Travels & travails with a C15 (& other vehicles)

[Gibbo2286]

If the clutch is dragging, and adjusting it fixed it, but only for a short time, and adjusting it again fixes it again, then you need to plan on having the 'box out.... odds on the release bearing is chewing its way thought the pressure plate, and sooner or later will go all the way through leaving you with no clutch at ..

Yep. I can confirm that. I had this in my wife's VISA some time ago (OK, about 1993).

Glad to see someone keeping a C15 going. There aren't that many left.

One other possibility is the L shaped lever at the box end of the clutch cable, they used to regularly crack and gradually open up at the middle, adjusting the cable would fix it for a while, I've welded a good many of them over the years.

[van ordinaire]

The idea was to get another one (having got a foot in the door/toe in the water, you might say) but the nice ones are more than I'd care to pay & those that met my original criteria have serious faults &/or are too far away & this one's grown on me (+ have a little invested in it with cam belt, etc & the clutch) so will be keeping it going for a while yest - I hope!

Certainly you don't see many out on the road now, even compared with when I got mine, yet they come up for sale all the time.

Thanks for the thought but I really don't need ANOTHER Cherokee (in fact, I'm still waiting for Zel to get the pre-facelift he's promised himself - so I can offload my donor (once the trans is out, to go in the green one)

[van ordinaire]

So last night, after typing away for 1/2-hr or so, the page suddenly minimised itself & I was left staring at something else. Hastily hit the icon on the tool bar & back it came – but 3 pages earlier!

Tried the couple of tricks I knew to retrieve lost text in such circumstances, but to no avail. Still it's an ill wind & all that, as while too much of my time had been completely wasted, many of you will probably be grateful – as I'm certainly not going to start all over again.

Pretty sure no fault attaches to the forum this time, almost certainly a hardware issue: what passes as a wrist rest on this laptop does, sometimes, seem to be as sensitive as the mousepad, with oddest, sometimes disconcerting, results.

Summarising the lost ground:-

Been looking forward to a drive out over Dartmoor almost since touching down at Heathrow the previous Sunday – yet come Saturday morning, just couldn't get up; late onset jet lag?

Eventually emerged, went out to the red Cherokee - & it started, after almost as long an interval as the C15. Sooooh, 2 down, 1 to go.

Bit later, tried the key I'd had cut in America, man in the hardware store said it'd unlock, but not start it, because it's not chipped. In fact it would start – but not run! Still, at least I can't get locked out now.

Even later Saturday afternoon, started the Eldorado: bingo, hat-trick! - & not even sure when it was last started, but don't think it was last weekend in April. Went shopping in Paignton in it where, whatever the previous owner said about how much attention it attracted (in Manchester), no one batted an eyelid (but then, I think it's actually quite unremarkable – except, possibly, from behind).

That's about as far as I got, so now I can bore you all with a bit more detail:-
Tried to buy a tyre on line, to match a new one I have in the garage; found only one site that listed it in the right size - but the earliest fitting appointment they can offer is June 25th! I need it Friday week, so thought I'd have to see what I could achieve on the phone on Tuesday. Actually, nothing: must be a premium number 'cos the call was blocked. Sent e-mail (lunchtime today – as at 7:00 this evening, no response (fortunately, I do have a Plan B)

Got a result with the new f. indicator/sidelight bulbholder I picked up on my travels as the listed one wasn't readily available but instinct & a lot of time studying pictures on a computer screen, meant that one that looked the same (but for the colour) was triumphantly produced from stock (a good bit cheaper too) - & it DOES fit. Take a bow, Ray at Reilly's Autoparts, in Two Harbors, MN.

Finally got my trip out over the moors in the red Cherokee on Sunday: a wonderful combination of heavy mist & far more livestock on the roads than I'm used to. The cattle seem to loom out of the mist quite suddenly – but, largely, stay put, whereas you see the sheep sooner – but there's no telling what they'll do.

