Just caught up with this thread but Dave phoned me yesterday, we discussed aspects of his LPG install including options for a replacement reducer.

Piro based systems were only made for a few years, OMVL intended them to supersede all the Dream ECU (AEB2568) based systems but the ECUs had problems from the outset which were never fully sorted in any firmware version and they lack features (such as petrol addition capability) compared to even the older AEB2568's they replaced. The switch on the dash looks very similar to the usual AEB119B switches and use the same connector but are incompatible with AEB119B's, the Map sensor looks like a usual AEB025 but the pressure and vacuum pipe positions are swapped and they're not quite fully compatible with AEB025's, they need a specific Piro interface cable and they're calibrated in a different way to AEB2568's.. There's no 'fuel trim bank 2', instead they have a separate map for each bank of cylinders. That said, good results can be had from them and it's still possible to buy spare parts like switches and map sensors.

If I'm allowed (because I don't have a Rangerover) I might even come, work etc permitting.

I've been to Halfords Doncaster a couple of times during lockdown.
I did order/reserve stuff online but didn't wait for their email, just turned up at the store. A short que (7 mins), no customers allowed inside, a staff member sat at a desk with till at the entrance... told him what I wanted and he went off to get it from the normal shelves, scanned it at the til at the entrance, paid on card as normal. I was never asked if I'd reserved anything. Still haven't had a txt/email in reply to my reservation from weeks ago but that might be because their system noticed I'd already been and bought stuff I'd previously reserved.

I only really wanted some clay bars, polish and wax. But thought I'd better buy oil and ask for the other stuff as an aside or they might tell me to bugger off for just buying none essential stuff. You'll be OK on that front buying brake fluid though...

Last time I went to Euro Car Parts they said to take a letterhead next time as they'd only be serving trade customers and key workers. I have a kind of pseudo account with Euro Car Parts, I get everything at trade discount price but without actually having an account. Pretty obvious you're in the trade if you buy spark plugs in sets of 30+ lol.

I expect some stick for this suggestion but have you tried disconnecting the battery for a while lol? I've got a Chrysler Grand Voyager with a dead cell in the battery, I store a few parts and tools in it in the yard for convenient access. With the dead cell the battery will start the engine but the BCM doesn't work properly with it even after the alternator has kicked in... unless I disconnect the battery and charge it to a temporary 12.odd volts first. When the BCM is acting up the wipers turn on/off without switching controls, hazards flash (alarm type thing), instruments don't work, radio just comes up with a splash screen in German. If I disconnect the battery and reconnect when it's at 12v it all works properly. Just occurred to me that your battery is kicking out about half the CCA of it's new rating, which it might do with a dead cell. I'll shut up now ;-)

RutlandRover wrote:

I knew they got hot but didn't realise it was that quick!

Famous last words ;-) Watch out for hot burning fuel, high voltage ignition system bits and heavy cars should you try to let one down from a jack etc lol.

When I was a kid we used to beach launch boats but I believe it's been illegal to take vehicles on any UK beach for a long time?

One of the places we took boats was Shell Island in Wales, the largest campsite in Europe and privately owned (at the time there was a loophole in the law that meant anyone could drive anything on private land even in public areas). Shell island gradually blends into sand dunes and a large beach at one end and along it's length there are wide but very rocky access paths down to various beaches. We were always boating so I learned to drive there when I was just tall enough to reach the pedals.. cars, tractors, land rovers, a lwb 6 ton lorry converted to a campervan... sometimes towing a boat at the back and pushing another boat (towbar on landrover front bumper) at the same time. Fond memories of being asked to take the car myself to the local town petrol station to buy petrol (which definitely was illegal as it did involve driving on proper roads) and taking the long way back doing a bit of off-roading on my own! But all those loopholes have been closed for years now, can probably still do whatever you want on private land but not in public areas - would you need special liability insurance for green lane-ing?

The track topic facility works well for me.

That's some impressive info!

Bolx to clicking on all those links lol.

Hehe... If we got stopped I'd try to blag it with something like 'We are going shopping but taking the long route for the driving practice'. I see rules as being there to serve a purpose which in this case is to prevent people to people contact and spreading the virus.. and driving practice wouldn't cause the thing trying to be prevented so wouldn't be a problem. But she sees rules more in black and white regardless of the intention.

Thanks,

Yes saying we're going to the shops is an option but would it be a problem to be straight-up if questioned and say we were just out for driving practice?

She's also read somewhere 'Learners shouldn't be going out for driving practice even with someone from the same household'. Bah! Doesn't make much sense to me... maybe it's to prevent people going for joy rides pretending they're out for driving practice.

Sorry this isn't range rover stuff but I'd appreciate your thoughts on this...

My missus has been learning to drive, we bought her an old Corsa to practice driving with me sat beside her but because I've been so busy she's spent more time driving with her instructor than with me.

Now I'm not so busy to me it seems the ideal time for us to go out in the Corsa together for her to practice driving - the roads are quieter than they're likely to be at any other time and if we don't need to refuel we're still isolated in the Corsa, which has a full tank of petrol at the moment... so enough fuel for plenty driving practice without having to refuel and bring either of us close to any other people. But she takes 'You must not leave the house except for work, shopping or medical reasons' very literally and refuses driving practice.

I think I take the common sense point of view, what do you think? The only potential issues I see are if: She crashes the car (lol) / or the car breaks down (so we'd need to call AA/RAC which might bring us within close contact of the services guy). Hardly concerns that are likely to be realised IMO. Not a joy ride or excuse to break the monotony of lockdown but something useful and productive timed ideally - What do you think?.

Happy retirement Gilbert.

On another forum (not a Rangerover forum) people get custom and re-production badges made.
Good for the 'concourse' scene but could adding a limited addition badge draw unwanted attention - Nothing to stop thieves nicking the badge and sticking it in on Ebay themselves, maybe even nick the car thinking not only is the badge worth a few quid but also other limited edition bits that'll be on/in the car?

The parking pawl on some (other make) autos allows a lot of wheel movement, could push the car forward/backward a foot. Volvos?

Hehe I'd already thought of using blue garage roll if necessary except I don't have any in at the moment.

Wonder if there's strict lock-down we'll still be able to go for a drive... being in a car is isolated?

I'd expect it'll be a normal trip Bri?

A customer just cancelled their LPG conversion due to the virus, he txted 'Being cautious because my 4 year old son has a cough'.

Original plan was he'd drop his car off with me and I'd take him to a local car hire place. Of course I accepted the cancellation immediately and without question... But in my reply txt I did suggest I could loan him a Corsa (instead of him having to use a hire car), said at no point would we need to be near each other, said I'd wipe my hands, steering wheels, door handles, etc with anti-viral wipes and leave a few unused wipes in the car. No reply yet but I doubt he'll go for it.

So for me it maybe begins... no work no income.

My son's firm just told him working from home is now mandatory, no problem for him as he's a computer programmer.

I've done some travelling around setting up sound and lighting systems in my time but nothing on that scale, your schedule does sound exhausting.

Just found out my sister has been tested for the virus, she's a dog groomer and one customer watched her dog getting groomed then told sister she'd just come back from Italy and lots of people in the area she was staying had it. I'm not sure if the customer had it or why sis needed testing... but she is one of those people who goes to the docs for anything and reckons she has a temperature so can imagine she strongly volunteered. She says docs swabbing her wore isolation suits themselves and ran a mile when she sneezed.

Edit - sis tested negative.