Your fleet running reports

[V8Granite]

Yeah they are a get you home kit, I wouldn’t do more than 40 on one till I could replace the tyre.

Another set of Goodyear Asymetric SUV tyres ordered for the ML. £600 fitted which is pretty good I think.

Dave!

[drcarlos]

Electric PAS failed in the combo last week, cue a call from the wife telling me that the steering was really heavy (and bloody hell was it when I moved it around) and the EPS light was on. She was only 5 minutes away so I told her to drive it home and take the truck out to the shops.
A call to a mate who owns a garage confirmed my fault finding of fuses and wiring traces, plus disconnect/reconnect of battery meant that the root of the problem was likely a failed motor.
Ordered a complete steering column (motor and ECU appear that they must be changed as a matched pair) from ebay for the princely sum of £55 which turned up having taken a whack in transit and damaging the torque sensor cover/wiring and ECU cover.
A complaint to the seller resulted in an offer of a partial refund if I could use it. So I though nothing ventured, nothing gained so I swapped the ECU (after removing the cover and checking it was undamaged) and motor into the van and it now works.
It was actually easier to change ECU and motor than the whole column (even though that is only about a 6 bolt job), it only took 30mins and I got £20 back so win/win.

[Rich B]

What do you do to your cars Carlos? They always seem to be breaking!!

[Swervin_Mervin]

The Golf had an interesting issue today. I’d washed it on Friday then it had sat on the drive ever since. it has an automatic handbrake, which disengages when everything is good (doors shut, in gear, etc) except the back right wheel was totally locked.

I had to drag the wheel around the gravel drive until I had enough room to give it a proper rock. a quick revvy start and It came off with a bc pretty loud crack and all was good after.

I've just had the same with the Superb. Both rear wheels locked on. Much revs and a loud crack to free them. Cue some noisy braking for 20mins or so.

[drcarlos]

What do you do to your cars Carlos? They always seem to be breaking!!

To be fair the van does get hammered by the wife for her business and she's not what you'd call mechanically sympathetic. Most of the wear/tear repairs on that and the older Navara that I replaced were down to the nature of her frantic stop/start local driving for her dog walking business. The main reason we switched out a big heavy expensive to run truck for the little combo. Usually I'd have chucked it into the garage (so she get's her VAT receipt for expenses deductions) to get this done but as I have time and the weather's good I had a go myself, saved a bundle I think.

The L200 hasn't put a foot wrong since we got it last year and all work has been me doing little elective upgrades (Stereo, towbar wiring, parking sensors, new key/remote and I've still got an auto trans cooler upgrade to add for towing) and the Subaru again has been good too with all the work being mods or servicing.

I think my main issue was that everything that went ary on the Navara was big and expensive it almost negated her working, the combo is buttons to replace parts on in comparison. Thoughts were on a leased plugin EV Van as things ramped up but Covid has pushed that back a bit now.

[Jobbo]

Merc updates: the foot-operated parking brake is sticky first thing in the morning so I tuck my foot under and pull it back. Also now demanding a service already but I can't even get the local Merc specialists to reply about booking it in, so it can wait. It's out of warranty so sod it.

Also, it appears the bass from Benny Benassi's Danceaholic makes the interior rear view mirror vibrate. The stereo is very good; it's not upgraded but it sounds way better than I'd expected.

[16vCento]

I bought a car today, I'm not sure how it happened really

2006 Mini Cooper with JCW kit, a non functional sunroof and a gearbox noise, 70k miles, 350 quid.

I'm not sure if it will be the box, might be a wheel bearing as this is a late 6 speed r53 and the gearbox is pretty unburstable usually, but I'll see when I pick it up.

If it does need a gearbox repair, at least it will give me something to do!

[NotoriousREV]

Took the 911 out yesterday as we needed to drop MrsREV’s car off for a brake fluid service. My clutch pedal is sticking on return, about 3/4 of the way up. It got better once the car warmed up but the brake warning light is on. I checked the fluid level and that’s fine so fuck knows what’s up with it.

