What's made you not grumpy but not smile either today?

[portland_bill]

Over the last few days, I've noticed a lot of 'crow' noise from the back garden. We have a few trees, and more in the orchard behind us, so quite a few birds nesting. The crow seemed to be a bit noisier than usual though.
Our cat just went outside, to sit in her garden. Immediately, the raucous machine gun noise started. Seems it is a pair of magpies (crow family). The noise is to try to ward off predators. Cat is just looking at them in the tree, not really bothered, and mostly ignoring them and their noise.
I grew up with constant seagull screeching, so such bird noise doesn't bother me. Hopefully it might bother the neighbour, and make a nice change from their dog barking more often than necessary.

 

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

Monday 3pm, still at 2.96. New valve core sorted. Crisis averted.

My boy brought the car round on his way home from work so I could investigate the leaky valve. I wondered if it was simply not tight enough but quite the reverse it was in so tight I had to really lean on the tool to remove it. I think it likely that one of the attempts at repair included someone dramatically over tightening this core. Here's the offending item:



I examined it minutely with my jeweler's eyepiece but couldn't see anything wrong with it. However fitting a new core has stopped the leak completely so I'm happy with that. I'll be very surprised if it continues to give trouble.

As he was here anyway we also took the opportunity to fit his new O/S door mirror. Two days ago his car was parked, quite legally, along with many others, on some waste ground in Leith docks where he's working this week. He returned to find the mirror looking like this:



I took the picture after we'd removed it from the vehicle. I think someone had tried to steal the front covers (there are two, an upper and a lower) as there was no sign of them near the vehicle and no obvious collision damage to the framework of the mirror. Unfortunately, in his/her haste, he/she had snapped all the little fixing lugs which hold the covers in place so we ended up buying a new mirror (The very helpful people at SRS supplied a Lucas item at a very reasonable price - colossal saving over main dealer price) which just popped into place perfectly. My son, having watched me remove the old one insisted on fitting the new one and he made a very good job of it - I'm trying to encourage him to do more of this sort of stuff as I'm getting older and creakier! Unfortunately he then made life difficult for himself by dropping one of the trim clips down inside the door so he now knows how to remove the door card too!

 

[portland_bill]

Some aftermarket door mirrors are LHD items, which can restrict the view if the glass cannot adjust enough. Most door mirrors are set at different angles to the car body, so LHD and RHD are different, although some manage to use the same for both markets. I've put larger mirrors on the Panda, like the late 169s had. OE were horrendous price, and all aftermarket ones were LHD housings. So I do see more of the car than ideal, but the extra view from the larger glass does still give me more overall.

My Partner's sister regularly hits her left mirror on parked cars, walls, posts, etc. She keeps a spare in stock. Each time she hits it, (about once a year), she just pops roound to her local garage, with the spare, and they fit it very quickly. Then she orders another. She's between Crawley and Brighton, if anyone wishes to be on the lookout for a slightly scarred red Kangoo.

 

[portland_bill]

Yesterday I had a job booked in Bristol, 9-5. I normally only work doing fleet driver training two days a week, so the diary is open months in advance. A fortnight ago, I realised it would be a bank holiday, so queried the booking. I have done a few on bank hoildays, so could be valid. No reply. Jobs are booked by a driver training company that I'm contracted to. Last Friday I reminded them about the query, and was advised that they'd not heard from the client, so job should go ahead. Not hearing from the client suggests to me that the email had got lost in spam. I'd have preferred a definite yes or no.
7:30am, off I went along a quite busy M4, so many people unaware of what was happening outside their own vehicle. Onto the M32 into Bristol, empty. Never seen it so quiet. Easy trip down into the centre of Bristol, through and out to the south side, little traffic. Arrived early, only 8:23, for a 9am appointment, so went next door to a supermarket for the loo. Company offices looked 'dead' as I went by. Just before 9, trundled round, woke a security guard, had a brief conversation. My contact was not in, no notes to say they'd be in. We both thought it unlikely they'd show. Hung around until 9:30, headed off for home again.
Bristol was waking up, so slow getting out again. Took a gentle country route home, no motorways. 1 hour to get there, 2hr45 to get home. Partly extra traffic, partly slower roads, and a brief stop for a bit of shopping. Better journey though.

