not a lot happening -

so nothing to really report. New tyres Toyo Proxy T-1R's seem ok but again its just not warm enough or dry enough to even try hard cornering. They do feel ok though whereas the 1S's I had before were just outright rubbish. Got a drive planned in april so we'll see soon enough.

o2 sensor fitted and working -

indeed I had a fellow mr2oc'er who is a qualified electrican fit a new o2 sensor for me on thursday just gone.

I headed off to this site Lamda Sensors and got the universal 4 wire sensor plus the flange kit which actually came with the gasket too.

Fitted in 30 minutes and the jobs a good un. Error code cleared and car runs a lot smoother now. See post below for why I haven't done much boost testing on this lol.

snow everywhere -

indeed woke up to 6 inches of snow everywhere today!! Thats the most snow I've seen fall in Glasgow in a good few years now.

Of course my car was parked halfway down a dead end road on a fairly steep slope. The only good news about that was the new tyres I had had fitted yesterday, otherwise the car would have been left where it was. Had to get it out today so loads of digging and pushing to get the car up the hill. Now I've complained bitterly recently about the damage to the car that has been caused by muppets well today I saw the other side of the coin off human nature.

While I was digging the snow away from the car then getting my passenger to drive the car while I pushed from behind I noticed several people watching me. I expected to see a video of my efforts of the net quite soon but no to my amazement those people came over to help.

With four of us digging / pushing like mad for just under an hour we got the car up the hill to the junction and off we went.

Guys and girl, I salute your kindness and wish you all the best.

In light of the above, on my journey back I helped another 2 motorists out of the snow grip that was all around. A very physically demanding day but was really a good laugh.

Take it very easy out there

loads of miles -

yup, being doing a lot of miles recently and I'd noticed the car was in need of the old fuse reset. This time however I decided to check the diagnostic's first. Oh boy, error code 21, the oxygen sensor. This kinda explains the smoke I could sometimes see in my mirrors when pulling away from lights and stuff. Not heavy smoke more like the car was running on a fast idle which gives that trail in the cold dry weather.

Haven't done the full sensor test, happening this week but it does look increasingly unlikely the sensor is actually working. Now Mr T (Toyota dealerships) will want in the region of 140GBP for this but there are other options for sure. Several places sell the sensors without wiring but I've found one that actually does the complete kit including the end plug. So no wiring adjustments and no soldering to be done either.

Update - looks like the part info is
PNC: 89465
Part Nuumber: 89465-29805
Part Name : Sensor, oxygen (oxygen sensor)

Now this should be the part number for the oxygen sensor for the rev3+ motors no matter turbo or non turbo but do check first rather than just order it.

Will update later on this, likely edit this post too.

Other news, due to the number of miles run I have actually washed the car an amazing 4 times in the last 7 days!! John mentioned a refurbished jetwash that has been set up in a garage not far from here(1 mile tops). Now this one allows you just to put coins straight into the machine and then follow whatever program you like. I like very much. You can spent as much or as little as you like, plus at the mo its not used very often so no queuing ;-))

its a funny world -

there I was driving along with some muppet in an Orion in front of me driving up the middle of the two lanes, wheels either side of the lane markers. Now being me I beeped the horn and amazingly he chose one of the lanes to stay in. Then proceeds to start giving me the V sign.

Now while I admit I can be wrong I think in this case I was completely right. I mean the whole point of lane markings is to spilt the road evenly and allow the safe passage of more than one line of traffic. Why this muppet took offense that I beeped him as he straddled the lanes I don't know but one this is certain.

I was right and you were wrong and no amount of cursing or sign language will change those facts. Deal with it ya dozy!

A

i actually do love my car -

Some car news. I've had the wing replaced and while getting that wing sprayed I also had the bonnet repaired and also resprayed. So the front of the car is looking really good and in fact the whole car looks fantastic.

I recently had the front brakes replaced and my goodness what a difference. Full write up on the website to follow

I was required through work to make a trip to Aberdeen and the car performed without putting a foot wrong. Left here at 530am and the car just punched its way through the darkness to hit Aberdeen by just before 8am. On the way back down that night again the car was perfect. Really easy to drive and such comfort. Slowing down for the reduced limit stretches it then punched back into the darkness without the need to change gear. Awesome car.

I wonder if I can actually afford to keep it..............

