What's made you grumpy today?

[JCarp16]

Bus driver in Cambridge who pulled out of a indented bus stop ACROSS the bus lane and then proceeded to drive at 18mph (GPS speed) on a 30 MPH main route with no one in front of him either in the bus lane or main part of road. Oh and Vauxhall Grandland X driver who stopped to let him.

Constant problem in Cambridge. Lots of bus and cycle lanes taking up space and the buses and bikes not using them. The won't let motorcycles use the bus lanes either. (I'm not bike rider) Considering getting a Series III LWB Staion wagon (12 seats) Land Rover so I can use thr bus lanes.


Robert G8RPI.

Grandland. Now there's a name and a half. Kind of fits the behemoth-like quality of that particular vehicle. They are huge!

 

[portland_bill]

I do love all the "stuff" you learn on this forum! Of course I've come across many different pattern parts during my adventures with cars and mechanical "toys". Indeed some of the older stuff could not be repaired and kept running without them. I have never come across anyone making an entire pattern axle though. My assumption would have been that manufacturer or scrappie were the only options so you can imagine I'm really excited to hear of your supplier. Would you care to share contact details for them with me? Beckie is an early 2010 registration and our roads up here see a lot of salt during the winter so I think your advice to get under and look as soon as possible is something I'm going to do as soon as this rain stops - been raining all day yesterday and still drizzling right now. - I would be very interested to see a picture, if possible, of your new axle if you could manage that?
Kindest regards
Jock

Ebay axle ad: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Brand-Ne...e=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649

PS. I still haven't cracked how to quote only part of a post (like in the above, where it appears in italics)

To break up a quote, it needs to start with the square brackets and text as at the start of the quote. {quote=Pugglt Auld Jock;4351226} and end with {/quote}. With {} replaced with [] of course, I'm just experimenting to show what is needed without it becoming a quote box.
So with a bit of copy and paste, you can section any large quote into manageable chunks.

To use only a bit, just delete the stuff you don't need.

Give it a try, the worst it can be is gibberish, and there's lots on here already.

The weather has got in the way, and a bit of work in between, so the new one is still wrapped as it arrived. Have to get the old one off and place them together. Then I'll take a few pics.

Unable to go outside, due to rain, I'm pondering the possibility of hanging the complete hubs on old wire coat hangers, to avoid disconnecting the hydraulics. A nice inverted V, with a loop at the point to sit on the top shock mount, and a loop at each end onto two wheel studs.
But then on the other hand, an opportunity to replace the brake hoses.
Very likely to order new springs once their off an inspected.

Nice to have the 'luxury' of alternative transport, even if it is a choice of two Fords. A new Fiesta, with many annoyances, or a 2001 Focus estate that just does the job without fuss.

 

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

Ebay axle ad: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Brand-Ne...e=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649



To break up a quote, it needs to start with the square brackets and text as at the start of the quote. {quote=Pugglt Auld Jock;4351226} and end with {/quote}. With {} replaced with [] of course, I'm just experimenting to show what is needed without it becoming a quote box.
So with a bit of copy and paste, you can section any large quote into manageable chunks.

To use only a bit, just delete the stuff you don't need.

Give it a try, the worst it can be is gibberish, and there's lots on here already

OK here goes. Lets see what comes out of this.

 

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

OK here goes. Lets see what comes out of this.

Hehe! it works! Thanks PB!

Looking forward to seeing those photos. It's still raining up here! Back garden is awash!

Regards
Jock

 

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

Just had a look on that website PB, looks very interesting and I've kept a note of the address. The ad seems to imply that it fits both Panda and 500. I have been reading some of the posts about rear axles and I thought I understood that the 500 axle was slightly wider than the Panda (although I believe it fits?). So I'm just wondering if it's actually a Panda axle they're selling?

Just as a matter of interest can I be cheeky enough to ask if you tried Shop4parts? If so I'm just wondering what they quoted (or if they were even able to supply). I'm only asking because I've had good service from them and they tend now to be my first stop.

Sounds like the weather is the same all over the country then? we have a brief period of clear skies tomorrow morning, so the weather man says, then heavy rain for the rest of the day. Pity because we have our granddaughter for the day tomorrow - up at 6.00 am to go out and collect her! - so no visit to the swing park but the early start means less traffic to fight with.

Kindest regards
Jock

 

[portland_bill]

The initial description says Panda/500, but further down it only mentions Panda, and refers it to Panda part numbers.
The pic shows the rear hub brackets as Panda ones, the 500 is spaced out more.

Fitting this one to a 500 will bring disappointment, with a narrower track and the loss of the later anti-roll bar.

 

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

The initial description says Panda/500, but further down it only mentions Panda, and refers it to Panda part numbers.
The pic shows the rear hub brackets as Panda ones, the 500 is spaced out more.

Fitting this one to a 500 will bring disappointment, with a narrower track and the loss of the later anti-roll bar.

That's all looking good for you then. I hope the strip down and rebuild goes smoothly for you. Must admit all the road springs on Becky look pretty rough! So your thoughts on renewal are probably valid.

So here's wishing you some blue skies soon
Jock.

 

[Paddynabs]

A good job came up at work which should be "the next step" for me.

My boss suggested that they are aiming to get someone from outside the company.

I emailed the manager who is recruiting to show my interest and ask some questions about the role. He said he was busy but try HR.

I emailed HR and they didn't get back to me.

I think they might be trying to tell me something....

