What's made you smile today?

[FiatMatt94]

Got the last of the Seicento rustproofing done today which went a lot smoother than expected so after getting the arch liners off I was presented with really sound bodywork apart from a few small scabs

So set about cleaning the small amount of muck out then wire brushed the small scabs before putting rust converter on them

While the rust converter was doing it's thing I had a chip butty & a cup of tea, then set about applying the Dynax S50 as this stuff lasts around 3-4 years from previous experience with my old Panda which is good as I don't want to be doing this every year just 6 months to yearly checks on the floor

Then started the other side which was in pretty much the same condition, good with a few minor scabs, all cleaned, wire brushed & treated before waxing

Whilst I had her up in the air on a axle stand I had a good root around to see if there was any obvious faults etc & for her age I'm pleased to say there's only 3 very small minor things which will need changing at some point in the near future
1) before winter I'll do the pads which are ok for now but I already have Brembo replacements ready to go with new pins etc
2) the bottom of the radiator is a little crumbly with a couple of chunks missing so something to keep a close eye on, it's not leaking at all but I'll keep a close eye on it & change in the near future as for these they are cheap & cheerful
3) Anti roll bar bushes are a little perished, I'll do them before next year's MOT.

Other than those 3 minor things which are not urgent, she's in really good health & now all rustproofed so she's protected for the future, 1 plus is I think I've solved the water leak in the boot as I read a few things on here about making sure the lights were really tightly done up, although they were tight I managed to tighten them even more & I think it's done it so happy days

 

[PuntoHowTo]

I've been in the passenger seat when she's hit local ones at 50mph.

I grabbed for the door handle to hang on and she says "why you being so dramatic?"

At the time I couldn't articulate my very real fear I was about to be hit in the face by an escaped top mount.. although of course they've been replaced since then.

When you say replaced I presume you mean that after the top mount narrowly avoided your face you picked it up off the road, dusted it off, and put it back in

 

[StevenRB45]

Caught it in my teeth...

Of course it only had to last as long as that failed MOT where we got a full free set of MacPherson struts because Citroën don't supply top mounts on their own as a genuine part.

You can get them aftermarket but as a genuine bit we got the whole thing top to bottom with a new shock.

Probably just as well...

Strangely when I book it in for service they tend to book me a courtesy car for multiple days immediately can't think why.

 

[The Panda Nut]

Making a Tesla more efficient

 

[The Panda Nut]

The hell with range anxiety

 

[FiatMatt94]

Fitted the new brake pads to Scarlett this morning as I was originally going out today but things changed so I decided to do the pads & get them out the way as they didn't have a lot of life left & the brakes were a little vague, when I removed the old pads I thought I'll see what make they were so I rubbed back the bit of brake dust off them & it said "Bendix", I thought that explains the vague brakes as Bendix are not particularly the best, although I've had worse so the Brembo's are now in & I went for a drive to try them out, now I actually have brakes lol so just 2 things left

 

[Cheest]

Happened last Thursday, but I keep giggling about it.

So, I've been waiting almost a year for a replacement front hub for the Ural and it's looking like I still may not see it until January. While wasting my time on FB Marketplace, I spotted a 2013 Ural Gear Up, sans sidecar, engine, and transmission. It had 9000km on it and has been listed for 16 weeks, so I figure the guy is going to want to get it gone if it has sat for that long.

I ask if he still has it and what he wants to get out of it. I get a sales pitch about how rare it is and how many people have asked about it. I have a 45 year old Honda CX500 with less than 30K miles on it that has an engine, and runs. I would be embarrassed to ask that amount of money for it. First thing out of my mouth is that if it's been listed for 16 weeks, either no one is interested or you're asking too much.

Then he asks what parts I'd be interested in. I say the front wheel, just for the hub. He comes back with what great shape the tire is in. I just put on a new front tire so I really don't need one. I ask how old the tire is and what he wants for it. He says 2016 and $150. I tell him the tire is pretty much past its 'use by date' and I can get a new Duro HF308 tire for $89 shipped.(I prefer the 307 but they are out of stock in the entire US).
Then he asked if I wanted the wheel with or without the brake rotor "because it's a Brembo" and said $550 for the wheel wheel with the rotor and $450 without.

I'd had enough of the guy at this point and told him that I have owned a 2007 Ural Gear Up since 2016. I have gone through 18 tires in that time and put 40,000 miles on the machine. I'm also deeply involved in the Ural community and with the Ural dealers across the country. That front wheel you are asking a stupid amount of money for is currently subject to an NHTSB(National Highway and Transportation Safety Board)recall due to the rims cracking that covers all 2011 to 2018 models. I'm not so sure you can legally sell that rim without disclosing the recall. I'm offering you $150 for the front hub with or without the rotor.That $150 is about 50% the cost of a new hub, which I have on order. As far as the 'Brembo" rotor, every motorcycle manufacturer used a variation of it. It's a floating disk that fits many different 'Brembo' hubs and can be had at swap meets for five bucks. $150, take it or leave it.

