flaps7

Jonnyboy - I also have 1.6vx which looses a little g'box oil, looks a lot on the floor but not much in quantity. You will enjoy topping-up g'box. The plug is on the passenger side of the g'box and to undo you will need to cut-down a (IIRC) a10mm allen key so as to fit in the small gap between footwell and box. I use a length of tubing to fit in the filler hole, feed up through engine bay, funnel the other end and fill to full. I am going to follow advise seen on here; cut hole in passenger footwell so as to get easy access. Also read on here and can confirm g'box oil smells bl00dy 'orrible, a way to tell the difference. Flaps

Off to meet with Vladivere, I have some nylons to bargain with. I knew I was buying cheap tyres but didn't know I was buying crap tyres. Cheap does not always mean crap. You never know, the problem may be release-agents remaining on the tyre and as the car has only done a few miles since these tyres I will see what Vladivere has to say. Gridgway, you are 50% right, my life is not cheap (but I am old - well I think I am, even if I can still climb trees which is the acid test to age). Flaps

Hey Batteredoldsupersport You've a quality car, mines a 1988, with 125k - had it since new (originally my company car). Trouble is no reason to bin it. Bodywork is absolutely rust free and the car seems to thrive on abuse, lack of servicing, wife's driving, my driving and it has no electrical wizzadry to go wrong. So I'd rather not put it in a ditch. Saturday morning I meet with Vladivere Dubroknikscousky, the local rep for MOSCOWIA tyres. Flaps

They are on an old Audi 80. The strange thing is I've never had tyres like it, they are truely amazing and dangerous. I did not see the name until I had the problem BUT there must be some sort of standard for tyres. Flaps

Bought some very cheap (but new) tyres for ageing tin top. They are bl00dy dangerous. In the dry not an obvious problem but in the damp/wet NO grip. AND I mean no grip. Wheels lock-up when breaking, back lost on mild bend and had a 4 wheel drift. All very scary. The car was not like this before tyre change. Have checked all tyre pressures with proper gauge and all okay. Spoken with tyre fitter and going back Saturday. Please don't laugh but tyres are MOSCOWIA. Tyre place is okay and I have used it for quite some time without problem. The question is what can I do if they say tough. Other than throw a wobbley.

Peter Thanks for the note. Found out about the wiring around the boot area at the last MOT. Spent a very merry day cutting and rejoining wires. Had hoped it was the same problem this time, it ain't . Flaps

Audi 80 1.8 F (for ++++ing) reg. On the day of the MOT numberplate lights packed up . No problem , replace fuse 🙆🏻... replace fuse 🙆🏻...replace fuse 🙆🏻....replace fuse 🙆🏻 *mad*. Buy more fuses...replace fuse 🙆🏻 *mad* . Decide to have a grope around. The fuse controls bonet light, glove box light, and numberplate lights. I have inspected, where possible, the wiring by removing sheathing. Nothing evident. I disconected the 3 lights and ...replaced fuse. (This I am getting gopod at). Removed fuse and okay. Replaced fuse and turned on side lights. This would under normal circumstances make all 3 light work but I have disconected all 3 lights. Check fuse.. - blown. Tomorrow I will borrow from work a multimeter and someone who knows whatt hey are looking at and check for something (short to earth??). But if I do find 1 line shorting, what the hell do I do about it? Thinking 1 step ahead, does anyone out there know a good auto electrician in the Welwyn or Berkhamsted area? Why do MOTs always fall due between October and February, why do all insurances fall due December and why does my toast fall butter side down Con..fused Flaps PS - Does O/T stand off Off Topic? I going to feel a right plonker if it does not.

Thanks for the advise and I shall hunt down the 3 digit date code. Ferrino - I was thinking of moving UP to wood as I have heard such good reports about its softer ride than the stone wheels I currently use. I also understand they can be made round, any good??