Remembered that I had the new hazard switch for the Eldo (bought on American eBay) with me, so thought I'd go out, sit in the sun & fit it. I say "switch" but (just as described in the manual) it's just a screw, the centre button, a spring & a collar: the whole thing looks like a boss on the steering column shroud, just in front of (as it appears), i.e. behind, the ignition switch (being nearer the front).

Now the problem was, while the system worked, the button didn't lock in the on/in position - so the lights would only flash while it was held in. As I started to undo the centre screw, the pressure turned the flashers on BUT now they wouldn't go off! Working fairly quickly because (a) the clicking was driving me mad & (b) I know how quickly these lights can drain a battery, I removed the "switch" fitted the new one &, with a bit of fiddling, turned them off. Then, with renewed confidence, took it all apart again & reassembled it using the old collar, simply 'cos the new one wasn't the right colour. 
Still not sure about the operation though, as had assumed this was a push,push switch but now it as working, it was clear it wasn't. Checked the handbook which stated you press button to turn on - & pull out collar to turn off: wrong! you actually have to turn the collar to turn the hazards off! Now this is a very clumsy movement & given our main use for hazards, them only working when button is held in is really quite good. I'll see how I get on on next long journey but now I know I can easily have them working correctly for the MoT, I might revert to the old switch for everyday use.

So, not quite the disaster Easter was (to which I'll have to return) but, truth be told, all those little warm glow inducing achievements, which seemed to occupy the entire weekend, could probably have been achieved in a fairly relaxed couple of hours. AND, really there were more pressing things (like the Cherokee's front prop & back brakes (b-t-w, wanted to get wheel cylinder rubbers but as was pointed out to me, a cylinder's only about $10 – wonder how much they'd be here – mind you, too late, I realised they're Chinese, so it remains to be seen how well/long they last. Of course, if they're genuine spares for the version still being built there, rather than cheap pattern parts, I might be OK.)

[Pug_XUD_KeenAmateur]

always a good idea with a long post to do a Copy & Paste into a Wprd or Notepad document at an interim point

...though saying that, I do know from experience that personally, I tend to get carried away, and pausing to transfer it to another application isn't really much in one's thoughts

Also option to create it in Word, then transfer. I've been known to 'write' in Word, copy it to Notepad (for the purposes of losing the formatting, which doesn't always transpose well) then to the Forum itself.

Must let you know when I'm next going to be off to the Riviera see if you're about. Family previously in Kingskerswell and overdue a visit have moved to Paignton (Templer Rd, Preston) a few weeks back. No plans at the mo though.

[van ordinaire]

Absolutely but a lesson learned but quickly (& constantly) forgotten. Then, of course, there's the "topsy post syndrome" - of which I seem to be a victim.

However that last one WAS drafted as a Word document (also has the advantage of spellcheck which, curiously, seems to be absent from this forum) so, occasionally, I DO learn from my mistakes.

So let me know if/when you're coming down (although I'd leave it 'til September now, when the seasonal parking restrictions are lifted) - you never know, it might prove more successful than previous ideas of a sort of mutually convenient scrapyard.

[myglaren]

I think the spell check is in the browser, not the forum software so may depend on your browser and what is enabled.

Mine certainly pulls me up frequently - I miss letters, add in spurious ones and spell things right - but backwards.
Not that I would ever admit to that

[van ordinaire]

Don't ask me how that happened - it's completely beyond me! If a mod. would like to delete the duplicate, that's fine by me.

As for spellcheck, that makes perfect sense &, indeed, what I'd expect - except I have it everywhere else! Unless, unknowingly, I am accessing the forum via a shortcut to a browser that I don't otherwise use.

Quick update: as I'm off on my travels (YES, again!) tomorrow, the C15 got its weekly run to the shops a day early. Got in, started it - & the low coolant light stayed on! Odd that, I would've expected some warning, like flickering on sudden changes of speed/direction. Took a whole litre of coolant as well, still it's only the second time I've had to top it up &, I think, the 1st was before the cambelt, etc was done. No obvious leaks, so I s'pose I can live with a litre a year but it does go to show how lazy/spoilt I've become as, even without a temp gauge, I'd never thought to check the level; ironic, & fortuitous, it occurred the night before we set off for Dover & beyond.