He left it, but if I'm anything, it's patient.

 

[The Panda Nut]

So, we are in Cape Cod and my DIL is staying on after the lad goes back to work, so shee keeps the car! Son Rich says he will hire something to take us to the airport and then get himself home. He and I will take the bus to Hyannis and pick up a managers special. Jumping off the bus he decides its too far for an old buffer to walk to the car hire place, so he summons an Uber. In literally 1 minute it appears on scene. A Ram pickup. Ive always wondered what they are like. Here with wide roads no problem with the size. ANyway in we hop. Well he does, it takes me a while to climb up and get me walking stick inside. Its quite a beast, black and perfectly shiny and clean. Im stuck by how good the ride is, and with nice perforated leather seats its a really great ride. Over all too quick for me, and Im rabbiting on about how much Im liked it as we rocl up to Hertz. The chap there says, oh you'd like a truck then?? Before Rich can interject and get something sensibly economical the guy is making out the paperwork and in less than 5 minutes we are on our way in a Ram 1500 single wheel truck. Bright red. Its only a baby of the range with a 6 cylinder engine, but boy does it shift for such a big thing. Hes taking me for a day out at the USS Massechusetts War Museum. Its at Fall River on the river Taunton alongside Rhode Island. We have around 90 miles to get there all dismissed at high speed, barring a very nasty accident going the other way causing rubbernecking. Screens all round a damaged car, so not good. Truck impressed even with its cornering.


I have to say this was a magnificent museum. An astounding number of exhibits and things to see. Its also the national monument for US Navy things and a moving one at that. Panda nuts however cant behave and have to make a scene.
Anyway the things that really made me smile, apart from a great and precious day with my son was my wifes reaction to being told she was riding in the back for the airport trip.LOL Visit this place if you can.

The truck had to go back to Hertz and Rich dropped it off in New York centre. He thought it might cause hilarity as the depot only has an underground car park which he said was narrow. I bet the bloke ion Hyannis was having a giggle when we drove off!

I do hope parking up hasnt been subject to a time and motion study LOL

Hertz Hyannis would like to apologise for getting their own back for all the crap from both head office and the New York depot regarding one way hires leaving them short of cars!

 

[HughJarsse]

So, my 73rd Birthday today, and my 8 year old granddaughter gave me this, for my present.

We have her for holiday care, and whenever she is off school, drive her and her mum to swimming, horse riding, athletics, etc and have done weekend 'sleepovers' since she was born, to give mum & dad some 'them time' She is just so much a 'grandads girl' and this really shows it.
Must admit, brought a tear to my eye, as well as a smile, (along with the massive hug she gave me!)

 

[StevenRB45]

Was sitting with the lad eating sandwiches today on a pair of deck chairs.

This landed behind his head.

That and first "proper" run in the car since service and it's running lovely and in a massive turn up for the books a grands worth of suspension and undercarriage parts actually made a noticeable difference.

 

[rmjbn1]

Can you post a picture of the discs? I'm always interested to see what different MOT testers consider a case for an "advisory" Often the inner face will be worse than the outer too.

Hello again Jock. Bit earlier than advertised (flippin puncture), here's the promised piccies of my 169 Panda's front discs the MOT tester didn't like (about 1000 miles ago).
Obviously not great, so I'll change em next service.

 

[porta]

Pitted one side, grooved the other

 

[The Panda Nut]

Hello again Jock. Bit earlier than advertised (flippin puncture), here's the promised piccies of my 169 Panda's front discs the MOT tester didn't like (about 1000 miles ago).
Obviously not great, so I'll change em next service.

much like our 169. I changed the calipers to finally put a stop to the rusty disc syndrome. I would get slider pinbush kit I think it would help

 

[StevenRB45]

First week since my lad has been back to school I've had nothing of note to do Monday morning. Last week was obviously car related...weeks before he was off so I was looking after him until the wife was up.

Probably the first bit of "off" time I've had since July.

I chose to spend it running obviously...7 and a bit miles..just cos it was lovely morning I had nowhere to be and I was enjoying it.

