GEEEE'z what an adventure!

red_dwarfers · Post by **red_dwarfers** » 04 Dec 2008, 11:44

Managed to find a bit of Internet time to actually post on the forum rather than just look at it. Being up Milton on a training course I thoughfully added a 7 day internet access package to my mobile phone...of course this is okay for reading but not writing when your as slow texting as I am!

Before I have to get back to learning about Windows Server 2003 -

I went to visit Jim in Newport Pagnell tuesday evening, when I finally got there that is! When from one end of milton, then to the other and then went right through Newport, taking the wrong turning

Much chat ensued and I can now say that I've seen the backbone of our Forum and Jims magical workshop and all his green balls dotted all over the place!
He had a spare height corrector lying around so showed me how it worked which will be very useful when I come to look at my front one which has a bit of a problem.
must go now

All in all I really enjoyed my stay at Jims!

One last thing, the darned ABS light has perminatly started coming on since leaving Jim's house

Post by **CitroJim** » 04 Dec 2008, 14:14

It was really good to see you Kev and I apologise for my dodgy directions

MK is not the easiest place to navigate

Still, you saw some nice countryside, or would have if it had been daylight!

red_dwarfers wrote: One last thing, the darned ABS light has perminatly started coming on since leaving Jim's house

My driveway seems to have an ABS sensor killer embedded in it

Yours is not the first to encounter an ABS failure after beuing parked in that spot

If you have time before you go home Kev, pop round and I'll whip the Lexia on your car and diagnose the ABS. Tonight or tomorrow will be fine. If you pop round this evening, you can meet the girls

Xaccers · Post by **Xaccers** » 04 Dec 2008, 14:40

Funny you should say that Jim.
Cassy's ABS light has been behaving itself until this lunchtime!

red_dwarfers · Post by **red_dwarfers** » 04 Dec 2008, 14:43

Hi Jim
Thank you very much

Tonight would be better out of the two for me, so if thats alright Jim

Hopefully I'll remember the way this time

I'll give you a bell later on mate.

Post by **CitroJim** » 04 Dec 2008, 14:49

Xac wrote:Funny you should say that Jim.
Cassy's ABS light has been behaving itself until this lunchtime!

Must be something to do with the phases of the moon or something Xac

Or else I should have kept my mouth shut

red_dwarfers · Post by **red_dwarfers** » 04 Dec 2008, 14:51

Funny you should say that Jim.
Cassy's ABS light has been behaving itself until this lunchtime!

Im now waiting for someone to post that has also got an ABS light on but no ABS...that would make things even more spooky

Post by **CitroJim** » 04 Dec 2008, 14:54

red_dwarfers wrote: Tonight would be better out of the two for me, so if thats alright Jim

That'll be perfect Kev. Any time from about five-thirty on will be good!

Saxon Street - Monks Way - Keep going until you get to the roundabout by the Land Rover dealer, turn left there - London Road - Turn right by the vets.. Job's a good 'un...

If you go over the Iron Bridge, turn around!

Xaccers · Post by **Xaccers** » 04 Dec 2008, 17:43

Can I pop round after work and borrow your pleides tool Jim?

Post by **CitroJim** » 04 Dec 2008, 18:33

Xac wrote:Can I pop round after work and borrow your pleides tool Jim?

'Course you can Xac...

red_dwarfers · Post by **red_dwarfers** » 10 Dec 2008, 21:16

I took some photographs a couple of days ago of the Xantia and the tractor and thought I'd share them!
The tractor ones where taken fairly early on Saturday as I began work on again, it does look nice with the covering of frost

Took this one last night on the way home from work. The first couple of takes didn't look quite right but then a car came up the road and gave the front of the Xantia just enough illumination to focus the eye to the chevrons

I was doing my weekly check of the Xantia on the weekend and found that the inner side of the OSF tyre is nearing bold...looks like the tracking is out. That may also explain why the car vibrates a little at 70 mph. I think thats how it works, someone please correct me if im wrong

red_dwarfers · Post by **red_dwarfers** » 26 Dec 2008, 22:43

Took Xantia down our local tyre place to get two new ones for the front, also got them to sort out the tracking due to the uneven wear. Apparently the tracking was way out

I remembered about the tyre discussion a while back so took a leaf out of the book and went for Goodyear Excellence at £52 a corner

I took Xantia out for a spin and immediatly noticed a significant reduction in road noise and better handling

The tyres that were on before were 'Enduro Runways' installed as part worn according to a receipt in the history, I always noticed a slight buldge at the bottom of the tyres, even though the pressures were just above spec so I presume they had soft sidewalls, these Goodyears however are perfect!

