from damage.

Dave!

[DeskJockey]

@Beany did you miss the Copenhagen part? Found one and then realised my dad didn't have a ratchet big enough. All three back seats removed and cleaned (heavens above the dirt between the seats was awful). Carpet cleaned.

Kids seats also cleaned.

@V8Granite: have one on the littlest one's seat but thought we were okay with the boys as they're forward facing. She turned her head and managed to get it between the seats...

[Beany]

Ah, I misread that and thought you were talking about having just completed the return journey to the UK - woops

[Alex88]

Had the cambelt/water pump changed on the gf's Beetle. Car drives absolutely fine, but, there is a bit of whirring noise that's more obvious at idle/off throttle. Garage says this is normal and is purely down to the new belt being tight, and that it will stop after a while.

Is this a normal occurance after a cambelt change? I've not had a car need one of these in ages...

Edit. Teh internetz consensus is that it shouldn't be doing this and the belt is probably too tight. If this is the case, is it easy enough to readjust?

[Gavin]

Rear tyres are wearing down and almost on the marker, am browsing online for decent new ones and realise I am quibbling over price. Even if I went full sports with PS4s rather than a Kumho at £130 it is only £100 so 1 tank of fuel and with the lowish miles I am covering they should last well over a year!