Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

This section allows you to view all posts made by this member. Note that you can only see posts made in areas you currently have access to.

331

General Discussion Area / Re: Welsh 20 mph.

« on: 19 September 2023, 17:09:34 »

They don’t have a speed limit for cyclists Dave🙄

indeed 
so while you're doing 19 MPH in the Evo ,cyclists should give you 1,5 meters when they overtake you 

you're going to wear out first gear  the rest will seize up 

My sister lives on Anglesey,  she won't get a visit anytime soon ,now it's 20MPH everywhere 

332

General Discussion Area / Re: Welsh 20 mph.

« on: 19 September 2023, 12:45:02 »

Cyclists in Wales be sure to leave enough space when overtaking cars 

333

General Car Chat / Re: Golf PCV Valve replacement or just Diaphram

« on: 17 September 2023, 18:43:02 »

I've done astra ones before (part of the rocker cover ,so worth doing for me)


"Economy Delivery (Other courier (3 to 5 days)" on ebay listings usually involves waiting 6 to 10 days or more 

334

Omega General Help / Re: Omega 3.2 Elite V6 (2002) Heater Bypass Valve symptons

« on: 16 September 2023, 23:14:48 »

I've had 4 carltons and one omega in the last 23 years (as my daily drivers)

I've never lowered the diff to replace rear springs 

maybe i should read the manual before doing jobs 

335

General Discussion Area / Re: Feeling Hungry

« on: 16 September 2023, 21:18:02 »

Looks good 
I had a "chippy tea"
I've beem stripping and cleaning the inlet manifold / plenum on one of the astra petrols Z16XEP 

336

Omega General Help / Re: Omega 3.2 Elite V6 (2002) Heater Bypass Valve symptons

« on: 16 September 2023, 14:01:15 »

You've clearly never owned an ex traffic car

I don't see why anyone would want to own an "ex police car" 

they are "Rode Hard and Put Up Wet", thrashed to within an inch of their life ,hacked up wiring ,metal fatigue from doing "sleeping policemen" at 60 MPH etc .

Price and opportunity mostly.

"things are cheap for a reason "
AND
"buy cheap ,buy twice thrice " 

I blew a massive 400  on mine
been spending ever since ,that's the nature of "car ownership" 

337

General Car Chat / Re: Heavy Oil Stain

« on: 16 September 2023, 13:49:20 »

Detergent (washing up liquid ) neat on the stain, scrub with a good stiff brush , then pour boiling water over ,scrub again , repeat several times

fullers earth* cat litter absorbs well ,ground into a fine powder(like cement)  if chunky, an excellent emergency "spill kit" 

NOTE *
fullers earth cat litter is not a brand name , cheap, heavy "smart price" ,"no frills" cat litter is often fullers earth or contains it
" always read the label" 

cat litter will obviously need cleaning up after ,dust pan n brush, hoover (other brands of vacuum suction device available  ) then rinse the whole area with a pressure washer ,

 replacing concrete is VERY expensive ,

 concrete and block paving sealers are "OK" before spills , but can make it slippy ,and "hold" puddles ,

best to NOT spill oil in the first place ,but we are all human ,make mistakes
hands up , i've done it loads of times ,and the above info is based on experience of cleaning up my mess and other's mess

338

Omega General Help / Re: Omega 3.2 Elite V6 (2002) Heater Bypass Valve symptons

« on: 16 September 2023, 05:50:37 »

You've clearly never owned an ex traffic car

I don't see why anyone would want to own an "ex police car" 

they are "Rode Hard and Put Up Wet", thrashed to within an inch of their life ,hacked up wiring ,metal fatigue from doing "sleeping policemen" at 60 MPH etc .

abused more than a hire car that Jamie (TB) dislikes 

My HBV was the original factory item ,2003 ,so 20 years old ,had only just started dripping last week, replaced PDQ ,once the engine was cooled and the SKUTTLE and WIPER MOTOR was REMOVED 