Just on the outskirts of Swindon there's been long term roadworks, with often long delays. For the bank holiday weeekend it has all been opened up. Except, just before there, new temporary traffic signals wer ebeing set up as I went out. On the return, about 4 hours later, temp lights still there, worse chaos than the long-term roadworks, all for replacement of one telephone pole. Looked like the new one was about to go in the hole. Why so long? I've seen them replaced in less than an hour for each one. (Paid by the hour, extra for bank holidays, perhaps?)

 

[StevenRB45]

Finally got to Hamsterley Forest yesterday...we've been trying to go to do "The Gruffalo" trail for about 2 years but weather, shift patterns, Illness, lockdowns etc etc have stopped us getting there.

Interesting drive, last time I did these roads was driving to a carshow end of last summer in the Mazda. The C3 literally the opposite of that car, in this experience.

It was best described as a roller coaster of a road, as the crow flies pretty much up and down some tall valleys in county Durham. Plenty of power of power going up the hills..a vaguely alarming lack of engine braking coming down.

Perhaps it's the long ratios....perhaps it's the low friction design of modern engines and gearboxes but wow...on the downhill slopes I was in 3rd gear and it was still needing the odd bit of brakes to hold it under 60mph. 60mph in third is 3500 rpm, but at least the engine is basically silent at that speed off throttle.

I know 'engine braking" is no longer a thing in modern driving but if you sat on the brakes with a full car and left it in 5th...you'd have very little brakes left by the bottom I imagine, either that or a set of discs would last 10k.

Very odd way of driving...down shift to 3rd for downhill..change up to 4th for uphill so it can sit in the turbo max torque which is 1500 to 2500 rpm.

 

[portland_bill]

...a vaguely alarming lack of engine braking coming down.

Perhaps it's the long ratios....perhaps it's the low friction design of modern engines and gearboxes but wow...on the downhill slopes I was in 3rd gear and it was still needing the odd bit of brakes to hold it under 60mph. 60mph in third is 3500 rpm, but at least the engine is basically silent at that speed off throttle.

I know 'engine braking" is no longer a thing in modern driving but if you sat on the brakes with a full car and left it in 5th...you'd have very little brakes left by the bottom I imagine, either that or a set of discs would last 10k.

It seems to be a thing with modern engines, little or no engine braking. Even many new diesels have little engine braking. The brakes should be able to cope, but as you say, they'll have a shorter life. More troublesome for me than downhills, is the lack of retardation when lifting the throttle. Advanced driving has a phrase, "acceleration sense", which is used in conjunction with good observation, to lift the throttle early, and allow problems to dissolve before arrival. That is now much more difficult, as brakes are needed more often. This leads to brake lights on more of the time, and this desensitises the reaction to them - more risk.
With electric vehicles, you get regenerative braking, which has the same effect as engine braking. With many, this is adjustable, and also, many can be driven using only the throttle pedal, as they can be brought to a stop without touching the brake. (Invalid scooters have always done this.) Electric vehicles do show the brake lights when the retardation crosses a threshold.

 

[StevenRB45]

It seems to be a thing with modern engines, little or no engine braking. Even many new diesels have little engine braking. The brakes should be able to cope, but as you say, they'll have a shorter life. More troublesome for me than downhills, is the lack of retardation when lifting the throttle. Advanced driving has a phrase, "acceleration sense", which is used in conjunction with good observation, to lift the throttle early, and allow problems to dissolve before arrival. That is now much more difficult, as brakes are needed more often. This leads to brake lights on more of the time, and this desensitises the reaction to them - more risk.
With electric vehicles, you get regenerative braking, which has the same effect as engine braking. With many, this is adjustable, and also, many can be driven using only the throttle pedal, as they can be brought to a stop without touching the brake. (Invalid scooters have always done this.) Electric vehicles do show the brake lights when the retardation crosses a threshold.

I would say you can get around the lack of engine braking when you back out.

I'm acclimatised to the thing, and not constantly switching between eras of car. I tend find I'm a gear lower than I would have been in the past and leave a bigger gap to the car in front to give me more time to work with. Not ideal but workable, also means the stop start capacitor works beautifully.

