The "Today I did something to my car" thread

joujoujou · 11-03-2013 3:20pm

OSI wrote: »

Loving the red belts, where'd they come from?

Thanks.

Friend of mine used to work in seatbelt factory in Czech Republic (TRW). Luckily he was able to make me a set of them plus additional simple strip, so if you look at the rear seat you'll see 4 belts (I wanted to keep symmetry).

But I know actually any set of seat belts can be (more or less easy) "transferred" even between different brands, so it's just a matter of good research - what model had a colour you're interested in. In terms of red ones: AFAIR cinquecento/seicento sporting, some meganes, corolla G6R, many american ones. 25th anniversary Golf GTI had very nice black seatbelts with red stitching - very rare to find nowadays.

Gary ITR · 12-03-2013 12:38am

Got the ARB fitted, 6quid for the bolts in the Dublin Nut and Bolt Centre, couldn't ask for cheaper

Mar4ix · 12-03-2013 12:43am

Gary ITR wrote: »

Got the ARB fitted, 6quid for the bolts in the Dublin Nut and Bolt Centre, couldn't ask for cheaper

Looks fantastic.

where that nut and bolt center located in Dublin ? Are they selling wheelnuts also ?

Gary ITR · 12-03-2013 12:50am

Mar4ix wrote: »

Looks fantastic.

where that nut and bolt center located in Dublin ? Are they selling wheelnuts also ?

Based in Ballymount, they're not Automotive specific so not sure they sell wheelnuts but worth a shot, they have a website so look there

jumbone · 12-03-2013 1:13am

In terms of red ones: AFAIR cinquecento/seicento sporting, some meganes, corolla G6R, many american ones. 25th anniversary Golf GTI had very nice black seatbelts with red stitching - very rare to find nowadays.

E30 m3 Evo had red belts too afaik

dgt · 14-03-2013 8:55pm

Tuesdays problem

Bodged for now

Meh, I'll get pipe on Saturday and do a proper job

dr.fuzzenstein · 14-03-2013 9:18pm

I replaced the pollen filter on my CMax today (see video, not mine) and I have to say it's not quite as much fun as a good, solid kick to the head.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mk1D8eOKF14

I want to meet the guy who designed that and kick him square in the nuts with my steel-toe workboots.
I fact I didn't replace the pollenfilter, I just removed it and closed it back up again.

dgt · 14-03-2013 9:30pm

^^^^^^
I feel your pain but that's given me a silly giggle :P

Weld some angle iron to those boots for maximum effect? :pac:

Ronnie Beck · 14-03-2013 9:49pm

Replaced the gearbox oil on the car today. Made a good difference to the whiny gear box. Alot quiter now. It had a sort of whiny sound like you get when your reversing quickly. Less resistance roliing in gear now too. Would highly recommend it to anyone with the same symptoms.

dr.fuzzenstein · 14-03-2013 10:34pm

Ronnie Beck wrote: »

Replaced the gearbox oil on the car today. Made a good difference to the whiny gear box. Alot quiter now. It had a sort of whiny sound like you get when your reversing quickly. Less resistance roliing in gear now too. Would highly recommend it to anyone with the same symptoms.

What happened to the soap box racer?:D

hoodie6029 · 14-03-2013 10:39pm

dr.fuzzenstein wrote: »

What happened to the soap box racer?:D

I get that but how many others will??

Gary ITR · 14-03-2013 10:40pm

One of the GXR race cars getting a bit of work done last night, overhaul of all the perishables in the front hubs, wishbones and subframe along with cleaning up all the rusty bolts to make it easy to work on trackside

We also took the sump off to give it a clean and clean the oil pickup, if any of you guys own a VAG 1.8T, do this, it'll cost buttons (sealant,oil,filter) and is well worth doing

MetzgerMeister · 14-03-2013 10:41pm

hoodie6029 wrote: »

I get that but how many others will??

I'm not a Simpsons fan but I get it :P

hoodie6029 · 14-03-2013 10:48pm

I've obviously been around too many non Simpsons fans for too long!

Ronnie Beck · 14-03-2013 11:18pm

dr.fuzzenstein wrote: »

What happened to the soap box racer?:D

Wrapped it around a tree one Saturday night. I was high as a kite after sniffin a ball of petrol.

skyhighflyer · 15-03-2013 12:45pm

Retro-fitted cruise control to the 147 following the guide on Alfaowner. In true Italian car style some 147s were pre-wired for it and some weren't. First step is to take off the cowling under the steering column to check for the unused cruise block connector. Connector duly identified, bought CC stalk off eBay for £40 as well as the replacement lower cowling with cutout for CC. Connect the stalk, screw to steering column (redundant screw is already in place making fitting easier). Replace lower cowling with CC version, job done. Tested it out, CC light shines up on the dash, although needed a couple of re-starts before ECU would recognise Delighted I now have working cruise as travelling Dublin-Delphi over the bank holiday weekend.