A

ffs

some muppet drove into my drivers side front wing and has completely stoved it in. Never even left a note, just drove off and with the size of the dent they knew they had hit me. Typical nobody saw / heard anything. I aint too happy about that cause its going to cost a fair bit to fix it.

How the hell can you hit a parked car?

Thats 3 times the car has been picked on by persons unknown. I'm thinking time to buy a gun and wait up til someone tries it again. Would be worth it to see the expression on their face.

what the fcuk is going on?

first my car gets bits taken off of it and now some muppet decides to leave footprints on the engine cover and the bonnet!!!! If I catch you I will mess up your life big style. Expect some broken bones and maybe limb loss.

I wouldn't kick an old banger on the street out of respect as that might be someones start in motoring, I wouldn't scratch someones porsche just because they have a better car than me so why some folk think its ok to mark a car I don't know. Makes me think its students having a laugh on the way home from the pub climing over cars.

If I catch you no amount of alcohol will dull the pain I will inflict on you. No witnesses either.

You have been warned

you pikey dcuk whackers -

some theiving git has nicked my drivers side rear window vent and for what? A trophy? for fun or just out of plain badness??

Well I hope you are happy cause if I ever catch you I will take your fingers as my trophy. Then we'll see how smug you look.

Respect other peoples property, its only nice.

yours well and truely hacked off

mmm driving a mk1

indeed yes I was driving a mk1 mr2 last week at the club meet and very interesting it was too.

Power steering was sadly missed at sub 5mph speeds but above that its really not needed. The gearbox utterly fantastic in a snick snick kinda way that is just wonderful. Power? well against my rev3 turbo it has no power but hey that's life. Was a lovely car to drive although this example needs a wee bit of work done to it.

Turbo torque really is something else.

On another note, I very nearly bought a new (to me anyway) set of 17" wheels for the turbo. This would have given me a far greater choice of tyres to fit. Alas the price of these alloys was out of my range. Ho hum

freezing cold weather -

and yet still the sun shines. Makes the scenery look absolutely stunning out there.

Anyhow, was out to a car meet today. Took it easy because some of the roads were still in the shade so you know to careful round them as they are well slippy.

Turns out one of our members had another smash in his mk1. Poor guy, bought this new mk1 from Norwich yesterday, drove 450 miles without incident. Got up early today and washed it, polish it and realised what a stunning car he had bought.

2 miles down the road from his a pickup pops out of a farm track without looking and he brakes, locks up, releases the brakes manages to steer somehow round the pick up and miss the oncoming bus but then loses the back and spins off into the fence and nearly ends up in a field. Luckily the muppet who pulled out on him put his hands up and admitted all his fault then offered to get the car pulled out of the field. A good result to a p1sh incident.

My drive was pretty uninteresting mainly because I was driving soo slow. Not worth it these days to go hooning though I did have a wee chuckle.

Coming along the M80 heading into Glasgow at the Gaswork towers there is a rather nice curve in the road which then joins up with the M8. I had a Golf, mk4/5 sitting on my bumper so at the first chance I moved over to the inside lane as it happened just before the aforementioned righthander. So golfman pulls alongside me as we tip into the corner. Normally this time of year I'd let him go no bother but this corner has shellgrip on it so there is plenty of grip on it. So I hang on the throttle nice and steady and drive round the corner. As I get halfway round I notice Mr Golf is level with my B pillar and as we straighten up he is just infront of my rear bumper. Fair play to the boy he had the tigher line whereas I could mosey on round the long way but I still had further to go .

On another note the sunset on the way home was amazing. Reminds me why I still live in this country.

merry xmas -

yes I know its a little late but with all the eating and drinking I have been doing lately I've only just fully recovered enough to use a keyboard.

There has been some



loads of


and of course


but sadly no women. Yes indeed I was looking and though I met some lovely ladies ( at different times mind ) it turned out they were up from london just for christmas staying with some friends. Darn it! But I still got some xmas kisses and dancing from it so still a good time was had by all.

Also got a text from a drunken one dater but thats another story for sure

Car news? Well the roads are well dangerous out there so be careful folks.

fog lights

people, fog lights are for foggy times when visibility is below 50 metres. They are not for making your car look good ffs!!

On another note, straight line + 2nd gear = huge wheelspin + silly grin on drivers face.

