jgra1 blog

[jgra1]

thanks Ted, Addo,.
MOT guy isn't interested in airbags until beginning of april

coupe passed the MOT!! a long week of working on it paid off.. It is now in Somerset, in a field, until it is called on for use.. my friend will start it up and roll it every few weeks..

back home now, the second 350 mile weekend in a row.. just opened a beer cheers!

[CitroJim]

Excellent news on the Coupé John

I was in Somerset on Sunday - usual place... We could have passed on the A303...

It's a trip isn't it I thank my lucky stars I have a V6 for it.... Makes all the difference...

[jgra1]

was great in the Coup Jim ..
A303 was empty on Sat, not bad at all on sun!
And both times i passed through Langport..

[CitroJim]

Ahh, that was a shame, same place, different days John

The A303 was fairly empty (moreso than normal) on Sunday too. What's going on? Is the price of fuel finally getting to the public at large I wonder...

[KP]

Most likely Jim. I mean how many people just go for a drive these days??

[CitroJim]

Most likely Jim. I mean how many people just go for a drive these days??

That's true, especially on the A303

I do go out for fun drives in my Activa and to be honest, that's about all it does these days... It's just a fun car for me

[KP]

ahhh gone are those days im afraid Jim, with the current fuel prices the only way to have some cheap kinda fun is with a diesel filled with Heating Oil or Red and use it on off road days here and there but even they aren't as cheap as you'd think

[jgra1]

quick update..
had a 206 clutch job in late march, went ok although took more time than I would have expected.. i must be getting rusty, either that or the intermed bearing was .. I had also forgotten just how annoying it is to get a gearbox back on, alone.. even with a crane...
Before that job I did a friends honda CRV lower ball joints.. these are pressed into the hub, not the lower arm.. and the driveshaft is in the way.. a pig of a job really.. the mot failing garage were quoting her for a lower arm change, which wouldn't have helped her!

otherwise, I have been moving.. and it was a big job.. and I am now in the fourth address in less than 12 months! hopefully I can stay at this one for a decent amount of time.. it's my first place by myself, a terraced cottage walkable to 3 decent pubs, in a nice area with a garage costing an arm and a leg but still..

one thing.. after I had done 'check-in' and was finally alone there, I went for a nosey and found .. another bedroom a decent (if small) converted loft room, complete with power, carpet, wallpaper, ariel socket and window! great if I have a few guests .. a decent find indeed


J

[CitroJim]

You've been busy John

Now it's not often you find something like an extra room is it? That is an excellent result Make a great little office...

[jgra1]

Xant mot tomorrow.. could be an epic fail.. I have had no time to touch the car in the last few months really.. except when really neccessary.
.. also, previous mot's have been quite lenient..

things it could fail on

ABS light has previoulsy been wired to come on with charge light.. may have a look again tonight at this..
Air bag light still flashing.. I have unplugged under both seats and behind wheel but no good..
exhaust has no cat
tow bar electrics need a minor change
seats do not have side airbags.
extra wiring for headlight relays and preheater may not be up to scratch
expecting some issue with LH lower arm.. the car has been feeling a little loose in the last few weeks
emissions.. it's a smoker but I will add diesel and a bit of injector cleaner and do a tunisan tune up later.
steering wheel has up / down play..

not expecting any issues with brakes or tyres, or lights, washers, rust, number plates, glass, track rods etc..
but.. if enough is wrong, then it could be make or break for her.. she has served me well, very well..

[CitroJim]

No worries John, she'll live to fight another day

[jgra1]

5 fails
12 advises.... could be a record..

but non are the fails are what I expected..
catless exhaust passed
abs light passed
steering column passed..
tow bar electrics passed (will sort these anyway)
airbag light only an advise..

the only real fail is a completely destroyed lower ball joint.. (I knew something had gone, in the last couple of weeks)
he thinks the pads are low on one front side.. but I have checked them a lot this year and they were fine only a few weeks ago.. so that shouldnt be an issue..
car is too smokey (I went with a full tank of WVO.. - wont for the restest..
and the inner arch is a little loose lol..

one thing, always pops up, but can i still drive the car until its mot expires on monday? thought i could but not sure now..

J

[addo]

Nearside LBJ? That one gets a wallering from the rough shoulder... I am still on my "test dummy" Taiwanese balljoints after >20K miles - £32 posted the pair. Would use again, for sure.

How are the P-bushes? I will ping His Lordship in 24H to fund some, for both of us if needed.

[jgra1]

yep NS lbj.. there are some rough roads round here.

answered the other question I think.. Car has been declared unroadworthy, so I am car-less now until i get the restest done. a wet Arpil too for motorbiking
addo, think my P bushes may be ok.. not likely to replace them this time around, while doing remedial work, but would consider a thorough investigation on them in a few weeks when weather picks up... so could be handy to have a couple..

[RichardW]

Can you still drive it - that's a bit of grey area, to which I have never found a comprehensive answer...

Law says you can only drive if MOT in place - this still the case, as no cancellation of existing MOT by new test - so you will not flag ANPR. However, law also requires that car should be roadworthy, so should you be stopped or have an accident, and it's found out that it failed MOT, you could be prosecuted for driving un-roadworthy car - this would be more difficult to defend if tester has written 'dangerous' on fail slip.

I got 12 advisorises on mine, but no fails