and today i have mostly been...

[Welly]

Friends Toybota in "this isn't the GREAT CAR you've been telling me it is all these years" shocker.

10 minute ride confirms that for a 2007 dizzler eurobox it is NOT a 'great car' engine NOT HAPPY. Interior fittings BROKEN.

Verdict: Jap fail.

[steve_earwig]

2007

I think I've found the problem, it's 5 years past its best before date...

[Welly]

......predicting the weather

Let me explain:

Saturday I clayed, polished, waxed, black-trimmed and dressed the Volvo of doom.

Sunday up early and it was the Shitruns turn.

All great, paintwork smooth as glass both cars super-clean like never before.

Monday = rain

Next time I want to polish a car I'll let you know beforehand.

[steve_earwig]

At least they've got a fresh layer of wax over them.

Mate Max's mate Fritz got hold of a couple of Egyptian duck eggs (they eat slugs apparently) and he contacted Max yesterday to ask how to make them hatch. He got the Monday. Umm, where has he been keeping them? In his fridge...

I popped in to see Goran on my way home from Max and, as I know my old 406 has just had it's MOT (or local equivalent), not least from all the phone calls and letters from insurance companies offering their services (parasites), I asked him if he knew how it faired. "Oh," he said, "I didn't tell you..." Oh crap, what's happened? Seems the misfire I'd put down to injectors needing a clean was actually the HP pump dying Did anyone ever mention that infrequent short journeys is very bad for modern diesels? Apparently the internals were gummed up with shite

[Welly]

At least the little ducks were kept fresh

HP pump shat itself? that is REALLY rare over here is must be the crap diesel* they serve up over there.

[steve_earwig]

That was what the Bosch injection service place said but maybe a combination of the two: the fuel here is known to ruin the injectors on certain high-end German cars.

I told Max to tell him to make a cake. "He doesn't make cakes." Well f*ck me, an omelette then

[406Break]

Mobile steam-wash anyone? Coolest idea in a while (on car cleaning at least)

[PeterN]

Very nice, hopefully mine would look the same with the same treatment, unfortunately they don't get it.

Peter

[406Break]

I've also been holding on to a secret...


I'm not a 406 owner anymore... It will go to my brother, so it'll stay in the family and most tinkering will be left for me, but still...

I, myself am driving a highly flammable car(you Brits should know the model(not french) ;P) but it's roomier when in 5 seat mode and does have 2 extra seats at the back.
My gf really wanted a newer car so the new car is 6 years younger, isofix, 7 seats...

It's surprisingly good to drive

[PeterN]

The 406 is the only car I can afford to run.

Peter

[Welly]

....building up my car maintenance kit.

I can haz a set of Oil Filter Cartridge Sockets (24mm to 38mm) for them cartridge paper insert filters for Citroen and Volvo (on route from Amazon)

I can haz 3-tonne Axle Stands (on route from Amazon)

I haz 14mm long/slim Spark Plug socket for the Renner.

Full service Kit on route from Opie Oils for the Renner; Air Filter, Pollen, Oil + Filter, Spark Plugs and sump washer

Now we* have 3 cars I'm servicing them myself. WCPGW?

[steve_earwig]

Wrong oil in wrong car? Ask for parts for the wrong car at the factors? Buy spark plugs for the HDi? Might be an idea to write which one you're servicing on the back of your hand with an indelible marker...

I think you'll need to keep records so you can keep track of which what when why how etc.

I once took the wrong cat to the vet's...

[Welly]

Yes you're right in fact all three cars need an oil change in May and each one takes different oil and from 3.75 litres of DPF friendly stuff to 6.8 litres of fancy stuff for the Volvo.

I'm just about to order a Torque Wrench but something occurred to me that I hadn't thought about (and which may sound really dumb). I have a socket set with loads of sockets, two ratchets, extension bars, universal joints etc but I don't know if it's a 1/2" or 3/8" set I inherited most of it from my Step Father; I would call it a 'normal' (large) socket set which I think would be 1/2" ?? I've also got a mini set which I guess is 1/4"?

[steve_earwig]

That'll almost certainly be 1/2" but you could just measure it

Tiny stuff is generally 1/4" (same as hex bits), less common is the 3/8" stuff and the really mahoosive destroyer of worlds-type stuff is 3/4". Of which I have one socket (drive shaft nut on a BX I do believe).

[steve_earwig]

To put your mind at rest: The square bit of my (admittedly cheap and nasty - all the good stuff's up at my gaff) 1/2" ratshit measures 12.95mm across the flats (which makes it just over 1/2")