Alfa Papa

Lower grilles now replaced. Next up oil change/door handle and reflector replace. And maybe a clean.

Boss managed to take a chunk of pain off of the door shut line last night, slammed it open against a yellow cage

Today was 'one of those days' as far as the Alfa was concerned.

[image:22cmrrqu]55[/image:22cmrrqu]

Headed to work early so that I had the bulk of the day free to fettle with the 147. Plan was to do an oil & oil filter change, replace a nackered sidelight, fix the door handle and fit new wiper blades. Andrew planned to change the spark plugs and thermostat on the GT, whilst cleaning the throttle body. It was decided early into proceedings that changing the Aux belt would be abandoned, as his in laws volvo needed the front brakes replaced too.

As far as the plans go, the bulk of the above was achieved.

On the 147 the oil and filter was relatively straightforward. The filter is hidden with a protective shield, as it's quite close to the downpipe/centre exhaust.

Bulb was - for once - a cakewalk. The door handle is where the most time was wasted. You may recall I snapped the hinge on New Years day...the replacement hinge isn't enough to perform a fully functioning repair. The actual handle itself is ****ed too. An hour down the drain, and back to the drawing board. In sheer frustration, I cleaned the engine cover a little.

[image:22cmrrqu]59[/image:22cmrrqu]

[image:22cmrrqu]56[/image:22cmrrqu]

[image:22cmrrqu]57[/image:22cmrrqu]

Andrews spark plugs were also ... interesting. The amount of crap contained in them was shocking!

[image:22cmrrqu]58[/image:22cmrrqu]

A bit later than hoped, the bleeding of his coolant was complete by the back of 7. All in, a productive - but frustrating - day. Back to ebay for parts :/

PS I fixed the rear bumper/tow eye cover.

PPS The grilles have fallen out again

PPPS Must remember to get Tiger Seal tomorrow...

One lower grille out again...need to use tiger seal lol

Hit a pot hole on Tuesday. Was worried Id done something terminal. May have found the problem...

So either a new alloy to source or put on the good wheels. Argh

Also new door handle on the way. Fingers crossed

*sigh* n/s headlight has blown again

Productive morning...

No spare alloys in either scrappy (though there is a 156/Coupe Turbo and a couple of Puntos at Persley) so I've found a replacement on ebay for £38 posted - including a tyre with some tread left. Result.

Full replacement door handle en route as is the rear bumper reflector. And whilst picking up another bulb in autosave today I've grabbed some Tiger Seal, so hopefully tomorrow the grilles will finally sit right.

Progress, allbeit slow, is being made.

So this arrived today to replace the Panda attack...

Along with a full new door handle. Can't be arsed fitting that though, so it's off to a local mechanic to fit on Friday.

Just the spare wheel to arrive now....sat in a depot in Tullos

So, reflector replaced and un-buckled alloy is also on the car. It's odd, all the bits I ordered arrived at various times yesterday. Like it was all properly pre-planned!

Tomorrow am pop the door card off (it's just sat on the runner) and a local mech is going to fit the doorhandle and lock, to save me the hassle/from messing it up

And all in time for Sunday

It's even getting a wash*

The other thing I think I forgot to say is I've fixed the n/s number plate light holder...I think/hope

*subject to weather

Well that's more than the punto is getting. I'm aiming for the proper industrial look once again #murmanskmotor

Apart from a crack developing in the windscreen there hasn't been much to report of late. Til past few days

Under spirited acceleration I have a horrible feeling the clutch is beginning to slip. Revs seem to spike from 1500-2000 rpm, jumping momentarily to approx 2500 before settling again. No huge burst of noise but a gut feeling something isn't right. Of course will be more than happy to be proved wrong but just got that gut wrenching feeling my wallets about to be raided

Bastard gut feelings

Yup. Deffo clutch. Ach well.

How's your blood pressure now? :lol:

Settling.

The whole drive to Stonehaven I thought I was going to bring back some of those burgers tho :red:

Time to start thinking about the MOT - after 6 weeks of unemployment I'm even more apprehensive about this than normal. Part of the problem being, of course, the absolute need for a car due to where I live and my varying places of work.

So, yesterday, Ransoman had a quick look over the car. We *think* it'll need the following to pass...

• Secure the rear h/brake cables as the rubber mounts have perished - easy.
  Secure the rear numberplate light - after many attempts, Andrew had a fettle and it might just be there.

We KNOW it'll need the following

• New Windscreen (excess to insurance, job done)
  Upper wishbones - ouch. The potholes have not been kind to these
  New front o/s tyre - utterly gubbed on the inside edge. Might as well do both

The 'Master Control System Failure' warning is also tripping again - laptop reports as a brake switch (which I think is off again now) PLUS the dreaded EGR warning. It flagged hat one last year, then disappeared so I think this time it's an EGR off/clean/refit and reset job.

Wish me luck