OV9

Do lotus still use those really shitty old ford locks? Couldn’t you just keep a penknife in your pocket and use the flat screwdriver?

V8Granite wrote: Fri Jan 04, 2019 2:56 pm

Sundayjumper wrote: Thu Jan 03, 2019 6:36 pm A few weeks before Christmas the wife complained of her car (B7 Passat) stalling. Which I obviously ignored. It eventually transpired it was not so much stalling, as not starting again when the stop/start kicks in. You’d need to turn the ignition off & back on to start the engine, it’d start no problem at all like that.

The fault code it was recording was to do with the throttle position sensor. Instead of fixing it I disabled the stop/start as a workaround

I finally got around to looking at it this evening. Removing the throttle body showed a possible culprit:


EE0A9B5A-449E-425B-9399-0E579E590B60.jpeg


Cleaned up, codes cleared and all good again ! Classic diesel-car-used-for-short-journeys problem. It’s a good car apart from that. It just needs more long runs.

Supermarket diesel ?

Dave!

Coal?

Blimey, the new tyres really are sticky as fuck. Did the usual irregular run to Scarbs and back, and bloody nora was it sticking on some of the backroads.

Positive I need a thermostat change though, it's running cool on the motorway and warms up OK in town. Thankfully it's pretty easy to get to so I'll probably do that for the MOT.

Otherwise, I gave it a wash. Not much else happening.

Oh, I tell a lie, drivers side rear inboard light cluster (on the boot lid) is leaking. I'll need to do something about that.

I'll see what LED rear clusters cost, if too much, then fuck it, scrapyard challenge time!

Tyres have definitely moved on recently. I took the M4 to the in-laws for dinner last night (it didn’t eat much) and even though the temp reached a chilly -2oC, they did an admirable job. The M5 would start sliding at half throttle below 10oC only a few years ago!

I was looking at buying all-season tyres for the X5, the rears’ 315 section were making it hard work, but I’m beginning to think I just buy new summer tyres every couple of years and it’ll be fine?

Ferrari(or me) is dying for a night away with the missus. The weather has been awesome (and it’s running less than 12 month old tyres) and, so far, it drives brilliantly in all seasons. Two friends have just bought Ferraris (a 575 and 488), so may end up at Goodwood for the member’s meet or breakfast thing soon.

Also, another mate wants to do some track days this year and I’ve said i’ll tag along. He’s got a McLaren and Caterham, so we think the Seven would be a good starting point. I’ve done Thruxton and Goodwood before; any other SE tracks that you gents would recommend for a bunch of amateurs? I’d love to get the keys for Longcross, but they don’t seem to let anyone on it bar the car mags..

IanF wrote: Sat Jan 05, 2019 8:25 pm Tyres have definitely moved on recently. I took the M4 to the in-laws for dinner last night (it didn’t eat much) and even though the temp reached a chilly -2oC, they did an admirable job. The M5 would start sliding at half throttle below 10oC only a few years ago!

I was looking at buying all-season tyres for the X5, the rears’ 315 section were making it hard work, but I’m beginning to think I just buy new summer tyres every couple of years and it’ll be fine?

I dunno - in proper sub-zero conditions, the winters (Nokian WR-03, IIRC) on the Puma were utterly staggering - pulling up a steep, snow-covered hill from a standstill like it was nothing. I can't see the Yokos doing quite as well, but I'll take it gently should those conditions come up, and report back

Beany wrote: Sat Jan 05, 2019 9:22 pm

IanF wrote: Sat Jan 05, 2019 8:25 pm Tyres have definitely moved on recently. I took the M4 to the in-laws for dinner last night (it didn’t eat much) and even though the temp reached a chilly -2oC, they did an admirable job. The M5 would start sliding at half throttle below 10oC only a few years ago!

I was looking at buying all-season tyres for the X5, the rears’ 315 section were making it hard work, but I’m beginning to think I just buy new summer tyres every couple of years and it’ll be fine?

I dunno - in proper sub-zero conditions, the winters (Nokian WR-03, IIRC) on the Puma were utterly staggering - pulling up a steep, snow-covered hill from a standstill like it was nothing. I can't see the Yokos doing quite as well, but I'll take it gently should those conditions come up, and report back

I not deriding winter tyres, it’s just we don’t really get weather bad enough to justify them 9 years out of 10. (In the south, not Siberian Scotland)

IanF wrote: Sat Jan 05, 2019 9:36 pm

Beany wrote: Sat Jan 05, 2019 9:22 pm

IanF wrote: Sat Jan 05, 2019 8:25 pm Tyres have definitely moved on recently. I took the M4 to the in-laws for dinner last night (it didn’t eat much) and even though the temp reached a chilly -2oC, they did an admirable job. The M5 would start sliding at half throttle below 10oC only a few years ago!

