As most of you will know, Mrs Jv6cdx and I have been on a tour around Scotland, with a very heavily loaded Veccy Estate, Her daughter, and 2 dogs.
First leg of the journey was last Monday PM, approx 475 miles from Wales, to Dundee in Scotland, where we stopped to look at Phate321's cambelt issue. One stop on that entire jourey - but I couldn't resist a Budweiser or two upon arrival at 2/3am!
On the way up there, approx 320 miles into the journey, I noticed that the battery light came on, and the steering went very heavy. Whilst in lane 2 of the M73. Crap, I thinks - aux belt broken! Turned engine straight off in case anything got caught in cambelt, and pulled onto hard shoulder. Look under bonnet. Notice Power steering pump is hanging loose, and not connected to it's bracket. Somehow, both it's retaining bolts had snapped!! Notice Aux belt is unharmed, apart from small graze. Contemplate calling rescue, decided against it, in favour of a good bodge
Cable-tied the aux belt clear of all the pulleys while on hard shoulder, and drive on to next services, with no alternator and no power steering. Thankfully not that far. Whilst under garage forecort lights, look in more detail. By the grace of god, I had a suitable torx bolt for the PAS pump in the drivers door pocket. But with horror, realise that I have NO tools with me to refit the pump / belt. How foolish. Enter this little garage, and again, my lucky stars were out - an RAC emergency toolkit. It was crap, but had a pair of long nosed pliers, and a small adjustable spanner. So, fit the PAS pump with one bolt - tighten with pliers. Refit aux belt, and after lots of swearing, managed to get the tensioner to slacken off with this usess adjustable. Job's a goodun - drove carefully for over 100 miles to Phate's - where we were fit to drop - so couple of beers, and bed!
Following morning, we managed to sort the Omega cambelt without any problems. Then Brucie came round - (fantasic to meet you at last!). Brucie felt his timing was a bit out, so we checked that - and it was about 3+mm too advanced. So we sucesfully corrected that, apparently car is now a lot sharper. After reassembly there was a bit of a noise, but there was play in the coolant pump, so we put it down to this. The noise didn't seem to come back, however new belt, tensioners, and pump are on the cards.
After this, a permanent fix on my PAS pump and aux belt!
Big thanks to Phate321, for putting us up for the night - and also big thanks to Broocie, for lending us a fantastic little tent for Hannah.
After this - we drove on to Fort William, where we pitched up tents for the night. Great campsite, great people, shame no decent pubs within walking distance though.
Did a fair bit of touring around, went all up around the isle of Skye as hoped. However when back from Skye, on the campsite, I noticed tonnes of steam coming from the Veccy. Open bonnet, coolant p!ssing from side of radiator. CRAP! Following day, dial 118 blah.. found a local (only!) supplier that could get me a new rad for £97. So order it - but won't arrive until Monday - 3 days. So 3 days without car
Had to buy a 300pc automotive tool chest from Argos - the only tools I could find anywhere in the area! I think I got a few funny looks changing the rad on the campsite - especially when I took the bumper off!! For now I've removed the aircon condensor, as the aircon didn't work and condensor was shot.
All appears well now though - she ran a lot cooler with new rad, and drove home without issue. The running costs on LPG were out of this world - saved a packet on the entire trip.
I don't blame the old girl, she's now done around 217,000 miles, and still pulls like a train. I was generally really pleased, and probably deserved a breakdown, given that I was hoofing it up to 100mph on the quiet stretches
Yesterday/today, we drove the 550 miles back home, with 3 stops. I'm totally knackered, and off to bed.
I've not yet caught up with all emails / PMs, I'll be on the case as soon as I wake up
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Topic: We're back - after a few disasters ! (Read 1545 times)