What have you done to your car today?

Took the Countryman to my local tyre fitter to investigate a slow puncture.

Found an punctured shoulder that's not able to be repaired. Sadly only budget tyres in stock, and a matching Michelin would be on backorder until November after he rang around, so settled on a Hankook which should be here this afternoon/tomorrow morning.

(In before the mismatched tyres = instant death comments)

RIP
 
Ever since picking up my car, it's had an annoying issue, especially in the cold. When the window drops as you open the door, it makes an unpleasant cracking noise. It's not the frameless seals, as I keep those conditioned and all that. It's a mechanical noise coming from within the door. And it was only on the drivers door. It was irritating as hell - every time you open the door, it sounded like something may snap. It's a common issue, and for ages, it seemed no one had a proper fix.

Until recently, when someone in the US posted that the fix for it was a tiny fabric washer that cost pennies from Toyota, and about 15 minutes work - door card off, peel back the vapour barrier, undo a nut, fit washer over the bolt between the two moving parts of the regulator that it holds, reassemble. My window now opens and closes without sounding like it's snapping in half. Absolute bliss, can't believe it was such a simple fix that I've lived without for so long.
 
Scanned the Countyman for codes after my wife got a power steering warning appear on the dash.

Power steering under voltage historic fault logged. I'm assuming might just be the first signs of a failing battery, as it's likely the original from 2017, and is only showing 74% state of charge even after an hour's drive.

Will order a new battery at the weekend, as need to take half the engine bay apart to even check what size is currently on it.

Also don't tell @DJMK4 but when I scanned for codes I had 80 info error codes! (Many of which I still can't clear)

Replaced the Countryman's battery yesterday - thankfully all went well (easy enough to do, just lots of steps to get to it, and then put it all back together)

(No idea why the engine bay is so dusty, but that can be done next time I have the pressure washer out)

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Back home now, I have put a lot of work into this car so I shouldn't be shocked, but I am shocked that the little 1958 Austin survived nearly 700 miles of driving with no breakdowns, including several hours sat at 4000rpm on the motorway.

What a great test though, I feel like I could drive it anywhere now. Not that I would necessarily want to!!

I do now have a small list of things that need tending to though, the rear axle seals which I skipped because they looked okay are definitely leaking, the battery is leaking so I need to check out the charging system (even though the voltmeter suggests it is working fine) it might just need a new battery, and I need to change the needle in the carb because it leans out too much at moderate cruising throttle input. It wasn't a huge issue though because I could just pull the choke out a little to richen it when needed. (on an SU that increases fuel rather than restricting air)
 
No idea why the engine bay is so dusty, but that can be done next time I have the pressure washer out

Losing battle if you drive roads like I do, 3 days later it'll look like you never cleaned it.

EDIT: Last 2-3 years has been terrible for dust - my cars get a film of it over them in no time at all if sitting out - some people are saying the Ukraine war is significantly contributing to it even as far away as the UK, but especially people in the countries on the peripheral.
 
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This guy has a special set of skills - mesmerising & reminded me of classic daily bread documentary.
imagine what wage he'd get in the UK - no butt welding
e: wondered what brand of battery tools they use

 
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This guy has a special set of skills - mesmerising & reminded me of classic daily bread documentary.
imagine what wage he'd get in the UK - no butt welding
e: wondered what brand of battery tools they use


I can see quite a few problems with what he's doing, mainly in terms of personal safety, but also not protecting glass etc from grinding, a couple of things lining up inexactly (but you'd have to be really anal to notice), and an ENORMOUS lacquer sag/run on the bonnet (which can of course be sanded out), but at the end of the day I couldn't do it and I love watching this sort of repair!

Watching him weld with his eyes wide open is making *my* eyes itch. :p

You recon he'd hang a new sill and quarter panel on my E30?

Tools wise, I think I see a Bosch grinder and a DEVON impact wrench, which are a Hong Kong company. In another of their videos the guy was using a DEVON grinder and a SATA impact wrench.

e; I see in the final shots they have started to fix the paint sag! :cool:
 
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Took the Countryman to my local tyre fitter to investigate a slow puncture.

Found an punctured shoulder that's not able to be repaired. Sadly only budget tyres in stock, and a matching Michelin would be on backorder until November after he rang around, so settled on a Hankook which should be here this afternoon/tomorrow morning.

(In before the mismatched tyres = instant death comments)
Was confused reading this as thought it was my post about the Mrs car.

It really sucks when this happens and they have nothing decent in!

I fitted a new rubber cup tray insert in my car today. Exciting times
 
It really sucks when this happens and they have nothing decent in!
Happened to me a couple months ago too. Had a screw on one of my rear Michelin CC2s and wasn't repairable. A matching CC2 was on backorder until the following week and they only had budget tyres in stock. I had a long drive with the Mrs the next day, so had no choice but to settle with a mismatched budget unfortunately.

Always happens at the wrong time!
 
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