What have you done to your car today?

nicholas_yiu · 29 May 2015 at 16:11

Paintwork's not too bad. Normally just 1 clay/polish and 3-4 wax every year, but that is with it being a weekend car. It would be a nightmare to keep the paintwork good if I use it as a daily.

The yellow is the thing I like most about it. I am not happy with it because it is too sensible to be a weekend car. I think there's enough power for road driving but it needs some mods to the suspension setup to improve the handling. The exhaust is also way too quiet for a warm hatch. The plan was to get a RARB and a Miltek for it and see what happens. Then a colleague of mine decided to sell his Accord Type-R. I also fancy a change as I had that for 3 and a half years now.

The Accord is a W-Reg so is a few years older and there's a bit of cash going back into my pocket. The main point is the Acccord's handling is sorted as it is, the exhaust sounds so much better and VTEC engagement is addictive.

The Accord needs a bit of work though so it will be a nice project for me.

Edit: By the way, I have sent off the V5 earlier, do you know if I will get June's tax back or would it be from July on seeing it's 29th today?

Evo8 · 29 May 2015 at 16:20

I'd hope you'd get June's back, you sent it in enough time.

adam cool dude · 29 May 2015 at 17:14

iaind said:
Isn't the accord type R a step down/sideways? Was the old model iirc so guessing it's older than that octavia. The accord has a bit more power but the VRS could be mapped to be more powerful without much hassle. If you're happy though that's the important thing! I do like that yellow too

The mk1 octavia and Accord type r are from the same generation. Infact the accord is newer. The mk1 octavia had a longer lifespan though. Yes an Octavia could be remapped but then the Accord has LSD and natural aspirated engine.

mrk · 29 May 2015 at 18:43

Picked up the car from its first service earlier. Only an oil service but provided oil and filter. I was in the old car mindset and supplied 5 litres of oil when I should have supplied 7, doh! Anyway, they sourced the remainder of the oil and sump plug and washer which are pennies so no big deal.

£30+vat for the labour only. Neat!

Akagi · 30 May 2015 at 00:16

Filled it up for 91 pence per litre.

Hyburnate · 30 May 2015 at 00:21

Changed the reversing lights to blinding ones, can see in the dark now. Ripped my hand apart though

iaind · 30 May 2015 at 15:10

Fitted these

A nice fit - gives the usual benefits of tinted windows (heat and security) for a fraction of the cost. Makes it look better too

Also managed to fix an annoying squeaky rattle from the glovebox - which is great but in the process I ended up triggering the airbag warning light (drove it with the passenger airbag on/off switch disconnected)... Hope that clears itself after a certain time, neither torque or my standard obd reader see a fault or clear it

Conscript · 30 May 2015 at 15:16

Try disconnecting the battery for a while?

Jez · 30 May 2015 at 15:19

Acme said:
Filled it up for 91 pence per litre.

Is there a new fuel scam on the go which i am not aware of?

Stormster · 30 May 2015 at 18:38

Chased the bodyshop as I left my car there last Sunday when I went to collect. Not happy with some bits. Told should be done tomorrow morning which has now turned into Monday night. He knows how perfect I want it and he knows I can have some weight to his current rep lol I had to be a bit of an a**e today to push my feelings. I miss my motor, been lending cars for 3 weeks now nearly!

Akagi · 30 May 2015 at 19:07

Jez said:
Is there a new fuel scam on the go which i am not aware of?

Nah I just maxed out my Tesco fuel savings and got 20P off per litre.

Sorry chum.

Today I fixed the wiring properly. Only used one relay though as it was rated for more than enough amps.

There is a cover that goes over the top of the battery, so the relay and what-have-you are all hidden and protected.

andy_mk3 · 30 May 2015 at 23:18

Wow, finally the wiring is done, after what seems like many weeks and many pages of discussion about it

Looks a good job though!

Today I have managed to snap my gear linkage after some fairly enthusiastic gear changes..

Luckily I was only about 2 miles from home so shoved it in 2nd and drove home in 2nd.

It welded up reasonable well though.

Been out in it again after and it seems to be holding up ok. I will be getting a replacement though. Serves me right for buying a cheap ebay short shifter

Akagi · 31 May 2015 at 00:38

I had to bump start the car to get home just now, the starter motor wouldn't engage.