[van ordinaire]

So – we're back in Berlin (that's a hat-trick for the C15, amazing really!) but looking out the window it might just as well be Manchester; glad I didn't set off on one of those walking tours I'd always promised myself. Yesterday was worse, rather reminiscent of my entry into New Orleans only a couple of weeks ago – except the drains work better; arrived rather later than intended – just as a thunderstorm, with torrential rain started: what with the traffic, roadworks & then poor visibility, having to negotiate the whole length of Potsdamerstrasse was an interesting experience – BUT not one I'd recommend!

However, I'm getting a bit ahead of myself. First attempted update was Friday morning, on the ferry, but although I was connected to DFDS's decided flaky on-board Wi-Fi – I had no internet access! Not an unusual occurrence, but with perseverance, you usual get there – not this time though! No big deal, in the event, as there was precious little to report, except the weather was damp & miserable - & I really did miss the wiper delay: one of the few “mod cons” (as I still think of it) with which the C15 is endowed AND which I consider a significant advance.
Approaching Bruge from this gentle meander through rural France & Belgium you pass under (through?) a Medieval gateway (reminds me of Totnes – except THAT is a fake!) & you have to turn right, (whether this is now due to a permanent road closure or just road works that have been dragging far too long, is difficult to tell) down a narrow cobbled street between some charming period terrace cottages & a park. This time I suddenly realised, in general, terms where this was, relative to the main road through town so I could afford to ignore my increasingly hysterical SatNav & parked & went to sit in the park, to have 11ses.
By the time I got to Antwerp, I was looking for fuel but in the middle of picking my way through more road closures & unsigned diversions, in the heat of the midday sun – I ran out (the driver of the RangeRover hard on my tail was not impressed!). Seems like I got that old “actually empty while registering 1/4-full” problem back. So disappointing after such a short time. Still no time to ponder such things, turn get out it off (need key to unlock filler cap), slop in the 5 litres I always carry, prime furiously, & crank 'til it eventually starts - & runs, after a fashion, while trying to shake itself to bits! Fortunately I was soon on the road out of the city &, within, 10 miles came upon these cheapest diesel since crossing the border. Filled it up (in retrospect, a mistake as fuel got progressively cheaper) BUT, if I'd run out there would only have been 4 litre, at most, in the (45 litre) tank – so how come it would only take 37-odd litres?
Next puzzle, it took 60 miles for the gauge to register as close to full as it was going to, given how much I would've used in that time – so is my problem now, just a lazy gauge? I say “only” because I have no intention of taking the tank out again!!!
Anyway, now only about 100 miles from my overnight stop (Berlin's do-able in a day, possibly not in a C15, & it means sitting on that enless concrete ribbon, flat out - & not seeing anything; I much prefer this way), the pub in Essen I use when I go to TechnoClassica. Last 80-odd miles was on the Autobahn, blame TomTom for that; I selected “shortest route” but must check settings to see if it's still on “avoid Motorways”. Certainly there are a few changes since I hooked the device to the website, although updating the mapping defeated me entirely: as I complained to TomTom they've made it so using 6 year old mapping is easier than updating it which, of course is the whole idea, i.e. sell more SatNavs! Wrong, if/when this one becomes unusable I'll get a Garmin: TomTom have disgraced themselves – not once, but 3 times, so bit of an own goal really.
No internet access at the pub either, hmm perhaps I was too hasty blaming DFDS originally.
If any of you have actually got this far, you deserve a break & this catch-up is taking far longer than I envisaged. I've been ducking in & out of this all day (I mean the rain stopped hours ago!) so I'll post this now - & go & have a beer (after all, I am in Germany).

