DIY Car Maintenance with function over finesse!!

[CitroJim]

It would appear that sorting the Subaru back to useable wasn't such a good idea. Another NIP appeared yesterday advising that I had been doing 39 in a 30 in Marston Moretaine ! A fair cop as I thought that road was 40, just shows assumption ....etc. So I have written a mitigation plea and advised that I am now booked in to a course on 16th November following my C4 problem so its a suck it and see situation!!

Oh Mick, I'm devastated to hear that I know the spot and it's so easy to get nicked along there... The speed camera is one of those newer low-profile ones and not so easy to spot as the old ones... Also, the 30 signs are not very well placed to be easily seen when turning into that road from Millbrook

I feel guilty as you were on your way to help me - sorry

Fingers crossed on the letter of mitigation...

[mickthemaverick]

No need to feel guilty Jim, I was driving and it was on the way home from you, I had a feeling it may have got me at the time! Just not been a good few weeks which can only mean there are better ones to come!

[CitroJim]

Just not been a good few weeks which can only mean there are better ones to come!

That's a very good way of looking at it Mick

[mickthemaverick]

A special video for blue AX owners

[MattBLancs]

I do like that an AX is so light, it needs not a lot more than the weight of the frame, given a little mechanical advantage, to get the car off the ground!

[CitroJim]

Love that! Yep, The most basic AX - like Strawberry - weighs just 640Kg'ish. Bluebell is a bit weightier as she's the posh one with her central locking and electric windows...

Can't imagine it adds much though...

The reason I got a car port. An AX can blow away in strong winds!

[Gibbo2286]

Isn't he using that back to front?

[CitroJim]

Looking more closely, he's doing the sills no good at all!

[MattBLancs]

Isn't he using that back to front?

I don't know that the top rail would clear the back of the car if used the other way??

Looking more closely, he's doing the sills no good at all!

Oh yes it's miles too far back! Needs the AX a bit nearer to the wall

[Skull]

Looking more closely, he's doing the sills no good at all!

Looking even closer I think ....it's a 106

[mickthemaverick]

MX3 MOT time is here again. I looked up last year's advisories to find 'light misting of oil on n/s rear shock absorber' and 'signs of corrosion on inner sills o/s and n/s'. I dealt with the sills straight after that last MOT so only the shock to worry about.

I duly jacked up the rear n/s and removed the wheel to be greeted with a grim looking set of mucky/rusty components. Unfortunately I forgot to take a picture at that stage but set about dealing with the issues. Having cleaned much of the grime and rust it all looked presentable though far from perfect. A quick coat of Rustoleum paint helped the shock and I did manage a picture before I refitted the wheel!

MTMO

Having completed that and refitted the wheel I moved to the offside and jacked up, using the new electric jack which is brilliant, removed the wheel and was greeted with a much better sight in general than the nearside had been. :

MTMO

I went through the same cleaning process and finished up with this:

MTMO

The apparent ring of light rust around the inner part of the disc is in fact mainly dust from my cleaning which I hadn't brushed out when I took the picture. It was all blown clean before refitting the wheel.

After that I went round and checked all the other easy things and pronounced it ready for MOT which is planned for tomorrow.

[CitroJim]

All the best with the MoT Mick

[mickthemaverick]

Following the MOT, which passed without advisories, I decided it was time to make a piece of kit for a specific purpose. So to keep the cat in the bag I will just show the rather odd work I completed today in preparation for the full job when the parts I need arrive. Two members, Michel and Citrojim, are aware of what I'm up to but others are welcome to put forward their ideas!!

MTMO

[bobins]

I'm guessing - powering a very little puddle pump ?

[mickthemaverick]

That may be a development for the future but not the current plan bobins!