 

[StevenRB45]

Internal Job stuff is fun....

tbf I've just made a bit of progress in this sort of stuff in the last year having had 4 years of false starts and set backs.

So yeah I know the annoyance well, and hope it goes your way.

 

[portland_bill]

Computers stopped 'seeing' each other.
Been intermittent for a few months, then after the latest forced update, "we're making your computer better" said Microsoft, no network machines visible from any other.

Two work laptops need to swap files. Scanner and one printer accessible via main desktop only, so internal network important.

Found a Microsoft 'Help' Chat service. Took nearly an hour for them to understand the problem, then all they could suggest was to roll back to previous state. Tried that on one PC, failed. Probably because their update had some irreversible elements.

Further searching on the web found a solution. Apparently Microsoft have done away with 'Home Group', and in the process have turned off some network functions, setting them to 'on demand'. But there is no trigger mechanism within Windows to create the demand, so it won't work. So their decision was that any networking would use the standard network protocols, rather than their own, but they turned that off too. Genius.
The fix was posted in May. Yet their own customer helpdesk knows nothing about a fix. Edit some services to return them to automatic, and hey presto, all three can see each other again.

 

[PuntoHowTo]

Did an oil, filter and air filter service on the Punto today. All I can say is F£$@ YOU FIAT!!!

who puts the oil filter in the back of the engine behind the wheel and only accessible by removing the wheel arch liner. Then designs it in such a way that it traps oil in the cap of the filter (paper type inside a housing) when you open the housing about 300mls of oil pours out and because of the impossible access, the oil pours down onto the subframe and drive shaft, which acts like a sprinkler nozzle, sending oil in all directions!!!

Then to add insult to injury you pout a 32mm 'nut' shaped moulding on the top cover of the filter housing but don't allow enough space to get any reasonable tool onto the end of it, ended up using a conventional oil filter removal chain, which was also needed to tighten it back up again.

Also, the air filter lid is clamped with non-reusable clamps to the MAF sensor which is also clamped to a pipe with non-reusable clamps which in turn is attached directly to the turbo. So to change the Filter you have to wrestle the lid out of the way and put the filter in, however there are little clips which require you to rotate the lid at least 45 degrees to get the clips in then, however the set up of the pipes and MAF sensor means that there isn't a hope in hell of getting the lid rotated to that degree without having to replace half a dozen pipe clips, (well at least one). 2 hrs to do an oil and filter change (with some extra time for filming it) when I could do my old 1.3 multijet oil and filter change in 10 minutes without jacking the car up.

Stupid 1.6 multijet needed the car jacking up, half the underside of the car removed because of plastic covers and the driver's side front wheel and wheel arch liner removed, oil everywhere and much annoyance!

Still it does feel like a totally different car now and was well worth the effort, the downside is that while doing it, I noticed that the brake pads also need doing and the discs are well worn with a big lip (which had sawn the brake wear wires off) so another job to do, and the downside of the 1.6 multijet is the much larger discs and expensive car specific pads.

 

[puntofan01]

Their contract is with Ford, so its a Fiesta or a Focus. The Fiesta is already huge, same size as the original Focus, so no way will I have a Focus, even more horrible. I already refer to the Fiesta as 'the big car' when choosing which one to use.
The issue is not really with the crap design and inconsistencies with Fords, but the main issue is with the duals that are unsafe.

I've noticed a fair few old shape AA fiestas on 67 and even 18 plates: I thought the very last of those shape were sold on a 17 plate?

 

[portland_bill]

I've noticed a fair few old shape AA fiestas on 67 and even 18 plates: I thought the very last of those shape were sold on a 17 plate?

Lots stockpiled just for AA. Were still issuing 'new' old models until end June. Only recently got the new ones, just this last fortnight. When any new car is introduced, it takes time to increase production to full capacity, so priority was given to retail.

 

[puntofan01]

I see! Was there any stock left over at the end of June?

 

[portland_bill]

I see! Was there any stock left over at the end of June?

Now, don't be silly, you really would not be happy with one.

They'd have calculated how many they'd need, with regular planned replacements, plus a few extras to cover damaged ones. My regular exchange was due early July, postponed until mid August, as old ones had ran out.

I'd avoid a used one too. Search the web, there are a few expensive issues with these 1.0 ecoboost engines later in life. Whilst probably rare, it is a risk. The ex-learner cars will have a shorter life overall anyway. Take mileage, and treble it for an indication of the wear & tear suffered.

 

[puntofan01]

Oh, don't worry, I'm not wanting buy 1, I have no desire to sink as low as owning a fiesta as long as I live!! I was just curious as to what happens to any left overs, that was all.

 

[puntofan01]

Radio 1: my generation have absolutely destroyed mainstream music.

 

[portland_bill]

Radio 1: my generation have absolutely destroyed mainstream music.

Try Radio 2. Leave it until after 9:30am, Chris Evans is a bit loud.

 

[puntofan01]

I don't mind radio 2, but my colleague who works next to the radio hates Craig Charles, so we're lumbered with radio 1 for most of the day atm. Depending on what I'm doing, I can sometimes put an ipod on, and listen to some REAL music whilst I'm working.

 

[Eklipze3k]

Radio 1: my generation have absolutely destroyed mainstream music.

Mainstream music has been terrible since about the mid-eighties, thank corporate America. Ironically, since paying for Spotify I've discovered more new, amazing music that I didn't even know existed before. I hope on demand, streaming platforms like it signal the death of the big, soulless record companies.