[bobins]

One day I shall get back to Berlin to spend another day or two finishing off the Technical Museum. I haven't been in years, but used to be a fairly regular (at least for me) visitor to Berlin. How do you deal with the emissions zone in Berlin with the C15 ? Have you got a sticker for the windscreen ?

[Gibbo2286]

I had five days in Berlin when my daughter was stationed there in the RAF...…….before the wall came down, thoroughly enjoyed it including a trip to the east through Checkpoint Charlie, Simon and Garfunkel at the Olympic Stadium, Karajan at the Berlin Philharmonic Hall, dinner in the KDV restaurant (Better than Harrods).

Must go back for another look.

[van ordinaire]

I'm usually here for classic car show, held in the car park of the old tram depot which is now the centre of the Berlin's (uber) high end resto trade but I've got to like the place although I can't "get into it". IF the rain stops (more like Manchester than ever at the moment) I'll try to get on one of those walking tours which might help.

Gibbo, you did well to pack so much into 5 days, but I'm sure the family connection & the local knowledge that'd come with it helped enormously. I very much regret not having managed to get here before the wall came down [in the same way as I wished I could've got to Honk Kong before we handed it back - &, indeed Yugoslavia (but, at least, I did get to pre-EU Croatia!)]

Bobbins, not sure where the Berlin LEZ is, although I suspect I pass through it, getting from where I stay to the show. They've dropped the original red & orange stickers (which, I think, equated to Euro 2 & 3) & the C15 is (a year) too old for a green "4" one - as if a 2006 one is any different or, for that matter, a pre-97 - which would be exempt, as "historiche". Guess what I'm looking for? I did have one for the 1st Cadillac, which ithought was hilarious, but, again, the Eldorado is too old! If I've still got it in 3 years time I'll apply for a blue sticker - although I'm not sure if they're available for foreign vehicles.

I did start on Pt2 last night but it was too noisy here, so made little progress but have returned to it now - at least until the rain stops. All very reminiscent of Clarkesdale, Missisippi (cue research all you music history buffs) which I wanted to have a look round - but it was raining, so just kept going!

[Gibbo2286]

I forgot to mention the dance at the RAF Gatow mess where I was dragged onto the dance floor by a few of my daughter's mates. and the trip to the US sector military PX to see how the other half lived.

[van ordinaire]

. . . &, by a remarkable coincidence, Art Garfunkel's plays ,Berlin on the 8th! (even more extraordinary, Madness are headlining a Ska festival - but I digress)

Had this gone according to plan (if that's not too grandiose word to use in the circumstnces), i.e. a quick intro. on the ferry, highlights of the 1st day's drive Thursday night & similar re the last leg on/about arrival in Berlin (except it was me on my last legs - & still, as I thought, not got internet access) it would've undoubtedly contained some such phrase as “by the grace of God” or “more by luck than judgment”; I'll come to that, all in good time.

Friday dawned, not that any would've known because we were in the throes of – yes, you've guessed it – a thunderstorm! I briefly pondered over whether trams (can) run if/when the tracks are under water, grabbed my bag & went down for breakfast, during which the rain stopped. I was about an hour ahead of the departure time I'd had in mind, which was just as well as, on setting my SatNav for my destination in Berlin, Iwas reminded that while Essen IS ½-way, that is total mileage, i.e. from London, so I had nearly 300 miles ahead, as opposed to 200 from a similar start time. Now whether Germany was experiencing “April showers” or I was just driving through areas where they had localised rainfall I don't know but it was late morning, by which time I seemed to have remarkably little progress, that the rain cleared & the sun came out. What did surprise, & delight me, was after an extended preriod of having the wipers on, the delay worked - &, thereafter didso on demand, was I grateful, sitting at red lights in Berlin? I've mentioned before that I don't like (trust?) self-curing faults but after the suggestion the problem was probably conections in the switch I did try dousing it with contact cleaner – seems like it MIGHT have worked.

