Hi folks, I'm now learning more about exhausts....
The Duchess has been very noisy on startup, and quite rattly - then calming down. It turned out the the exhaust clamp upstream of the centre box is loose, rusted and not clamping properly.
So, I've been sticking my head underneath and reckon that I can get the exhaust system down (seems to be a total of three rubber hangers) but how would I replace the clamp? The pipes are all in good nick, and I can cut off the old clamp - but how would I get a new one over the flared ends so I could tighten it up?
I'm wondering if there is such a thing as a clamp that you can attach to the two ends of the pipe, jubilee clip style - but has a way of tightening the two halves together. I can't find one.
What would a proper mechanic do in this situation?
Thank you!!
Her Ladyship's Golf Mk4 GTTDI has finally expired after 225k miles with a blown turbo. Seeing as we bought it for £600 with about 180k showing, I reckon it gave us a good run! Hopefully the Recaro seats and new tyres will get us a few quid back but it's basically a write off at this point as the best quote to fix it is £1100 with no guarantee that the engine hasn't eaten significant bits of turbo and may well be compromised too.
So, hey ho. I'm looking for a daily for the Mrs - a common situation.
SWMBO is a "Spirited" driver, quite capable of hanging the tail out and getting it back again and will not be happy in anything boring. Or too big. Which is why I inherited a P38 in the first place.
Casting about on ebay I've noticed the MX-5 Mk3 are plentiful and cheap, which suggest to me that they're not shit. Has anyone tried the Mk3 version? Specifically the hard top? I'd be interested in opinions before getting too far down the track. I doubt I'd be driving it much, as I'm 6' 4". The boss is a hair under 6 feet, so cabin size could still be an issue, perhaps.
My HVAC has been getting increasingly reluctant to change temps and the passenger side is now stuck on Hi. Given that it's simple to remove the unit, how hard is it to do whatever Marty did 5 years ago to make the buttons work again? Or is there anyone in the market doing replacements?
Cheers!
This is a bit wordy but interesting (to me at least!)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rTawvzH0MQ4
TLDR; Toyota have an H2 powered IC engine which they're looking to release in Japan. End of EVs? That'd be nice.
I wish F1 would change to H2 power.
Hi folks....
The Duchess doesn't seem to want to leave the garage. The alternator has now died (it was fine when I dropped it off!)
The battery has been charged but the battery light stays on. The garage says it's only charging at 11.1V and a replacement is needed. This is the cheapest I can see and IIRC Denso are OK. What do you reckon?
https://tinyurl.com/msm8d4dp
Thanks once more!
but I though this was quite an interesting review in a "yeah, if I had a spare £80k" kinda way...
The Duchess has had a mild tick for a long time now, and this time round she got an advisory for a slight leak of exhaust from the manifold.
Today I overtook a van with full beans and suddenly I'm driving a steam train!!
Call me a wimp but I really don't have a clue where to go next. She'll probably got to the local garage (who have been very good) but just in case, are there any simple things I should try first? I'm guessing that it's likely I'll need to pony up for a new (passenger) manifold - are there any recommended ones?
Thanks!
Miles
Does anyone know why my satnav keeps losing the time? I've noticed that when the SatNav decides we're in London (probably 90% of the time) the time displayed on the data screen is incorrect. If I drive for long enough the SatNav will eventually pick up the correct location, and time.
Thinking like a computer geek, is there a battery in the SatNav unit like the motherboard battery in a PC? Or am I barking up the wrong tree?
This is a bit weird... my driver's seat started to tip backwards as if the front of the rails were no longer secured. On investigation it seem the mechanism that raises the front/back of the seat squab had let go at the front. I've pushed it back together and restored some function by winding the front down with the motor but it's still not working as before.
There's also a large piece that seems to flap up and down depending on the direction of travel. Sorry for the terrible explanation but has anyone come across this before?