 

[Cheest]

This past weekend was the start of both grandsons' sports seasons. Eli is in soccer (futbol) and Owen is in hockey. They both had games yesterday. We didn't go to Eli's game as it was an away game and a hike on top of it. He did score once but his team lost. We did see Owens' hockey game. So nice to visit an ice rink when it's a hot day. Owens' team cleaned house, 15-0, with Owen scoring three times. That was his first 'Hat Trick'.(I dunno, it's hockey and Canadian)

 

[FiatMatt94]

Over the last 2-3 days I'd noticed a flat spot on the Seicento between 40-60mph, she wasn't starting on the button like she was & the idle was slightly off when you listened very closely, my first suspect was crank sensor as these 899 100 series are prone for it & also when I did the waxing in the front arches the other day I noticed the sensor was very grubby. So first thing this morning before I took the wheel off I checked the wire for the crank sensor for any signs of breakage as it would be pointless cleaning it up if there was a break in the wire, all was good so I took the wheel off to get access to the sensor, undone the 2 bolts on the sensor to remove it from the bracket, its the original Magneti Marelli part so had 24 years worth of gunk over it

The sensor itself looked good, I do have a new original Magneti Marelli part spare in the car but I thought this one was still usable so there was no point in changing it until it completely breaks, so I gave it a really good clean with some carb cleaner & a rag then refitted it

Got everything back together then went for a drive, the first start on the drive was promising as she started on the button, I let her run for a few minutes before going anywhere, did a mixture of back roads & bypass to get up to 70mph & cleaning the sensor seems to have done the trick as the idle is pretty much perfect now, the flat spot between 40-60 mph has gone & she's starting a lot better even when warm, I call that a success for 10 mins work

 

[The Panda Nut]

Over the last 2-3 days I'd noticed a flat spot on the Seicento between 40-60mph, she wasn't starting on the button like she was & the idle was slightly off when you listened very closely, my first suspect was crank sensor as these 899 100 series are prone for it & also when I did the waxing in the front arches the other day I noticed the sensor was very grubby. So first thing this morning before I took the wheel off I checked the wire for the crank sensor for any signs of breakage as it would be pointless cleaning it up if there was a break in the wire, all was good so I took the wheel off to get access to the sensor, undone the 2 bolts on the sensor to remove it from the bracket, its the original Magneti Marelli part so had 24 years worth of gunk over it
View attachment 452226
The sensor itself looked good, I do have a new original Magneti Marelli part spare in the car but I thought this one was still usable so there was no point in changing it until it completely breaks, so I gave it a really good clean with some carb cleaner & a rag then refitted it
View attachment 452227
Got everything back together then went for a drive, the first start on the drive was promising as she started on the button, I let her run for a few minutes before going anywhere, did a mixture of back roads & bypass to get up to 70mph & cleaning the sensor seems to have done the trick as the idle is pretty much perfect now, the flat spot between 40-60 mph has gone & she's starting a lot better even when warm, I call that a success for 10 mins work

Www thats a useful tip. ALso wow tha looks so much better. One of our Pandas is doing similar and the flat spot drives me nuts. The other two are so much better and one has no flat spot at all, so there must be something that can be done. Ive always assumed its just because its 2015 and this years seems to have a bad reputation for this. I will try cleaning the crank sensor.

 

[The Panda Nut]

Parking sensors fitted and working. I can now reverse up to stuff 3" dead on. Easy peasy apart from the back bumper. I now know how to get it off without breaking it. Third time lucky. Guide in preparation.

 

[FiatMatt94]

Www thats a useful tip. ALso wow tha looks so much better. One of our Pandas is doing similar and the flat spot drives me nuts. The other two are so much better and one has no flat spot at all, so there must be something that can be done. Ive always assumed its just because its 2015 and this years seems to have a bad reputation for this. I will try cleaning the crank sensor.

My dad's Punto is 2015 & had the flat spot from new, when he first drove it out of the dealership he was going to turn around & take it back as it was awful on the Punto we moved the lever by the clutch pedal which controls the emissons when bringing the pedal up & disconnected the switch after reading about it on here as that disables the whole emission thing & this hugely improved it, we never did this on my Panda though as access was quite tricky due to the tight space & the angle of the steering column, I decided to give cleaning the sensor a go though as I saw the state of it a few days ago, also now & again she had a little trouble starting when warm & the last couple of days she wasn't quite 100% so my thinking was the sensor is what sends the signals to the ECU etc so if it's covered in muck it would probably be sending false signals, so I thought in my head providing the wire was still intact I'll give cleaning it a go & if it solves it it's a free fix which thankfully it seems to have solved the little niggles she had & she was quite with it anyway but now she's a lot more with it, I reckon the very low mileage & short distance driving by the previous long term owner may of had something to do with it

 

[varesecrazy]

This May not make sense to people outside of the UK

The emblem is a National chain of Builders supply merchants

(check the flag..)