15-03-2013 3:03pm

Changed all cabin bulbs to LED's, and fitted red courtesy footwell LED kit

Ferris · 15-03-2013 5:19pm

Serviced the RX8 for the first time today.

- changed oil to 10w40 mineral. Drained old oil, filled with new, ran, drained again, filled with new, changed filter. Car has 2 oil coolers that double the oil capacity of the engine and cannot be drained easily as they are lower than the sump. 2 oil changes only gives you a 75% change

.

- Changed the sparks. Bit Manky.

- Changed the gearbox oil, it had been changed by a mazda dealer but the shifts were grunchy. I think they used the wrong oil so I changed it to this.

And put it in like this.

- then I reset the ECU to make full advantage of the new plugs and OMG complete difference to the car, more power, no more hesitation up in the rev range and sooo much smoother. Very satisfying days work.

Mar4ix · 15-03-2013 5:34pm

@Ferris .. why you put 10w40 mineral oil ? should be semi synthetic or even fully synthetic (in cold climate) according some books. .

Mar4ix · 15-03-2013 6:03pm

OSI wrote: »

There's a belief that rotaries should only use Mineral oil due to the seals on the rotors. But Semi or Fully Synthentic shouldn't be an issue on the 8.

Dont know why, but i would not follow some beliefs, but look in to some books, and online sites ..

there is some examples - http://www.castrol.com/castrol/sectionbodycopy.do?categoryId=9024084&contentId=7073092

http://www.opieoils.co.uk/product-finder/car/engine-oil/mazda/2005/rx-8/PETROL/rx-8/16657/product-finder-2.aspx

But any way, respect to Ferris , I even never see in daylight rotor engine, ,.. seen number videos about how they work and what is inside.

EDIT .. picture from some books -

Ferris · 15-03-2013 7:15pm

OSI wrote: »

Well, to be fair, if you google what oil to use in an RX8 that's plenty of conflicting information. Some insisting that anything other than mineral oil changed every 2000km is engine suicide, while others insist pretty much anything goes.

There's a huge amount of debate amongst owners because Mazda specify a 5w30 synthetic oil which was different to what they specified in the rx7. Oil is sprayed onto the apex seals during combustion and synthetic oils do not burn cleanly and this leaves carbon deposits in the chamber which causes all sorts of issues.

Also the 5w30 is too thin and causes bearing wear that wasn't a problem in the rx7 which used thicker oil.

Rotary specialists recommend thicker mineral oil and to change it about every 4 to 5k miles. I used a refined mineral oil which is labeled as a semi syn. It's millers oil so it's decent.

Bpmull · 15-03-2013 7:21pm

I got some new wipers today for the focus Bosch aero twins. The difference is unbelievable they clear the window so well the old ones were terrible. The aero twins are a little more expensive but they are worth it. So simple to change too.

brembo26 · 15-03-2013 8:02pm

Happy days, got a years test on my corolla. Got lights focused and wheels tracked and passed first time

dr.fuzzenstein · 15-03-2013 8:32pm

hoodie6029 wrote: »

I get that but how many others will??

I'm a specialist in obscure Simpsons references as my username would suggest...:cool:

dgt · 15-03-2013 8:45pm

Another generic update, nothing special...

Whoopsie

Better

Flaky

I may paint the inside in future. It'll do for now

I hate it when torx screws end up like this...

To the clock. I decided to change the bulb as it was blown. Don't try to prise it out, the metal clips will just spring off and get lost

Remove the fascia instead

Before

After

Vent was in upside down...............

This was spotless a month ago!

While I was there I decided to clean up the toolkit and oil the jack

Ashwood trim in situ

There's a reason the drivers vent is missing

dr.fuzzenstein · 16-03-2013 1:10am

dgt wrote: »

Another generic update, nothing special...

There's a reason the drivers vent is missing

Dropped a penny in it?:P

dgt · 16-03-2013 1:11am

dr.fuzzenstein wrote: »

Dropped a penny in it?:P

Nah

CianRyan · 16-03-2013 1:30am

Getting felty!

Alanstrainor · 16-03-2013 3:53pm

Washed and waxed the motor in between showers.

Looks well now!

MetzgerMeister · 16-03-2013 4:09pm

Showers??? I got mine washed, detarred, rinsed, rear bumper clayed, rinsed, dried and got a coat of Collinite on it and the sun is still splittin' the stones here

Also brought it back to the tyre place to get the tracking done as there wasn't time the day I got the tyres on. Turns out I need a new tracking adjustment bolt on the rear driver's side as it was seized and if they put too much pressure on it, snap and the car is on the lift until I get a new one!

The "Today I did something to my car" thread

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