taurus
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Posts: 1,084
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May 21, 2017 12:50:34 GMT
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Depends what kind of cells it uses. The old fashioned lead acid ones need recharging after use. The modern lithium cells hold their charge much better. I don't recharge my lithium starter pack after every use. I just keep an eye on the level monitor and recharge it when it starts dropping towards 50% - which to be honest can be quite infrequent.
If I've had to do several starts of a something big I'll recharge it just to make sure it's topped back to full capacity, but they don't seem to suffer if left at half-charge for months.
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taurus
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,084
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May 17, 2017 17:04:14 GMT
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I use either a bit of old thin chain or some scrap cycle cable inner. Tied onto the exhaust or back axle. They wear away over time but since it's scrap stuff it doesn't matter.
The alternative is to always be a gentleman and let the wife get out first.
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taurus
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,084
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May 15, 2017 21:48:32 GMT
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Can't understand how anyone could enjoy a 1.0 litre Yaris. I had a 1.3 as a rental for a few days a couple of years ago and it was pitiful. No real power at all. Actually thought I'd killed it at one point. Nailed it in second gear to pass a truck on the motorway and started misfiring and coughing like it was going to die. Then I noticed it was bouncing off the limiter. I had the radio maxed out and couldn't hear the engine screaming. As a cheap, cheerful, park it anywhere, thrash it to death, pile it full of timber and rubble, drive it flat out down gravel tracks, and still get 45mpg - it's my 3rd car but still the one I choose to drive most of the time. Plus it has so many dents there is no-one willing to risk cutting in it.
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taurus
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,084
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May 15, 2017 12:53:44 GMT
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Well it looks like I might be swapping a cheap rotbox for a not so cheap rotbox.
It would make things easier if the Yaris would actually die, but try as I might I cannot kill the damn thing. It's MOT'd until Oct whereas the W210 is only until August. So the Yaris might have the last laugh after all.
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taurus
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,084
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those yaris tend to go on forever so if it's reaching the end of its days it's either super rough or its had/due a major failure. It is rotting from the inside out. I welded the sills a while back but when they were open the whole structure inside was seriously corroded. Mechanically it is bombproof.
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taurus
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,084
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May 14, 2017 13:46:48 GMT
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To cut a long story short - I have been offered for free a late 90's Merc E 200 saloon with about 130k on it, 2.0 engine, auto transmission, MOT to August. It's been regularly serviced by a local workshop so reasonably well looked after. The MOT history shows corrosion in the front subframe about 4 years ago which must have been fixed. Other than that it's got a decent MOT pass history. There's surface grot on the rear sills and wheelarches but no serious rot visible. However I haven't had chance to get it on ramps and I believe they can rot badly.
My current daily (an incy winsy Yaris with pedals to make it go faster) is nearing the end of its days so at some stage I'll need a replacement.
I know little about Mercs. Are they as horrendously expensive to run/fix as I suspect?
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taurus
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,084
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If you're doing a thorough service then that ought to cover most things needed. Check the age of the tyres, old tyres can look fine but they lose grip and can fail without warning. They say to change every 5 years but I've run older tyres no problem. If they're more like 8 years or over I'd change them.
Expect a few niggles running at first - I've just had someone who was given an old MX5 that's seen little use for a few years, whilst it's mostly fine it hesitates at speed. I'm convinced it just needs fresh fuel and some good fast runs to clear things out.
Don't be surprised if it's showing a lot of steam in the exhaust at first, they do that when they've been laid up for a bit.
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taurus
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,084
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May 12, 2017 21:24:08 GMT
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taurus
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,084
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I got a DB Power DJS30 off Amazon. Very impressed with it. Starts everything I've thrown it at and I've used it to power my oxalic acid vapourisers for my beehives as well. Neat carry case and comes with a variety of adapters and leads.
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taurus
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,084
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Apr 22, 2017 14:20:36 GMT
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That is gorgeous.
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taurus
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,084
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Is that not the HCS engine? 'Tis indeed ye good olde Kent series engine in its HCS format - as shown by the spark plug positions (facing one another) and the grey valve gear cover.
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taurus
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,084
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If it's backfiring through the exhaust it could just be a sticking valve, but check the timings first.