I was looking at buying all-season tyres for the X5, the rears’ 315 section were making it hard work, but I’m beginning to think I just buy new summer tyres every couple of years and it’ll be fine?

I dunno - in proper sub-zero conditions, the winters (Nokian WR-03, IIRC) on the Puma were utterly staggering - pulling up a steep, snow-covered hill from a standstill like it was nothing. I can't see the Yokos doing quite as well, but I'll take it gently should those conditions come up, and report back

I not deriding winter tyres, it’s just we don’t really get weather bad enough to justify them 9 years out of 10. (In the south, not Siberian Scotland)

I'm in Yorkshire mate, it gets cold enough up here. Or so I thought till I got these Yokos

Beany wrote: Sat Jan 05, 2019 10:49 pm

IanF wrote: Sat Jan 05, 2019 9:36 pm

Beany wrote: Sat Jan 05, 2019 9:22 pm

I dunno - in proper sub-zero conditions, the winters (Nokian WR-03, IIRC) on the Puma were utterly staggering - pulling up a steep, snow-covered hill from a standstill like it was nothing. I can't see the Yokos doing quite as well, but I'll take it gently should those conditions come up, and report back

I not deriding winter tyres, it’s just we don’t really get weather bad enough to justify them 9 years out of 10. (In the south, not Siberian Scotland)

I'm in Yorkshire mate, it gets cold enough up here. Or so I thought till I got these Yokos

I’ve seen Game of Thrones; winter’s coming bitchez!...

For some strange reason, the only modern convenience I miss in the compact is an outside temperature display. As standard they just have a little clock next to the radio. The obc option seems pretty rare and I've never seen a full retrofit kit for sale.

The unit itself isn't hard to find, but I don't think many breakers know what they are so just sell them as a clock and never bother snipping a tail of wire.

Managed to find one from a 1.9 z3 which included the wiring connector with a few inches of wire and the indicator stalk you need to change the function.

Fitting the unit itself was pretty simple, the power, switched power, earth and dash illumination from the original clock all use the same colour wires so I spliced in leaving the original plug intact so if I want to remove it later I can just snip the new connector off.

Fitting the stalk needed the lower dash, column cover and steering wheel off, I robbed a pin from the old compact to add into the connector ( rather than splice directly into the stalk wiring ) and ran a wire under the radio to the obc.

To attach the temperature sensor in the standard location, the left brake duct, I pinched a section of rear speaker wiring from the old compact, took the top off the fuse box to feed it through so it could run alongside the loom down the inner wing, and into the cabin through the back of the fuse box, behind the glovebox to the computer.

All in and working with no clips or screws left over

Well, kind of. There are still wires to the speed sensor and fuel tank sender unit if I want to get the average speed and mph functions working, but I'm not really that bothered about those tbh. I just want a beep when it's below 3c and be able to switch between clock and temperature

Clock


Obc (temp sensor not attached at this point )

IanF wrote: Sat Jan 05, 2019 8:25 pmAlso, another mate wants to do some track days this year and I’ve said i’ll tag along. He’s got a McLaren and Caterham, so we think the Seven would be a good starting point. I’ve done Thruxton and Goodwood before; any other SE tracks that you gents would recommend for a bunch of amateurs? I’d love to get the keys for Longcross, but they don’t seem to let anyone on it bar the car mags..

Quite a few choices down south....

Bedford - safe, but low drive by noise limit (87dB), I couldn’t use full revs in mine
Brands Hatch Indy - a bit too crowded for me due to short track, drive by noise limit can be an issue
Brands Hatch GP - not done it yet, expansive
Silverstone GP - not done it yet
Donington - nice track, National layout better than GP
Castle Combe - 100 dB static, been ther twice but a couple of corners still scare me
Snetterton - relax noise limit, bit far?
Abingdon - airfield
Rockingham - too late

Since you chaps have Ferrari / Caterham / Mclaren, take a look at Lotus-on-track. Good etiquette and don’t over subscribe so plenty of track space for everyone.