Are there any markings on the tyre (being a rebel and refuse to use; tire) that show it's age? As my existing tyres appear to defy wear I would like to add weight to the argument for new ones by proving existing ones are well past their use-by-date. Thanks Flaps

Jonny, thanks for note. Would be grateful to know what you got. What type of terminals? Like the thoought of anything posy as furry dice flew-off on my 1st blat. Flaps

New battery needed. Existing battery is Exide with a ref C60-N24L... Checked on past postings to see ref. 53034 is generic number for suitable battery and assumed that this would be recognised by all but a couple of calls to stockists have drawn "..don't recognise that number mate" type responses. Saw past post that Varta have a suitable offering but a quick search on their site produces a reference range very different to 53034, infact nothing seems to start around that number. I need a battery with bolt-through fixings. Have I understood the ref. no. correctly and just need to make more calls? Flaps - stranded with clipped wings

In order to keep the 7, I continue to run (just) an 'F' reg Audi 80. It needs a service, anyone have any recomendations in the Welwyn Garden City / Herts area. Flaps

A word of warning. Mine broke and caused the throttle to jam open just when I wanted it shut, on a bl00dy bend. Those frayed bits were the cause of it jamming (no, not reggae style) Be warned. Make sure any botch-up is 1st rate. Flaps

The clonk I have but is it the diff? On left turns only there is a significant clonk from below. Difficult to 100% reproduce but typically slow bends under neutral power. Hoped to find something sliding in the boot but no. Wheel nuts secure. Given the car a good shaking but no noise. Want to give the car a good slap but feel I'll be reported to the Social Services for cruelty. I'll have more of a fiddle around over the next couple of evenings, but what should I be looking for? Flaps

Throttle cable jammed OPEN last night as going around a corner, exciting. AND I have 2 throttle springs Removed pedal-box cover to find seriously frayed cable, not like it 3 months ago. As light was failing (9:00pm) and recognising my lack of skills rang the AA. Man arrived in 45 minutes. Through this site I had seen that it was wise to carry throttle (and clutch) cable. Nice AA man fitted the new throttle cable although he had to effect a temp. repair as he was unable to remove nut that was holding original cable to the 'bit' that enters the pedal-box. The nut sits well inside this 'bit', some 7mm. The wall thickness available for any socket is 2.25mm Looks like you need a VERY thin walled socket to get to the nut or am I missing something? Flaps

I would be grateful for a copy. If you could send me section 13C I would happily make some copies and post them out to anyone who wants them. Email me and I'll give my address and if anyone else wants to give me their details I will post out copies. Flaps

Bob - please don't rub it in. I know in a moment of madness I made a BIG error of judgement but it was Friday afternoon. Pelico - Cheers, just look for the chap with shaved head, big ears and wearing Elizabeth Duke jewellery. Rich - YHM Hope no snow Tuesday

Saw bargin TW in Argos, ignored BlatChat comments and thought something is better than nothing - wrong . Just taken out of wrapper and smart box. Loosened wheel nuts to do up 'properly' before my trackady for virgins (Tuesday). Set TW and did up one nut, did not feel very positive at 'click' . Ignored and started on 2nd. Bl**dy drive bar of TW snapped-off in my socket *mad*. Off to Argos (Aylesbury) Monday for good row . I do not just want my money back but contribution to my time, petrol etc. Remember these big boys will charge their suppliers for 'returned' goods so I want a bit of the action. What would of happened if I had completed all 4 wheels with cr4ppy wrench and sh1tty readings 🤔. Dashing around Brands thinking I am worse virgin driver to walk this planet when in fact I would have been driving a car with 4 wobbley wheels (need some excuse as I am sh1tty driver) . Could injure me or other virgins. I hope some kind sole will have a good TW available to check my nuts (oeeeer missus) after the first pause for breath Tuesday. Flaps

Grubster - thanks.

Please tell me how, after getting plug out, you filled the damn thing. I cut hex key with blunt hacksaw and burnt 5,000,000 calories doing it. This left me with very skinny hand which allowed access to plug but.....what is the clever way to fill?

Mine was a hex plug (I understand some are not) and do not underestimate how much you need to cut down the 10mm hex key to fit it between g'box and footwell. I would welcome input as to how clever people fill the bloody thing. I ended up with 50% in the g'box the balance in my armpit . Has anyone cut an accesss panel in the passenger footwell, it would make life easier me thinks. Mines a Vx 1.6 and I seem to have leak from rear of g'box 🙆🏻, does this mean I have major surgery to look forward to to replace 10p gasket?

Has anyone got one they want to sell? Flaps

I'm almost too embarrassed to ask but, I'm looking for a torque wrench (limited funds and limited use - wheels, maybe more with time) and saw v/cheap one in Argos. Can anyone tell me whether I am showing my complete stupidity by even thinking of buying it. At £15 it must be cr4p, surely. It is described as a "micrometer torque wrench, 28 - 210 Nm". The torque range seems okay. I know I am missing something, hence the embarrassment 😳 . Flaps

As I've an odd shaped head (so my mum tells me !!!) and I have over size ears I would like to try before I buy. Flaps

Simon YHM