As you say when you brake every 2 seconds brake lights lose a lot of the warning value. It becomes the assumption someone is gently riding the brakes down a hill not trying to stop due to a hazard.

 

[varesecrazy]

Ive been using our Panda twinair this week .. 'It could do with the exercise'

100 miles 2 hours last Sunday.. effortless

So much so that I'd come back around to getting Cruise added
( 60.1 mpg indicated)

A few local trips in the week..all good

Return back to Wales on weds evening


Dual carriageway is showing problems..so off through the villages of the Berkshire Downs - slower roads..but more direct.. so @35 minutes rather than 30 to 1st motorway matrix sign.. rest of route running well


An hour later add more throttle to 'climb' up onto the Severn Bridge... sounds a little different...

Foot down harder..its now 'missing'

Eco button switched to 'power'.. no change to the miss

Its around a mile of climbing to the mid.span ... then back down the other side... too far now its running sick

I had to pull off onto the shoulder

Switch off.. then restart

Yellow Emissions light now off

Back to full power.. journey continues


YELLOW exclamation mark still showing.. but running well


Its done this before...


Its obviously a management issue : resets instantly

And all clear the following day..

Its approach Oilchange time again.. but the oil is Really DARK


At this mileage ( 28k) our old FIRE pandas oil aways stayed clean..

Im wondering if thats a clue...
serious overfuelling?

 

[varesecrazy]

Ive been using our Panda twinair this week .. 'It could do with the exercise'

100 miles 2 hours last Sunday.. effortless

So much so that I'd come back around to getting Cruise added
( 60.1 mpg indicated)

A few local trips in the week..all good

Return back to Wales on weds evening


Dual carriageway is showing problems..so off through the villages of the Berkshire Downs - slower roads..but more direct.. so @35 minutes rather than 30 to 1st motorway matrix sign.. rest of route running well


An hour later add more throttle to 'climb' up onto the Severn Bridge... sounds a little different...

Foot down harder..its now 'missing'

Eco button switched to 'power'.. no change to the miss

Its around a mile of climbing to the mid.span too far now its running sick

I had to pull off onto the shoulder

Switch off.. then restart

Yellow Emissions light now off

Back to full power.. journey continues


YELLOW exclamation mark still showing.. but running well


Its done this before...


Its obviously a management issue : resets instantly

And all clear the following day..

Its approach Oilchange time again.. but the oil is Really DARK


At this mileage ( 28k)our old FIRE pandas oil aways stayed clean..

Im wondering if thats a clue...
serious overfuelling?

 

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

Some aftermarket door mirrors are LHD items, which can restrict the view if the glass cannot adjust enough. Most door mirrors are set at different angles to the car body, so LHD and RHD are different, although some manage to use the same for both markets. I've put larger mirrors on the Panda, like the late 169s had. OE were horrendous price, and all aftermarket ones were LHD housings. So I do see more of the car than ideal, but the extra view from the larger glass does still give me more overall.

I very nearly ordered one on line as I could have saved another fiver or so but chickened out because I was concerned primarily with what the quality of the item might be but also that they might send an incorrect item and then there'd be all the hassle of returning it etc. Never thought about the possibility of a LHD one being sent! that would be very inconvenient as the correct RHD version has an "overtaker" outer section to increase viewing angle so a LHD version wouldn't have this. I also considered going out to Sports Car Breakers, a large car breakers to the west of the city, to get a used but genuine Vauxhall item. However, taking into account the fact it would be an unknown quantity and it's a fair way out there and back (what with current petrol prices) I decided to go with the one from the factor.

Later model 169's had bigger mirrors? I'd not noticed that but Becky's (2010 reg) are nice and large so no complaints here. The only annoying thing I find about them is that often when returning to her if she's parked in a supermarket or multistorey car park I find one or other has been knocked round towards the body a little and I have to get out and pull it forward again. Unlike the Ibiza who's mirrors "click" securely in place.

 

[portland_bill]

Later model 169's had bigger mirrors? I'd not noticed that but Becky's (2010 reg) are nice and large so no complaints here.

Your 2010 model would have the larger mirrors, they changed at the same time as the change to the 70hp engine. The earlier models had very 'stylish' mirrors, but were poor at showing anything useful.
(Edit: Just seen another post by you with a pic of Becky. You definitely have the larger mirrors. Now you have to look out for an earlier model to see the tiny ones.)