I gave the front height corrector a good dosing of WD40 this morning and a couple of goes of the Citrobics before dinner was called

I'll finish them off tomorrow and see if it does any good....failing that, the HC will have to come off for closer inspection.
Must also look at one of the ABS sensors. MoTs coming up in the next couple of months and I'd like it to pass first time unlike the last 3 years

red_dwarfers · Post by **red_dwarfers** » 28 Dec 2008, 23:14

Todays entry is more me thinking aloud than anything else

Yesterday I managed to hack off the OSR ABS sensor after shearing the three bolts that hold on the disk brake protector. Malcolm (citronut) was right about the ABS sensors being impossible to get out, had to resort to the drill and chisel it the end

Today, the grandparents were around so didn't have much chance to look at the Xantia. I did have a look at trying to get those darn studs out using a combination of left hand drill bits/right hand drill bits and stud removers...I ended up actually snapping one of the latter

Thats even more to get out of holes...
It seems the best way now, will be to take the brake caliper and disc off and try drilling the studs out, then popping into GSF to pick up a new sensor. Might also try and get hold of a new accelerator cable as mine is fraying, can't think of anything to buy while im there...

When I did get the sensor out I found that the sensor heat shield was rusting badly with holes appearing in some places, so I spent an enjoyable evening in the shed making up a new identical part from the sheet metal I had left over from replating the tractor bonnet. Quite pleased with the outcome, just need to splash a bit of paint on it to prevent it rusting again.

red_dwarfers · Post by **red_dwarfers** » 29 Dec 2008, 20:14

At first light I was up tinkering with the car much to the amusment of passing dog walkers, a VERY chilly start, frost covering a lot of things.
I unscrewed the brake caliper and slid off the disc, holding the caliper out the way slightly using a bit of string so I had no need to interfere with the LHM side of things. Theres not many places to mount the string on so it went around the bump stop.
My plan was to attempt to drill the studs out with right hand drill bits from the 'outside' of the car, hoping that it would all unsieze and unscrew out and keeping the threads. Unfortunatly this wasn't to be

So I resorted to working my way up the drill bit sizes to 6mm and using a nut and bolt.
I did manage to extract the stud extractor in the end by firstly drilling from the outside until I felt/heard the snapped extractor, this was hindered slightly by the hub being in the way. I then used a suitably sized centerpunch and decent sized hammer to knock it out. I could then continue drilling my M6 hole from the 'inside' as access was a lot easier here.

As always happens, I put the caliper back home and tightened it up without putting the disc back on

The brake disc protector bolted back on with ease allowing me to pop into GSF to pick up an ABS sensor. As I tend to do with expensive things like this I usually ask for a bit of discount but the bloke behind the counter must have been reading my mind or something as he said "I'll give you trade discount on this mate". What a brilliant chap!

I also stocked up on LHM while I was there, I like to keep 2 or 3 litres just incase

I've taken a photo of the thin, rusty, holey ABS Sensor heat sheild and my new, improved design, complete with the stuff they use to paint tractor exhaust pipes

Considering Im just starting out in the whole metal work scene im quite proud of the result 8)

Hopefully, all will be going back together tomorrow

Post by **CitroJim** » 29 Dec 2008, 22:08

Yes, absolutely, a jolly good effort Kev

That's the stuff, out working in the frost

Dedication!

red_dwarfers · Post by **red_dwarfers** » 29 Dec 2008, 23:11

superloopy1 wrote:Wahey ...

Now i know where to get a couple of heat shields when i need'em

Certainly

if a forum member doesn't have the kit to duplicate/make something thats not overcomplicated, im always up for a challenge

superloopy1 wrote: Looks good ... and to think I thought only the Chinese can copy to those standards

You're not, are you? Chinese that is ...

Nope, I hope the Hungarians build good quality stuff though, that appears to be where our ABS sensors are being produced

citrojim wrote:Yes, absolutely, a jolly good effort Kev

That's the stuff, out working in the frost Dedication!

Cheers Jim! 8)