I mentioned elsewhere that I had a big spin at Bedford; at the time I thought I had only lost a brake cooling duct (>£10 part). On close inspection however, it would appear that somehow I had dented the driver’s door It’s at the lower half of the door, and it’s about the size of 50p (similar to shopping trolley dent).

So on Friday I had the dent repaired with Paintless Dent Removal. The technician arrived in the morning and thirty minutes and £65 later, the door is as good as new. Marvellous. I then took advantage of the dry, clean roads and took the car out for a drive. So much fun.

Anyway, here’s the spin; I was following my pal’s EVO 10, we caught up some slow traffic, then I saw a Tegiwa Cup Civic race car coming up fast behind me, so I pulled over and see if I could then follow him (I couldn’t ). Made a mistake at the chicane then spun. As the car started spinning, I looked to my right and thought the kerb / grass verge looked a bit high..... must have caught something on the verge and damaged the door. I was lucky to have got away with it without damaging the wheels and bumper.



My other spin at Rockingham whilst following Jon; track had just reopened after a red flag, so lots of traffic.



More practice required

Looks like you hit a cone in the first one, but it’s quite blurry so I’m not certain.

Beany wrote: Sat Jan 05, 2019 10:49 pm

IanF wrote: Sat Jan 05, 2019 9:36 pm

Beany wrote: Sat Jan 05, 2019 9:22 pm

I dunno - in proper sub-zero conditions, the winters (Nokian WR-03, IIRC) on the Puma were utterly staggering - pulling up a steep, snow-covered hill from a standstill like it was nothing. I can't see the Yokos doing quite as well, but I'll take it gently should those conditions come up, and report back

I not deriding winter tyres, it’s just we don’t really get weather bad enough to justify them 9 years out of 10. (In the south, not Siberian Scotland)

I'm in Yorkshire mate, it gets cold enough up here. Or so I thought till I got these Yokos

I'm 60 miles North of you and I've never needed winter tyres. Marketing trick for the weak minded!

Coaster1 wrote: Sun Jan 06, 2019 7:25 pm

IanF wrote: Sat Jan 05, 2019 8:25 pmAlso, another mate wants to do some track days this year and I’ve said i’ll tag along. He’s got a McLaren and Caterham, so we think the Seven would be a good starting point. I’ve done Thruxton and Goodwood before; any other SE tracks that you gents would recommend for a bunch of amateurs? I’d love to get the keys for Longcross, but they don’t seem to let anyone on it bar the car mags..

Quite a few choices down south....

Bedford - safe, but low drive by noise limit (87dB), I couldn’t use full revs in mine
Brands Hatch Indy - a bit too crowded for me due to short track, drive by noise limit can be an issue
Brands Hatch GP - not done it yet, expansive
Silverstone GP - not done it yet
Donington - nice track, National layout better than GP
Castle Combe - 100 dB static, been ther twice but a couple of corners still scare me
Snetterton - relax noise limit, bit far?
Abingdon - airfield
Rockingham - too late

Since you chaps have Ferrari / Caterham / Mclaren, take a look at Lotus-on-track. Good etiquette and don’t over subscribe so plenty of track space for everyone.

Thank you.

Coaster1 wrote: Sun Jan 06, 2019 8:00 pm

My other spin at Rockingham whilst following Jon; track had just reopened after a red flag, so lots of traffic.

at the second one. I remember looking in my mirror thinking, bye then.

What happened at the first one in the chicane - did you lift off? (I watched without sound so can't tell)

Zonda_ wrote: Sun Jan 06, 2019 8:17 pm

Beany wrote: Sat Jan 05, 2019 10:49 pm
I'm in Yorkshire mate, it gets cold enough up here. Or so I thought till I got these Yokos

I'm 60 miles North of you and I've never needed winter tyres. Marketing trick for the weak minded!

I'm hundreds of miles south of you and I got stuck in the e39 twice. I put winters on the 9-5 and never got stuck. This might have been because it didn't snow while I had them on but I never got stuck.

And this pebble I'm holding is keeping me safe from tigers

Crossclimates FTW

V8Granite wrote: Fri Jan 04, 2019 2:56 pm Supermarket diesel ?

Tesco.

But I mainly blame the fact the car gets used almost exclusively for short distances nowadays, 2-3 miles at a time. Would posh diesel stop it happening, or just make it happen more slowly ?