Hi iFolks,
Had a fairly trouble free time and been rebuilding a shed so have not been exactly active evenings.
However I did have a minor niggle earlier in the year, misfiring, leading to a roadside diagnosis and repair - we have these concrete pads by the roadside for such occasions (but this time of year farmers heap tons of sugar beet on them
)
Traced it to a loose spark lead on #2 plug, it could slide through the rubber cap which came away without metalwork ! opened the crimp up, the core (some fine fluffy fibre with a black tracer) bent back and the lead re crimped -complete success, or so I thought!
Had to take Mrs Bluebrick to the hospital for a checkup several months later and as it was the first time on Norwich's equivalent to the M25 I was able to give the old girl a clearout, back creeps an element of misfire which seemed to be more torque than revs related. After the appointment where we learned a repeat visit would be required next day (nothing desperate medically, lack of organisation by NHS) a quick look in the carpark did not reveal the previous problem had repeated, however it got worse on the way home and was clearly the same cylinder. Crimp loosened and on pulling the lead out the centre falls away in me hand, trimming 1/2" at a time it had clearly been destroyed back up the cover and only re appeared about 3 inches up so a spare lead set installed and no problem.
I note the issue as there appeared to be ample conductor left at the first repair but either then or subsequently the spark tracked back and in neither instance was there a no load misfire, if the lead hadn't slipped out of the rubber / crimp I wouldn't have noticed the damage.
Hoping the weather improves as MOT looms in a couple of weeks time and the building work has done damage to ankle shoulder & back so hoping no laying under the car in sleet required.
On the up side, knowing I had a couple of tyres which were getting poor for snow or ice, I called into our local tyre place with the spare tyre with a cut in it in hand & asked what he had or could get similar (it had Vreidsteins on when I bought it) Walk this way he says and shows me 4 near new Pirelli P6000's on the rack (yes I've seen the varying opinions elsewhere thanks) ex his wifes own Volvo, changed as she wanted some sporty wheels and tyres, mine for 20 quid apiece if I was interested, didn't take long to decide so left the spare there and dropped another rim in later. When it came to settle up, I was amazed that he was happy to throw in fitting & balancing within the price ! expressed my gratitude and left with my faith in humanity refreshed.
In case I don't get back on before (I've been having a problem with my laptop), a Merry Xmas to Volvoists everywhere
Rick