Childish but it did amuse me. I did drive very slow and careful the rest of the time though being fair I wasn't actually speeding in 2nd gear. The rear wheels were going faster than the speed limit but the rest of the car was still only doing about 20mph.

Is it spring yet?

it's that time of year

when the christmas madness is apon us. People rushing around like mad zombies trying to buy their loved ones that special gift. Pah humbug!

Now don't get me wrong, I love the festive season as the party atmosphere in Glasgow is awesome = loads of which is brilliant but the whole commercial side of it just annoys me.

I'm not religious in any way but I do know that Christmas shouldn't be about just giving pressies. Maybe for kids yes, adults well I'm kinda over that stage by a long distance.

Of course maybe its because my car insurance renewal date is the 21st of december, that tends to knock the wind out of my sails. Still its done and can't be helped so life goes on.

Anyhow I'm off to prepare myself for the weekly 5-aside footy.

Take care out there in shopping land.

belts tightened and odd idling problem -

indeed this morning I got up bright and early to get the alternator belt and as it turned out the air con belts re-tightened. Turned out both had slackened off after being replaced last month. Has it done the job, find out on the next cold start but I reckon it will be fine.

To save time this morning I went out last night and got petrol and the car had this really bad cold idle, it was trying to idle at about 500rpm. It managed it after a minute or two but it never really felt like it could sustain it. One the way back from getting petrol it was idling around 400rpm. Now I was impressed that it was even holding an idle at that speed, hardly any sound from the engine just a light purring.

So this morning I was all ready to adjust the idle and yet it was just fine. Idled at a steady 1200rpm when cold and when warm an easy 750. Just like it should. Weird but I reckon more to do with the cold spell we've been having and sitting for week in that weather doing hee haw.

Must also get brake fluid to top it up. Time for new discs and pads for the front/ More money, sigh

alternator belt - still screams like a beeetch

yup going to get it looked at again. Now this belt has always sqeaked since the new one was put on so I'm not expecting to pay for this but no doubt there will be some complication.

Grrrrr

de-cat complete -

indeed the cat has been removed as I do not need this for the MOT. Mega thanks to Calum for doing this esp considering how cold it was and he was doing this in the eve after his work.

Does the car feel any different? Dunno, tried booting it in 2nd gear = huge wheelspin so tried again in 3rd = huge wheelspin so guess I'll wait til spring time to try that lol.

Calum also commented on how sh1t the brakes were and driving back to back with another tubby, yup my brakes are sh1t of the highest order. They work yes but the pedal travel is farily huge and the feel is soft. On checking the pads / discs we know the pads are low ( the fluid level warning light comes on under hard acceleration ) but the discs have a fair size wear ridge on them :-(

Now I've always thought the brakes had too much travel on them and on 2nd application they do seem a good bit harder but not altogether brilliant. So some new discs and pads will be ordered in the new year which will be accompanied by new tyres.

Another fecking clifford alarm problem. The turbo timer was been de-activated when the wiring for the alarm ( and the correct number of sensors wired in grrr) was fixed. Now I don't use the turbo timer but the fecking thing is there so it SHOULD bl00dy work. However, its not worth the hassle getting it fixed especially after the time since the wiring was fixed and me noticing the darned thing don't work.

Ho hum

bye bye CAT -

indeed the CAT is going but not without a HUGE fight. Darned thing was soo loose in the exhaust that everytime it got hit with a cold chisel, it flew up the exhaust lol.

So the whole downpipe is getting removed and then the CAT will literally just fall out. Which it just has done. Now its just putting everything back together again ho ho.

Many thanks to Calum for doing this, I guess more profiteroles on order eh? Might need something else lol


cheers bud

no Goodyear F1 tyres -

yup the crappy rear tyre size of 225x50x15 has mucked things up again. I'm going to have to take the plunge and for a new tyre type. Dont like this but if the prefered choice is no longer made then changes are afoot.

My current thinking is the Dunlop SP9000 which when changing the fronts too is going to be 400GBpounds. Ouch, but thats still cheaper than new wings or a written off car.

Buy them in the new year I reckon

MOT -

its a pass. Straight through with only missings fins from the radiators ( no leaks though ) and a bit of bending required to some support. Advisory but no fails. Very happy. Going to have some beers to celebrate though not too many since playing footy tomorrow as usual