I’m arranging for the Camaro to be picked up, so if that runs ok, I might just ignore the Porsche for a bit.

[Sundayjumper]

2006 Mini Cooper with JCW kit, a non functional sunroof and a gearbox noise, 70k miles, 350 quid.

Oooh, pics & stuff please ! The wifey's MINI ONE is a fun little thing to drive, I've been tempted more than once to try a Cooper.

[JonMad]

2006 Mini Cooper with JCW kit, a non functional sunroof and a gearbox noise, 70k miles, 350 quid.

Running with an MOT? Bargain!

[mik]

My clutch pedal is sticking on return, about 3/4 of the way up. It got better once the car warmed up but the brake warning light is on..

996 have a hydraulic clutch.

I did this routine on the VXR8 as a preventative maintenance, as I heard some people suffering pedals stuck down. In fact I did it twice during my ownership.

I didn’t really believe this routine would be effective, but it works really well! Worth a try.

[16vCento]

2006 Mini Cooper with JCW kit, a non functional sunroof and a gearbox noise, 70k miles, 350 quid.

Running with an MOT? Bargain!

Yep not until end of May but will have 6 month extension, might get it done anyway though.

I'm planning on using this a road rally car and doing some stuff with Ilkley Motor Club, might do some rallying if I can get a cheap cage for it!

20200513_145613.jpg (269.66 KiB) Viewed 1888 times

[16vCento]

2006 Mini Cooper with JCW kit, a non functional sunroof and a gearbox noise, 70k miles, 350 quid.

Oooh, pics & stuff please ! The wifey's MINI ONE is a fun little thing to drive, I've been tempted more than once to try a Cooper.

Not picked it up yet, I imagine it will feel a bit slow as I've had a tweaked R56 Cooper S and I'll find it hard not to compare it to it.

R56 Cooper S brakes are a bolt on mod for these and quite a lot better so I'll pick some of them up as well as some proper Mini wheels to replace the aftermarket tat

[JonMad]

I'm planning on using this a road rally car and doing some stuff with Ilkley Motor Club, might do some rallying if I can get a cheap cage for it!

Yay!

[NotoriousREV]

My clutch pedal is sticking on return, about 3/4 of the way up. It got better once the car warmed up but the brake warning light is on..

996 have a hydraulic clutch.

I know, and it shares its fluid with the brakes, hence me checking the fluid level

[mik]

My clutch pedal is sticking on return, about 3/4 of the way up. It got better once the car warmed up but the brake warning light is on..

996 have a hydraulic clutch.

I know, and it shares its fluid with the brakes, hence me checking the fluid level

Ah - there was supposed to be a question mark at the end of that sentance ‘cos I don’t know. Or I didn’t know. Before you confirmed.

[NotoriousREV]

Ah, right. Yes. The shared reservoir confused me for a while, I have to admit.

[Sundayjumper]

I'm planning on using this a road rally car and doing some stuff with Ilkley Motor Club, might do some rallying if I can get a cheap cage for it!

Targa ! Targa ! Targa !

Depending on the event, a cage isn't necessarily mandatory. But do get some proper seats so you're not sliding about all the time.

[Rich B]

I'm planning on using this a road rally car and doing some stuff with Ilkley Motor Club, might do some rallying if I can get a cheap cage for it!

Targa ! Targa ! Targa !

Surely that’ll take all the structural rigidity out of it?!

[16vCento]

I'm planning on using this a road rally car and doing some stuff with Ilkley Motor Club, might do some rallying if I can get a cheap cage for it!

Targa ! Targa ! Targa !

Depending on the event, a cage isn't necessarily mandatory. But do get some proper seats so you're not sliding about all the time.

Been looking at seats and cages already

Should be doable for 1500 including buying car and returning gearbox if needed!