Trundling contentedly across the German countryside, I came to a hill with sign that said 11% & I was immediately transported to my youth, when my “Devon Dumpling” mother & I used to joke about gradients in double figures not being worth mentioning – but then we were used to 1-in-4's! Anyway this was one of those gradients that caught the C15 out: just the wrong combination of gradient, length of climb & a speed at the botttom. Ended up in 3rd (might even been 2nd) so seemed like a lowgear descent. Now, I'm not suggesting it was Alpine but it WAS steep & bendy & under trees so still very wet - & I got to a sharp right hander that C15 just didn't want to know about, I remember thinking that if I could only side swipe the Armco I was heading straight for, I would at least get to drive home when, suddenly, we were almost stationary, on the wrong side of the road, at about 45° to the direction of travel & facing the centre line. Heaved a big sigh of relief (may have even uttered a little prayer) that there'd been nothing coming the other way, applied a little left lock & continued on my way. This seemed to underline the received wisdom that C15's & budget tyres do not mix.

Next fuel stop was going to be around 250 miles – or when the gauge registered ½ but, at 233 miles, in the middle of the German countryside I happened on a little village garage with the cheapest diesel I'd seen all day – a full 20c a litre cheaper than your average French hypermarché! Now, another puzzle, I couldn't, quite get 20 litres in; true it wasn't being thrashed down the Autoroute/bahn but neither was I driving with economy in mind - & it's NEVER returned figures like that. Not complaining & good to get to Berlin without further stops – or, hopefully incident!

Curiously my SatNav again led me on to the Autobahn for all but the last 20 miles, whenthere was about 80 to go. That was demolished with no further ado, the only interesting bit being that that we'd caught up with one of these “bangers for charity” events but most of the cars were what I'd still consider modern (if not new) Audis, covered with rather expensive wrapping (obviously stickers are too naf now) all hurtling down the outside lane at 100mph! Now, I'm sure ir was all great fun & worthwhile – but seems to miss the point somehow OR are “old” Audis, & the like, so cheap & reliable that some old £200 hack doesn't need a few quid spent fettling them?

. . . & so, I evetually arrived in Berlin, in circunstances.conditions I've already mentioned, so that, for a couple of days, is that – except those days have already flown, so tomorrow morning, it's back to Essen!

[van ordinaire]

Back in London, as of, maybe an hour ago: no dramas, no issues (except I did have to relocate that dam' o/s headlight - again!)

Berlin - Essen was hot, impressed with the ventilation in the C15 though, especially without a working fan. There were time in traffic or town centre speeds when I really would've appreciated a working window winder - actually a replacement driver's door is becoming critical. However, a bit late, I discovered that under about 60 I could leave the passenger window down, get ventilation without the buffetting - & not too noisy.

More WiFi at Essen again, had connection but no access. Spoke to mein host, who offered me a diifferent link - but no different!

Very leisurely run up to Dunkerque today, up to the point I thought I'd try for the ferry before the one I was booked on (DFDS allow one ferry before or after, subject to room) & all was going well 'til, with only 11 miles to go, the road was closed &, of course, this being France there are no signed "deviations".
All a bit fraught as the road concerned was on a river bank AND there were lots of temporary one-way streets in the immediate area. Eventually got onto the road on the other bank going in the right direction & had to just hope there was a bridge before I'd gone too far out of my way. That strategy worked but lost a fair bit of time. However, back on route, with some spirited driving got to the check-in just in time for the earlier ferry, as I thought - except there wasn't one, well not an hour earlier. C'est la vie!

[van ordinaire]

Left Torbay (having got the train down there after work on Thursday) to drive the Eldorado to Fishguard, on route to Cork, for an American car show.

Beset with IT issues but finally managed to get a connection, courtesy of a Topaz garage/convenience store/cafe where, having all the time in the world, I stopped for 11ses.

Not prepared to spend long enough here for a full update though, so will see if I have better luck at Rosslare - or on the ferry. Wish me luck.