Did a quick visual check, wires seem fine, connectors are in, fuse isn't blown...

Don't think it is the battery as all other electrics worked fine, and the starter motor wouldn't even try to turn the engine over, I was met with silence.

I'll have to take a proper look tomorrow... In the mean time, comments and donations to the new car fund are welcome!

Also I spy a Dyson DC04 there Andy... I have one of those as a garage hoover too...

jumpy · 31 May 2015 at 00:42

Today I have been mostly marinating in EP90 and ATF, with a dash of molyslip to add a little spice.

It was time to change the front and rear differential, transfer and main gearbox oils. Filthy job crawling about under the car on the driveway.

Rybo89 · 31 May 2015 at 09:17

Acme said:
I had to bump start the car to get home just now, the starter motor wouldn't engage.

Did a quick visual check, wires seem fine, connectors are in, fuse isn't blown...

Don't think it is the battery as all other electrics worked fine, and the starter motor wouldn't even try to turn the engine over, I was met with silence.

I'll have to take a proper look tomorrow... In the mean time, comments and donations to the new car fund are welcome!

Also I spy a Dyson DC04 there Andy... I have one of those as a garage hoover too...

Starter motor needs plenty of juice to turn. Have you checked that your alternator is working? Could be weak and not charging the battery properly. Or the battery could be on its way out and not taking a charge.

InvaderGIR · 31 May 2015 at 09:51

Rybo89 said:
Starter motor needs plenty of juice to turn. Have you checked that your alternator is working? Could be weak and not charging the battery properly. Or the battery could be on its way out and not taking a charge.

Indeed. Get a meter on the battery and the alternator, check what power it has when off and when charging.

I was playing with my lights yesterday, giving myself a much better light output without blinding people in the process...especially as these photos are from before I adjusted them so were pointing far to far down.

I dislike how despite going for some "yellow" HIDs, these are still blue, that's quite annoying as if hoped for a closer match to the original lights, but hey, bi-xenon projectors are certainly a much better way of fitting HIDs than whacking into a reflector unit. These are 4300K, I might try some 3000K ones, I was a bit worried they'd be too yellow though so went for the safe "oem" colour listed by people...not very oem to me.

TehBluebear · 31 May 2015 at 10:15

Got two new sidelight bulbs as one had gone. Happily jumped into my car after having my hands nearly torn to shreds from the gauntlet of metal and cables, went to switch on my lights, and the sidelight that had gone is still 'gone'

Seems to be the wiring thats knackered somewhere, couldn't be bothered to hunt it down, will do it at some point in the week.

Akagi · 31 May 2015 at 10:45

Rybo89 said:
Starter motor needs plenty of juice to turn. Have you checked that your alternator is working? Could be weak and not charging the battery properly. Or the battery could be on its way out and not taking a charge.

I think it is likely to be either the battery or the alternator. I had the battery light (alternator not charging battery) flash intermittently a couple of weeks ago. It hasn't happened since however, and I also had to top up one of the battery cells last week, which is supposed to be a sign that it is dying.

Its Sunday, its raining, and I need the car to get to work tomorrow!!!!!

TehBluebear said:
Got two new sidelight bulbs as one had gone. Happily jumped into my car after having my hands nearly torn to shreds from the gauntlet of metal and cables, went to switch on my lights, and the sidelight that had gone is still 'gone'

Seems to be the wiring thats knackered somewhere, couldn't be bothered to hunt it down, will do it at some point in the week.

If you own a VW, don't ****ing bother. Just burn it and buy a new car...

Armageus · 31 May 2015 at 10:54

InvaderGIR said:
I was playing with my lights yesterday, giving myself a much better light output without blinding people in the process...especially as these photos are from before I adjusted them so were pointing far to far down.

...bi-xenon projectors are certainly a much better way of fitting HIDs than whacking into a reflector unit.

Whilst they look good and are undoubtedly much brighter than the originals, surely these are still illegal without self levelling and washers?

[TW]Fox · 31 May 2015 at 10:57

Armageus said:
Whilst they look good and are undoubtedly much brighter than the originals, surely these are still illegal without self levelling and washers?

No, they are not.