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Last Edit: Apr 14, 2017 7:47:00 GMT by taurus
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taurus
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,084
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A few years back I was cheerfully playing under my car when a guy from an independent breakdown company came to see me. He'd spent hours trying to get a Vauxhall going and was stumped. Someone had told him there's a guy round the corner who messes about with old Vauxhalls - and give him his due he wasn't above asking for help.
As it happened not only did I know what was wrong, I'd also made a tool to get the sensor out because they are put in a stupid place where no normal tool will reach. 10 minutes later the car was running.
The next morning his boss rang and offered me a job.
Very tempting - but I knew working on cars for a living would kill the joy of crawling around on a wet dark driveway so I turned it down. I've never regretted that decision.
Actually I don't mind working on modern systems, you still need to know the fundamental mechanical principles and work on a process of elimination, starting with the most likely and/or cheapest first. But I have a hunch that modern cars will not survive to be classics because once the system gets obsolete keeping them on the road is not going to be viable.
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taurus
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,084
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Mar 19, 2017 14:54:59 GMT
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Well it's certainly got patina!
I was thinking you were completely barking until I got to the photo of the engine bay. Done right that will be a beauty.
(Still think you're a bit barking though. Noisy, slow, thirsty, unreliable, uncomfortable, handles like a shopping trolley with 4 wonky wheels. But then again......)
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taurus
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,084
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Mar 16, 2017 16:49:01 GMT
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If you hate washing cars so much, why not use a car wash? Ttfn Glenn I only once took a car through a car wash - I wasn't too keen to begin with as I thought they damaged cars. As I watched the rear bumper be ripped off and then caught in the brushes continue to beat itself to destruction across the roof, windscreen and bonnet I came to the conclusion that I would not use one again. It was the boss's car which was a brand new Vauxhall Omega back in the 90's. It's really getting one that creates a good foam that I am after. My old ones will blast dirt of well enough, but there's no foam attachments that will fit them.
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taurus
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,084
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Mar 16, 2017 15:11:11 GMT
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Thanks - you're a gent. Probably missed it but thanks for taking a look. I appears to have been snapped up and at that price I'm not surprised, i'll have to keep my eye out for it on the road around me. Ah well - thanks for checking anyway. Very kind of you.
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taurus
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,084
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Mar 16, 2017 12:40:55 GMT
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Just need some real world feedback rather than sales blurb...please
I have an ancient cheapo Halfords washer and an old but good quality Bosch washer. Neither has a detergent dispenser and the connectors on both don't match anything I can find these days.
I have seen newer washers with foam gun attachments with varying reports of effectiveness.
I have also see newer washers with detergent tanks built in - presumably you don't need a foam gun with them.
I hate washing cars. I don't mind crawling underneath them getting covered in rust, grease and old underseal. But I loathe washing them. So I am looking for a lazy way to keep the dailies looking clean.
Any suggestions / feedback re. new washers please.
Ta.
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taurus
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,084
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Ooh - I'm a sucker for old Vauxhalls. If it's worth a drive over from Chester I'd love to take a look at it. Got a day off Friday so could take a peek at it then. When I drive my 1971 Viva round town I have to avoid running people over who stop in the middle of the road to stare at it. It's the thing about a car that was once so boringly common that you just don't see anymore. I think it's gone buddy, i'll take a walk past this morning and check for you. Thanks - you're a gent. Probably missed it but thanks for taking a look.
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taurus
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,084
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Astra Merit diesel, 23 left, mine is the only 1990 on the road, and probably the only 3 door estate diesel left, at all. On the subject of rare Vauxhalls and as I know you're the man, there is an Astra saloon, mk3 I believe R reg for sale just by me for £395. Don't know anything about it other than I thought to myself as I passed it "wow! I can't remember the last time I saw a saloon version before, that must be rare old girl these days" Ooh - I'm a sucker for old Vauxhalls. If it's worth a drive over from Chester I'd love to take a look at it. Got a day off Friday so could take a peek at it then. When I drive my 1971 Viva round town I have to avoid running people over who stop in the middle of the road to stare at it. It's the thing about a car that was once so boringly common that you just don't see anymore.
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taurus
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,084
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I've got all sorts of jacks but the one I use by default is the 3 ton one from Clarkes. Twist the handle to release via the gear cog at the base of the handle and it descends at a controlled rate.
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