Many years ago, while working for an aftermarket parts company, 3 directors took a 'sourcing' trip to China. Much too important for anyone with any proper knowledge to go. They 24hr couriered a radiator catalogue to me, all excited about the range coverage. They were disappointed when I pointed out that it was not European based, and only two items were suitable for our market. Lots of model names get used for different cars around the world, less so now. A nineties Ford Escort, with a 3.6l engine? Mazdas rebaged as Ford, Mondeo with large V8, etc. One director spoke to me on the phone, and I suggested he look out the hotel window and see if he recognised anything. Point made.

However, that was after a container of mirrors was already on its way. A whole 40ft shipping container, 90% of which was LHD. Oops! This is why you employ oiks to do the work, and let managers manage.

 

[portland_bill]

The normal crash and house shudder as one of the neighbours leaves their house (semi-detached). Always slam the door. Followed by loud voices. Curiosity (nosiness) led me to look out.
Next door there are two teenage girls, the older having recently had a baby. I'm assuming the younger one is over 18, as she no longer appears to go to school, nor is there any evidence of any work or college schedule. Their mother does not work either, so at least we can see where some of our taxes go, car, satellite dish, at least 3 takeaways a week.
Anyway, back to the point. Frequently there's a young lad visits, drives a classic Mini. I'd assumed he 'belonged' to the older girl, but there he was walking up the road to his car, with the younger girl. With one small suitcase between them, but of course, his is probably already in the car. Assumptions realigned, perhaps.
They get to the car, of course no central locking. He opened the driver's door, while she stood at the passenger door. He folded his seat, and put the suitcase on the rear seat, strapping it in with a seatbelt. Then he gets in, and proceeds to faff with his satnav. She's still stood outside. She tapped the window, so he reluctantly paused his satnav work, and unlocked the passenger door. She still couldn't get in, as apparently the passenger seat and floor had stuff on them. So she waited until the satnav was programmed, and he then moved the stuff to the rear of the car. What a gentleman.

Despite having not been here all night, and it already being a warm day, as they drove away the car sounded like it was on full choke, but a 1995 Mini would be injection. Hopefully it gets them there and back.

 

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

The normal crash and house shudder as one of the neighbours leaves their house (semi-detached). Always slam the door. Followed by loud voices. Curiosity (nosiness) led me to look out.

For years I've fought a loosing battle with my kids about "crashing" doors closed. Tried several times to explain that when it hits the frame there's no shock absorbing taking place and this is very likely the reason why little bits of plaster fall out around the frame! Might as well take a big hammer to it I've tried saying. Sometimes there's a short period of compliance, but doesn't last long. Same sort of problem with taps and our bar type thermostatic shower. They are all the "old" rubber washer type (delta washers in fact) and the boys screw them down so tight I'm for ever renewing washers - maybe I should go for ceramic replacement cartridges? They also all slam car doors with great enthusiasm! Thank goodness they've all now fled the nest and can now concentrate on destroying their own properties instead!

 

[portland_bill]

For years I've fought a loosing battle with my kids about "crashing" doors closed. Tried several times to explain that when it hits the frame there's no shock absorbing taking place and this is very likely the reason why little bits of plaster fall out around the frame! Might as well take a big hammer to it I've tried saying. Sometimes there's a short period of compliance, but doesn't last long. Same sort of problem with taps and our bar type thermostatic shower. They are all the "old" rubber washer type (delta washers in fact) and the boys screw them down so tight I'm for ever renewing washers - maybe I should go for ceramic replacement cartridges? They also all slam car doors with great enthusiasm! Thank goodness they've all now fled the nest and can now concentrate on destroying their own properties instead!

I have a friend, who's wife slams car doors with such force it makes me cringe. Especially the Panda, with its very lightweight doors. They shut so nicely, a light tinny clonk, reminding of its lack of crash protection, and its simplicity and purity.
Many years ago, the large Rover dealer where I worked sold an MGB (brand new) to a guy who slammed everything. Every week he'd return with doors not closing properly, and even the glovebox lid refused to shut. His slamming had moved the strikers inwards until they'd no longer latch. We had to tactfully show him how to close the doors and glovebox firmly, but without slamming. Thankfully successful.

