Last night, could go far because of local snow, but managed to get short distances.
Went out for a bit, came back, had a spot of food before heading out again. Got in the meega, pulled away down the drive, TC going mad. Can't get any grip at all. "Bloody ice" I thought. Turn off TC, manage to get some grip and off down the drive I go. Put a bit of power down, back end flings out. Steer into it, straighten it out. Put it down to ice.
Then felt some huge vibrations at the back end, while picking up speed. Stop to investigate before reaching main road - Rear passenger tyre flat as a pancake. It had to be the new tyre too.
Not happy at this point at all, and having lost all love for this Omega, I reverse at the bottom of the driveway, and drive the car back up to the yard on the rim. Park it in as flat a space as possible - right, time to change the wheel and head out again.
Working by torchlight,
Once I finally found my tool to remove the wheel caps, I slackened the worst off the wheel studs, and we attempted to clear as much snow away as possible (we had a good 7 inches) and get the jack underneith. Jack it up - as soon as the wheel starts to lift, the whole car slides forwards on the icy ground. Tried all sorts, bits of wood etc, could not get it anywhere near stable or high enough to change the wheel.
Realise at this point that we need a trolley jack to lift it properly, which we didn't have (mine broke).
Having work at 6am today, I had to do something, I couldn't skive off again!
After a bit of thinking, go to barn, get the 2 tonne hydraulic pallet trolley! Put peice of wood across pallet trolley, slide under Omega. Get absolutely soaked through, down on the ground making sure it wasn't catching any brake pipes etc.. and then Up she goes. Much better, and totally stable. Wheel almost high enough - then - bloody trolley won't jack any higher.
Go to woodshed, get bit of tree t-runk. Place strategically under car, and drop onto the t-runk. Remove trolley, get a bigger bit of wood, re-insert trolley. Raise again, up she goes. Wheel comes off.
All looking very precarious at this point!
Try to put new wheel on, and with the inflated tyre not enough clearance. Get big spade, dig away snow. gave us that little bit extra - got wheel on.
Tightened it with brace, job done. Tidy up. Can't feel my hands - and I'm soked through to the bone!
Felt pleased with our improvising though. It's times like that I wish I had AA homestart
At least I got where I wanted to go afterwards.
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Topic: Awful night with the Omega (Read 1760 times)