Car D.I.Y.

[fossyant]

Son's car currently looks like this. New engine runs but sounds like its on 3 cylinders so plugs on order as the new ones on his old engine are cooked, along with the turbo and the engine.

God knows what tune the garage did. He's struggling to find another tuner that can or will remove the map, so it might be another ECU then get the immobiliser recoded.

What a mess. Oh and my garage is too. He's a very messy worker. I've just dumped all the sockets and tools that were covering my garage floor in a bucket for him to sort.

 

[Drago]

Fitted a new kayak carrier to my roof bars this morning.

 

[fossyant]

The old engine had a slight seep from the main seal (engine to gear box), and on opening up you could see traces of oil - wasn't a bad leak, but would have needed doing. The 'new' engine is spotless and whilst at it he's fitted a new clutch (might as well as it's in bits).

The original 'tuner' doesn't want to know !

 

[Badger_Boom]

The original 'tuner' doesn't want to know !

Sounds like he’d be wise to keep it that way.

 

[gbb]

Nice late afternoon, finally replaced the front pads, Brembo pads from GSF parts were only a few quid more than Eichers, no brainer.
Minimal wear on the discs, maybe 1 to 1.5mm each side....edited to add, well, i thought minimal but apparently, replace when at 1mm . Next job then.

 

[gbb]

Late last year we brought our DIL a little Chevrolet Kalos, 2006 with around only 30k miles on it. It's done well, gave no problems apart from a door lock that imploded, diy fix, ditto a stuck bonnet catch...and one headlight had faded terribly. Did the old toothpaste polish on it a week or so ago, came up much better though not perfect.
Passed its Mot today, no advisories. Turning out to be a good buy for £600.

 

[fossyant]

Son's car is all back together - finished it himself a couple of weeks ago. Complete engine swap, new clutch and all new fluids. Re-mapped by someone who knows what they were doing and running at 170 bhp from a 1.4 (not a 1.2 any more).

We also seem to be the new 'car repair' centre. Had 5 Fabia's outside on Monday - each doing some job or another. One girl's car had bits missing from her bumper after hitting an animal at night on the motorway. They managed to repair and glue the bumper back together. Today has been another friend turning up to change his brake pads on our drive, and tomorrow, is 'yet another' Fabia coming for lowering.

Fortunately they are all a nice bunch of 'kids', just car crazy. They don't drink much or do drugs which is something - spend their wages on their cars. I gave five of them on monday left over stir fry I'd cooked. Tonight was two home made pizzas. Better stop that or they will always be round.

 

[fossyant]

There is another Fabia on the drive, a bright blue one. The girl also has bright blue hair to match. Currently fitting lowered springs to the car.

They are all going to a meet at Santa Pod - it's Friday to Sunday camping. About 10 friends. So they are all busy finishing jobs on their cars and washing them.

 

[MrGrumpy]

How’s their car insurance working out !! As a son of 20yr old who now wants to tart up his Mini his current insurer AXA won’t let him do anything !
he plan to change provider on renewal !

 

[tyred]

Must admit that I don't get the fascination with Fabias. They are serviceable and have their good points but lack any kind of personality or features of interest. A Nissan Sunny for the 21st century.

 

[fossyant]

Must admit that I don't get the fascination with Fabias. They are serviceable and have their good points but lack any kind of personality or features of interest. A Nissan Sunny for the 21st century.

They are good cars, and reasonable to insure.

 

[fossyant]

How’s their car insurance working out !! As a son of 20yr old who now wants to tart up his Mini his current insurer AXA won’t let him do anything !
he plan to change provider on renewal !

Expensive, but they all seem to use a specialist like Adrian Flux to cover the modifications.

 

[MrGrumpy]

Expensive, but they all seem to use a specialist like Adrian Flux to cover the modifications.

Funny that was the name my son mentioned , will probably go to them. His current insurer wouldn’t even let him change the car mats!

 

[gbb]

My former colleague was told 15 years ago he'd need a specialist insurer, just because he put aftermarket wheels on. Anything other than standard, regular insurers just dont like.

 

[fossyant]

My former colleague was told 15 years ago he'd need a specialist insurer, just because he put aftermarket wheels on. Anything other than standard, regular insurers just dont like.

They don't. Mine has a 'OEM' boot lip spoiler - it's the only one I've ever seen with one - I fitted it after I bought the car. That's all I did, and the car's still with me 19 years later.

You've got to declare stuff like wheels, suspension, air intake changes, so going with a 'modified car' provider just covers the lot - they tell you. My son's now got a bigger engine in his (after it exploded).

They spend silly amounts on their cars, for no real improvement, but then again, speaking to a few of my son's mates , they aren't out boozing, taking drugs. They just go for a 'drive' and having seen their instagram pages, they tend to drive to places with great views at sunset etc, and take pictures of their cars.