Folks,
I really need to properly diagnose the cold start issues I've been getting recently. I suspect it's related to fuel pressure leaking away overnight but my fuel pressure gauge doesn't have an attachment that fits onto the valve at the back of the fuel rail.
Does anyone have any recommendations please? Preferably something cheap :)
Thank you!
On the way back home after Easter, we noticed the Hairy Exhaust issue had returned. You probably don't remember that I had the backboxes replaced four years ago and the parts had a two year warranty. The first pair were replaced a couple of months outside warranty (Garage was shut during Covid lockdown) and the replacements have now dumper their fibreglass out of the tailpipe just like the first lot.
Is it worth a go to get the new set replaced like the last lot?
It's been tough to get LPG near me for a while but I'm planning a trip to Salisbury so I thought I'd have a look at FillLPG.
There's nothing but black stations out there! Is this a Ukraine war thing? I thought we got our LPG from the local refinerys.
We've just filled the Duchess with Petrol for the first time ever. That was a shock 😅
First one done!
Time for a cuppa.
I spent more time trying to get the wire through the hole in the base of the spring than anything else. It's invisible if you're working on your back :/
The new plastic clips for the wheel arch liner seem to be too big, although they're probably not. I've got 4 secured out of the 6 holes. That'll have to do!
Folks, I need to reset the front passenger window but it's a bit slow and won't do the full cycle in time.
I'm thinking a quick squirt of lubrication would help - is there any recommended type? Silicon? PTFE? plain ole WD? I'm not sure how much rubber is involved in the door.
It's a pathetic question but I hope you don't mind me asking before I just bugger it up with the wrong stuff :)
Thanks!
I've watched the Rimmer Bros video and it all looks feasible for a 12 fingered, shovel handed ape like myself.
As I understand it, I get the EAS up to wading mode (that'll take a while!) and then jack the body up a bit to get stands underneath. I've only got the standard Jack, but four decent stands.
The axle should be... not quite hanging loose? I'm guessing that you can't really have it hanging down all the way or I won't get the springs in.
Thanks in advance!
The Duches, being a expensive Bi++.. Lady... has the auto dipping, auto dimming, heated wing mirrors.
The driver's side one has now decided that being reflective was far too common and has changed colour to an unpleasant dog-streak brown.
Not wishing to replace the whole assembly (it's colour coded, too) I looked for a replacement piece of glass.
https://www.paddockspares.com/crd101240-rh-mirror-glass-electrochromatic-convex-from-ya430702.html
Holy Carp.
Hi Folks,
The Duchess is dropping her backside overnight and now it only takes a couple of hours. It's not one corner but both rear bags at once and there's often an air leak type sound from the valve block/pump area when you shut the engine off. I'm guessing it's time to rebuild the solenoid/NRV/etc seals - could you please recommend a decent set as I seem to recall that there are some which are not as good as others.
I'm also hoping to replace both rear bags if the weather isn't too horrible as the offside rear picked up an advisory for being perished.
Maybe that'll see her right?!
I hit one on the way to work on Friday. On a narrow bit of road with the estate wall on one side and a verge on the other, the stupid creature decided to take off and try to fly away over the wall. There was oncoming traffic so apart from a bit of braking there wasn't a lot I could do. Impact was on the left headlight which is now wobbly and the main beam bulb has failed/throws a warning.
Grrr.
Day off tomorrow, I'll have to see what needs to be replaced. The glass in the headlight is fine, but I suspect the mountings are toast.
Folks, could someone tell me what the recommended nose weight (or range) is for the P38?
I might be towing my jeep to the West Riding next week (1500kg).
Thanks!
I tried hooking up my fuel pressure gauge to the schraeder test port at the back of the engine the other day, but I couldn't get the pipe to hook up. It seems like the centre of the valve sticks out too far for the pipe on my gauge to get a grip on the threads.
Could you recommend me a gauge that will hook up to a P38 Thor?
Cheers
Morat