I'm not saying that doing the job by removing the plenum is a bad idea , but that route isn't issue free either, if done badly ,plenum seals .O-rings etc are not easy to get these days ,it's pretty important all the breathers are put back correctly etc ,not a job I'd want a "quick fit fitter" or unfamiliar grease monkey doing 

the original poster doesn't want to do the job ,so farming it out to a local garage ,which have probably never seen an Omega on their ramps .

the HBV is a pretty simple  DIY home mechanic job ,which, if done slowly and with care ,should go without problems or other parts needed 

Other than 3 new ,good quality jubilee clips to replace the ****ing GM spring hose clamps 

339

Omega General Help / Re: Omega 3.2 Elite V6 (2002) Heater Bypass Valve symptons

« on: 15 September 2023, 20:02:13 »

I replaced my HBV last week by removing the scuttle and wiper motor  ,plenty of room

if the HBV is original ,never been changed ,then it will have GM spring hose clamps .

care should be taken when doing the job though ,there's several breather & vac pipes etc

If your plenum has never been off  are the breathers clear etc 

they're all 20+ years old now (omegas)

 

340

General Discussion Area / Re: Technical instructions

« on: 15 September 2023, 18:07:35 »

I just use ethernet cables and hubs
I'm not a fan of that "wifi" witchcraft 

I hope not!!!

hubs , switches 

OK , just looked

2 x 8 port Gugabit GREEnnet switch ,each connected to the 2 available ports on the router via RJ45 cat6e cables .

everything seems to work anyway 

341

General Discussion Area / Re: Technical instructions

« on: 15 September 2023, 09:48:03 »

I just use ethernet cables and hubs
I'm not a fan of that "wifi" witchcraft 

342

General Car Chat / Re: So what have you done to your car today?

« on: 14 September 2023, 03:19:44 »

I was playing the same game yesterday (Wednesday)
new timing belt ,roller & tensioner on one of the astra 1.7 CDTI estates @ 95582 miles ,so just run in 
I did replace the water pump ,not that it runs on the timing belt , but it was the original 2005 ,replacement was £14 delivered 
the Gates timing belt kit considerably MORE than £14 

the Omega got jealous of the attention I gave the astra   
Decided It wanted a new windscreen 

343

General Discussion Area / Re: Net Zero

« on: 12 September 2023, 01:36:10 »

If we up are generation of electricity by wind ,tidal, and solar to a level that we have large excesses of electricity (when it's very windy etc ) then that electricity could be used to concentrate hydrogen .
Effectively storing the excess as a battery (hydrogen fuel cells)
this could then be used for heating, transport OR to generate electricity when there's high demand .

 that would require investment, forward thinking ,improving infrastructure ,etc 

actually... never mind , as you where   

344

General Car Chat / Re: So what have you done to your car today?

« on: 10 September 2023, 22:12:21 »

Watched coolant dripping from the back of the engine on the Omega 
probably the HBV (new one in the spares hoard  ) ,
I need it to cool off before i strip the scuttle tray to actually know .

Hbv can be changed without removing the scuttle...

I don't see how ,unless you do it by removing the dash and cutting a big hole in the bulkhead , or removing the engine 
certainly not with my fat hands and sausage fingers 
I removed the scuttle and the wiper motor too ,for access ,stupid GM spring clamps 
the HBV was the original , so 20 years old ,hopefully the new one will last that long   
 all done and toped up Saturday morning
tested Saturday afternoon in 30 degree heat at the speed limit or less, honestly officer   

It's doable, but isn't worth the extra hassle. That's especially true if it hasn't been off for some time, and is still afflicted with the original clamps.

yes ,still had the original clamps , had being past tense , replaced with quality worm drive clamps 

if anybody needs the original GM spring clamps ,there's at least 3 thrown down my garden 

Plenum off. Loads of room and quicker than faffing with the scuttle.

I'll comsider that option in September 2043 when i fit the next one 

345

General Discussion Area / Re: Net Zero

« on: 10 September 2023, 16:28:38 »

The beer fridge is an "air source heat pump" ,heats the air behind the fridge and cools the beer 
I'm doing my part