Mulley's New 19TXD

[Defender110]

I think the rust that's returned in the rear door shut could either be rust that's so far down behind the weld seam that you can't get at it or it's coming through from the weld seam in the rear wheel arch. Next time, I'll clean out all the wheel arch and waxoyl it.

Yes the rust comes from the back outwards as they get clogged up from behind the wing with damp muddy deposits, I dug all mine right out (there was loads of it jammed in) blew it out with compressed air, let it dry, primed it then filled both sides with a full tube of silicone sealant to replace the pocket the mud usually collects in.

[MULLEY]

This evening i did an oil change, current mileage is 150221. I'm now in the 150k club Cost of parts, oil approx £11 & filter 99p, happy day's. Shame the road tax is due at the end of the month, its gone upto £220 for 12mths or £121 for 6mths

[Philip Chidlow]

Why doesn't it cost £110 for six months that's what I'd like to know. And why not be able to buy road tax in four month blocks these days? Or why not abolish it completely?!

[MULLEY]

Because they are money grabbing barstewards, just like every other govt agency that's ever existed. Personally, i think every car that is over 20yrs old should be exempt from paying bloody road tax. The current emissions based road tax system is a nonsense, if the govt was really interested in reducing pollution, they would tax your car not only on emissions but on mileage. It pisses me off that a C1 could do 100k in a year which is far more polution than i'd probably do in 7yrs of driving the txd doing 12k a year, but no......

There also seems to be no incentives to actually convert/alter older cars so that they emit less pollution At least in places like Germany you pay reduced road tax if you fit a cat. I'm sure i've seen some data on the xud engine & if it was taxed as a modern car, it would actually be quite a bit cheaper than what the current tax rate it sits in at the moment, so doubly annoying. I wonder if when we get on Kitch's rollers, some emission readings could also be taken, i'd be interested in that data.

[MULLEY]

When i was down at Barry Annells for the Bourne Meeting, he kindly did a straight swap for a normal gearknob for the sportier one which i fitted on the day. I'm pleased to confirm that it does work

[MULLEY]

Yesterday i fitted some 10w bulbs to replace the pathetic 3w one's that are in the overhead map reading lights, dead easy to do as well, i now have light when i need it. These were the exact same bulbs that i fitted to the front headlights as sidelight one's, so they are pretty bright If i start to smell burning, then i'll know i've gone overkill, haha...

[MULLEY]

Whilst i was at the local motor factors today i got nabbed by one of our neighbour friends who asked me if i could change some spark plugs on her daughters v reg fiesta, i said i've never change spark plugs before, but i'd have a look to see whether i could do them or not. Apparently the car wasn't running well, misfiring was the description. Well i managed it even though the spark plug tool was useless, i had to use a socket wrench on them as they were welded in. The daughter popped round later to thank me & said she'd take the car out for a quick spin & there was no more misfire. I feel quite pleased with myself

[Mickey taker]

Matthew can you check your pm's please

[MULLEY]

You've been pm'd back

[electrokid]

If i start to smell burning, then i'll know i've gone overkill, haha...

Well that might just happen ! Amongst some spares I picked up as a bulk deal I found some interior light fittings that had melted lenses - they were fitted with 10W bulbs - the bulbs in those fittings should be 7W frosted - not much difference in heat output which suggests to me that the design is er... marginal.

some emission readings could also be taken,

I always ask for a copy of the emission test results at MOT - useful part of the service history IMHO. Just had the Granny MOT'd and it was pointed out that it was running very lean - my reply was that that would all change as soon as put my foot down - no worries

I totally agree with you on the road tax issues - the pollution caused by the production of a new car should be factored in - and the extraordinary amount - some say 50,000 gallons - of fresh drinking water used in the production of every car - such a waste. Now I'm retired my mileage has dropped significantly so I'm producing very little pollution - tax is still £220 though.

[MULLEY]

Unfortunately for diesel cars, its just the smoke test, pass or fail, there isn't much data compared to a modern car, but it could still be tested in the same way though, so was just interested in knowing how bad or how good an old diesel actually is compared to supposed clean cars.

I doubt they'll be on for very long, so i'm hoping nothing melts If it does, then i'll stick the old bulbs in, but they were crap, these new one's are fantastic.

[MULLEY]

This Saturday i went upto Shaune's for some help. It was a long day working well into the night, but between us we managed to get the following done:
Replaced driver side caliper, regreased the bottom slider on the psgr side caliper, replace the front brake pads, replaced both handbrake cables, changed the coolant & did the dashboard bulbs, also fixed the driver side air vent which had come apart so that it didn't work properly.

So quite a good day, shame couldn't be said for the drive home, just a few miles down the M1 the STOP light & the coolant light came on, so parked up in Wooley services. No credit on mobile (ran out), so had to get some put on, quick call to Shaune who suggested that i top up the coolant, that appeared to do the trick Approx 10 miles later i was on the hard shoulder of the m1 which wasn't much fun with cars barreling past, only good thing was that it was quite late so it wasn't chocka, but even so it was a bit unnerving trying to top up the coolant again whilst keeping an eye on approaching headlights to ensure i wasn't smashed into. Filled up, set of & then was hoping that i wouldn't have to pull over again & luckily made it home with no more warning lights coming on. I was pretty exhausted & today i was so stiff & sore from Sat's work, i clearly need to start to work out again, what a namby pamby, haha...Dash lights are now soo bright its just great

Ran out of time, so still booked in to get the driver side driveshaft gaitor replaced (can't remember whether it was the inner or outer) & need to fix the wiper motor as it has started to get a bit slower in operation. We'll check the handbrake cables to make sure that they are tensioned both equally.

[electrokid]

That looks like some good jobs jobbed hope you get the coolant sorted soon - might just have been air getting out of the system.

I had a slow wiper motor - well actually it was snowing hard and the load on the wiper motor was enough for it to grind completely to a halt so I had to pull over and sort it. It turned out to be just bad connections - it gets pretty damp under that intake grille even where the WW motor is covered the connections are still subject to corrosion.

I just gave them a clean by wiggling them about - that was 4 years ago and it needs doing again now.

[MULLEY]

Handy tip about the wiper motor, i'll give it a try

[MULLEY]

Changed the fuel filter & put on my winter tyres, just in time for the cold snap & snow potentially coming down this way