 

[StevenRB45]

I have a friend, who's wife slams car doors with such force it makes me cringe. Especially the Panda, with its very lightweight doors. They shut so nicely, a light tinny clonk, reminding of its lack of crash protection, and its simplicity and purity.

One "joy" modern cars...internal air pressure due to good seals.

On the Citroën there's 3 round the windows...and then an inner and 2 outers on the doors, keeps road noise and wind noise down.

Also means when my wife closes a door when another door is open "Boom" as she doesn't adjust for the change in pressure *cringe*.

 

[portland_bill]

There was a tiny puddle of water behind the loo. Clean thankfully. The seal where the flush pipe exits the cistern has hardened with age and leaking a little at every flush.
At the bottom of my road, I have a new Toolstation, and a Screwfix. Sadly, neither have such a seal listed. B&Q have a kit including the seal, for a paltry £1.49, plus the 15 mile round trip to collect it. So off I went. At least a nice drive on country roads, little traffic, very enjoyable. On return, seal fitted in minutes, all good again.

 

[portland_bill]

About 50yds up the road there's a Nissan Pathfinder. (Estate car on a pickup chassis thing) It usually passes by down the slight hill, in second gear with the engine roaring. Today, it roars down, but then stops just past us, and proceeds to make a meal of a reverse park into a space big enough for a bus. Once parked, she walks across the road to the house next door.
At this time, I'm hoping she's picking up her friend for a trip out, or visiting on the way to somewhere else.
But no. 10 minutes later, she does a 7-point turn outside, and drives the 50yds back up to her house.
From a cold diesel engine, the fuel consumption will be huge for the distance covered, as well as the pollution. I know we can all get lazy once we have wheels, but that one is quite worrying.

 

[portland_bill]

As I sit here typing nonsense, the patter of feet distracts me. A boy, probably 10-12 yrs old, running down the road with his bicycle. Not quite grasped the concept of riding it perhaps? Downhill!

 

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

As I sit here typing nonsense, the patter of feet distracts me. A boy, probably 10-12 yrs old, running down the road with his bicycle. Not quite grasped the concept of riding it perhaps? Downhill!

We moved into our house when the estate was being built some 40 years ago now. Not surprisingly most of the neighbours were young and we all produced children. The street used to be alive with kids riding bikes, skateboards, scooters and so on, it was a very lively place - bit too lively at times! Then they all grew up and moved out to go and lead their own lives. The street was very quiet for a number of years with us all aging, many of us "originals" are now in our late 60's/70's. Some have moved out and others gone on to that great "garage in the sky" to be replaced by much younger families and, all of a sudden over the last couple of years, the street is much more busy with youngsters. Our sitting room window looks out over the street and it's lovely to see them, especially the younger ones, trying to come to grips with their "walking bikes" (which have no pedals) and tricycles. Just this spring there's a wee "gang" of about 4, sometimes 6, boys, maybe 8 years old, who are regularly to be seen on their bikes. It's most amusing watching one in particular who is always trying to show off to his pals doing wheelies, riding without holding the handlebars, etc. He has a new "trick" this week, riding with his feet on the handlebars whilst sitting upright and putting lollies or sweeties in his mouth! Quite entertaining to watch actually as long as he's not doing it whilst heading towards one of our cars! hasn't had a serious accident yet but he falls off a lot. The old saying "look mum, No Teeth" comes to mind. So there you are, the world continues to turn and life goes on!

 

[The Panda Nut]

Its approach Oilchange time again.. but the oil is Really DARK


At this mileage ( 28k) our old FIRE pandas oil aways stayed clean..

Im wondering if thats a clue...
serious overfuelling?

I have noticed my twin air oil goes dark quickly too and changed it at the last service at silly low lies. I suspec its just part of the characteristics of teh engine and the oil. THe amount of mayo in the engine.... which I now believe is also normal, may suggest the crankcase is rather well sealed up which may be the why on this. I have a catch can on the shelf but cant see where is might go, and as its a twinair and 'odd' by any accounts I am iunlikely to fit it to this one.

PS If your getting near 60mpg I dont think overfuelling is an issue! Thats a healthy consumption.