Jolfa Posted May 11, 2018 Report Share Posted May 11, 2018 On a theft related note, I once had a MK2 Golf tucked away in a council lockup, that I was borrowing bits off for my daily MK2. Went to it one day to find the padlock smashed off but seemingly nothing missing (I later realised they'd taken the key I'd hidden in there). Fixed the lock and moved on, the following week same thing but the thieves had clearly had a closer look at the car and actually bolted the wheels on and taken it off the stands... I fixed the lock with a better one, moved on. The following week they'd been in again to try and get the car going, they'd left a trolley jack and a load of fairly decent tools behind this time, so I took the tools, sold the car complete with the missing driveshaft that would have prevented them ever taking the thing, emptied the garage and fixed the lock knowing full well they'd be back. I'd love to have seen their faces when they went back 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monkeyseemonkeydo Posted May 11, 2018 Report Share Posted May 11, 2018 2 hours ago, Luke Rainbird said: Decent CCTV camera and some Home Alone style vigilante justice. The camera is so we can all watch the live stream. Pistol crossbows are surprisingly cheap you know... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Booth Posted May 11, 2018 Report Share Posted May 11, 2018 I'll unleash 3.25 inches of fury on there bumholes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdamAllen Posted May 11, 2018 Report Share Posted May 11, 2018 Did a thing at work. Car came with a nice bodged Heatshield.. 10 mins later Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MadManMike Posted May 11, 2018 Author Report Share Posted May 11, 2018 Car overheats, I turn it off to avoid damage. I can't turn it on again, I just get rapid clicking. I jump out to figure out what to do and notice shit loads of smoke. Opened the boot to find LOTS of smoke. Quickly emptied the car of all valuables, just in case. All of this at one of the really busy junctions in Bristol, at rush hour. Thankfully, some great people stopped and helped me, but she's currently parked up for the night. No clue what the problem is, but it could be high resistance from crap connections. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete.M Posted May 11, 2018 Report Share Posted May 11, 2018 51 minutes ago, MadManMike said: That's a bummer. Hope it's an easy fix. My day was much better than that thankfully, I gave the Alfa a send off drive over Black Mountain pass. Putting it up for sale very soon, probably against my better judgement considering how excellent it has been. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luke Rainbird Posted May 11, 2018 Report Share Posted May 11, 2018 Such a fun road. While I was staying near Brechfa for work for a few months last year I'd detour and drive up and back at least once a week Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdamAllen Posted May 11, 2018 Report Share Posted May 11, 2018 32 minutes ago, Pete.M said: That's a bummer. Hope it's an easy fix. My day was much better than that thankfully, I gave the Alfa a send off drive over Black Mountain pass. Putting it up for sale very soon, probably against my better judgement considering how excellent it has been. Pre facelift? :(.. how much you after? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete.M Posted May 12, 2018 Report Share Posted May 12, 2018 Pre face-lift, with some sort of aftermarket headlights that have darker surrounds. Haven't quite finalised the price but I think I'll try for around 1200 to begin with. 156k miles. Did the timing and auxiliary belts last year. Momo leather seats, bose speakers, rain sensing wipers, semi-working air conditioning. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MadManMike Posted May 12, 2018 Author Report Share Posted May 12, 2018 OMFG, you won't believe what the problem with my car was. A previous owner had used tiny SPEAKER WIRE as one of the main battery cables and it totally fried it. The smoke wasn't the battery, but the wire that was about 6 inches further into the car. It was about 1/3 of the thickness of a proper earth strap. Unbelievable. How it hasn't caught fire before now, I don't know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luke Rainbird Posted May 12, 2018 Report Share Posted May 12, 2018 What an utter retard! Presumably you've checked the rest of the setup and will be replacing with meatier cable? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MadManMike Posted May 12, 2018 Author Report Share Posted May 12, 2018 The rest looks OK. It looks to me like the original one snapped, so they crimped in this 6" section of speaker wire. I've never needed to look down there, so haven't spotted it before. If you just looked at the battery, everything looked alright. It's amazing that it lasted so long. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dann2707 Posted May 12, 2018 Report Share Posted May 12, 2018 4 hours ago, MadManMike said: The rest looks OK. It looks to me like the original one snapped, so they crimped in this 6" section of speaker wire. I've never needed to look down there, so haven't spotted it before. If you just looked at the battery, everything looked alright. It's amazing that it lasted so long. Pics required! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MadManMike Posted May 13, 2018 Author Report Share Posted May 13, 2018 I didn't get many of it in place, but here's one of how it was connected to the main earth strap, then the cable once removed. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dann2707 Posted May 13, 2018 Report Share Posted May 13, 2018 That's mind blowing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danny Posted May 13, 2018 Report Share Posted May 13, 2018 So that wire was the only thing between the battery negative and earth? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MadManMike Posted May 13, 2018 Author Report Share Posted May 13, 2018 Yes. It went from correct gauge, to speaker cable, to correct gauge. Unsurprisingly, it got rather hot and made lots of smoke. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Posted May 13, 2018 Report Share Posted May 13, 2018 That's brilliant! It makes you wonder how some people think. Jumping in with my latest car news... I'm STILL trying to decide what to do next. The LC has 171k miles on it now but is still going strong. However, some rust is starting to appear around arches and the bodywork/wheels aren't in the best condition. Probably not that surprising as I'm still doing 350 miles a week. So half of me still wants more power and the other half would like better fuel economy. This has brought me to the following options: 1. Keep the LC, do nothing until something major breaks. 2. Keep the LC, buy a hybrid turbo etc. (Would also need engine rebuild?) 3. Buy a 2.0TFSI (VRS or A3) <£4000 4. Buy a 2.0 CR (VRS or A3) 5. Quit owning 'quicker' cars/accept people overtaking me and buy something sensible. Any opinions would be appreciated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark W Posted May 14, 2018 Report Share Posted May 14, 2018 On 11/05/2018 at 10:51 AM, forteh said: What are the repurcussions of trying to drive a car away with the axle tied to the floor? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TROYston Posted May 15, 2018 Report Share Posted May 15, 2018 On 5/13/2018 at 1:34 PM, MadManMike said: Yes. It went from correct gauge, to speaker cable, to correct gauge. Unsurprisingly, it got rather hot and made lots of smoke. Thats a bodge even i wouldn't try! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdamAllen Posted May 15, 2018 Report Share Posted May 15, 2018 Anyone had any experience with buycarparts.co.uk / autodoc Does this loom legit to You? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete.M Posted May 15, 2018 Report Share Posted May 15, 2018 I don't remember that but I did have to pick up the phone with them and confirm something. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J.KYDD Posted May 16, 2018 Report Share Posted May 16, 2018 Is this the first order you've placed with them? I used to work for an online bike shop and any first time order from a foreign country worth over £100 we would ask them to confirm some details to prevent fraudulent transactions Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdamAllen Posted May 16, 2018 Report Share Posted May 16, 2018 1 hour ago, J.KYDD said: Is this the first order you've placed with them? I used to work for an online bike shop and any first time order from a foreign country worth over £100 we would ask them to confirm some details to prevent fraudulent transactions It was - seems that is there protocol however its not very well explained. the language barrier has now resulted in the order been cancelled and me waiting on a refund Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danny Posted May 16, 2018 Report Share Posted May 16, 2018 On 11/05/2018 at 10:51 AM, forteh said: What are the repurcussions of trying to drive a car away with the axle tied to the floor? Never seen gone in 60 seconds? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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